Avro shot down by three-goal blitz

Photo: Picture by CHRIS SUNDERLAND

coming through: Avro’s James Hampson feels the force of a challenge from Phil Porter, of Walshaw Sports.

AMATEUR FOOTBALL:

Avro 2, Walshaw Sports 3
AVRO threw away a golden opportunity to reach the final of the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League Gilgryst Cup.

Lee O’Brien’s double strike looked enough to carry the local outfit through to the final, but title rivals Walshaw Sports responded with a three-goal salvo in the last 20 minutes to snatch victory at the Lancaster Club.

Avro had already beaten their last-four opponents twice in the league this season — a 2-0 away success back in November and a 3-2 win at home more recently— and for long periods it appeared as though they were on course for the treble.

In truth and despite leading 2-0, Avro were not at their best.

Michael Barnes-Gott, a first team squad member who was absent because of injury, said: “Even at 2-0 up we were flat, as we were for the majority of the game.

“We created enough decent chances but we lacked bite and our two goals were very much individual efforts.

“We really should have been three or four up, but full credit to Walshaw who I thought deserved the win.”

O’Brien broke the deadlock after 28 minutes with a spectacular 25-yard free-kick.

And if that goal was good, O’Brien’s second strike 10 minutes later was even better.

Cutting in from the left-hand side of the Walshaw penalty area, O’Brien saw a chink of light between opposition defenders and the frame of the goal before curling home a wonderful strike from the edge of the penalty area.

But Walshaw refused to throw in the towel and their response in the game’s final quarter was admirable.

AVRO: Edwards, Thornton, Hoskins, Armstrong, Morris, White, Gregson, Hall, O’Brien, Grimshaw, Hampson. Subs: Gavin, Martin Barnes-Gott, Harris.


. . . but Hollinwood make no mistake


ANTHONY ROBINSON hit a hat-trick as treble-seeking Hollinwood clinched a place in the Manchester League’s Gilgryst Cup final with a 4-2 win at Chapel Town.

Paul Bennett’s side, who go for Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy glory next Thursday (see Page 35), made a blistering start to the last-four tie.

Robinson scored twice and Liam Murray got the other as they opened up a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.

However, a double-strike by Chapel either side of the break ensured a nervous second half for Hollinwood, who are away to Rochdale SH in the premier division tomorrow.

The game was in the balance up until last minute when Robinson scored his third goal.

Elsewhere, it finished honours even in the top-flight contest between Royton Town and Springhead at Glebe Street.

Chances were at a premium in the local derby clash, with both defences dominant.

Steve Birchenall kept a fourth clean sheet in five games as Town stretched their unbeaten run to nine games.

Springhead enjoyed the better of the first half — they forced Town into some last-ditch defending — and went close when a 25-yard drive from Richard Ferguson crashed against an upright.

Town, who lost striker Michael Moss in the second minute, had a couple of moments on the break and could have done better with half-chances.

Birchenall saved well from Carl Taylor after the break and also from the excellent Paul Stevenson late on.




Results —



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

Gilgryst Cup semi-finals: Chapel Town 2, Hollinwood 4; Avro 2, Walshaw Sports 3.

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

Division two: Walshaw Sports Res 3, Avro Res 2; Springhead Res 5, Beechfield United Res 4.

Division three: Hollinwood Res 4, Dukinfield Town ‘A’ 1; Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 4, Royton Town Res 2.

Division four: Manchester Gregorians ‘B’ 2, Hollinwood ‘A’ 4.