Cup double for Denton

Poor weather prior to a sunny Saturday saw the cup and league programme again decimated with few grass pitches fit for action.

Dom Doyle switched their Manchester Challenge Cup tie to Hyde United for their local derby with Denton Town.

Town were quick out of the blocks to race into a 2-0 lead on five minutes, with Jake Massey opening their account.

After that it was a close match, but clinical finishing from Denton saw them cruise into the next round with a 5-1 victory.

Town’s second team were in action in the Manchester Amateur Cup, hosting Signol Old Boys, and they made it a double for the club with an emphatic 7-3 win.

In the Cheshire Amateur Cup, Stoconians found Altrincham reserves too hot to handle as they lost out 7-3.

With Premier Division leaders Whalley Range not in action, their main rivals took full advantage to close the gap at the top.

Reigning champions Rochdalians moved to within three points on level games, as they had few problems in beating Trafford United 6-1.

Waterloo kept up their unbeaten record, with a big 9-1 win over Milton taking them into third spot, six points behind Range but with two vital games in hand.

The other game was a much closer contest, with Abacus Media beating High Lane 2-1 to move into fourth spot.

There were just two games played in Division One and AFC Oldham kept their season on fire with a 3-1 win over Manchester Polonia, maintaining their 100 per cent record and moving them level on points with local rivals Radcyffe.

The local derby at Urmston Town was a real thriller against Old Stretfordians.

Strets led 2-1 going into the mid stages of the second half with an own goal from Alex Ritchie and a neat finish from Arrey Tansidio taking Town level and inspired them to go on to win at the death by 4-3.

There were goals galore in Division Two, with leaders South Manchester taken all the way by North Walkden before emerging breathless with a 6-5 win to keep up their 100 per cent record and move five points clear of Dukinfield Athletic.

Also hitting sixes were Barr Hill by 6-1 over Oldham Vics, Hadfield Athletic 6-0 over Santos and Mellor reserves 6-0 against Rochdalians reserves.

Bedians were not far behind as they won 5-1 over Chorltonians’ reserves.

The three games played in Division Three were much closer with Chadderton Cott having to work hard for a 2-1 win over Elton Lib Hargreaves which takes them to top spot by two points from Signol Old Boys.

Milton reserves won by the same score in their local derby with Abacus Media seconds.

Stoconians seconds showed great power of recovery as they came back from 2-1 down at Aldermere to win 3-2 thanks to goals from Matt Mills, Mick Jones and a last-minute winner from Gordon Beattie.

AFC Stockport and Old Stretfordians seconds are still locked level on points at the top of Division A after comfortable wins.

AFC Stockport won 5-1 at Rochdale Galaxy and Strets were 5-2 winners at Waterloo reserves and have a game in hand on AFC Stockport. Trafford United seconds kept pace with the top two with a 3-0 win at Salford Storm.

Just two games beat the weather in Division B and AFC Oldham thirds closed the gap on leaders Parrs Wood Celtic with a 2-1 win at Flixton Juniors and the other game had Old Strets thirds winning by the odd goal in five hosting Bury Ams reserves.

The Tigers and Lions were roaring in Division C as leaders Chadderton Park reserves dropped two points in their 2-2 local derby deadlock with Oldham Vics reserves.

Irlam Tigers Rangers grabbed a big win over Whalley Range seconds to move within a point of the leaders with two games in hand.

Staly Lions moved up into fourth spot with a 3-2 win over Altrincham Hale and Chorltonians Albion picked up their second win of the season by 4-2 at Bury Ams thirds.

by Geoff Garnett