Title hopefuls back on song

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: WHAT a difference a week made for Manchester League title hopefuls Avro and Hollinwood.

Seven days after they both suffered defeats, they returned to winning ways in style.

Avro climbed up to fourth place after sweeping aside Chapel Town 4-1 and Hollinwood posted an emphatic 7-2 win at Elton Vale.

Springhead also got back on track with a 2-0 success at home to Manchester Gregorians.

The Ashfield Crescent outfit went ahead after half-an-hour when Steven-son’s fine cross was converted by the head of Taylor.

Springhead doubled their lead just after the break thanks to Hopwood’s cool finish.

Gregorians had their moments, but found ’keeper Milner at the top of his game.

Meanwhile, Royton Town slumped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat for the second week running, this time at the hands of Hindsford.

The signs were ominous for the home side after only five minutes as Steve Birchenall came to their rescue.

Town were poor in the first half and paid the penalty when the visitors took the lead after 38 minutes.

The hosts did improve after going behind, Carl Dean rattling the crossbar and Gareth Brooks going close with a header, while Ben Bogan could have claimed a point for Town with an effort late on.

Results —

Premier division: Atherton Town 2, Stockport Georgians 2; Avro 4, Chapel Town 1; Elton Vale 2, Hollinwood 7; Old Alts 1, Dukinfield Town 0; Prestwich Heys 4,East Manchester 3; Rochdale Sacred Heart 5, Leigh Athletic 4; Royton Town 0, Hindsford 1. Springhead 2, Manchester Gregorians 0; Walshaw Sports 1, Wythenshawe Amateurs 1.

Division one: Breightmet United 1, Bury Amateurs 3; Pennington P Heywood St James P; Wilmslow Albion 5, Salford Victoria 2; Monton Amateurs 1, Beechfield United 3.

Division two: Hindsford res 2, Avro res 1; Stockport Georgians res 2, Springhead 1.

Division three: Bury Amateurs ‘A’ 1, Royton Town res 4.

League Cup: West Didsbury 1, Hollinwood Res 0.

Division four: Hollinwood ‘A’ 3, Bury Amateurs ‘B’ 0.


POOR against West Didsbury seven days earlier, Royton Town reserves were much-improved at high-flying Bury Amateurs and recorded a 4-1 win. Tom Dale, Carl Caffrey, Danny Hicks and Matty Nolan got the goals.


Five-star United in Challenge Cup romp

LOWERHOUSE United ‘A’ swept into round four of the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League Challenge Cup.

The Jack Abbott premier division outfit faced a potentially tricky tie in the guise of Westwood FC, from David Giblin division one.

But United met the challenge head on and clinched a comfortable 5-1 win. James Curley scored two of the goals.

Top-flight side High Crompton CC are through to the same stage after a hard-fought 3-2 success at plucky Limeside Athletic ‘A’, also from division one.

And in an all-premier division contest, Oddies Athletic defeated Failsworth Athletic 1-0.

In the only round two encounter, premier division basement boys Coppice United won 2-1 at Rose of Lancaster.

Meanwhile, Khartoum Northern missed the chance to go clear in the premier division after they were beaten 2-1 by Royton FC.

Red Star are up to third in division one after a 2-1 win over Royton Athletic - Star boast games in hand over the top two teams - while Northside FC returned to winning ways in division two with a 3-1 victory at fellow promotion hopefuls Lowerhouse United ‘B’.

Old Grey Mare secured only their third maximum points haul of the season with a 3-1 win at Crompton and Royton.

In the shield, Failsworth Dynamos were too good for FC Broadgate in the premier division section — the scoreline was 4-2 — while Fitton Hill Rangers, leaders of division one, had to dig deep to dispose of Wellington 3-2.

But Rifle Range Royal Blues had no such trouble in division two as they put six past Famous King George, who replied with a solitary effort.

Results and scorers -

Jack Abbott premier division: FC Royton 2, Khartoum Northern FC 1.

David Giblin division one: Red Star 2 (C McDonald, C Beamish), Royton Athletic 1.

Division two: Old Grey Mare 3 (S Uren, B Scholes 2), Crompton & Royton 1 (S. Harrop); North Star Athletic 1 (J Carr), Springhead Libs FC 2 (S Ashton, D Laryea); Lowerhouse United ‘B’ 1 (M Megerson), Northside FC 3; Limeside Athletic ‘B’ 3 (S Lowther 2, W Roberts), Oldham United 2.

Challenge Cup, round two: Rose of Lancaster 1 (M Hoggard), Coppice United 2.

Challenge Cup, round three: Westwood FC 1 (A Dafe), Lowerhouse United ‘A’ 5 (N Jackson, C Brown, J Curley 2, N. Eastmond); Limeside Athletic ‘A’ 2 (W Ware, W Berry), High Crompton CC 3 (Smith, Trainer, Ashton); Oddies Athletic 1(A Cropper), Failsworth Athletic 0.

Premier division shield: FC Broadgate 2 (R Street, M Ireson), Failsworth Dynamos 4 (Z Lees, A Devine, L Mack, A Luty).

Division one shield: Wellington 2 (S Edge, K Knowles), Fitton Hill Rangers 3 (S Grimshaw, P. Badby 2).

Division two shield: Rifle Range Royal Blues 6 (Oakes 3, Knagg 2, Noicely), Famous King George 1 (Massey).