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Lancs and Cheshire AFL: Mellor chase double

Bedians v Rochdalians (Bedians in blue and white)

Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Premier division leaders Mellor kept up their hopes of a league and cup double as they beat Chorltonians 3-1 in the Rhodes Cup to march through to the last eight.

Old Ashtonians had a more comfortable passage as they eased past AFC Stockport netting eight times without reply.

Also through are Moston Brook who scored the only goal of the game hosting Parrs Wood Celtic and division one side Milton accounted for Premier division strugglers Bury Ams by 6-1.

Premier division action saw reigning champions Rochdalians win 3-2 at Bedians.

Bedians took an early lead after taking advantage of a defensive slip but Rochdalians showed their intent with two goals in two minutes from Scott Highton and Dave Devlin followed by another on 27 minutes with a header from Nick Hodson.

Bedians had more of the play in the second half and fine goal from Julian Patterson on 88 minutes had Rochdalians grateful for the final whistle.

But title hopefuls Old Trafford and Gorse Hill take a hit as they went down3-2 at Newton.

Whalley Range kept up their hopes of another league title as they won a tight derby game against in-form South Manchester by the odd goal in five.

Azuka Otutu gave South and early lead before Connor Downes levelled with a sublime direct free kick.

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Tim Kinsella netted twice for Range and although South had Mo Adamson on target it was not enough to earn a point.

The top game in division one between the second and third-placed teams saw them in with a chance of closing the gap on non-playing leaders High Lane.

It was a hard-fought game between Tinwistle Athletic and Moorside Rangers with the only goal of the first half coming from Tintwistle through a wicked deflection off Dorrians gave Rangers keeper Konandis no chance.

Rangers got on terms as Child poked his shot home following a corner but in a frantic last 20 minutes Tintwistle took the spoils as a midfielder fired home the winner.

At the foot of the table there were fine wins from Hooley Bridge Celtic by 4-2 at Salford Vics and Newton Heath who were on fire in a 6-3 win over Old Stretfordians.

There was a close encounter at Burnage Metro as the home team picked up a useful point sharing six goals with Signol Athletic.

Plenty of Wray Cup action in division two with wins for Chorltonians seconds  by 3-1 at Bedians seconds, Parrs Wood Celtic seconds by 3-2 at Govan Athletic seconds, holders Mellor seconds by 3-2 over Bury Ams seconds, a scoreline matched by Old Strets seconds at Rochdalians seconds.

League action saw Whalley Range seconds increase their lead at the top of the table to six points as Nick Doyle, Paul Smethurst, with a left-foot rocket, and Leonal Miccanda netted in a 3-1 with over Urmston SC.

No joy for basement team Spurley Hey who lost out 5-3 at Staly Lions.

Chorltonians Town continue to blast their way to the division three title as they crushed Hooley Bridge Celtic seconds 9-3 to stay eight points clear of Trafford United who enjoyed a fine 2-1 win at fellow promotion rivals Oldham Victoria while Swinton were held to a 2-2 draw by Newton seconds.

In the Wray Cup Moorside Rangers seconds advanced with a tight 2-1 win over Moston Brook seconds.

High Lane seconds closed the gap on division A leaders Salford Vics seconds as they walloped Aldermere 8-1.

The other games saw Burnage Metro seconds win by the odd goal in five hosting Old Strets thirds and AFC Oldham matched the score-line at Moston Brook thirds.

The only league game played in division B saw Stoconians seconds pull off a great 6-0 derby win over Signol Athletic seconds to leapfrog themselves into second place, four points behind Mellor thirds with two games in hand.

Cup action had Old Trafford and Gorse Hill seconds enjoying a big win at Droylsden JFC in the Wray Cup and in the Whitehead Cup Bury Ams made it through to the semi-finals with a comfortable 3-0 win over Whalley Range thirds.

Division C high-fliers Tintwistle Athletic thirds are through to the final of the Whitehead Cup after a comfortable 5-1 win over Staly Lions.

League games produced a big 8-0 win for AFC Oldham thirds over Burnage Metro thirds, an emphatic 3-0 win for Deans over Staly Lions seconds and Hooley Bridge Celtic also had an immaculate clean sheet netting twice without reply against Manchester Rovers.

The title race opened up in division D as leaders Hillgate suffered a shock 7-4 defeat at Abacus Media thirds and Stoconians thirds closed the gap to four points with two games in hand as they accounted for Chorltonians Villa by 4-2.

In the Hellawell Shield AFC Oldham fourths beat Moston Brook fourths 3-1.

In the same competition there was a big win for Old Strets fourths by 6-1 at Whalley Range fourths.

League action in division E had the top two in a close contest and Oldham Vics seconds extended their lead at the top to eight points, scoring the only goal of their game at Bury Ams fourths.

Plenty of goals in the other league game as Burnage Metro fourths found their shooting boots in an 8-0 triumph at Govan Athletic thirds.

Representative match

There is a big game at Cheadle Town on Wednesday, March 23, as the L and C take on the LAL in a double-header for the John Howard Trophy and the North West Inter League, kick off 7.45pm.

Open for members

The Lancashire and Cheshire AFL is now open to applications from clubs to the league for membership in the 2016/17 season.

The league provides football each Saturday for 100 adult male (over 16) teams and is now looking to develop football for U21 players – the league had an U21 representative team playing in the current season against the South Yorkshire League to encourage the development of young players.

Interested clubs can apply to secretary Brian Davies on email secretary@landc.org.uk for more information.

Pics – action from 1 Bedians v Rochdalians (Bedians in blue and white), 2 Whaley Range v South Manchester (Range in white shirts), 3 Burnage Metro v Signol (Signol in yellow), 4 Whalley Range fourths v Old Strets fourths ( Range in blue shirts)

Geoff Garnett:
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