Avro setting their sights on top prize

AMATEUR SOCCER:

AVRO are back in with a shout of winning the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League premier division title.

Leaders Wythenshawe Amateurs slipped to a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Leigh Athletic in midweek.

It leaves Avro, who followed up the 5-1 demolition of local rivals Hollinwood with a 2-2 draw at Stockport Georgians, just six points off top spot with two games in hand.

Royton Town earned bragging rights at Hollinwood last weekend courtesy of a thrilling 4-3 triumph.

It went from bad to worse for Hollinwood in midweek when they were beaten 3-0 by Atherton Town, while Royton Town could only muster a 1-1 draw at basement boys Rochdale Sacred Heart.

There were mixed fortunes for Springhead. Having seen off high-flying Walshaw Sports 2-1, they followed it up with a 1-0 loss to Chapel Town.

Results —

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

Division one: Breightmet United 4, Heywood St James 3; Pennington 1, West Didsbury 3; Wilmslow Albion 0, Bury Amateurs 1; Wythenshawe Town 1, Monton Amateurs 3.

Division two: Avro res 2, Leigh Athletic res 4, Rochdale SH res 2, Springhead res1.

Division three: Fives Athletic res 5, Hollinwood res 3, Royton Town res 1, Breightmet United res 2.

Midweek results —

Premier division: Atherton Town 3, Hollinwood 0; Rochdale Sacred Heart 1, Royton Town 1; Springhead 0, Chapel Town 1; Stockport Georgians 1, Hindsford 2; Wythenshawe Amateurs 1, Leigh Athletic 2.

Division one: Wilmslow Albion 0, West Didsbury 1.

Division two: Walshaw Sports res 2, Springhead res 0.


Depleted Heyside are on the up
DESPITE playing the first 10 minutes with eight players due to traffic problems and the last 30 with 10 players because of injuries, Heyside won 6-1 at Lindley FC in division four of the Huddersfield and District League.

The victory clinched the runners-up spot and promotion.

A James Taylor strike after 15 minutes was soon cancelled out, but Taylor netted again and Carl Winstanley made it 3-1 at the break.

Winstanley doubled his tally in the second half and James Leonard grabbed a brace to complete the scoring.

Meanwhile, Diggle eased to a 5-1 triumph over Moldgreen in division one.

Jeff Whittaker and Keiron Mayall notched early goals, before the visitors pulled one back.

But Mayall and Whittaker both found the net again before the interval, and the second half was almost all Diggle as they pummelled the opposition goal.

Substitute Ian Swallow hit the crossbar before full-back Wayne Broadbent raced through a dispirited Moldgreen defence to round the ’keeper and slide home to complete the rout.

Uppermill also picked up three points with a hard-fought 1-0 win at lowly Wooldale Wanderers.

Diggle’s second team maintained top spot in reserve division one with a comfortable 5-0 win at Meltham.

The third team were made to work hard by rivals Heyside, with honours ending even at 2-2.

They remain in second place in reserve division two, with the title still up for grabs. Nick Dempsey and Matthew Noakes scored for Heyside.

Results —

FA Junior Cup semi-final: Britannia Sports Res 2, Uppermill Res 1.

Division one: Diggle 5, Moldgreen 1; Wooldale Wanderers 0, Uppermill 1.

Division four: AFC Lindley 1, Heyside FC 5.

Reserve division one: Meltham Athletic Res 0, Diggle Res 5;

Reserve division two: Diggle ‘A’ 2, Heyside FC Res 2.


Last-four place awaits Royton

AFC ROYTON came from behind to book a place in the last four of the Rochdale On-line Alliance’s C Potts Cup with a narrow 2-1 win at Todmorden.

The local outfit drew level just before the break when Carl Lawton, who was returning from injury, cut in from the left to score.

Royton dominated the early stages of the second half and went ahead through Jordan Wilcox.

Todmorden threw everything at the visitors, but they were denied an equaliser by Luke Grant’s magnificent save.


Spot-kick heartache

ASHTON United Ladies suffered penalty shoot-out pain in the last eight of the Cheshire and Manchester Women’s League Challenge Cup.

All square at 2-2 after extra time — Hayley Hardy and Rachel Cummins scored for Ashton – they went on to lose the spot-kick decider 4-3.