AVRO rise to the occasion

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: AVRO are within touching distance of top-spot in the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League premier division.

The local outfit had to beat Stockport Georgians to stay on the heels of fellow title contenders Wythenshawe Amateurs and Walshaw Sports.

And they rose to the occasion to record a 2-1 win with one of the best performances of the season so far.

Goalless at half-time, the impressive Lee O’Brien broke the deadlock with a powerful 25-yard strike.

Substitutes Chad Harris and Paddy Garmory combined for the second goal, with the latter heading home from close range.

Georgians pulled a goal back with the last kick of the game.

The result lifted Avro above Hollinwood, who were beaten 4-0 at Wythenshawe Amateurs.

Meanwhile, Fraser Hatton struck with three minutes to go to earn Royton Town a 1-1 draw at home to a physical Dukinfield Town outfit.

Michael Moss created a couple of chances and Chris Mackay went close with two free-kicks in the first half. But it was Dukinfield who went ahead three minutes after the restart.

Town then found themselves bogged down, literally, in midfield and, with conditions continuing to deteriorate, flowing football was at a premium.

But the home side finally got their reward when Hatton fired home after a free-kick was only partially cleared.

Springhead raced into round two of the West Riding County Cup with an emphatic 9-2 victory over Osset Town, which included a first goal in six years for Liam Boden.

Paul Stevenson broke the deadlock, with Joe Cunningham adding a second at the far post.

Mark Hopwood made it three on the half-hour mark, while Richard Bennett scored a fourth just before the break.

The home side dominated the second half, with Bennett, an own goal, Cunningham, Dale Jackman and Boden adding to Springhead’s tally.

In action-packed 45 minutes, ’keeper Lee Milner also saved an Osset penalty.

Premier division: Atherton Town P Walshaw Sports P; Avro 2, Stockport Georgians 1; Elton Vale 1, Prestwich Heys 5; Hindsford 3, Leigh Athletic 3; Royton Town 1, Dukinfield Town 1; Wythenshawe Amateurs 4, Hollinwood 0; East Manchester 4, Chapel Town 1; Manchester Gregorians 1, Old Alts 3;.

Division one: Breightmet United P West Didsbury P; Pennington P Wythenshawe Town P; Wilmslow Albion 1, Beechfield United 0; Salford Victoria 2, Bury Amateurs 3;

Division three: Bury Amateurs Res 4, Royton Town Res 1;

Division four: Walshaw SC ‘A’ P Hollinwood ‘A’ P.

West Riding County Cup: Springhead 9, Osset Town Res 2.

Manchester Amateur Cup: Rochdale Sacred Heart 3, Haslingden St Mary’s 3 aet — Sacred Heart won 4-2 on pens; Burnage Metro 3, Heywood St James 2; Monton Amateurs P Lostock St Gerard’s P; Deans Youth & Ladies 2, Manchester Gregorians Res 1; Irlam Res P Avro Res P; Manchester Medics 6, Beechfield Utd Res 2 aet; Old Stretfordians 5, East Manchester Res 1; Oldham Victoria 3, Dukinfield Town Res 5; Wythenshawe Ams Res 4, Salford FC 4 aet; Chorltonians P Monton Amateurs Res P; Heyside 9, Atherton Town Res 1; Manchester Rovers 1, Fives Athletic Res 5; Parrswood Celtic 3, Hollinwood Res 4.