Town rack up record victory

A remarkable Gilgryst Cup quarter-final saw Royton Town sweep aside Dukinfield Town 10-0.

It marked Royton’s biggest victory since joining the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League in the 2001-02 season.

Such an emphatic scoreline usually doesn't occur without a reason.

And it is fair to say their win was aided by Dukinfield having four players dismissed, despite the tie being far from ill-tempered.

The first Dukinfield dismissal was for a last-man challenge on Alan Beckett when Royton were already two goals to the good.

That was followed by two further first half dismissals for unsporting conduct.

The fourth sending-off came midway through the second period with Town leading 5-0.

Will Mellor led the Town rout with four goals, Beckett and Michael Moss chipped in with two goals apiece and there were solitary strikes from Chris McKay and Ryan Hulme, his first goal in six years with the club.

Royton manager Phil Haigh said: "We were well in control in the first 25 minutes before the Dukinfield players were given their marching orders.

"Our performance in that opening period showed how well we can play and I have no doubt that we would have won the match anyway.

"The win is our biggest in the league: we were just up for it on the day a lot more than they were.”

In a strange twist, Royton’s opponents in the Premier Division tomorrow are Dukinfield, at Crompton Cricket Club (2pm kick-off).

Haigh added: "It will be a different game this time."