Avro in the mix for Manchester League

GOING WELL: Royton Town (yellow) are holding their own in the Manchester League top flight. Michael Moss is pictured in action against Old Alts.

FOOTBALL: THE first half of the amateur football season has proven to be something of a mixed bag for our local sides.

Of the six local clubs in the FBT Manchester League, Avro have again demonstrated their title-challenging consistency and are handily-placed, in fourth, to push for the top spot in the Premier Division.

Rob Fuller’s side can enhance their credentials tomorrow against Springhead at the Lancaster Club, Broadway (2pm). Avro will no doubt be on a revenge mission against an inconsistent Springhead outfit who have managed five wins and as many draws – with six defeats – in the run-up to the new year.

Springhead manager Lee McAllister will be keen to turn more drawn games into similar results if his side is to move up the table.

The evolving young side that is Royton Town currently sits in mid-table in the top flight and has so far experienced some emphatic victories - and some surprise defeats. Such is the unpredictability of Mark Howard’s side that it is difficult to predict the outcome of tomorrow’s visit to Wythenshawe Town, who have won only once all season.

In Division One, Uppermill have not had things all their own way since making the step up from the Huddersfield and District League.

Five wins and six defeats point to a transitional start for Simon Tait’s side, who entertain Leigh Athletic tomorrow at Churchill playing fields (2pm), while Hollinwood – up to seventh in the table following a decent run of form – go to Atherton Town who are two places above them.

Can AFC Oldham 2005 claim their first-ever title success in the Premier Division of the Lancashire and Cheshire League?

That’s the question the club itself will be asking with the side five points clear at the top - knowing they have been in a similar position before, only to fall away badly during the run-in.

But tomorrow brings a break from the pressures of league action when Abacus Media visit the Tameside Stadium in a Rhodes Cup clash (2.30pm).

In Division One, Santos are having a miserable time at the foot of the table with only one win all season.

Diggle, Heyside, 3D Dynamos and Moorside are Oldham’s representatives in the highly-competitive Huddersfield and District League.

Diggle’s First Division title hopes will depend on consistency in the second half of the season – Richard Devy’s side goes to Netherton tomorrow; while Heyside’s promotion charge can continue against Kirkheaton Rovers at Royton and Crompton 3G (2.15pm).

3D Dynamos sit at the top of Division Four and tomorrow play fourth-placed Cartworth Moor at Snipe Clough (2.15pm).