High fives for Range

James Curley (second, left), of Rifle Range ‘A’, and team-mate Lee Mallitt (third, left) battle for the ball against Springhead Libs ‘A’.

Rifle Range ‘A’ 6, Springhead Libs ‘A’ 2
FOOTBALL: RIFLE Range ‘A’ have five prizes in their sights following victory over Springhead Libs ‘A’ in the quarter-final of the Oldham Sunday League President’s Trophy at Snipe Clough.

Already champions of the Midas Plumbing and Heating Jack Abbott Premier Division, Range are on course for success in the league’s Challenge Cup and Divisional Shield, the Manchester County FA Invitational Shield and the President’s Trophy.

It would be an unprecedented achievement for an Oldham Sunday League club — nearest has been Orb, who won four trophies in 2004.

Range manager Paddy McGuirk, assisted by Gary Martin for over 10 years, is surely one of the happiest men around following his side’s league championship win.

He said: “Winning the league is something we’ve waited a long time for. Now there are other trophies in our sights.

“I have said it to the lads so many times and I had to say it again against Springhead that we can’t expect teams to just roll over and die when they play us. We can’t take anything for granted.”

Fight is what Range had to do as Springhead Libs ‘A’, second-from-bottom of David Giblin Division One, raced into a 10th-minute lead through Damien McKenzie. Late goals secured Range’s passage into the last four.

McGuirk said: “Springhead gave us a game and to be honest the result flattered us.”

Springhead manager Jimmy Smith said: “Let’s face it, we all know how good Range are, but we faded badly late on.”

Springhead’s Scott Ashton, now in his 40s, fared well against the illustrious Range strikers, but the stand-out performer for Smith’s side was Nathan Jacobs, who posed plenty of problems for the opposition.