Franklin the hero in dramatic finale
Date published: 31 January 2014
FOOTBALL: ANOTHER week of heavy rain, followed by a lunchtime downpour, caused the postponement of the majority of Lancashire and Cheshire League games.
Those games that did beat the weather were played on 3G pitches.
There were no problems for Premier Division leaders AFC Oldham, and their fine pitch at Curzon Ashton. They beat much-improved Chorltonians, who have made good progress in recent weeks, 2-1.
Oldham were looking to bounce back from their shock exit in the Rhodes Cup, but found Chorlts more than equal to their task as they created plenty of chances with some good team play.
Terrific Town topple leaders
PREMIER Division Royton Town secured the best result of their FBT Manchester League season.
Hitting the road to top-flight pace-setters Hindsford, Royton weren’t daunted and bagged a superb 4-3 victory which lifted them to fourth place.
Avro’s title challenge continues to stutter as they were beaten 2-1 at home by AFC Monton.
There was more woe for Chadderton’s reserves in Division One as they went down 3-2 at Beechfield United. Chadderton remain at the foot of the table.
Hollinwood’s second string pocketed a useful 4-2 win against Hindsford in Division Two, while Royton’s reserves secured the Division Three bragging rights thanks to a 5-1 thumping of Uppermill.
RIFLE Range ‘A’, from the Midas Plumbing and Heating Services Oldham Sunday League, and Chaddy End Old Boys go head to head on Sunday with a place in the final of the Manchester County FA Invitational Shield up for grabs (2pm).
The last-four tie, which is being staged at Clayton playing fields, should be a cracker. Range, who reached the semi-final stage last season, will be hoping to win the competition this time, but must first see off the side formerly known as Chaddy End FC.
ONLY one fixture survived in the Midas Plumbing and Heating Oldham Sunday League.
That came in the President’s Trophy, with Failsworth Athletic booking a place in the semi-finals after seeing off Crompton House Old Boys 3-2.
