High Lane narrow the gap on Bedians
AFULL programme of fixtures featured two domestic cup semi-finals and Salford Sports Village were excellent hosts for the Rhodes Cup semi between Premier giants Rochdalians and division one highfliers Bedians.
Bedians young and exciting team have been enjoying a great run of results and they kept up their form with some quick and attractive football proving to be too hot for the Rochdalians defence as they raced into a 3-0 lead after 30 minutes.
Bedians took the pressure off after the break as they eased to a superb 5-1 victory to make it through to the final at Hyde United in a few weeks time.
The other semi was in the Wray Cup for teams in divisions two and three at Wright Robinson and Didsbury against Salford Vics reserves..
Vics were 2-0 to the good after just 15 minutes but then had a man sent off for handball on the line with Didsbury converting the penalty. Vics managed to restore their two-goal advantage an although Didsbury pressed hard they could only manage one goal as Vics made it through 3-2.
There was plenty of action at the top of the Premier division as Moston Brook overtook Hattersley at the top.
Hattersley were held to their second successive 3-3 draw by Shaw Athletic and Moston Brook made few mistakes in a 5-0 win at Abacus Media.
Kealan Steenson and Jack Ward both bagged braces for Brook and Jack Bostonian completed the scoring to put Brook in the driving seat at the top leading by a point and with two games in hand over Hattersley.
North Walkden stay in third spot with a clinical 2-0 win over Milton and Irlam Steel Rangers are also in the mix with convincing 7-0 win over Stretford Paddock and they have plenty of games in hand over the leading pack.
Sale Ams have a convincing seven-point lead at the top of division one after a 3-1 win over Salford Albion but the chasing pack of six teams are separated by just five points.
High Lane closed the gap on non-playing second-placed Bedians to a point with a 4-2 win over Elton Lib Hargreaves but in fourth spot are nonplaying Chadderton Park who have a massive games-in-hand advantage over their promotion rivals.
Village Manchester stay in the mix with a thrilling 4-3 win over Bury Ams as do Mellor who edged a 3-2 win over Manchester Polonia.
The other game in the division was also a close contest with AFC Boarshaw beating Stoconians 4-3.
In division two Moston Brook reserves kept up their unbeaten record with a 4-2 win at South Manchester with Terry Qualters (two), Jack Blake and Harry Lomas providing the firepower.
The win keeps them six points clear of Trafford United who beat AFC Oldham 4-2.
The other games in the division provided plenty of thrills and spills led by Abacus Media reserves who won by the odd goal in nine at Aldermere.
Not far behind were North Walkden reserves who edged a 4-3 win at Kartel Sports and Hooley Bridge Celtic scored the only goal of their game at Poynton JFC.
Dukinfield Athletic continued their relentless march to the division three title with a clinical 4-0 win over Heaton Mersey.
It keeps them a massive 11 points clear of Santos who overtook non-playing Staly Lions
The local derby between Saddleworth 3Ds and Santos ended with Santos winning 5-2.
Early goals by Ben Marshall and Ryan McConkie for Santos was snuffed out by a Saddleworth strike. McConkie missed a penalty to increase the lead just before the interval.
A converted penalty from 3D early in second half made the scores level. A second Marshall goal put Santos back in front before a Danny Brierley penalty and a late Tom Barnes strike put the game out of reach.
Loads of goals in the other games in the division led by a vibrant Old Stretfordians reserves 8-3 at Milton reserves and Bury Ams reserves 6-2 hosting Whalley Range.
Spurley Hey stay in the top four with a 4-0 local derby win over AFC Stockport.
Moston Brook thirds had Billy Fraine (two), Brendan Moran and Tom Mannix netting in a 4-2 victory over Woodhouses.
Badger Casuals completed a busy day in the division with a relatively modest 2-1 win at AFC Oldham reserves.
It is still very much a two-horse race in division A but leaders Milltown suffered a rare blip as they shared four goal with Village Manchester reserves.
Third-placed Altrincham Hale were held 2-2 at AFC Stockport Warriors as they looked to close down non-playing second-placed Hillgate but Spurley Hey reserves were unstoppable in a big win over Oldham Saints Athletic.
Staly Lions reserves kept an immaculate clean sheet in a 3-0 win at Flixton JFC and Manchester Rovers beat Milnrow Firgrovia 3-1.
The other game was decided at Moston Brook fourths with a neat strike from Jacob Goode providing the only golf against Trafford United reserves.
With second-placed Signol Athletic without a game division D top team Mellor thirds continued their remorseless race to the title with a big win at Saddleworth 3D moving them seven points clear with a game in hand.
Barrhill Lads enjoyed their biggest win of the season hosting Didsbury reserves and the goals also flowed for Stoconians reserves 5-0 over Village Manchester thirds and Broadheath Central 4-2 at Salford Vics Development.
Early strikes by Dan Reger (penalty) and Bradley Hirst set Poynton Youth Development on the way to a 4-2 win over AFC Oldham thirds and the day was completed with a 2-2 deadlock between Bury Ams A and Timperley Villa.