House are close to title

THAT’S MINE: Anthony Healey, of Halfway House, clears from Adam Darlington of Springbank.

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Halfway House 6, Springbank 1

THE race for the Ashton Sunday League’s premier division title will go right down to the wire, with Halfway House and Bridge the contenders in a thrilling finale to the season.

Title holders for the past three seasons, House meet Warwick United away from home on May 10 in their final match of the campaign.

On the same day, Bridge are in action against Moston Labour Club.

House remain the title favourites — they possess a better goal-difference —but they had to come from behind against lowly Springbank before registering an emphatic victory.

Steve McKenna, the House secretary, could have been forgiven for thinking it was a case of deja vu at Oak Pit — when the two sides last met in the league it was Springbank who pulled off a shock 4-3 success.

McKenna said: “When Springbank scored early on I was thinking ‘here we go again’.

“But the rest of the game saw us pressing constantly and we were very comfortable winners in the end.”

House were rocked on their heels in the third minute when Chris Wall thumped home a 20-yard free-kick.

But McKenna didn’t have to worry for long, Gary Brooks pulling House level after 19 minutes before a Rocky Siddall penalty established a 2-1 lead at the break.

House were rampant in the second half and two goals in quick succession — Siddall and Phil Simmons were the marksmen — meant there would be no repeat of that shock result of a few weeks ago.

Scott Yates made it 5-1 in the 64th minute, but the best goal of the game was left until last. Simmons found the back of the net with a stunning long-range effort with just over 10 minutes to go.

HALFWAY HOUSE: Bamford, Crossley, Tindall, Heatley, Dean, Kelly, Simmons, Yates, Chadderton, Brooks, Siddall.

SPRINGBANK: Bailey, Leneghan, M Wall, Darlington, Hinchcliffe, Cope, Hughes, Mott, C Wall, Sidlow, Pennington. Sub: Roberts.

Referee: E Aspin.


Athletic bask in crowning glory

IT was party time for Limeside Athletic in the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League.

After a prolonged duel with Steven Caine FC, they were crowned division two champions with a 3-2 win over Oldham United.

Meanwhile, Chaddy End FC have taken a giant step towards the Jack Abbott premier division title.

They opened up a three-point lead over Royton FC after recording an emphatic 6-1 success over fellow championship contenders Failsworth Dynamos.

Hunt Lane moved out of the bottom three after a 4-2 victory over Failsworth Athletic.

Khartoum Northern missed a chance to clinch the David Giblin division one title after they suffered a shock 2-0 reverse at Royton Athletic — their first defeat of the season.

But they still have three games to pick up the solitary point they require.

Rivals FC Broadgate, Fitton Hill and Red Star will be hoping Khartoum continue to slip up in the remaining days of the season.

Fitton Hill remained in the hunt with a 6-2 win over Springhead Libs, while Red Star overcame Crompton and Royton 6-4.

The other fixture in division one was a nine-goal thriller in which Westwood emerged 5-4 winners over Rose of Lancaster.

Results and scorers are —

Jack Abbott premier division: Failsworth Dynamos 1, Chaddy End FC 6; Failsworth Athletic 2 (G Eyre, M Olive), Hunt Lane 4 (K Kurpas (2), N Murphy, S Weaver).

David Giblin division one: Royton Athletic 2 (L Siddall 2), Khartoum Northern 0; Red Star 6 (C McDonald, D Greenough, D Gordon 2, D Howell 2), Crompton and Royton 4; Fitton Hill 6 (D Brooks 2, P Badby 2, G Halstead, M Barrett), Springhead Libs 2 (L Ashton, M Gaskell); Rose of Lancaster 4 (D Scanlon, D Swan, L Ingham, K Jones), Westwood 5 (A Miah, M Rahman, M Alam, S Uddin 2).

Division two: Limeside Athletic 3 (D Shaw, P Davidson, W Berry), Oldham United 2.

President’s Trophy semi-finals: Oddies FC 6 (R Cropper 2), C Crothers 4), Northside FC 1; Coppice United 3, FC Royton 3 — Coppice won 5-4 on pens.


Top-three goal for Chadds

CHADDERTONIANS are targeting a top-three finish in the premier division of the Lancashire Amateur League.

They will achieve their goal if they win their last game of the season.

Chadds climbed up to fifth after they came from behind to defeat local rivals Failsworth Dynamos 4-1.

All the goals came in a hectic second half, with Antony Corlett equalising for Chadds, who then had Alex Byrne, Steve Barrow and Paul Preston on the mark to seal a fine win.

Chadds reserves were relegated from division one, and they also bowed out of the 2nds XI Cup after losing 1-0 at Castle Hill in midweek.

Oldham Hulmeians rounded off their season in division two with a 5-2 win over Ladybridge and a goalless draw against Old Blackburnians ‘A’.

Simon Toms (two), Jonathan Hadfield, Steve Shalmani and Danny Tate scored in the midweek home victory over bottom-of-the-table Ladybridge.

But the goals dried up against Old Blackburnians ‘A’ in another match played at Tate Street. The point moved Hulmeians into ninth place, with most teams having one more game to play.

Hulmeians reserves clinched the second promotion spot in division six without kicking a ball after third-placed Broughton Amateurs ‘A’ only managed a draw in their penultimate fixture.

Chadds ‘B’ clinched the division four title with a 4-1 win at Bolton Wyresdale.

Jack O’Dea notched a hat-trick and Jason Bowes got the other.

They are also through to the ‘B’ team Cup final after a 1-0 win over Rossendale Amateurs. That man O’Dea got the all-important goal.


Six-hit Heyside stay afloat

HEYSIDE have given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation from division three of the Huddersfield and District League.

But they will probably need maximum points from their three remaining games, while also relying on other results going their way.

Heyside kept their hopes alive with a 6-3 win in a topsy-turvy clash against fellow strugglers Dalton Crusaders.

Ahead through a Scott Rowbottom goal, they found themselves behind after conceding two goals in five minutes.

A Leon Perry strike restored parity, only for Dalton to nose in front for a second time.

But a two-goal salvo from James Taylor put Heyside in the ascendancy, before Ryan Barnes and Carl Winstanley made sure of victory.

Uppermill ended their division one season on a high, beating Barlow Cup heroes Meltham 4-1.

Jo Jacombs (two), Chris Taylor and Danny Gartside scored for ’Mill, for whom teenagers Danny Gartside and Danny Kilburn impressed on debut.

Diggle are in with a shout of reserve division one title glory.

They are three points behind Kirkheaton Rovers, the leaders, with two games to go.

Diggle maintained their push for top honours with a 4-0 win at Lepton Highlanders.

In reserve division two, Diggle ‘A’ were beaten 4-2 by Shepley and Uppermill’s ‘A’ team lost 3-2 at home to Mount.

Results are —

Division three: Dalton Crusaders 3, Heyside FC 6.

Reserve division one: Lepton Highlanders Res 0, Diggle Res 4.

Reserve division two: Shepley Res 4, Diggle ‘A’ 2; Uppermill ‘A’ 2, Mount Res 3.