3G surfaces save the day for fixtures
AFTER another week of depressing wet weather which saw the closure of waterlogged grass pitches but the availability and intelligent use of 3G pitches provided plenty of top action in title races and domestic cup competitions.
The premier division was limited to one game and it provided a nerve-jangler with league leaders Moston Brook scoring the only goal of a very competitive game at North Walkden.
The win extends
Brook’s lead to five points over Salford Vics and North Walkden.
The other game featuring two Premier division teams was in the Rhodes Cup and the revamped Sale Amateurs maintained their recent good form in an action-packed 6-4 win at Abacus Media with the teams level at 2-2 at the break.
Division one had two top games featuring the leading teams and Hazel Grove stay six points clear after a superb 7-3 win over Rushford Park.
Grove looked to be on their way to a comfortable win as Jake Hamilton and Niall Brooks scored early goals in the second half after a blank first half.
But Rushford had always looked dangerous on the attack being denied by some fine saves from the Grove keeper then struck twice to level the scores after 70 minutes.
Grove regained their lead through Ben Brooks then missed a penalty.
A frantic finish saw them add four more goals with Rushford bagging a well-deserved consolation to end a great game that was a credit to both teams.
The other top game was at Mellor who hosted second-placed Bedians and it was another excellent contest which saw Bedians take the lead but after that it was end to end with both teams netting twice in a real epic thriller.
The narrow win keeps Bedians six points adrift of Sale and five clear of Bury Ams who were held to a 2-2 deadlock with Moston Brook reserves.
The other game was a mid-table tussle with Village Manchester emerging with a 3-2 win at Traffard United after edging the first half 1-0.
The title race in division two is hotting up as Salford Vics reserves entertained undefeated leaders Bollington and got off to a fast start with an early goal, from Ken Jackson.
Despite end-to-end football it stayed 1-0 until the 80th minute when Bollington equalised.
Both teams then went for the win, but in
88th minute Vics broke clear when Montell
Clarke turned the defender on half way and gained five yards on him then chipped the goalkeeper from 35 yards.
The game was an excellent advert for Division two football, well refereed by Mike Crump.
The result leaves Bollington level on points with Dukinfield Athletic, who enjoyed a comfortable Wray Cup group match win by 6-1 over Old Stretfordians reserves, with three games in hand.
The other game involving a team in division two saw highflying AFC Stockport from division three enjoy a big 8-0 win at Hooley Bridge Celtic.
Just one league game played in division three which ended 1-1 between Badger Casuals and Saddleworth 3D.
Division A’s unbeaten leaders Didsbury FC were in Whitehead Cup action and had to graft hard for a 2-1 win at AFC Oldham reserves to make it through into the next round.
Rochdalians are on a great run of form and they moved to within four points of Didsbury with another exciting 5-3 win over Manchester Rovers.
With Rochdalians 3-0 to the good at the break Rovers came back well to shade the second half 3-2.
The other game in the division had Moston Brook thirds securing an efficient 4-1 victory at
AFC Oldham.
No league games played in division B but Prestwich Marauders were celebrating long and hard after winning a Hellawell Shield group match in a nail-biting 4-3 win at Stafford Argyle.
The only other game featuring a team in division C was also in the Hellawell Shield with a clinical Irlam Steel Development cruising to a 4-1 win at Saddleworth 3D reserves.