Top team rise to top in Halloween thriller
WITH plenty of thrills promised after the games on Halloween there were more thrills and drama on the pitches as the battles for divisional supremacy dominated a great day of soccer for the L and C.
With Premier division leaders De La Salle without a game they were knocked off top spot by their chasing rivals.
Stretford Paddock are the new leaders after a 4-2 win at Abacus Media and Moston Brook moved into second place with a comfortable 5-1 win over Manchester Polonia.
De La Salle still have their destiny in their own hands with games in hand but it promises to be a frantic few weeks ahead in the title race.
Two teams are dominating the top of division one but the closeness of the competition in the league was reflected by lowly Trafford United who took leaders Chadderton Cott all the way before going down 4-3 in an epic game.
Signol Athletic JFC stay two points behind Cott, who have a game in hand after a relatively comfortable 6-1 win over Didsbury.
The other game saw Old Stretfordians move into contention with a 3-1 win at Hadfield United.
Division two is one of the most competitive in the league with no easy games for any team and leaders Hattersley felt the brunt of this as they went down by the odd goal in nine at Wythenshawe Wanderers to have their lead cut to three points by Eccles United who have a game in hand.
Eccles United posted an impressive 5-2 win at South Manchester with John Cass (three), Callum Collins and Daniel Eyres on target for United.
Irlam Tiger Rangers are in mid-table but have plenty of games in hand on the leading group and they recovered from being 2-1 down at the break, with Lee Cassell on target with a clinical finish, to secure a vital 3-2 win at Baguley Athletic and look to provide a real threat as the season progresses.
Bedians put some recent dismal results firmly behind them as they beat title hopefuls Sale Ams 3-2 in a cracking contest.
There was another goals-filled thriller at Milltown as Stretford Paddock reserves emerged breathless with a 7-5 win to move into joint second place.
It’s also hot, hot, hot at the top of division two with three teams locked on 16 points.
Previous leaders Chadderton Park as the goals flowed at both ends before Village provided the vital winner with the teams at 4-4 going into the final minutes
Radclyffe showed their title intent with a big 8-3 win at Stoconians reserves and a 3-1 win at Woodhouses for AFC Stockport keeps them level with the top two.
Salford Albion went down 3-2 to Elton Lib Hargreaves with Albion’s goals coming from Curtis Slater (two) topped by strikes from Lak Galbraith and Adam Alford (two) in a game efficiently managed by James Keeley.
It was also tight in the other game with Aldermere and Abacus Media reserves sharing six goals.
There are new leaders in division A as Woodsend Athletic lost their firepower at Stretford Paddock Development who notched up their first win of the campaign as they scored the only goal of the game.
Taking over at the top are North Walkden reserves who had to work hard for a 3-1 victory over Milton reserves.
Salford Storm closed on the leading pack as they eased to a 4-1 win over Trafford United reserves and Kartel are still in touch as they beat Moston Brook reserves 3-1 to move three points above them.
Aldermere reserves kept their impressive 100 per cent record to stay 11 points clear at the top of division B but they were taken all the way at draw specialists Heaton Mersey before winning a cracking game by 3-2.
Their nearest rival Greater Manchester reserves stay in second place with a comfortable 4-1 win at AFC Oldham thirds.
Flixton JFC were also on easy street with a 5-1 cruise over Moston Brook thirds to move into third spot in the table.
Old Strets seconds are getting into winning ways and they were too hot for Parrs Wood Celtic reserves to handle with the highlight of a 4-1 win being a sublime lob from outside the box from Cameron Clarke.
The other game saw Hillgate and Oldham
Saints end locked at 1-1.
No change at the top of division B as Dukinfield Athletic lead on goal difference, after a 3-1 win over third-placed Urmston Town Vale, from Altrincham Hale who scored the only goal of a close encounter at Village Manchester reserves.
Mellor thirds were the big hitters in the division as they won 9-1 at Bury
Ams reserves and AFC Stockport Warriors picked up their second win of the season by 4-2 at Govan Athletic Development.
In the other two games Eccles United reserves made it a good day for the club with a 3-2 win over Stoconians thirds and Salford Storm reserves kept an immaculate clean sheet beating Staly Lions 2-0.
Division D leaders Bury Ams thirds were held to a 2-2 draw by a gutsy Whalley Range but secondplaced Moston Brook fourths failed to take advantage as they lost out 2-1 to AFC Oldham fourths who moved to within a point of Brook to see just three points separating the top four who have all played seven games.
Irlam Tiger A were in seventh heaven with a 7-0 demolition of Altrincham Hale reserves but it was much closer in the other two games as Milltown reserves won 4-3 at Mellor Development and Salford