Full steam ahead in pursuit of title

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: WITH four wins out of four, it was a weekend to remember for local sides in the Bridge-water Office Supplies Manchester League premier division.

Avro and Hollinwood, who go head to head at the Lancaster Club tomorrow, enhanced their title aspirations, while Royton Town and Springhead continued their pursuits of a top-five finish.

Behind after five minutes Avro fought back to beat Hindsford 4-1. Steve Morris, with a 25-yard effort, scored the pick of the goals. Also on target were Daniel Grimshaw, James Hampson and Martin Barnes-Gott.

Hollinwood were too strong for Atherton Town.

Anthony Robinson (two), James Snowden and Alan Beckett were the marksmen in a 4-0 win.

Other results went way the way of Hollinwood and Avro as Wythenshawe Amateurs and Walshaw Sports, the top two in the table, both tasted defeats.

Meanwhile, Royton Town stretched their unbeaten record to seven games with a 1-0 win over basement boys Rochdale Sacred Heart.

In a poor game — underfoot conditions far from ideal for free-flowing football — Will Mellor got the only goal with a superb long-range volley on the hour mark.

Jason Titterington had earlier gone close, while substitute Anthony Boyle had a shot blocked by the Rochdale defence.

At the opposite end, Alistair Simmons cleared off the line and Steve Birchenall produced two saves.

Springhead completed the four-timer with a 3-2 win at struggling Prestwich Heys.

Like Avro, they also had to come from behind, Heys scoring with their first effort of the game.

Springhead picked up the pace and equalised on the half-hour mark through Hopwood’s cool finish.

Lee McAllister’s side dominated the second half.

The Heys ’keeper denied Taylor on two occasions before Lees put Springhead in front with a back-post header.

Taylor finally got his goal with a sublime chip from outside of the penalty area.

Heys pulled a goal back and threatened a late equaliser, but Springhead held on.

Results —

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

Division one: Heywood St James 1, Salford Victoria 1; Monton Amateurs 0, Bury Amateurs 3; Wythenshawe Town 0, Breightmet United 1; Beechfield United 5, Fives Athletic 1; Pennington 1, West Didsbury and Chorlton 3.

Division two: Avro Res 4, Stockport Georgians Res 1; Springhead Res 4 (D Jackman 2, L Hall, J Kelly), Leigh Athletic Res 1.

Division three: West Didsbury and Chorlton Res 2, Hollinwood Res 2.

Division four: Hollinwood ‘A’ 5, Wilmslow Albion Res 2.


Red-hot Santos sink Mersey

SANTOS are on a roll in division two of the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

Buoyed by their defeat of second-placed Standians, they followed up with a 1-0 win over in-form Heaton Mersey.

Santos worked hard for the victory. While Matthew Fitton went close with an early effort and John Mayall was denied by a last-ditch tackle, they were also forced to defend for long periods.

Ian Dunkerley was commanding in the air and ’keeper Robert Tagg was equal to the challenge when called upon.

The breakthrough came before the break when Jonathan Harrison headed home a corner.

Mersey dominated most of the second half, but Tagg kept them at bay with a series of fine saves, while substitute Peter Mayall and Ryan Kelly made several crunching tackles.

Jonathan Phillips had a great chance to clinch victory — he shot straight at the ’keeper when one-on-one — but Santos had done enough to make it back to back wins.

Top-of-the-table Deans FC stand in the way of a third straight victory tomorrow.

Santos are above Oldham Victoria, who lost 4-3 at Droylsden Amateurs.

In division one, AFC Oldham 2005 had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Cheadle Hulme Villa.

Vics reserves were beaten 3-2 at home to their Parrswood Celtic counterparts in reserve division ‘C’.

Santos’ second string defeated Chorltonians fifths 4-3 in division ‘D’, but AFC Oldham 2005 reserves went down 5-3 to Bedians thirds.