Mellor keep up pressure on leaders
IT was business as usual for the top four teams in the Premier division as they all posted comfortable victories on a programme suffering from the heavy overnight rain followed by more downpours during the day.
Whalley Range maintained their ten-point lead at the top with a 5-3 derby win over South Manchester. Kane Berkeley, Jaye Rushton and Cassius Murray netted for South but they were unable to contain the prolific Range attack.
Mellor have four games in hand on Range and they kept up their relentless chase with a clinical 5-1 win over Abacus Media.
Parrs Wood Celtic stay in third place after drubbing Moston Brook 8-0 and Old Trafford and Gorse Hill were also in good form as they despatched High Lane 5-1 to keep in the top four.
Division one provided the league’s ‘Match of the Day’ as the top two faced each other with Moorside Rangers visiting Signol Athletic.
The game lived up to its billing being hard-fought with plenty of thrills and spills provided with excellent play from both teams.
Rangers took an early advantage as strikes from Goodman and Sixsmith took them to a 2-0 lead which in the end proved to be pivotal.
Signol reduced the arrears when a fine run by Jack Stringer resulted in him being fouled and Scott Norris netted the spot kick with aplomb.
Rangers pushed hard after the break and regained their two-goal advantage with a 20-yard screamer from McMaster.
But Signol did not give up and Josh Hooley scored with a precise finish to make it 2-3.
Signol chased the game but exposed themselves at the back and Chris Jones took advantage to make it 4-2 to draw Rangers level on 39 points with Signol but with a massive five games in hand.
The next two teams in the table also played an epic encounter with Milton sharing eight goals at Newton Heath.
The only other game in the division provide a comfortable 5-2 win for Old Stretfordians at Oldham Vics.
There was a big shock in division two as runaway leaders Waterloo were beaten 4-2 hosting Hooley Bridge Celtic to move Celtic into third spot in the table.
Mellor seconds also took full advantage as they cruised to an easy 6-0 derby win over Spurley Hey and they are six points behind Waterloo with three games in hand.
With division three leaders Salford Vics seconds having their game called off Chorltonians seconds drew level on points as they managed a hard-earned 3-2 win over an improving Manchester Polonia.
Newton Heath seconds stay a point behind the leaders as they enjoyed a 6-3 win at Chadderton Park.
Park missed plenty of first-half chances which they were made to rue as Michael O’Loughlin, Jack Newman and Dean Power gave Heath a 3-0 interval lead.
Power added his second before Park had Oliver Dyson opening their account.
Scott Kennedy weaved his way through the home defence to add to Heath’s lead and O’Loughlin added his second before Park at last found their shooting boots with goals from Tom Prince and Joe Guy.
A local derby at Cheadle Hulme Athletic saw Heaton Mersey emerge with a tight 2-1 win.
Chorltonians Rovers are on fire at the moment and they continued their great run with a big 8-1 win over bottom team AFC Oldham seconds to move five points clear of non-playing Whalley Range thirds.
Hollingworth stay in the mix after a comfortable 5-1 win over Aldermere at the excellent Alder School facility.
It was ‘Boon Boon’ time for Hollingworth as Mike Boon (three) and Jake Boon (two) gave them a nap-hand with Murphy supplying the Alderemer consolation.
Mellor thirds stay in third place despite a 3-2 reverse at Tintwistle Athletic seconds.
Division B’s runaway leaders Abacus Media seconds continued on their merry way to the title keeping an immaculate clean sheet in a 7-0 win over Deans.
Village Manchester kept up their good run of results with a 6-0 win over Old Trafford and Gorse Hill seconds moving them into third place, a point behind Tintwistle Athletic thirds who won 3-2 at Milton seconds.
The other game in the division was also a close affair with Chorltonians Villa winning by the odd goal in nine at Old Strets seconds.
In division C Manchester Rovers were convincing 4-1 winners over AFC Stockport but the honours were shared in a 1-1 derby deadlock between AFC Oldham thirds and Moston Brook fourths.