Mellor cruise to Inter Cup win
THE busy L and C programme was decimated by the snow and frost prior to the games with just a few games able to be played on 3G pitches.
Mellor’s excellent pitch at Marple High School enabled to take on Rochdale St Clements from the LAL Premier league in their delayed North West Inter League Cup fixture.
Mellor’s bright and pacy young team were too hot for the visitors to handle and they raced into a 3-1 lead by the break with Boyd O’Neal (two) and Jake Whittaker on target.
Mellor kept up the momentum in the second half as they created plenty of chances and Kieran Chesworth and Luke Warburton with clinical finishes put them out of sight and Jake Whittaker added his second as Mellor finished with an outstanding 7-1 win and a round two match at fellow L and C side AFC Monton.
Just one game played in the Premier division and it provided a big upset as high-flying Salford Vics hosted mid-table Sale Ams looking for a win which would have taken them into top spot.
But Sale were in hot form and led 2-0 at the interval and went on to a comfortable 5-2 win to leave Vics still a point behind table-toppers Moston Brook who have two games in hand over Vics.
Two games played in division one and Hazel Grove continued their relentless chase of leaders Bedians with a hardearned 3-2 win over Trafford United who provided great opposition in a gripping game.
Grove are now two points behind Bedians who have two games in hand.
The other game provided an upset as Salford Albion climbed out of the bottom two with a gritty 3-2 win at Village Manchester.
Just one game involving teams in division two with a rearranged Wray Cup match at AFC Boarshaw seeing Dukinfield Athletic in top form with a comfortable 7-2 win.
In division three also just one game played and an even contest at Dom Doyle saw them share the spoils with second placed AFC Stockport in a 2-2 draw with the point seeing Stockport move a point ahead of local rivals Stoconians and eight adrift of leaders J Lingz with two games in hand.
Again just a single game in division A which was another ding dong thriller as Signol Athletic hosted Rochdalians with both teams looking to join the promotion pack
Rochdalians have been on a good run in recent weeks and a strike from Reece Jones had them leading 1-0 at the break.
Jones doubled his tally early in the second half but Signol were not to be denied as they drew level with two goals in as many minutes from Matt Jones and James Walton before a stunning free kick from Lewis Altimas regained the lead for Rochdalians and he added another as Rochdalians finished with a breathless 4-3 win to move close to the top three.
The only game in division B saw Manchester Saints pull off a second successive win over AFC Oldham reserves by 2-1 to move out of the bottom two.
Division C was hectic as three games were played with the top teams involved.
Leaders Sublime Athletic maintained their big lead with a comfortable 4-0 win over Signol Athletic reserves.
Bury Ams stay in second spot after a 2-0 win over Saddleworth 3D reserves .
They stay 11 points behind Sublime but have four vital games in hand.
Village Manchester thirds moved into fourth place in the table with a 4-2 win over Fittonhill All Stars.
Draw for round two of the NWIL Cup (L and C teams in bold letters): Old Blackburnians v North Walkden, Abacus Media v Radcliffe Town, Whitworth Valley v Irlam Steel Rangers, Old Stretfordians v Roach Dynamos, Winstanley St Aidans v Bedians, Salford Vics v Wardle or Hattersley, AFC Monton v Mellor, Moston Brook v Trafford United.