Avro made it through to the quarter-final of the Manchester Premier Cup on Wednesday (October 11), when they defeated Hyde United 2-0 at the Vestacare Stadium.
The Ro’s were full of confidence going into the match after being unbeaten in eight games prior to this one, including an emphatic 4-0 win over Widnes on the previous Saturday.
As for Hyde United, they were in good form themselves, having won 3-1 away to Workington the week before.
Both managers elected to start with a relatively strong side and looked as if they wanted to take the competition seriously, resisting the temptation to rest a couple of senior players.
The first half was a relatively even one, with both sides creating chances. The best of those arguably fell to Hyde, when on-loan forward Jimiel Chikukwa latched onto a cross from the right and headed the ball onto the crossbar.
Early in the second half, hosts Avro made the visitors pay for these missed chances when Joe Rother’s volley from the edge of the box squirmed through the palms of goalkeeper Sam Waller to give the home side the lead.
Alex Frost’s men doubled their lead 20 minutes from time when Max McCarthy pounced on a defensive mix-up, with goalkeeper Sam Waller flying off his line and attempting to clear but instead missing the ball completely, and McCarthy was the first to react and roll the ball into the empty net.
Despite Hyde’s best efforts to find a way back into the game, they were unable to do so, and bowed out of the Manchester Premier Cup.
A disappointing night for Nick Spooner and his men, who will feel like this was a missed opportunity to win some silverware.
As for Avro, this win keeps their unbeaten run going ahead of their quarter-final tie next month, when they face either Abbey Hey or Maine Road away from home on November 13.
Right Said Fred: City move a step closer to the title
Bowlers on form in the DCCL
Ashton RFC secure first national cup win in the club's history
Local boxer moves one step closer to lifelong dream
