Tigers spring surprise in Rhodes Cup
ANOTHER awful day of weather severely limited a full programme of games but there were plenty of goals in the games played.
In the GP Property Management Ltd Rhodes Cup the shock of the day was provided by Irlam Tigers who proved be too hot to handle for last year’s beaten cup finalists and Premier division side Newton Heath.
Division three Tigers roared into action and were soon three goals to the good with some fine attacking football and sealed a convincing win with another goal for a 4-0 success which puts them into the quarter finals along with High Lane.
Chorltonians put up a spirited display hosting Rochdalians and restricted them to a 1-0 lead at the break provided by a Mason Downscale header.
Lucas Forshaw doubled the lead early in the second half and Rochdalians skipper Davey Luker powered home a header after Scott Verrigotta had pulled one back.
Rochdalians completed the victory with a clinical finish from Greg Dyl.
Old Stretfordians showed why they are leading division one with a great team display earning them a 7-0 win over division C top team Deans FC.
Also going through to the next round were Whalley Range with a comfortable 7-3 win at Rochdale Galaxy and Dom Doyle with an emphatic 4-0 win at Oldham Vics.
Division one high fliers Waterloo were in a thrilling clash against Parrs Wood Celtic and just edged a 4-3 victory.
In the Wray Cup there was another close encounter with South Manchester seconds also winning 4-3 against in-form Manchester Polonia with strikes from Chris Waugh, Mark Brown, Jordan Harper and Mike Tonner.
In the Premier division South Manchester showed great powers of recovery after going into the break 2-1 down at Mellor who had Danny Liebrick and Jack Parr netting.
Marc Critchley added to his first-half strike for South and also on target were Paul Sunderland and Jay Rushton who kept up South’s recent goal rush and move them into third place above Mellor.
Just one game played in division one and Bury Ams upset promotion hopefuls Trafford United scoring the only goal of a tight game.
In division two Moston United boosted their promotion hopes as they closed the gap on the non-playing top three with an exciting 4-3 derby win over AFC Oldham.
Santos kept up their good run of form in division three with a 5-3 win over Heaton Mersey.
Reece Holden was the shooting star for Santos with a hat-trick and completing the naphand were Ryan McConkie and Keith Kurpas with Mike Murray (two) and Anthony Payne replying for a spirited Mersey.
There were three league games played in division A and they brought wins for Village Manchester by 2-0 over Moorside Rangers seconds, Chadderton Park by 4-3 over Abacus Media seconds and Stoconians seconds by 5-1 at Moston Brook seconds to keep themselves on the heels of the top teams with games in hand.
Just one game in division B which was a 1-1 deadlock between Signol thirds and Trafford United seconds.
Manchester Rovers moved into third spot in division C with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Stoconians thirds.
Stoconians fourths took over top spot in division D as in the only game played they won 4-2 at Moston Brook fourths to go a point clear of long-time leaders Staly Lions.