Mackay sets the ball rolling

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: ROYTON Town once again proved they can mix it with the best on their day as they defeated title hopefuls East Manchester 4-1.

Chris Mackay put Town ahead from long range before Jason Titterington, who found himself in acres of space, lobbed the ’keeper from outside the penalty area.

Jamie Peers added a third on the stroke of half-time to underline the home side’s dominance.

East Manchester clawed a goal back just before the hour mark as Town took their foot off the gas.

But victory was sealed when Gareth Brooks, who came close to scoring on a couple of occasions earlier on, made it four.

Manchester FA Amateur Cup third-round draw is: Bedians v Chorltonians; Failsworth Dynamos v Burnage Metro; Manchester Medics v Salford AFC; Old Stretfordians v Hollinwood Res; Deans Youth v Dukinfield Town Res; Barrhill v Fives Athletic; Abacus Media v Irlam “A’ or Avro Res; Heaton Mersey v Heyside.


Best so far as Victoria bag four

OLDHAM Victoria produced their best performance so far this season in the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

Vics, recording their second win in division two, defeated New East Manchester 4-1.

They made the perfect start when Jamie Lord fired home after 10 minutes, and he doubled his side’s tally after the interval.

Nathan Wrigley then weighed in with a brace before Manchester scored a consolation late on.

In division ‘C’, Richard Rawsthorne got all four goals as Vics’ second string defeated Burnage Metro 4-3 in a thriller.

He completed his hat-trick just before the hour mark to open up a 3-1 lead for Vics.

But Metro bounced back to draw level, only for that man Rawsthorne to clinch victory with a last-minute effort.

Danny Allott scored twice as Santos AFC reserves recorded an impressive 3-2 win at second-placed Irlam Steel in division ‘D’.

Dominic Rathmill profited from a slip by the ’keeper to put Santos in front.

Irlam levelled before the break, but Allott’s double handed Santos a clear advantage.

They went on to miss a clutch of chances before Irlam pulled a goal back with virtually the last kick of the game.

AFC Oldham 2005 reserves picked up a point in a 4-4 draw against Stoconians reserves.


Quarter-final place is target

OLDHAM under-14s are setting their sights on the quarter-finals of the Greater Manchester Schools’ Talbot Cup.

They entertain Tameside in round one on Saturday (kick-off 10.30am) — the venue is still to be confirmed — a month after losing 2-1 to their opponents in the Greater Manchester Schools’ League.

Victory for Oldham would set up a trip to either Trafford or Macclesfield in the last eight.

Oldham Schools (from): Joe Hankinson, Kane Wallwork, Ben Rathbone (Failsworth), Cameron Mason, Tom Speat, Joe Boulter, Josh James, Sam Cunliffe (Saddleworth), Ryan Richards (Counthill), Billy Burgess (Radclyffe), Dillon Moss (South Chadderton), James Schofield (North Chadderton), Jack Rafferty (Our Lady’s), Greg Street, Liam McNally, Curtis Summerhill (Blue Coat), Tashan Tomlin (Hathershaw).

The full quarter-final draw is: Stockport v Salford; Bolton v Manchester; Trafford or Macclesfield v Oldham or Tameside; Bury or Rochdale v Wigan.


Mahidul spurs Celtic

A TERRIFIC hat-trick from Mahidul Islam clinched a 3-2 win for Broadway Celtic under-16s against Deans Youth in the County Cup.

The teenage sharp-shooter was the star of the show as Celtic booked their place in the last 16 of the competition.