Lane make date for quarter final
ANOTHER horrible week of poor weather caused mass cancellations of cup and league games in the final week of fixtures before the festive break.
The main emphasis was on domestic cup competitions with a few league games thrown in for good measure.
But only 3G pitches were fit for play leaving a handful of games played and causing more furrows on the brow of fixture secretary Mal Kershaw. In the Rhodes Cup Premier division high-fliers High Lane were given a good contest by division one’s Salford Vics.
Vics gave as good as they got for the first 30 minutes and deservedly took the lead through Keenan Switzer.
But High Lane then upped their game to score three times in quick succession with Liam Ludlam, Johhny Leeson (two) the second with a thundering free kick, to lead 3-1 at the break. High Lane sealed victory with strikes from Jimmy Williamson and Tom Parker but Vics showed their fighting spirit with two late goals as Lane went into the quarter finals with a 6-3 win.
In the Wray Cup Mellor seconds had few problems in accounting for a depleted Heaton Mersey by 6-1.
There was a dramatic win for Chadderton Park as they took on Bury Ams seconds in the Whitehead cup in an excellently contest game between two well-matched teams at Wright Robinson.
Haydn Paul gave Bury the lead but Park were level at the break before Bury regained the lead via a deflected shot.
Park pressed hard for the equaliser going near on numerous occasions as Bury defended desperately and finally got their reward as Nathan Mansbridge struck on 89 minutes and Park kept their nerve to win the penalty shoot out by 4-3.
The other Whitehead Cup clash produced another close contest with Hargreaves Bury winning 4-3 in a local derby at Abacus Media seconds.
In the Hellawell Shield there was another cliff -hanger between Moston Brook fourths and AFC Stockport that ended at 4-4 in normal time. AFC Stockport then had few problems in winning the penalty shoot-out by 3-1.
Limited league action in division one saw Milton move into third spot behind Old Stretfordians and Waterloo with an efficient 4-1 win over Moston Brook.
In division three Santos showed their determination after trailing to an early goal from Newton heath seconds for an hour.
Keith Kurpas levelled for Santos who kept up their momentum to secure victory with late strikes from Reece Holden and Callum Standring.
Division A action saw promotion-hunting Signol Athletic seconds drop their first points of the season as they were held to a 3-3 draw by AFC Oldham seconds.
They are level on points with Aldermere and an identical goal difference but with a vital game in hand.
Division B featured two league games that saw Salford Vics seconds cruise to a 3-0 win over Spurley Hey seconds to move into second spot, three points behind leaders Milton seconds but with a game in hand.
The other game saw Trafford United seconds keep a rare clean sheet as they scored the only goal of their game at Dukinfield Athletic seconds.
There was no action in divisions C and D to complete another dismal day of weather.
‘High-fliers High Lane were given a good contest by division one’s Salford Vics’