Rochdalians maintain bid for the treble

ON a day full of league action there were three outstanding cup ties all producing dramatic results.

In the Lancashire Amateur Cup Premier division leaders Rochdalians kept their league and cup treble hopes burning brightly as they beat visiting Lostock St Gerards, Preston, by 4-0.

It was closer than the final score suggests as Rochdalians had to put in some solid defending, backed by excellent goalkeeping to keep an immaculate clean sheet and clinical finishing at the other end takes them into the later stages of the competition.

The shock of the day came in the Rhodes Cup as holders High Lane went down 4-3 in a thrilling contest at Chadderton Cott who are four divisions below them.

In the Wray Cup Radclyffe pulled off another shock as they beat Hollingworth in the Wray Cup.

Hollingworth took and early lead through Burns but Radclyffe were soon on terms with a Ferris penalty and took the lead through Deaden.

Burns bagged his second to level the scores by the break and in an even second half Radclyffe struck a late winner from Ferris to beat the team in a division above them.

With Rochdalians in cup action it gave the chasing pack a chance to close their big gap at the top of the Premier division table.

But they all missed the chance with Salford Vics upsetting in-form Milton with a 4-1 away win.

Waterloo were held to a 1-1 draw by Abacus Media who showed why they have reached the Manchester Challenge Cup final with a resolute display.

It was also honours even at Whalley Range as they shared four goals in their local derby with South Manchester.

An own goal and a neat finish from Nicholas Doyle earned Range a point to keep them in the top three.

Old Ashtonians continued their revival and picked up their second point of the season in a 2-2 draw at Mellor and another close contest saw Trafford United edge a 3-2 derby win over Old Stretfordians.

Parrs Wood Celtic kept up their great run of form in division one as a big 8-0 win over Stoconians took them to within a point of non-playing leaders Dom Doyle.

Oldham Vics had their best result of the season sharing six goals with high-flying Chorltonians who had returning predator Aaron Rodger on target.

It was also close in the other two games with Msoton Brook winning 2-1 at AFC Oldham and Bury Ams and Swinton shared four goals.

Whalley Range seconds took over at the top of division two with a 4-2 win at Santos as Manchester Polonia were held to a 3-3 draw by Urmston Town.

Newton bounced back from their first league defeat of the season to beat Bedians 4-3 and step up to second place.

It was also close at South Manchester seconds who edged a 2-1 win over Spurley Hey.

It’s close at the top of division three as the top two stay level after they both posted wins.

Dukinfield Athletic won 2-0 at Aldermere and Chadderton Park were 3-2 winners at Salford Vics seconds.

Signol Athletic dropped off top spot as they went down 3-2 in their local derby at Stoconians.

The other games in the division produced an emphatic 6-1 win for Abacus Media seconds at Heaton Mersey and Milton seconds were also in the goals winning 5-3 at Mellor thirds..

The top two in division A battled out a seven-goal thriller and Elton Lib Hargreaves moved five points clear of Rochdale Galaxy with a 4-3 victory.