Hazel Grove lose out in spot-kick shootout
AT last it was back to full action as the weather relented to allow grass pitches back and play a big part in some terrific outside cup competitions.
It was the first round of the North West Interleague Cup featuring the top 16 teams in the L and C against their old rivals from the Lancashire Amateur League.
The competition was introduced last season and Moston Brook are the proud reigning champions after beating fellow L and C side Irlam Steel Rangers in the final.
Brook set their stall out again with a comfortable 5-2 win over Accrington Amateurs and they were joined by Irlam Steel in the next round as they accounted for Ashtonians with a clinical 4-1 victory.
One of the games of the day saw Salford Vics make the long trip to play Burnley Belvedere which was a very tight and thrilling game.
Vics went in to a 2-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes, then lost their goalkeeper due to injury.
Vics were never behind but in the last minute with the score at 3-3 up popped hotshot Joe Axon to win the game with virtually the last kick of the game.
Vics other goals came from a Joe Axon (two) and Paul Jamieson.
Old Stretfordians belied their lowly place in the Premier division to win another close contest at Burnley United winning a penalty shoot-out 4-1 after a 1-1 deadlock in normal time,
Two hard-earned 2-1 wins for AFC Monton at Old Boltonians and North Walkden over Old Mancunians kept up the Premier division success along with Abacus Media who accounted for Chaddertonians 3-1,
The only Premier division team to lose were Sale Ams 3-1 at Old Blackburnians.
Division one leaders Bedians were in sparkling form on their immaculate grass pitch as they kept up their recent hot form with an impressive 6-1 win over Bolton Wyresdale.
Netting for Bedians were Eric Ajimans (two), Mike Sherrington (penalty), Duanish Eyaz, John Rogers and Orindi Kimpulu.
The other division one side through are Trafford United who won a penalty shoot-out at Howe Bridge Mills 4-3 after a 2-2 deadlock
Going out were in-form Hazel Grove in a penalty shoot out at Roach Dynamoes, Manchester Village 4-1 to Winstanley St Aidans after a neat finish from Columbian striker Alex Becal-Ortiz had drawn them level at 1-1 at the interval.
Bury Ams lost 3-1 to Whitworth Valley and Moston Brook reserves were edged out 3-2 by Radcliffe Town and there are still two first round games to be played.
One will involve Hattersley who pulled off a superb win over Govan and University of Manchester FC in the Cheshire Amateur Cup,
After a 1-1 draw Hattersley won a tense penalty shoot-out by 5-4 to reach the semi-finals.
The North East Cheshire Cup saw Mellor lose out to Stockport Georgians 4-1 and Spurley Hey 3-2 hosting Govan and University of Manchester reserves by 3-2 but going through were Bollington H and L who beat Hillgate 5-3.
The final cup competition saw Manchester Rovers from Division A pull off a great win in the Altrincham Senior Cup winning a penalty shootout by 4-2 after an exciting 3-3 draw with Old Alts reserves.
There was no league action in the top two divisions but plenty to play for in the lower divisions with Division Two teams looking to close the gap on Bollington H and L who were in cup action.
The teams just behind Bollington faced each other and Salford Vics reserves found themselves 1-4 down to Dukinfield Athletic at half-time.
A second half hat-trick from Montell Clarke added to a first half goal and one by Jake BlairSteenson, gave Vics a 5-4 win and moved them to six points behind Dukinfield with three games in hand,
FC Babylon cruised to a 5-1 win hosting Abacus Media reserves and Elton Hargreaves won 4-1 at Richmond Rovers.
Division three leaders JLingz had to work hard for a 2-1 win at a gritty South Manchester to preserve their nine-point lead.
Their main rivals look to be AFC Stockport who won a close contest by 2-1 at Santos to draw level on 25 points with Santos and Stoconians.
Santos lost 2-1 at home to AFC Stockport.
The visitors took the lead midway through first half but Tom Barnes equalised on the stroke of half time.
It remained all square until the last few minutes when Stockport took advantage of a mistake to score the winner and they have three vital games in hand over JLingz.
The other game saw
Dom Doyle cruise to a 7-3 win over Old Strets reserves.
Division A has new leaders as unbeaten Didsbury FC hit the top with a 4-0 win at AFC Oldham as previous leaders Mellor reserves were held 2-2 at Bury Ams reserves.
Rochdalians kept up their good run of form with a tidy 2-2 win over Trafford United reserves.
It’s tight at the top of division B as Village Manchester reserves drew level on points with nonplaying leaders AFC
Stockport Warriors with a hard-earned 2-1 win at Broadheath Central.
The competitive nature of the division was shown in the other games with a delighted Manchester Saints celebrating long and hard after securing their second win of the season by 4-2 at AFC Oldham reserves to climb off the foot of the table.
The other games had Barrhill winning 2-1 at Prestwich Marauders and Timperley Villa who keep in touch with games in hand on the top two with a 3-2 win over Milnrow Firgrovia.
Division C had limited action and Stafford Argyle closed the gap on leaders Sublime Athletic to ten points, with three games in hand as they cruised to a 7-1 victory over Irlam Steel Development.
The other games saw Didsbury FC reserves keep an immaculate and rare clean sheet in a 2-1 win over Saddleworth 3D reserves and Village Manchester thirds won by the odd goal in five at Richmond Rovers reserves.