Premier duo on the end of cup shocks

DESPITE the doomladen threat of Storm Deirdre the league managed to get away with very few postponements to a busy programme prior to the festive break.

The bulk of the fixtures featured domestic cup competitions and the Rhodes Cup provided plenty of drama and upsets in a day of frantic action.

Two clubs from the lower divisions provided the big giant-killing acts as they took out Premier division teams.

Village Manchester have made a poor start in division three with one of their few highlights being a win over division two Bedians in round one of the Rhodes Cup.

This gave them a tie at Premier division high-fliers Waterloo in round two and they were delighted to be level at 2-2 at the break.

But this joy was surpassed in the second half as they scored the only goal to book a quarter-final tie at another Premier top team in Salford Vics.

Radclyffe, also from division three, have followed a similar path to Village as they took out division two Hollingworth in round one.

This saw them visit premier division Trafford United and superb defending saw them keep an immaculate clean sheet to win 2-0 to earn a last eight tie at Old Stretfordians.

Dom Doyle have been flying high in division one to look a good bet for Premier division soccer next season.

They entertained Premier division leaders Rochdalians and scored five times to breach the normally rock-solid Rochdalians defence.

But is was not enough as Rochdalians struck seven times at the other end for a whirlwind win.

Salford Vics eased past gallant and rapidly improving Ashtonians 5-0 in an all-Premier division clash.

First half goals from Dale McAndrew, Josh Lawman and Joe Axon were added by second half substitutes Keenen Switzer and with the last kick of the game Connor Neil.

There were few problems for division three leaders Dukinfield Athletic as they cruised to a 5-0 win at division one side Unicorn Athletic.

There were three games in the Wray Cup with Chadderton Park providing an upset as the division three side toppled division two leaders Whalley Range seconds 2-1 in a tight contest.

It was also close at Bedians as their tie with Mellor ended at 3-3 with Mellor winning the shoot out by 4-3.

The other tie saw Signol Athletic put on a smooth display with a 2-0 win at Milton seconds.

There was just one game in the Premier division with Whalley Range accounting for Milton 4-0.

There was little between the teams in the first half with the only goal coming from Range left back Joe Dixon with a 35-yard thunderbolt ending his seven-year scoring drought.

Then the game was lit up in the second half by the superb skills of Range’s young debutant Charlie Hilton who showed some stunning dribbling runs one of which ended with a penalty converted by Tim Kinsella.

Tim added another with a cool finish two minutes later to put Range on easy street as they went on to win 4-0 and move within a point of leaders Rochdalians but have played three games more.

In division two Rochdalians seconds scored the only goal of their game at Santos.

It was mainly mid-table action in division A with some close encounters.

Division A Signol Athletic seconds had a 3-1 win over Rochdale Galaxy.