GEOFF GARNETT
ONCE more monsoon conditions hit the busy programme of league and domestic cup action, causing more furrows on the brow of beleaguered fixture secretary Mal Kershaw.
To their credit several teams moved their fixtures to other venues to get their games in and artificial surfaces enabled a number of games to be completed.
The Premier League Cup knock-out competition for the Rhodes Cup kicked off and the big shock came as cup holders Salford Vics were beaten 3-2 by visiting Division Two side Stoconians.
Apart from that result there were few shocks with the other main one being at Astley Sports Village where Division Two side Dukinfield Athletic had an emphatic 6-1 win over Premier Division Milton.
Village Manchester gave a good account of themselves in the first half
The biggest shock came as holders Salford Vics were beaten by visitors Stoconians
Meanwhile, there were no problems for Dom Doyle who had a comfortable 8-1 derby win at Staly Lions.
Bedians are enjoying a fine season in Division Two and playing a young Hooley Bridge Celtic side they opened their account in the first minute through veteran predatory striker Sean Chappell and then cruised to a big 9-2 win.
The other clear winners were Hadfield who kept an immaculate clean sheet as they despatched Chadderton Park 3-0.
Bury Ams had to work hard for a 2-1 win at Santos and Chadderton Cott repeated this scoreline at Govan Athletic.
The all-Premier Division clash between Trafford United and South
Manchester ended deadlocked at 1-1 with South going through with a 5-4 win in the penalty shootout.
Penalties were also needed at Stockport Sports Village as Signol Old Boys and Elton Lib Hargreaves enjoyed a well-contested game that ended goalless after 90 minutes.
Signol were then impeccable in the shoot-out winning 5-4. There were also two Whitehead Cup matches and a remarkable game saw Mellor thirds beat Trafford United reserves 9-6 in a goals-filled encounter.
It was much more comfortable for Moston Brook reserves in the other game as they cruised to a 6-0 victory over Dukinfield Athletic reserves. League action was limited to just three games in which there were goals galore.
In Division Two, title contenders North Walkden demolished Mellor reserves 13-2.
Division three’s only game was a real spectacular contest with Signol Athletic winning by the odd goal in nine at Abacus Media reserves.
There were also nine goals in the division C match between Salford Storm reserves winning 7-2 hosting Stoconians fourths. »»Pictures: Geoff Garnett