Range turn up pressure on Mellor
AFTER a great week of fine, warm weather the bad weather gods struck again on Friday and Saturday to wreck the full programme of matches.
Premier division leaders Whalley Range switched their game with High Lane to the 3G at Chorlton High School and it paid dividends with a 5-2 win extending their lead over non-playing Mellor to 12 points.
Mellor have four games in hand and a game yet to play at Whalley but they cannot afford any slips in their busy finish to the season as they look to chase the leaders down. High Lane put on a spirited display and a Lenny Kinsella own goal gave them hopes of an upset before Range came back with strikes from Tim Kinsella and Luke Bennion backed by a Lane own goal.
Kinsella added his second and sub Callum Scarry completed Range’s nap-hand with Lane getting a deserved second with a super strike from 25 yards.
The other game featuring two high-fliers was another thriller with Abacus Media winning by the odd goal in nine against Old Trafford and Gorse Hill while Tintwistle Athletic recorded a routine 6-3 win at Moston Brook.
There was also limited action in division one with Newton Heath boosting their promotion hopes with a 6-3 win at Salford Vics.
Heath were always looking very sharp in attack and this was rewarded with goals from Chris Howells (two, ) Michael Connor, Ryan Prestwich and James Treayers although Vics kept them working hard for vidtory as they found the net three times.
Plenty of goal in the other game played with the majority going to Trafford United as they walloped Oldham Vics 8-1.
This was United’s 10th win in their last 11 games making them the ‘in form’ team in the league with the only game lost being against leaders Moorside Rangers by 1-0 after United had 80% of possession and hit the woodwork 11 times on ‘one of those days!
Waterloo showed their title intent in division two with a big 9-1 win over South Manchester seconds to move three points clear of Mellor seconds who have two crucial games in hand.
Hooley Bridge Celtic moved into third spot with a 4-1 win at Staly Lions and Parrs Wood Celtic seconds posted a 3-1 win over Spurley Hey.
Salford Vics seconds missed the chance to close the gap on division three leaders Didsbury seconds as they shared four goals with the inform Rochdalians seconds and Santos kept up their recent good run with an emphatic 6-0 win over Manchester Polonia.
There were two vital games in division A and Hollingworth took over at the top with a big 12-1 win over AFC Oldham seconds.
It moved them three points clear of previous leaders Chorltonians Rovers who could only manage consolation strikes from Orin Moore and Scott Verrigotta as they went down 4-2 hosting Signol Athletic seconds who had James Birkett, Sean Manyonda, Josh Quinn and an own goal providing the firepower.
Whalley Range thirds also lost ground as they went down 6-5 in an amazing game at Stoconians seconds.
Stocs established a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes with Ben Epsley, Luke Sutton and Dennis Lee-Sherriff netting with Range pulling one back before the break.
They kept up the momentum following a half-time substitution and drew level at 4-4.
Luke Sutton and the hattrick strike from Lee-Sherriff took Stoconians to 6-4 and another late goal from Whalley made it a nervous ending for Stocs.
The big game in division B between the top two saw second-placed Tintwistle Athletic thirds beat longtime leaders Abacus Media seconds 5-2 in the Whitehead Cup to march into the semi-finals.
League action saw Village Manchester keep up their good run of form as they kept another immaculate clean sheet at Hillgate in a 2-0 victory that keeps them in third place, eight points clear of Old Trafford and Gorse Hill seconds who had a comfortable 6-1 victory over Staly Lions seconds.
Deans seconds were in bright form with a 5-1 win at Chorltonians Villa with strikes from Terry Armstrong (two), Zac Dulson (two) and Javed Render topping the Villa consolation from Obi Ezeh.
Just one game in division C that saw Oldham Vics seconds move to the top of the table over Spurley Hey seconds thanks to a close 2-1 derby win over Moston Brook fourths,.
Just one game beat the rain in division D with Bury Ams fourths winning a close encounter by 2-1 at Staly Lions thirds.