Late goals earn derby spoils

Photo: PICTURES by CHRIS SUNDERLAND.

SPRINGHEAD’S Paul Stephenson (right) attempts to shield the ball from Lee O'Brien, of Avro.

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AMATEUR FOOTBALL:

Avro 3, Springhead 1

AVRO extended their lead to four points at the top of the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League Premier Division after victory over local rivals Springhead at the Lancaster Club.

But Avro didn’t have things all their own way against a Springhead side now edging ominously towards the bottom end of the table.

Struggling Springhead matched their title-chasing opponents in most areas of the park for much of the time.

But their cause was severely hampered on the half-hour mark when centre-half Colin O’Neil sustained an ankle injury and had to leave the field.

The fact that two of Avro’s goals were headers and the other from a headed knock-down – all of them following O’Niel’s premature departure from the action – says much about his influence in an inexperienced and injury-hit side.

Springhead manager Lee McAllister said: “Colin was our oldest player at 25 against Avro and we missed him when he had to go off.

“We are in a bit of a scrap at the moment but I am confident that when we get a near fully fit squad of players there will be enough quality to keep us up.”

Springhead took the lead after 18 minutes when Paul Stevenson stroked the ball home from the penalty spot following a good piece of refereeing that allowed an advantage after a foul inside the area a second or two earlier.

Avro took advantage of Springhead’s defensive reshuffle and it was a Daniel Murray header that allowed Lee O’Brien to touch the ball home from close range ten minutes before half-time.

The second period was largely a dour affair, with Avro indebted to goalkeeper Jake Edwards who pulled off two blinding saves in the 79th minute to deny Josh Walker and then Joe Cunningham.

And with Avro visibly reeling, Frankie Byrne’s snapshot came back off the crossbar less than a minute later.

Avro immediately raced to the other end of the pitch and Murray scored the first of his two headers, the second coming in the closing stages.

Avro manager Phil Brown said: “It was a scrappy affair but we just about shaded it at the end.”