County cups dominated the Lancashire and Cheshire AFL programme, particularly in the lower divisions, with the result of the day coming from premier division leaders Mellor.
After a great win in the Cheshire Amateur Cup at Helsby, Mellor took on Manchester League side Old Alts looking for a place in the last 16.
After a nervy start Mellor struck twice in a five minute spell with goals from Liam McAuley, with a cool finish, and stalwart defender Paul Swann with a tap-in to settle their nerves.
Old Alts did pull a goal back but Mellor preserved their 100-per-cent record with another fine win.
The rest of the premier division featured league games as the chasing pack looked to close down on Mellor’s lead and all three posted wins led by Whalley Range who moved to within a point with a hard-earned 3-2 win at Newton.
Parrs Wood Celtic continue to score goals for fun with a 9-2 win over Moston Brook and Tintwistle stay firmly in the hunt after overcoming Old Ashtonians by 4-2.
Reigning champions Rochdalians were beaten by the odd goal in five hosting Old Trafford and Gorse Hill.
High Lane have a number of games in hand as they look to move into mid-table and they kept Bedians in the bottom two with a convincing 6-1 win.
Netting for Lane were Jimmy Leeson, Calem Bateson, Adam Bachelor, Prince Yousef and Adam Jarad with a brace.
South Manchester had Cassius Murray and Otutu Atuka netting as they shared four goals with Abacus Media.
There were just two games in division one with a key promotion battle at Milton ending in a 1-1 deadlock with Signol Athletic.
Signol took an early lead through Josh Hooley and also rattled the woodwork on several occasions and Milton took full advantage to grab a point with a late strike from Sam Johnson.
The other game produced a goal fest as Stoconians won 7-6 at Old Vics.
Plenty of Manchester Amateur Cup action for the other division one teams led by divisional leaders Moorside Rangers who enjoyed a comfortable 6-1 win at Chorltonians Villa with goals from Kelly (two), McMaster, Kay, Goodman and Lock.
Rangers seconds pulled off one of the giant-killing acts with a 2-0 win at Salford Vics with strikes from Fry and Moran.
There were big wins for Newton Heath by 10-4 at Hollinwood seconds, Old Stretfordians by 8-0 over Unicorn seconds, Didsbury by 8-1 over AFC Oldham thirds and Swinton FC by 9-0 over Chorltonians Athletic.
On the mark for Swinton were Jordan Mills and Thomas Snelson with hat-tricks, Aaron Smith (two) and sub Daniel Barnes.
Cup action for division two teams produced wins for Whalley Range seconds by 6-3 at Monton seconds and Old Strets seconds who scored the only goal of their game with AFC Oldham firsts to provide a big upset.
Going out were Parrs Wood Celtic seconds who lost 3-1 hosting South Manchester Ambassadors.
There was a second loss for division two leaders Waterloo as they went down 6-3 to South Manchester seconds who were led by legend Leon Hamilton with a hat-trick backed by goals from Chris McNeil and Sam Russell.
Mellor seconds moved level on points with Waterloo and AFC Oldham with a 7-2 cruise against Staly Lions and Hooley Bridge Celtic won by the odd goal in nine at Moston Brook seconds.
More Manchester Cup action in division three saw wins for Chorltonians seconds by 13-0 over Droylsden JFC, Didsbury seconds by 2-1 at Manchester North End, Trafford United seconds by 3-1 over Salford Vics seconds and Newton Heath seconds by 9-5 against Deans.
The only completed league game was an emphatic 4-1 derby win for Hooley Bridge Celtic seconds over Rochdalians seconds.
Just two cup games in division A with Chorltonians Rovers well beaten by AFC Middleton but Whalley Range thirds enjoyed a close 2-1 win over Manchester Medics.
With Range thirds on cup duty they were joined on points at the top of the division by Hollingworth who were convincing 6-2 winners at AFC Oldham seconds.
Both teams are five points clear of Bury Ams seconds, who lost 2-1 at Signol Athletic seconds and Tintwistle Athletic seconds who went down by the same score at Hargeaves Bury.
Aldermere shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Mellor thirds and Stoconians seconds enjoyed a 6-3 win over Moston Brook thirds.
Abacus Media seconds retained their 100 per cent record in division B but were taken all the way before winning by the odd goal in seven hosting Rochdale Galaxy.
The other league clashes produced wins for Milton seconds by 1-0 at Bury Ams thirds and Bedians seconds by 4-1 at Staly Lions seconds.
Cup action for division B teams saw Village Manchester enjoy an emphatic 5-1 win over Radcliffe St Marys but out went Tintwistle Athletic thirds by 3-2 to Torpedo Chorlton and Old Trafford and Gorse Hill seconds by 4-0 to Failsworth Dynamos.
With Moorside Rangers seconds in cup action Didsbury thirds closed the gap on the division C leaders to three points with a 3-1 derby win at Parrs Wood Celtic thirds, AFC Stockport drew 1-1 with Oldham Vics seconds, Abacus Media thirds won 4-3 at Moston Brook fourths and Stoconians thirds won a close local derby with Spurley Hey seconds by 4-3.
In the Manchester Amateur Cup Salford Vics thirds went out losing 6-4 at Manchester Celtic and Manchester Rovers were beaten 3-1 by East Manchester Academy.
There was just one Manchester Cup game involving division D as Old Strets thirds won 3-1 at George FC.
League leaders Bedians thirds were held to a 201 draw by Swinton seconds and the other games produced wins for Stoconians fourths by 3-1 over Chadderton Park seconds and AFC Oldham fourths by 6-3 at Whalley Range fourths.
Pics- action from 1 Mellor v Old Alts (Mellor in blue shirts), 2 Bedians v High Lane (High Lane in red and white, 3 Bedians thirds v Swinton seconds (Swinton in yellow shirts)
