Two open up a gap at the top
IT was back to league action in a full programme of games and in the Premier divisions.
Mellor maintained their 100 per cent record with a solid defence enjoying a clean sheet as they won 2-0 at Abacus Media.
Now Whalley Range, recovering from their slow start to the season, are hot on their heels after beating fellow high-fliers Tintwistle Athletic 4-1.
Tim Kinsella profited on an early defensive error to give Range the lead and despite some heavy pressure they were unable to add to their lead and Athletic levelled through Tom Burns on 31 minutes.
Range set their stall out to dominate the second half and got their reward with goals from Luke Bennion with a fine header, the returning Connor Downes and Louis Scott to stay two points behind Mellor, who have a game in hand as the teams prepare for their big clash this coming weekend.
Parrs Wood Celtic’s recent good run came to an abrupt end as they could only fire blanks going down 3-0 at Old Ashtonians who climbed out of the bottom two above local rivals Newton.
Newton were beaten 3-1 at South Manchester and were punished for a sloppy start with an early goal from Hamza Baroot.
Newton got their act together to level before the break but South scored twice without reply in the second half through super-sub Marc Critchley and the predatory Azuka Otutu.
Reigning champions Rochdalians stay in the frame as they worked hard for a 3-2 win at lowly Bedians while High Lane and Old Trafford and Gorse Hill shared four goals.
Moorside Rangers continue to blaze an unstoppable trail at the top of division one with an efficient 5-0 win at Didsbury preserving their 100 per cent record.
The young Didsbury team played some attractive football but lacked the cutting edge shown by Moorside as they went nap with strikes from Jones (two), Kelly, Sixsmith and Lock.
They have two games in hand and a one-point lead over their nearest rivals Signol Athletic who eased to a 5-2 win over Salford Vics.
The result of the day came from Old Stretfordians who enjoyed a fantastic 7-4 win over high-flying Newton Heath.
Buoyed by last week’s big Manchester Cup win Strets showed their intent with a neat strike from Joe Mullarkey and they made it 4-2 at the break.
Heath came out fighting to make it 4-4 before Alex Ritchie restored the Strets lead and take them to victory.
The veteran Ritchie showed that class is permanent with his second successive four-goal haul.
Oldham Vics defied their basement position with a 3-1 win at Milton and Stoconians were in bright form beating Bury Ams 5-2.
The other game in the division was a close affair with Trafford United edging home by the odd goal in seven against Swinton.
There was some Wray Cup action in division two with wins for Mellor seconds by 5-2 over Waterloo and Chorltonians who won their local derby by 3-1 at Parrs Wood Celtic seconds.
AFC Oldham stay on top of the division but were taken all the way in a 3-2 win at Newton seconds. Hooley Bridge Celtic won 5-3 hosting Spurley Hey and Moston Brook seconds were delighted with their first win of the season beating Staly Lions 3-0.
It’s tight at the top of division two with two teams locked on 15 points.
Leaders Salford Vics seconds won 6-4 at Santos but Chorltonians seconds have the edge with a game in hand as they kept an immaculate clean sheet with a 3-0 win over Newton Heath seconds preserving their 100 per cent record.
Elsewhere there were wins for Chadderton Park by 3-1 over Hooley Bridge Celtic seconds and Rochdalians seconds by 6-2 over Manchester Polonia.
In a Wray Cup match High Lane seconds progressed to the next round with a 3-1 derby win over Heaton Mersey.
In division A leaders Whalley Range thirds caught fire with a blistering spell of seven goals in 20 minutes in an outstanding first half against AFC Oldham seconds.
They took their foot off the gas after this adding four more led by hat-tricks from Sam Remeh and Abdirashid Ibrahim backed by Omar Benali (two), Laz Hadjisteriou, Abdul Rihan and Imy Haq, who also had six assists.
Second-placed Hollingworth lost ground on Range as they were beaten 3-1 at Chorltonians Rovers and Moston Brook thirds were celebrating their second win of the season by 3-2 at Hargreaves Bury.
Stoconians seconds are in third spot after a comfortable 4-1 win at Bury Ams while Mellor thirds enjoyed an exciting 4-3 win over Tintwistle Athletic seconds.
In a Whitehead Cup preliminary Hillgate trounced Aldermere 7-2.
There was one Whitehead Cup match in division B with Village Manchester prevailing by 3-2 at Old Strets seconds.
Abacus Media seconds kept up their 100 per cent start with a hard-earned 2-1 win at Old Trafford and Gorse Hill seconds which leaves them five points clear of Tintwistle Athletic thirds who beat Bedians seconds 3-2.
Deans were in convincing form as the beat Milton seconds 6-0 and Bury Ams were also good value for a 4-1 win at Rochdale Galaxy.
The other game was a real thriller with Chorltonians Villa winning by the odd goal in nine at Staly Lions seconds.
No change at the top of division C with the top two both enjoying victories with Moorside Rangers seconds staying three points clear with a 3-0 win over Abacus Media thirds.
Didsbury thirds kept pace with Rangers as they won 3-2 at AFC Oldham thirds and Spurley Hey seconds are also in the frame after a 4-2 win at Parrs Wood Celtic thirds.
Moston Brook fourths continued to make it a good day for the club in a 2-2 deadlock with Salford Vics thirds and another close encounter saw Oldham Vics seconds win 4-3 at Stoconians thirds.
Hellawell Shield action brought wins for Manchester Rovers who scored the only goal of their tie at AFC Oldham fourths and AFC Stockport by 2-0 over Old Strets thirds.
In division D leaders Bedians thirds got back to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Chadderton Park seconds and they stay seven points clear of local rivals Didsbury fourths who enjoyed a 4-2 victory over Bury Ams fourths.
Swinton seconds beat Whalley Range fourths, who had Sam Millar on fire with a hat-trick, 6-4 to stay in third spot.
The local derby between Staly Lions thirds and Droylsden JFC saw the Lions in a hungry mood in a 6-3 win while the other game in the division had Chorltonians Athletic sharing six goals with Stoconians fourths.