Promotion hopes revided

OLDHAM TOWN revived their promotion hopes in the first division of the Vodkat North West Counties League following their 2-1 home victory against Eccleshall.

But Town didn’t do it the easy way after having James Curley sent off following a comment he made to an assistant referee.

Midfield man Tom Hughes fired Town ahead after half an hour with a shot from outside the penalty area following a cross from Jake Cotterill.

Curley and Darren Scanlan had excellent chances to increase the lead in the opening half before Hughes did so early in the second period with a trademark long-range drive.

Town made hard work of their victory as Nicky Thompson conceded a penalty which Lassagna Sidibe scored from. The Curley’s dismissal left them hanging on.

CHADDERTON returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at Ashton Town in the first division of the Vodkat NWCL.

It was a well deserved first win in a month and the Broadway side showed character after falling behind.

Goalkeeper Lee Swanson dropped an Adam Leadbetter cross into his own net after half an hour, but Chadderton were on level terms within a minute when Paul Ashton fired home a right-wing cross from Daniel Shaw.

They sealed victory through a 57th minute header from Paul Socha which followed a left-wing cross by Chris Pauley.

Swanson redeemed himself with a great penalty save to deny Leadbetter following a foul by Ian Knapman.

Chadderton were unlucky not to score a third goal when Shaw’s header hit the crossbar and a follow-up shot from John Jones struck an upright.

MOSSLEY snapped a four-match losing streak with a goalless draw at Lancaster City in division one north of the UniBond League.

The Lilywhites were the better side in a match which had a 20-minute delay late in the opening period when home player Andy Teague sustained a serious neck injury.

That disrupted the momentum Mossley had built up as Chris Hirst and Danny Toronczak had efforts well saved while Lee Blackshaw, Clive Moyo-Modise, Alex Mortimer and Reece Kelly all had decent openings.

Lancaster also had their moments in the second half and Mossley keeper James Mann made a superb save to turn an effort from Paul Osborne on to the crossbar while Nick Boothby made a goalline clearance from Mark Jackson.