Red-hot Rifle race through

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: IT was a shock-free zone as D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League sides battled it out in the Challenge Cup.

Teams from higher divisions avoided upsets and saw off their lower-placed opponents.

Jack Abbott Premier Division outfit Rifle Range Reds raced to a 4-1 victory at Springhead Libs ‘A’, of the Martin Buckley Division Two, thanks to goals from A Young, D Brown, J Jacobs and J Curley.

Top flight leaders Royton FC thrashed Crompton Victoria 5-1 (see John Gilder’s Match of the Day).

D Wilkinson and A Walsh scored a brace each for Division Two side Royton Athletic in a 6-0 triumph at the expense of Coppice United ‘B’. R O’Donnell and D Rogerson were also on the mark.

Parkside of Division Two pipped Limeside Athletic ‘B’, who play their football in the division below, in a 4-3 win.

Premier Division action saw second-placed Chaddy End roar to an 8-0 win at Failsworth Athletic, with R Baldwin getting give goals, A Beckett two, and K Harrop a solitary strike.

N Butt struck four times as Coppice United ‘A’ defeated Fitton Hill 5-2

Third-placed Khartoum ‘A’ beat FC Broadgate 2-0 courtesy of strikes from K Radcliffe and A Murdoch.