Springhead are back on song

SPRINGHEAD may live to regret their mid-season dip in form in the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League premier division.

The Ashfield Crescent outfit were riding high in the early part of season, only to fall away either side of Christmas and New Year.

But they are going great guns again and they made it four wins on the bounce against local rivals Royton Town who, in contrast, have lost their last six games.

Although the title looks beyond them, they are well-placed to finish in the top three.

Springhead created a host of chances in the first half of their 2-1 defeat of Town.

They eventually broke the deadlock through Jimmy Needham’s deflected effort, moments after Town’s Tommy Brogan had struck a post.

Springhead doubled their lead five minutes later when Ryan Shaughnessy’s free-kick was headed home by Richard Bennett.

The visitors took their foot off the pedal and Town enjoyed their best spell of the game and were rewarded when Jamie Peers converted a cross from Dave Yates.

All good things must come to an end — and that was certainly the case with Avro, who have enjoyed an excellent run of results lately.

They were looking to make it seven wins in a row at home to lowly Chapel Town, but went down 3-1.

Hollinwood also tasted defeat, losing 2-1 at Atherton Town.

Paul Bennett’s side remain second in the table, albeit eight points adrift of pacesetters Gregorians and their hopes of title glory appear to be fading fast.

Gregorians are already celebrating their first piece of silverware.

They held their nerve in a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Rochdale Sacred Heart in the Lancashire County FA Shield final.

Results are —

Premier division: Atherton Town 2, Hollinwood 1; Avro 1, Chapel Town 3; Breightmet United 1, Stockport Georgians 2; Gregorians 6, Pennington 0; Hindsford 0, East Manchester 0; Leigh Athletic 2, Elton Vale 2; Rochdale Sacred Heart 3, Prestwich Heys 3; Royton Town 1, Springhead 2; Walshaw Sports 2, Wythenshawe Amateurs 0.

Division one: Beechfield United 3, Monton Amateurs 1; Fives Athletic 0, Bury Amateurs 1; Manchester Juniors 1, West Didsbury 3; Old Alts 0, Heywood St James 0; Salford Victoria 3, Wilmslow Albion 4; Stand Athletic 2, Wythenshawe Town 0:

Open Trophy: Bury Amateurs Res 1, Elton Vale Res 2 — aet; Monton Amateurs Res 0, East Manchester Res 3.

Division two: Avro Res 3, Prestwich Heys Res 3; Dukinfield Town Res 7, Hindsford Res 1; Springhead Res 3, West Didsbury & Chorlton Res 0; Stockport Georgians Res 1, Walshaw Sports Res 1; Wythenshawe Amateurs Res 1, Leigh Athletic Res 3.

Division three: Hollinwood ‘A’ 3, Gregorians ‘A’ 3; Hollinwood Res 5, Beechfield United Res 0; Walshaw Sports ‘A’ 0, Royton Town Res 3; Wythenshawe Town Res 1, Atherton Town Res 3.

League Cup, quarter-final: Old Alts Res 8, Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 1; Pennington Res 0, Chapel Town Res 1.

o IN division two, Springhead reserves overcame West Didsbury and Chorlton 3-0, while Avro’s second string drew 3-3 with Prestwich Heys.

Royton Town reserves, with leading scorer Andy Eastwood bagging a brace and Nathan Roseweir marking his debut with a goal, defeated Walshaw Sports ‘A’ 3-0 in division three.

Hollinwood reserves swept aside Beechfield United 5-0 and Hollinwood ‘A’ and Gregorians ‘A’ fought out a 3-3 draw.