Mellor miss out on last four slot
THE top game of the day featured Premier division title hopefuls Mellor as they took on Neston Nomads in the quarter finals of the Cheshire Amateur Cup on the Newall Green 3G.
With several top scalps taken on their path to the last eight Mellor began confidently and deservedly took the lead with a clinical finish from the predatory Liam Miller.
Mellor created more chances but their failure to convert them cost them dear as their Wirral opponents came back into the game to emerge with a 2-1 win and deny Mellor a semi-final slot.
With Whalley Range without a game the top two places stay the same in the Premier division but Tintwistle Athletic pulled off the result of the day as they thrashed a depleted third-placed Parrs Wood Celtic 10-0.
Old Trafford and Gorse Hill stay ahead of Tintwistle in fourth place on goal difference after a 4-2 win over Newton.
Newton failed to take early chances and were made to pay as OT went on to win 4-2 with strikes from Kyle Millington, Reece Vanden and Anthony Mundell (two) topping the Newton efforts from Liam Woolley and Otu Etuk.
High Lane are climbing away from relegation trouble as they beat South Manchester 4-2 with a brace from Kane Berkeley not enough to rescue South.
Abacus Media began the New Year in seventh heaven after hammering Bedians 7-1 and there was a rare goalless draw at Ashtonians as they hosted champions Rochdalians.
There were wins for all of the division one promotion hunters in some close encounters.
Leaders Signol Athletic had to work hard for a 2-1 win at Salford Vics with plenty of chances created by both teams and although Vics lost their keeper to a red card the sub came on to produce some stunning saves to keep the Signol lead at 2-1.
Moorside Rangers scored the only goal of their game with Trafford United to stay three points behind Athletic with four games in hand.
Their hero was Chris Jones who capped a fine performance with a header shortly after the break and only dogged defending kept Trafford at bay.
Milton are on a good run of form and they kept up their momentum with a 4-2 win over Stoconians to stay in third place four points clear of Newton Heath who won by the odd goal in nine in a thriller at Oldham Vics.
There was a real goal fest in division two as the six games played yielded 48 goals. Leaders Waterloo and second placed Oldham AFC set the standard as Waterloo emerged from a thrilling encounter with a 5-4 victory to extend their lead at the top to nine points.
Hooley Bridge Celtic stay in third spot after a 6-3 victory over Moston Brook seconds, one point clear of Mellor seconds who won by the odd goal in five against South Manchester seconds.
The goals flowed for Whalley Range seconds in a 9-2 derby win over Parrs Wood Celtic seconds and Spurley Hey were 5-3 winners at Staly Lions and Newton seconds won 4-2 hosting Chorltonians.
In division A Signol Athletic seconds drew 2-2 in their local derby with Mellor thirds and Bury Ams thirds also shared the points in a 1-1 deadlock with Moston Brook thirds and the other game produced a 4-2 win for Stoconians seconds against Aldermere.
Division B runaway leaders Abacus Media seconds were without a game but Old Trafford and Gorse Hill seconds were unable to close the gap as they suffered an emphatic 4-0 defeat at Bedians seconds.
AFC Stockport and Stoconians thirds shared ten goals in their local derby and Salford Vics thirds hit double figures in a big win at AFC Oldham thirds.
In division D eight goals also found the back of the net at Stoconians fourths but the home team conceded seven of them to visitors AFC Oldham fourths.