McGuirk proud of battling Reds

Photo: PICTURE by CHRIS SUNDERLAND

UP AND AT ’EM: Keith Melvin (left), of Rifle Range Reds, is beaten to the ball by John Buckley.

Rifle Range Reds 3, Langley Rangers 4
A GOAL three minutes from time ended Rifle Range Reds’ dreams of Manchester County FA Sunday Cup glory at Oldham Edge.

Range had made a thrilling comeback after conceding two goals inside the first quarter and came agonisingly close to reaching the last four of the competition.

However, Range manager Leon (Paddy) McGuirk was in upbeat mood at the final whistle following a pulsating encounter, laced with quality.

McGuirk said: “I’m proud of the lads for the way they fought back and we came so close to winning the game.

“This is our first time in the Sunday Cup and it’s great that we got so far.

“The lads did the Oldham Sunday League proud and they can hold their heads up high.”

McGuirk and his players knew they had a game on their hands as soon as the draw for the quarter-finals was made.

Langley Rangers top the Middleton Sunday League’s Premier Division and have won many of Sunday football’s top honours.

Darren Lyons (41), a former professional at Bury and, in his formative football years a renowned striker with Royton Youth Club in the South-East Lancashire League, captained the Rangers side at right-back.

And it was Rangers who were quick to exploit a somewhat nervy start from the hosts when a harmless-looking Ryan Higginson free-kick from out wide found its way into the net through a massed-rank of players.

McGuirk’s men responded brightly with some inspired attacking play and the quick feet of James Curley, allied to the strong running of Nathan Eastmond, gave the opposition defence plenty to think about.

But the Middleton side struck again in the 24th minute. That man Higginson picked out John Buckley on the left and his first time, waist-high cross was hammered home by Sam Freakes.

It was a goal that was met with the approval of former Manchester City, QPR and England international Stan Bowles, who had travelled to watch Rangers in action.

Range looked a beaten side and things got worse for them when Matty German’s cross-cum-shot deceived goalkeeper Matthew Taylor before entering the net.

Yet, with virtually the last kick of the first half, Eastmond maintained his record of scoring in every round of the competition with a mazy dribble and feint before firing the ball into an empty net.

Inspired at the break by McGuirk’s incisive and well-advised comments, Range were about to give the Middleton hot-shots the fright of their lives.

A goal direct from a corner kick by the irrepressible Eastmond five minutes after the restart gave Range momentum and, when Curley pulled his side level with 16 minutes to go, it seemed anything was possible for the home side in terms of snatching a winner.

But hope turned to heartbreak for Range when, with just four minutes remaining, Higginson was on hand to fire home the winner for Rangers.



CHADDY End FC will fly the flag for the Oldham Sunday League after they made it through to the semi-finals of the MCFA Sunday Cup.

Goals from Tom Keegan, Kyle Harrop and Dominic Smalley clinched a 3-1 win at home to Manchester United Supporters Club.



RIFLE Range Reds are in knock-out action again this weekend as they take on their ‘B’ team at Oldham Edge in round three of the D&J Builders (North West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League Challenge Cup (2pm).