38 SPORT
November 16, 2023
FOOTBALL Honours are even as teams clash on plastic Marine 1 Ashton Utd 1 Northern Premier League PICTURE: Nicky Johnson
Away winner Eccles United 2 Glossop North End Community Club 3
On a heavy pitch the away side kicked off brightly with Callum Cheetham finding room on the right and nearly Charlie Harris’s head from kick off. Eccles did cause Glossop problems early on with their centre forward creat- ing opportunities from long balls and set pieces. Midway through the half, however, a long throw from Harris found Joe Atkinson in space who nodded home and raise the spirits of this young side. Early in the second half Eccles got back in front despite keeper Aaron Potts best attempts to stave off their attack and two scrap- py goals were fired home in the melee in the box. Glossop had played some good football for most of the game in pos- session, Fergal O’Grady getting on the ball and Callum Manley looking dangerous and it was Fergal who put the away team level finishing coolly assisted by Matty Birkhead on 73 minutes. Husein Osman came on for Harris late on and his pace caused Eccles prob- lems as they tired.
Honours finished even for the second season running at the Marine Travel Arena as the teams cancelled each other out with a goal either side of half time. Tom Scott was deputising for the indisposed Luke Simpson in the Robins’ goal and it was the home side who made the more measured start on the plastic surface as Sol Solomon’s backheel in the area was just inter - cepted by Sean Newton. Louis White’s chip into the box then just evaded Solomon before White’s next pass found Mampala confronting Scott before firing wide. Overlapping full back Joseph Ferguson then provided a cross which required Scott to palm away Spittle’s header and 20 minutes in Ferguson cut inside on to his left foot and just missed the far post. Just before the half hour a decent move by the visitors ended with Benny Couto firing too high and Mampal then failed to control Woodthorpe’s long pass in the area. Right at the end of the half a great run by Sam Baird won a corner and when Alex Byrne delivered a second
set play the ball was volleyed in at the far post by Newton. There was still opportunity in added time for Joshua Wardle to force Scott into a decent save before the half time whistle blew. Five minutes after the restart Ashton had a glorious chance to double their lead as Byrne’s right wing cross picked out Keilen Adams who made insuf - ficient contact with his header from point blank range before Byrne sent a curling attempt adjacent to the goal frame.
Two minutes later the Mariners were level as White picked up Ferguson’s pass from the right wing and beat Scott on his near post with a left foot shot and Solomon could have fired the home side ahead as a ball into the area saw Cowan’s header helped into his path by Couto but saw his effort clip the crossbar. Midway through the half Byrne’s free kick saw a clearing header volleyed way over by Mitchell Rose before 3 Ashton players were booked
in quick succession, with time running down Owen Robinson sent a swinging effort over the top and a quick break saw Adams’ low shot saved with sub Jebbison denied on the rebound. Att: 1,252 Team: Scott, Cowan, Newton, Couto (Milner 65), Burke, Rose, Byrne, Lowe, Gilchrist (Baird 32), Adams, Cusani (Jebbison 73). SNU: Culkin, Caton. David Robinson
Cup fixtures dominate a weekend of bad weathher FOOTBALL
AFC Monton stay in the mix with a comfortable 6-1 win at Old Stretfor - dians. The top two teams in division one kept up their winning ways with leaders Bedians edging a tight game at Mellor by 3-2 and second–placed Bury Ams also having to work hard for a 2-1 win at R-Kix Bedians still have an impressive five-point lead at the top. The other game saw Trafford United move into the mid-table comfort zone with a 3-0 victory over North Walkden reserves. With division two leaders without a game Dukinfield Athletic missed a chance to close the gap at the top on Bollington H and L but they missed the chance with a shock home defeat by 4-3 to FC Babylon. Salford Vics reserves stay in their spot with a 4-2 win over Richmond Rovers. Abacus Media reserves were cel - ebrating their first win of the season as they edged a 4-3 win over Elton Hargreaves but it was not enough to lift them from the foot of the table as AFC Boarshaw also posted their first win by 3-2 at Hooley Bridge Celtic to keep them off the basement place on goal difference. Just two games in played in division three and with runaway leaders JLingz
without a game Stoconians closed the massive gap to 11 points with a 5-1 cruise at Saddleworth 3D. Santos defeated Dom Doyle by the odd goal in seven to move into third place. Dom Doyle took the lead midway through first half, Santos equalised right on half time with a Ryan Mc - Conkie penalty. Second half goals by Reece Holden, Tom Barnes and another McConkie penalty gave the hosts a good lead, however a free kick and a penalty reduced the deficit but Santos held out for a deserved victory. Division A enjoyed plenty of games led by Signol Athletic who enjoyed big 6-3 win over Bury Ams reserves. It takes them into second place as main rivals Mellor Reserves and Altrincham Hale shared six goals in an end-to-end thriller with the points keeping Mellor two clear of Signol. Plenty of goals in the other games with Rochdalians winning 6-1 at Flixton JFC and Didsbury 4-3 at Moston Brook thirds to keep in the title hunt,and AFC Oldham won 3-0 at Trafford United reserves. In division B Village Manchester reserves drew level on points with non-playing leaders AFC Stockport Warriors with a gritty 2-1 win at Miln - row Firgrovia.
Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League
MARK OF RE- SPECT: Manchester Rovers observe the minute’s silence before their game
Despite poor weather preceding a full programme and affecting many grass pitches a good number of the games were played with outside cups domi - nating the action. In the Cheshire Amateur Cup there were two delayed games and Hatters - ley moved into the quarter finals with a fine 3-0 win at Cheadle Nomads Reserves. Hazel Grove hosted Old Alts from the Manchester League and a tight game ended at 2-2 before Old Alts went through in a dramatic penalty shoot out by 9-8. More penalty drama in the Altrin - cham and District Cup at Chorlton Sports club where Manchester Rovers entertained Wythenshawe Ams re - serves. Rovers were gifted an early goal and kept up the momentum to see the topsy-turvy game end locked at 3-3 and Rovers won another nerve jangler shoot-out by 6-5. Going out were Sale Ams losing 2-1 to Egerton and Timperley Villa by 6-1 at Bollington Town. The other Cup game was in the Manchester Amateur Cup and Rush - ford Park hosted Hindsford reserves
and after a drab goalless first half Park moved in the quarter finals where they will play Salford Vics reserves with an impressive 5-3 victory. Premier division action was limited to just two games and non-playing leaders Moston Brook saw their posi -
tion strengthened as their main rivals Salford Vics went down 5-1 in their local derby at North Walkden. One of the highlights from a lively Walkden display was a Beckham-style long distance strike from Tommy Ward.
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