High Lane and Mellor battle through in cup
AFTER several weeks of dreadful weather causing massive numbers of postponements league and club officials were delighted to be able to enjoy a full programme of matches with plenty of domestic cup action.
The Rhodes Cup was the dominant competition with 15 games played in the top league cup competition.
Premier division leaders Whalley Range cruised into the next round with a comfortable win over Heaton Mersey.
The other Premier division team joining them in the hat for the next round are South Manchester who enjoyed a rare clean sheet as they accounted for Moston Brook 3-0.
Mellor had to work hard for a close win by the odd goal in seven over an impressive Wythenshawe Wanderers and High Lane were given a good game before winning 4-2 over Old Stretfordians.
Division one leaders Radclyffe maintained their fine 100 per cent record with an emphatic 4-1 win over division B leaders AFC Stockport and Urmston Town accounted for Newton by 3-1
AFC Oldham maintained their excellent form in division one as they beat division three side Spurley Hey 2-0.
Salford Storm belied their lowly status in division B with a shock win at Chorltonians. The game ended at 1-1 but Storm won the penalty shoot-out by 5-4.
It also went to penalties at Bedians as they hosted fellow division two highfliers North Walkden after the game ended in a thrilling 3-3 with North prevailing 5-4 in the shoot-out.
Division C newcomers Altrincham Hale have gained in confidence after a slow start in the league and they provided another giant-killing act as they drew 0-0 with Deans then won the shoot-out by 4-2
Hadfield Athletic kept up their recent good run as they eased to a 4-0 win over Oldham Vics.
Chadderton Cott were too hot for Flixton Juniors to handle with a 7-0 cruise and in a local derby Signol Athletic emerged with a 3-2 win over Hillgate.
Swinton also moved through with a 3-1 win at Rochdale Galaxy.
Limited action in the Wray Cup saw Hooley Bridge Celtic enjoy their first win of the season as they walloped Barr Hill 8-1.
Abacus Media reserves provided a real upset as they beat Stoconians 3-1 to inflict the first defeat of the season on the division two high-fliers.
Chadderton Park had few problems in a 7-0 win at Milton reserves.
Just one game in the Whitehead Cup and it provided an easy passage for Chadderton Cott seconds who won their local derby with AFC Oldham seconds by 7-1
The Hellawell Shield saw Whalley Range seconds celebrating hard and long after they put aside some dismal league form to beat Spurley Hey seconds 5-3.
Old Strets thirds also went nap winning 5-3 at Stockport Warriors and there were few problems for Bury Ams A at Chadderton Park seconds and Salford Storm reserves at Govan Athletic as they both posted 3-0 wins.
Oldham Vics seconds and Staly Lions were deadlocked at 1-1 with the shoot out seeing Vics go through 4-2.
There was some top action in the Premier division as teams were looking to close the gap on Whalley Range.
The game of the day was a real thriller as Waterloo entertained reigning champions Rochdalians.
Rochdalians dominated much of the first half but were twice hit on the break with clinical finishes from Euan Malcolm and Rob Swallow giving Waterloo a 2-0 interval lead.
Rochdalians kept up their momentum in an excellent second-half of good football from both teams and after Adam Sweeney opened their account they drew level through Dave Devlin and they were denied victory in the last minute when Devlin just missed converting a fine cross with a draw being a fair result at the end of the day.
Salford Vics were in good form as they accounted for Dom Doyle by 5-3 and the basement battle at Trafford United saw them secure their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw with Milton.
In division one Irlam Tigers closed the gap on the top two with a 5-0 win over Signol Old Boys and Manchester Polonia moved into fourth spot with a comfortable 6-3 victory over Bury Ams.
Just two games in division two with South Manchester reserves pulling off a great derby win against Chorltonians reserves to aside some recent defeats.
South were reduced to ten men for the bulk of the game after conceding an early penalty with a deliberate handball.
But they kept their nerve and showed their quality and fighting spirit with goals from Reece Tayor and Ross Bain netting after the break to give them three precious points and put them back in the title race.
The other game was also a close affair with Mellor reserves winning a thriller by 3-1 at Dukinfield Athletic.
Village Manchester and Salford Vics seconds played the only game in division three and they moved closer to the top two with a decisive 4-0 win.
In division A Old Strets seconds kept up the pressure on leaders Stockport Sats with a 5-0 derby win over Trafford United seconds moving them to within six points of the leaders with two games in hand.
In the other game Waterloo seconds won their local derby with Dukinfield Athletic reserves by 3-0.
In division B the only game was a mid-table affair won 3-0 by Moston Brook thirds hosting Chorltonians Athletic.
Also just one game in division C with Stoconians fourths having a comfortable 5-1 win over Moston Brook fourths.