Walker finds his range at last

up and running: Rifle Range captain Andrew Walker.

FOOTBALL: RIFLE Range ‘A’ skipper Andrew Walker must have broken a mirror in 2005, because he had to endure seven years of bad luck before finally scoring a goal for the club.

The towering centre-half (25) was mobbed by jubilant team-mates who could be forgiven for doing a double-take as he calmly collected the ball, took aim and curled it home from the edge of the box.

It was their sixth goal in a 10-2 triumph over Grosvenor FC in the County Cup.

Walker said: “To be honest I had resigned myself to the fact I was never going to get on the scoresheet. I actually lost interest.

“Being a centre-half, I don’t get that many opportunities in the opposition’s penalty area.

“Ironically on the rare occasions I do get a sight of goal it is a header from a set-piece, so it must have looked strange when I bent the ball into the corner of the goal.”

Rifle will face Chaddy End in the quarter-finals.

Challenge Cup second-round action saw David Giblin Division One outfit Springhead Libs ‘A’ get the better of Jack Abbott Premier Division opponents Oddies 5-2.

Scott Ashton and Aaron Bowskill bagged two goals apiece, with Adam Bray also getting in on the act.

Mark Wood and Leon Parry replied.

Oldham Tigers, of Martin Buckley Division Two, were held to a 2-2 draw by Division Three Coppice United ‘B’, for whom Usman Zaheer and Khalid Kamran netted.

There were also wins for Anglers, Highfield United, Failsworth Athletic, Limeside King George, Oldham GPO and Famous King George ‘B’.

Red Star won a penalty shoot-out 4-3 after a 3-3 draw with Rifle Range Royle Blues in the President’s Trophy.

Joshua Cass pounced twice and Chris MacDonald hit the target for Red Star.

Chaddy End also went through, after beating Radclyffe 6-5.