Mellor labour to retain top spot
THE latest round of the Manchester Amateur Cup saw two L and C teams make it into the last eight with the unlikely heroes being Old Stretfordians third team.
They had defied the odds by beating Heyside in the previous round and they showed their fighting spirit as they took on Heaton.
After the game ended at 1-1 in normal time Strets then kept their nerve to win the penalty shoot out by 4-3.
The run of their first team was ended as they lost out 5-4 in a thriller at East Manchester Academy and a similar fate was suffered by Newton Heath who were beaten 6-3 by Torpedo Chorlton.
But Moorside Rangers kept up their impressive form in the league as they matched into the quarter finals with a 5-3 win over Blackley Town.
The Rangers goals were shared by Goodman, Sixsmith,, Fraser, Kay and McMaster.
It was the end of the cup trail for Mellor seconds who were beaten 3-0 by AFC Macclesfield in the Stockport Senior Cup.
In the Premier division the top two stay close as they both posted wins.
Leaders Whalley Range cruised to a 6-3 win at High Lane while Mellor had to work harder to win by the odd goal in five at Old Trafford and Gorse Hill.
Range stay top on goal difference but Mellor have a game in hand.
Parrs Wood Celtic moved into third place with a 3-1 win over reigning champions Rochdalians.
The scoring hero for Celtic was Andrew Lunt who took his season’s tally to 18 with a clinical hattrick.
The Rochdalians consolation came from Lewis Maloney.
Moston Brook stay marooned at the foot of the table after losing their local derby with Abacus Media by 6-1 but there were some close games involving the other relegation battlers.
Newton took an early lead through Otu Atut at Bedians but with both teams battling hard they shared the points in a 3-3 deadlock.
Old Ashtonians showed their intent on avoiding the drop as they did well to hold high-flying Tintwistle Athletic to 2-2.
With division one leaders Moorside Rangers in cup action Signol Athletic took full advantage to gain a three-point lead at the top with a close 2-1 win over Milton.
It was a very good hardfought game between two committed teams.
Signol went ahead with a precise long ball from Josh Hay setting up a halfvolley into the bottom corner by Jamael Irving.
Milton drew level before the break with a good turn and strike from their centre forward but the winner came with a brave diving header from Josh Hooley from a flicked-on header by Ryan Stringer.
All the other games in the division just had an odd goal between the teams with wins for Salford Vics by 3-2 at Didsbury, Oldham Vics hosting Bury Ams and Stoconians by 4-3 over Trafford United.
Division two leaders Waterloo were out of action but AFC Oldham wasted an opportunity to draw level as they lost out 3-2 at Spurley Hey.
Chorltonians were too hot for Staly Lions to hand as they won 5-0 and Newton seconds also went nap as they beat Moston Brook seconds 5-2.
Hooley Bridge looked set for victory at Whalley Range seconds as they went 2-0 up in 30 minutes with strikes from Morgan Laine and Ben Tanner.
Range upped their game after the break and dominated the second half. Daniel Nelson reduced the arrears on 55 minutes and Jordan Shiels smashed home the pointsaver in the dying minutes.
Salford Vics seconds stay on top of division three on goal difference after a comfortable 5-0 win over Heaton Mersey.
Didsbury seconds kept on terms with Vics but had to work hard for a 2-1 win at Cheadle Hulme Athletic.
The other two games in the division both ended at 3-2 with wins for Hooley Bridge Celtic seconds over Newton Heath seconds and Chadderton Park over Manchester Polonia.
Chorltonians Rovers lead division A by three points after a 4-2 win over Aldermere but hot on their heels with vital games in hand are Whalley Range thirds and Hollingworth.
Both of them posted emphatic wins with Hollingworth beating Stoconians seconds 7-2 and Whalley Range disposed of Moston Brook thirds by 6-0.
Signol Athletic seconds stay in the mix after a 4-2 win at Hargreaves Bury and Mellor thirds cruised to a big win over AFC Oldham seconds.
Abacus Media seconds look unstoppable in division B as a routine 5-2 win over Staly Lions seconds keeps them nine points clear of the rest of the chasing pack.
There were comfortable wins for Hillgate by 5-0 over Bury Ams thirds and Rochdale Galaxy by 6-0 at Milton seconds and a close encounter at Old Strets seconds saw them score the only goal of their game with Deans.
Division D action had leaders Spurley Hey seconds staying three points clear after a 10-3 derby win at AFC Stockport.
Moorside Rangers are three points off the pace but have two games in hand as they had Hope. Moran and Parker (two) netting in a 4-1 win at Parrs Wood Celtic seconds.
Oldham Vics seconds stay in the hunt as they came out 5-3 winners in their local derby at AFC Oldham thirds.
Manchester Rovers kept an immaculate clean sheet in a 5-0 win over Spurley Hey seconds and Moston Brook fourths also hit five as they beat Stoconians thirds 5-2.
Division D leaders Bedians thirds lost out for the first time this season going down 2-1 at Trafford United seconds but Didsbury fourths were unable to take full advantage of the slip as they shared eight goals with Stoconians fourths.
Chadderton Park seconds won their local derby with AFC Oldham fourths and the other game produced a 5-2 win for Chorltonians Athletic against Staly Lions thirds.