Super Avro have a head for heights

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: AVRO are sitting pretty in the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League premier division.

The Failsworth high-flyers dislodged Walshaw Sports at the top of table after a superb 2-0 win against their title rivals.

And now manager Rob Fuller and his trusty assistants Chris Armstrong and Bobby Jones are hoping their side can carry on the good work in the build-up to Christmas.

Fuller said: “We have to play Walshaw again on Saturday week, followed by Wythenshawe Amateurs and Dukinfield Town.

“If we can get through those matches unscathed, then that will go a long way to determining where we will finish overall.

“It’s important that we keep everyone fit, especially James Hampson and Lee O’Brien, who seem to score every week.

“Touch wood, the players have kept clear of injuries so far and a lot of that is down to Bobby, who has come in as first-team coach. He has bundles of experience and makes sure the players warm up properly and also do the right things after games.”

Hampson and O’Brien were on the mark against Walshaw, but Avro were also indebted to ’keeper Jake Edwards for a couple of fine saves.

Edwards was called into action before Hampson put the visitors in front from close range.

Avro’s second arrived when a neat interchange of passes ended in O’Brien heading home from 15 yards.

Hollinwood slumped to a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Leigh Athletic, and Springhead were beaten 6-3 by Dukinfield Town in an entertaining encounter at Ashfield Crescent, which has now seen 20 goals in two weeks.

A cool finish from Joe Cunningham put the home side in front, but it was all change by half-time as Town hit back to lead 3-1.

Springhead had a couple of chances to reduce the deficit after the restart, but instead fell further behind from the penalty spot.

This stirred the hosts into action and Mark Hopwood narrowed the gap before Paul Stevenson made it 4-3 with a successful spot-kick.

But hopes of a point or better were extinguished when Springhead were twice caught on the break.

Results —

Premier division: Leigh Athletic 3, Hollinwood 0; Old Alts 5, Hindsford 0; Prestwich Heys 0, Manchester Gregorians 0; Rochdale Sacred Heart 1, Elton Vale 2; Royton Town 4, East Manchester 1; Springhead 3, Dukinfield Town 6; Walshaw Sports 0, Avro 2; Wythenshawe Amateurs 1, Atherton Town 3.

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

Division two: East Manchester Res 1, Springhead Res 1;

Division three: Bury Amateurs ‘A’ P Royton Town Res P. Hollinwood Res 5, Bury Amateurs Res 0.