Title rivals eye place in final

 AMATEUR FOOTBALL: ALL eyes are on tomorrow’s Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League Gilgryst Cup semi-finals.

Title contenders Avro and Hollinwood, who were due to meet last weekend in the league but the match was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, are in action and could end up going head to head in the final.

Hollinwood face an easier passage with a trip to third-bottom Chapel Town, while Avro are at home to second-in-the-table Walshaw Sports.

Both eagerly-awaited ties kick-off at 1.30pm. There will be extra-time and penalties if necessary.

Returning to last weekend’s league action, Springhead made hard work of a 2-1 win over Rochdale Sacred Heart.

The Ashfield Crescent outfit were abysmal in the first half, according to manager Lee McAllister, and went behind just before the break.

It was only after the introduction of substitutes Rick Headon and Paul Ogden that Springhead, who were looking to stretch their unbeaten run to six games, began to threaten.

They equalised with 20 minutes to go, Frankie Byrne volleying home from the edge of the penalty area.

Despite dominating the remainder of the match, they had to wait until the dying seconds before scoring the winner. ’Keeper Lee Milner’s long punt upfield picked out the run of Headon, who outpaced the visitors defence before providing a neat finish.

Royton Town, who face Springhead tomorrow, returned from championship-contenders Dukinfield Town, with a deserved 1-1 draw.

The home side were in the ascendancy in the first half, although Town did create three or four good opportunities.

Steve Birchenall was in superb form in the Town goal, but was unlucky when he parried a shot into the path of the Dukinfield, who tapped home after 37 minutes.

Anthony Duffy then found himself in the clear, but he placed his shot wide.

Manager Phil Haigh’s half-time team talk seemed to do the trick as Town controlled the second period.

Birchenall kept Town in the game with a superb double at the beginning of the half, but a double substitution turned the tide.

Replacement Jason Titterington terrorised the Dukinfield defence and bagged the equaliser in the 65th minute after great play from Duffy.

Dukinfield’s defence regrouped and limited Town’s chances in the last quarter of the game, although Will Mellor was unlucky with an effort late on.

Results —

Premier division: Avro P Hollinwood P; Chapel Town P Hindsford P; Dukinfield Town 1, Royton Town 1; Leigh Athletic 4, Elton Vale 1; Old Alts 1, East Manchester 2; Springhead 2, Rochdale Sacred Heart 1; Stockport Georgians 2, Prestwich Heys 0; Wythenshawe Amateurs 2, Walshaw Sports 0. Division one: Beechfield United 5, Wilmslow Albion 1; Fives Athletic 2, Pennington 1; Heywood St James 1, Monton Amateurs 2; West Didsbury 5, Salford Victoria 2. Division two: East Manchester Res 3, Avro Res 2; Hindsford Res P Springhead Res P; League Cup: Royton Town Res P Fives Athletic Res P; Hollinwood Res 2, Manchester Gregs ‘A’ 0. Division four: Walshaw Sports ‘A’ 1, Hollinwood ‘A’ 4.