Knockout time for L&C teams
THERE was an abundance of county and domestic cup action on a busy day in the league.
Premier division leaders Rochdalians led the way for the L and C in the Lancashire Amateur Cup as they trounced Marsh United 7-1.
Second-placed Milton followed their example with another big 8-1 win at Walmer Bridge.
Division one high-fliers Hooley Bridge Celtic kept up the good work as they walloped Blackburn United 7-2.
Division three side Aldermere gave a good account of themselves as they entertained Wyre Villa before going down.42a scoreline repeated by Old Ashtonians as they lost at AFC Anderton.
It was even closer for Elton Lib Hargreaves as they went down by the odd goal in five to Morecambe Royals but Bedians were well beaten 6-1 by Astley and TyldesleyJFC..
Action in the Manchester Amateur Cup saw Parrs Wood Celtic keep up their hot league form as they trounced Heston 7-1 and Swinton joined them in the next round as they beat a determined Moston Brook seconds by 4-2.
Irlam Tigers were taken all the way to penalties by Beechfield United after neither side found the back of the net in normal time with Tigers winning the shoot out by 4-3.
Oldham Vics put some poor league form behind them as they beat Manchester Gregorians seconds 2-1 and Salford Vics seconds accounted for Didsbury FC by 4-2..
Making an early exit were Urmston Town after losing a penalty shoot out 6-5 at Manchester North End and South Manchester seconds by 5-2 at North Walkden.
Village Manchester had a close contest with Chadderton Park seconds before winning 2-1 in extra time and Chadderton Park firsts made it a double as they won 6-3 over Heaton Mersey.
Draw specialists Unicorn FC were celebrating after picking up their first win of the season against Manchester Celtic coming back from a goal down with a penalty from Ramone Williams and a cheeky back heel from Ben McKie to win 2-1.
No joy for Chorltonians Villa beaten 8-1 at Failsworth Dynamo, Trafford United seconds by 9-1 at Heywood St James, Didsbury seconds by 2-0 to Deans, Parrs Wood Celtic seconds by 4-0 to East Manchester Academy. and Old Stretfordians thirds by 4-1 at Boothstown seconds.
With the top two teams in the Premier division in cup action it gave the chasing pack a chance to close the gap and South Manchester moved into third place after a thrilling 4-3 win over Salford Vics.
It was nip and tuck all the way with South’s scorers being Paul Sunderland (two, one a penalty), Tufail Baloch and Azuka Otutu with Keenan Switzer bagging a brace in the Vics spirited response
Waterloo avenged last week’s cup defeat by Abacus Media with a 4-1 win and Old Stretfordians got back into winning ways with a 2-0 win at Mellor.
Gary Potts’s stock continues to rise as one of the brightest young managers in the L and C, having guided Trafford United to a well deserved 4-2 victory over Whalley Range.
Potts was a steady hand on the tiller once again, rallying the troops who were pegged back twice by a determined and well organised Whalley Range side.
Nathan Bradley had opened the scoring, giving Trafford the lead, with a gut busting run from midfield, leaving Range for dead, before being pegged back to all square after a well worked free kick..
Ben Wordsworth was back amongst the goals with a well taken finish to get Trafford’s noses in front again, having broken the offside trap well .... for once.
Whalley Range still refused to lie down, getting things back on level terms 15 minutes into the second half, however a mercurial finish from the evergreen Martin O’Regan and a well converted spot kick from Nathan Bradley completed the task, as Trafford registered their second league win of the season.
After the game, Gary Potts was questioned on his managerial style and motivational methods and had the following to say: “to succeed at this level, you need soldiers and artists. Today, we had both in abundance.”
Just two games in division one and Dom Doyle had to work hard for three points winning 4-3 at Bury Ams to leapfrog Hooley Bridge Celtic in top spot.
Chorltonians enjoyed a comfortable 5-2 win over Stoconians with their goals shared by Scott Verrigotta, Juno Marshall, Dan Slack, Charlie Caroli and Paul Wong with Chris Millward and Alex Fuller providing the Stocs consolations.
There were also only two games in division two with Manchester Polonia moving to the top of the table with a 6-0 win over Mellor seconds and Hollingworth were equally emphatic beating Rochdalians seconds 7-1.
Signol Athletic mover five points clear at the top of division three winning 6-2 at Milton seconds and there were also wins for Abacus Media seconds at Mellor thirds by 4-1 and Dukinfield Athletic by the odd goal in five at Stoconians seconds.
Dukinfield Athletic seconds made it a club double as they won 6-1 in division A hosting Spurley Hey seconds.
Chadderton Cott were held to a 2-2 draw by Signol Athletic seconds as they looked to cut the lead of Elton Lib Hargreaves at the top of the table.
AFC Stockport moved into third place in division B beating Bury Ams seconds 3-1 and there were 3-0 victories for Chadderton Cott seconds over Stoconians thirds and Staly Lions over Moston Brook thirds.
The top two teams in division C were both held to draws with leaders Hollingworth seconds sharing two goals at Stoconians fourths and Govan Athletic drew 3-2 with Bury Ams thirds.
The draw pattern continued at Whalley Range as their A team shared four goals with Moston Brook fourths after Thomas Wood had given Range an early lead