League side see off rivals in shoot-out
THE annual match between old rivals and friends for the Lancashire and Cheshire AFL and the Lancashire Amateur FL was hosted at the excellent facilities at FC United of Manchester as they played for the John Howard Trophy.
The fixture was the 85teh match between the leagues, who will both jointly celebrate their centenaries of Inter League football in 2020.
It was a new experience for the L and C management team of Rob White and Alan Whelan (Mellor FC) and most of the young team recruited from Mellor, Moorside Rangers, High Lane and Rochdalians against a strong LAL team who had played together several times in recent seasons.
The team were only introduced to each other about 30 minutes before kick-off and barely knew each other’s names.
But the L and C got off to flying start as the prolific Brad Sixsmith (Moorside Rangers) clinically finished off after being set up by James Leeson (High Lane) on three minutes.
But for most of the first half the LAL were on top and dominated the game led by the outstanding Matt Davies (Blackrod) who deservedly got his side level on 35 minutes.
It was pretty much the same pattern for most of the second half as the LAL created many chances but some profligate finishing and determined defending led by skipper Reece Gregory (Rochdalians) and 17-year-old keeper Reece Glennon (Moorside Rangers) prevented them taking the lead.
The LAL finally looked to have sealed victory when they broke the deadlock on 81 minutes as Matty Woods (Little Lever) scored from the penalty spot.
But the home team showed their resolve and determination as they came back to win a penalty after 86 minutes which was coolly converted by James Leeson to take the game into a penalty shoot-out for the second successive season.
After the LAL had missed their first spot kick the L and C took full advantage as Callum McLeod, Tom Kay and Brad Sixsmith (all Moorside), James Leeson and Johnny Wikinson (High Lane) all scored with great confidence to regain the John Howard Trophy for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
The game was excellently controlled by referee Ryan Alderson and his team who received medals from league President Graham Ellis as did all of the L and C players.
Making the trophy presentation to the L and C Captain Reece Gregory was John Howard’s son Stephen.
More dire weekend weather severely decimated the league and cup programme with the bulk of the games on grass being postponed to give fixture secretary Mal Kershaw more furrows on his brow.
A delayed GP Property Management Ltd Rhodes Cup final saw division one high-fliers Waterloo win a close contest at Premier division Signol by the odd goal in five.
Signol opened the scoring with a well-taken finish but Waterloo eventually applied their hot league form to secure victory and march into the next round.
Premier division action was limited to one game and Whalley Range kept up their good run of form with a comfortable 3-0 win at Mellor to move into third place in the table, three points behind High Lane with a game in hand.
In division one leaders Old Stretfordians suffered a rare defeat at the hands of a resurgent Parrs Wood Celtic who won 5-3 to keep them just four points clear of Waterloo, who have massive four games in hand.
Moston Brook moved into the top half of the table for the first time this season as they enjoyed a thrilling win by the odd goal in seven hosting Chorltonians and Salford Vics were also in the goals with a lively 5-3 win over Didsbury.
Division two leaders Chorltonians seconds took another big step to the title and retained their 12-point lead over Mellor seconds with a 3-1 win over AFC Oldham.
AFC Oldham gave as good as they got in a game which was a credit to both teams but were unable to match the finishing skills of James Dixon (two) and Aaron Rodger.
Mellor seconds kept up the chase with a 3-1 win at Swinton to set up the vital game with Chorlts this weekend.
Irlam Tigers are on a great run of form and they kept in touch with nonplaying division three leaders Dom Doyle with an emphatic 6-0 win at Moston Brook seconds.
It was much closer in the other two games in the division as Hollingworth scored the only goal of the game against Manchester Polonia and Newton Heath seconds shared six goals with Dukinfield Athletic.
In division A Abacus Media seconds missed the chance to overtake leaders Signol Athletic seconds as they suffered a 3-1 defeat hosting Moorside Rangers seconds.
There was plenty of action in division B with four games played and Milton seconds reduced the lead of Salford Vics seconds at the top of the table to three points with a game in hand with a 7-4 win over Dukinfield Athletic seconds.
A first-half hat-trick by John Robertson plus an own goal saw Milton to a 4-2 lead at the break with Chris Meredith and Anthony Howard netting for Athletic.
The introduction of Danny Tetlow in the second half saw Athletic come more into the game as he netted twice and set up other chances.
But in an entertaining encounter Milton sealed victory with strikes from McNicols and Roberts plus an unfortunate own goal.
The young Signol Athletic thirds were delighted to notch their second win of the season as they won 5-3 at Rochdale Galaxy and Trafford United seconds also went nap as they beat Hillgate 5-2.
Spurley Hey seconds put on efficient display to post a 3-1 win over Bury Ams seconds.
Very limited action in the other two divisions saw Abacus Media thirds keep a rare clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Didsbury seconds in division C.
There was a shock for division D leaders Staly Lions as they were well beaten 4-0 by Old Stretfordians thirds and AFC Stockport were hot as they beat Chadderton Park seconds 6-2.