Trio thwarted in game of catch-up

DIGGLE’S Danny Cheetham regains his balance after a challenge from Bob Elliott, of Britannia Sports.

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DESPITE trying their utmost, three local teams continue to be thwarted in their attempts to make up ground in the Bridgewater office Supplies Manchester League premier division title race.

Hollinwood are in second place, Avro are still going strong in fifth and back-to-form Springhead are sixth.

But they are all trying to play catch-up behind Gregorians, who can do no wrong at the moment.

They maintained their seemingly relentless charge towards top honours with a 4-0 win at Rochdale Sacred Heart.

Hollinwood remain eight points adrift after a 2-0 defeat of Chapel Town. It was a welcome return to form for Paul Bennett’s side, who had suffered a surprise defeat in the semi-finals of the Gilcryst Cup seven days earlier.

Avro picked up another three points after they got the better of basement boys Breightmet United 3-1.

Meanwhile, Springhead produced a sublime first-half performance on their way to a resounding 4-0 home win over struggling Pennington.

Ahead in the 14th minute through Jackman, Lee McAllistair’s team doubled their advantage midway through the first half with arguably their goal of the season so far when Stevenson fired home after some great one-touch football.

Victory was sealed before the break thanks to Harrison’s right-foot finish, while Stevenson took his tally to 19 for the term with Springhead’s fourth in the 72nd minute.

Springhead’s next test is against local rivals Royton Town, who slumped to a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Wythenshawe Amateurs.

Results and scorers are —

Premier division: Avro 3, Breightmet United 1; East Manchester 1, Atherton Town 0; Hindsford 1, Stockport Georgians 2; Hollinwood 2, Chapel Town 0; Prestwich Heys 1, Leigh Athletic 0; Rochdale Sacred Heart 0, Gregorians 4; Springhead 4, Pennington 0; Walshaw Sports 2, Elton Vale 1; Wythenshawe Amateurs 4, Royton Town 1.

Murray Shield: Old Alts 2, Beechfield United 1; Stand Athletic 0, West Didsbury 1.

Division one: Bury Amateurs 10, Manchester Juniors 0; Monton Amateurs 5, Wilmslow Albion 1; Salford Victoria 2, Fives Athletic 3.

Division two: Dukinfield Town Res 3, Monton Amateurs Res 3; Elton Vale Res 3, Springhead Res 1; Gregorians Res 1, Avro Res 1; Leigh Athletic Res 5, Prestwich Heys Res 1; Stockport Georgians Res 1, Rochdale Sacred Heart Res 2; Walshaw Sports Res 5, Hindsford Res 2; West Didsbury & Chorlton Res 1, Bury Amateurs Res 2; Wythenshawe Amateurs Res 1, East Manchester Res 2.

League Cup: Gregorians ‘A’ 4, Fives Athletic Res 1; Gregorians ‘B’ 1, Wilmslow Albion Res 2.

Division three: Breightmet United Res 0, Stand Athletic Res 5; Bury Amateurs ‘A’ 5, Hollinwood Res 3; Hollinwood ‘A’ 2, Beechfield United Res 2; Royton Town Res 1, Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 0; Wythenshawe Town Res 1, Old Alts Res 4.


Draw typifies Diggle’s season

Match of the Day by JOHN GILDER

Diggle 3, Britannia Sports 3

A POINT apiece at Churchill playing fields was of little use to Diggle and Britannia Sports in the battle for runners-up spot in division one of the Huddersfield and District League.

With matches rapidly running out, it was a game that both sides needed to win to claw back points on runaway table-toppers Lepton Highlanders.

In truth, a draw was a fair result, but Diggle had the better of it in the closing stages and could have snatched victory after two last-gasp efforts.

But then it would have been a case of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat as Steve Southern’s side staged a sterling fightback from 3-1 down.

Southern said: “It sums up our season as we have tended to start matches strongly and finish strongly.

“Some of our defending against Britannia was awful but I have to give credit for the way we came back after trailing by two goals early in the second half.”

Southern made three changes to the side that lost in the previous outing to Heywood Sports, and his pre-match talk was all about improving standards, both on and off the field.

With Gareth Chew impressing up front in only his second game of the season following a spell at Mossley, Diggle started the stronger of the two sides.

Gary Godard’s flag kick was flicked on by Chris Moore to Chew, whose momentum in meeting the ball allowed him to score with ease.

Britannia levelled 10 minutes before the break and, with the second half less than three minutes old, Diggle conceded two more goals.

Southern was fuming about some of the defending for the two Britannia goals, and said: “All that was missing was a comedy car which falls to pieces and some flowers squirting water.”

Diggle were clearly not clowning about when they launched their recovery — even Charlie Cairoli would have been impressed.

With substitutes Keiron Matley and Matt Taylor thrown into the fray, Diggle gained the territorial ascendancy and when Chew netted his second of the game — a neatly-struck drive just after the hour mark — the scene was set for a grandstand finish.

Diggle got their reward with nine minutes to go when centre-back Ryan Hewitt displayed plenty of commitment to convert another Godard corner.

Late chances were spurned by Tom Matley and Wayne Broadbent, leaving Diggle to reflect on another missed opportunity to climb the table.

DIGGLE: M Moore, Jones, Platt, Godard, Cheetham, Hewitt, Broadbent, Chew, C Moore, B Mayall, Matley. Subs: K Mayall, Taylor.

Ashton’s brace lifts Dynamos

FAILSWORTH Dynamos picked up three valuable points in the premier division of the Lancashire Amateur League.

Goals from Lee Ashton (two) and Liam Stuttard clinched a 3-2 victory at Rochdale St Clements, but Chaddertonians went down 3-1 at home to Old Mancunians.

In division one, Chadds reserves recorded an emphatic 6-1 win over Mostonians, while Oldham Hulmeians were beaten 4-2 by Bolton Ambassadors in a heated encounter in division two.

Hulmeians produced an assured first-half display but they saw David Bradburn’s opener cancelled out before the interval.

The visitors scored twice in quick succession before Bradburn was sent off for violent conduct with 15 minutes left. Ambassadors then stretched their lead before Matthew Kemp converted an injury-time free kick.

Chadds ‘A’ edged out Hesketh Casuals ‘A’ 1-0 in division four.

Meanwhile, in division seven, Hulmeians ‘A’ had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Castle Hill ‘A’, who had a man sent off for deliberate handball in the first half. Phil Yates and Tom Hartley scored for the local side, who lie in mid-table.

Hulmeians ‘B’ remain bottom after a 4-2 defeat at Chaddertonians ‘B’. Will Preston and an own goal made up Hulmeians’ tally.

Results are —

Premier division: Old Mancunians 3, Chaddertonians 1; Rochdale St Clements 2, Failsworth Dynamos 3.

Division one: Chaddertonians Res 6, Mostonians 1.

Division two: Oldham Hulmeians 2, Bolton Ambassadors 4.

Division three: Failsworth Dynamos Res P Bacup United P; Mostonians Reserves 1, Old Mancunians Res 6.

Division four: Hesketh Casuals ‘A’ 0, Chaddertonians ‘A’ 1.

Division five: Spotland Meths Res 3, Mostonians ‘A’ 4.

Division six: Bolton Wyresdale ‘A’ P Oldham Hulmeians Res P;

Division seven: Chaddertonians ‘B’ 4, Oldham Hulmeians ‘B’ 2; Oldham Hulmeians ‘A’ 2, Castle Hill ‘A’ 2.

Oldham hold title hopefuls

AFC OLDHAM 2005 fought out an exciting 4-4 draw against second-in-the-table Hattersley in division two of the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

It was a good point for AFC Oldham against a team who had won 14 of their previous 16 league games.

But Oldham Victoria slipped to seventh in the standings after losing 2-0 at home to Heaton Mersey.

AFC Oldham reserves are closing in on mid-table security after they secured a 5-0 success over Denton West End Youth.

And to complete a fine afternoon’s work for the AFC Oldham club, the thirds swept aside their Moston Brook counterparts 6-1.

Results are —

Division two: Hattersley FC 4, AFC Oldham 2005 4; Oldham Victoria 0, Heaton Mersey 2.

Division ‘C’: AFC Oldham 2005 Res 5, Denton West End Youth 0.

Division ‘D’: AFC Oldham 2005 3rds 6, Moston Brook 3rds 1.




Goals, goals , goals

Hunt Lane and Unity in 8-8 draw!
HUNT Lane Tavern and Shahjalal Unity were involved in the game of the season in the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League — an incredible 8-8 draw.

Players, officials and fans could not believe what they were witnessing as the goals kept flying in at Crossley playing fields.

All-square at 3-3 going into the break, the second half produced another 10 goals.

Hunt Lane manager Matt Jones said: “There was only one goal in it until it went 8-6 to us. I thought we had broken them at that stage, but then they came up with two crackers near the end.

“It was unbelievable. I was really pleased with our attacking play — there aren’t many occasions when you score eight goals and don’t win — but our defending was absolutely shocking. That’s taking nothing away from Shahjalal because they never gave up.

“We sat down in the pub afterwards and worked out there was a goal every five-and-a-half minutes!”

There were goals galore in the match between High Crompton CC and Chaddy End FC, with the latter emerging 8-2 winners to kick-start their title bid.

Lowerhouse narrowed the gap on leaders Royton FC to six points after they emerged 3-2 winners over Failsworth Athletic.

FC Broadgate were held to a 2-2 draw by improving Springhead Libs in David Giblin division one.

Fitton Hill are now within striking distance of top-spot after they swept aside promotion hopefuls Rose of Lancaster 4-1.

Steven Caine FC and Limeside Athletic remain locked together at the head of division two.

Athletic made it nine wins out of nine with a 9-4 defeat of Royton Cons, while Caine recorded an emphatic 7-1 victory over Marvin Greenwood FC.

The goals continued in the President’s Trophy, with Oddies and Khartoum Northern drawing 6-6. Oddies eventually got through on penalties.

Royton FC defeated premier title rivals Failsworth Dynamos 2-0 and Coppice United brushed aside Wellington 4-1. Results and scorers are —

Jack Abbott premier division: High Crompton CC 2 (Campbell 2), Chaddy End FC 8 (Barrow 3, Beckett, Alexander 2, Deakin 2); Hunt Lane 8 (S Weaver 4, A Duxbury 2, K Kurpas, S McDonald), Shahjalal Unity 8 (M Uddin 3, A McCarthy 3, T Choudhury, C Fairhurst); Lowerhouse United 3 (P McGuick, C Bowland, I Burns), Failsworth Athletic 2.

David Giblin division one: Rose of Lancaster 1 (D Scanlon), Fitton Hill 4 (D Whipp, P Badby 2, own goal); Red Star 5 (C Beamish 3, C McDonald, G Jenkins), Westwood 1 (Alamin); Springhead Libs 2 (A Smethurst 2), FC Broadgate 2 (C Tetlow, P Robinson); Crompton and Royton 3 (D Thomas 2, S Jagger), Parkside 4 (J Stone, S Scoltock 2, A Cooney).

Division two: Limeside Athletic 9 (D Shaw 3, W Berry 3, A Tyrell, A Hamilton, W Werr), Royton Cons FC 4 (N Lishman 2, C Chadwick, D Franklin); Old Grey Mare 5 (B. Flaherty 2, N Jones, D Cole, S Ruskin), North Star 3; Marvin Greenwood FC 1, Steven Caine FC 7; Oldham United 1, Waggon and Horses 0.

President’s Trophy: Failsworth Dynamos 0, FC Royton 2 (R Siddall, P Leonard); Wellington 1 (A Biggins), Coppice United 4 (D O’Connell, N Navid 3); Oddies FC 6 (M Hill, P Cropper, P Dolmor, M Casson, C Crothers 2), Khartoum Northern 6 (M Hearne 2, M Dickenson, K Radcliffe, R Radcliffe) — Oddies won 3-1 on penalties.


Sloppy ’Mill let it slip again

UPPERMILL once again pressed the self-destruct button as they crashed to a 4-1 defeat at home to Wooldale Wanderers in division one of the Huddersfield and District League.

For the sixth time this season, Uppermill found themselves in front — Dave Taylor got the goal — only to be let down by some slipshod defending.

Fellow strugglers Wooldale scored three goals in a mad 10-minute spell before half-time, and added a fourth late on to seal Uppermill’s fate.

A late goal denied Heyside a much-needed win in division three, but at least they ended a run of poor results with a 2-2 draw against HV Academicals.

Early pressure paid off for Heyside, who went ahead through a Michael Ward strike.

They created several chances to increase their lead, but allowed Academicals to draw level after a defensive lapse.

Despite being reduced to 10 men with half an hour to go, Heyside took the lead for a second time through Carl Winstanley.

They looked to be heading for a welcome win until Academicals scrambled home an equaliser with five minutes to go.

Diggle ‘A’ are through to the last four of the Richardson Cup after a 7-2 win over Newsome WMC reserves.

In reserve division one, Uppermill’s second string were involved in a thrilling 5-5 draw at Berry Brow Libs. Chris Barlow (two), Sam Royle (two) and Mark Jackson scored for ’Mill.

Diggle reserves enjoyed a fine 4-0 victory over Meltham Athletic reserves.

John Lees bagged a brace for Uppermill ‘A’, who edged out Wooldale Wanderers 2-1 in reserve division two.

In the Works League, Uppermill’s fifth team were beaten 7-2 by Hepworth.

Results are —

Richardson Cup, quarter-final: Diggle ‘A’ 7, Newsome WMC Res 2.

Division one: Diggle 3, Britannia Sports 3; Uppermill 1, Wooldale Wanderers 4.

Division three: Heyside FC 2, HV Academicals 2.

Reserve division one: Berry Brow Lib Res 5, Uppermill Res 5; Meltham Athletic Res 0, Diggle Res 4.

Reserve division two: Wooldale Wanderers Res 1, Uppermill ‘A’ 2.


Five-star House in command

HALFWAY House have strengthened their grip on the Ashton Sunday League premier division title race.

They lead by three points after a 5-3 defeat of fellow championship contenders Warwick United. Crucially, they also boast two games in hand over their nearest rivals.

Damian Blundell hit a hat-trick for House, with Rocky Siddall and Lee West getting the others.

Moston Labour Club, with Sean Normoyle (two) and Carl Harrison on target, overcame Springbank 3-1 in the battle of the bottom two teams.

In division one, a Ryan Rafferty goal clinched a 1-0 win for table-toppers Dog and Partridge at Manor, but the division one cup game between Anglers and Charlestown was postponed.


Harlequin bow out

HARLEQUIN completed their Rochdale On-line premier division campaign with defeat.

They went down 5-3 in an entertaining home game against Asia.

Behind against the run of play, Harlequin bounced back to edge in front through Paul Higginbottom and a David Bates penalty.

Asia recovered to led 4-2, only for Higginbottom to set up a tense finale with his second of the game.

But, with time running out, the visitors broke away to seal victory.

Meanwhile, AFC Royton wrapped up their league programme on a low note as they went down 4-1 at champions Castleton.

John Hickey’s lob from 40 yards was the only joy for Royton, who now turn their attention to the cup competition after finishing fourth in the table.