Milton are up for the cup

Once more the busy league and cup programme was decimated by awful weather prior to match day and just a handful of games were played on artificial surfaces.

Cup competition dominated the day and top of the shop were Milton playing in the Lancashire Amateur Cup against Wythenshawe Amateurs from the Manchester League.

Last week the game at Wythenshawe was postponed and even their switch to a local 4G pitch failed as it was flooded but the game went on as it was finally switched to Milton’s home at Heywood Sports Centre.

It proved to be an excellent contest with Milton, who have yet to win a game in the L and C Premier division this season, played with great spirit led by MoM Mike Hampson.

With ten men for the last few minutes due to a red card for a professional foul they held on the keep the tie goalless and on to penalties.

Both teams missed spot kicks and Milton keeper Jack Hudson made a crucial save from his Wythenshawe counterpart allowing the cool Ollie Bonyage the chance to clinch victory and he did not let his side down and booked a quarter-final home tie in 2020.

There was also domestic cup action with some very close encounters.in the Rhodes Cup.

Division C Altrincham Hale defied their lowly status as they gave Premier division high-fliers Abacus Media as good as they got until Jack Aubrey broke the deadlock before the break with the opener for Abacus and they went on to add two unanswered strikes in the second half.

The all division one tie between Signol Athletic and Irlam Tigers ended at 2-2 with Tigers going through as they won a thrilling shoot-out by 5-4.

In the Wray Cup there was a giant-killing by Chadderton Cott as their game at Dukinfield Athletic was locked a 3-2 and in a nerve-jangling shoot-out Cott triumphed by 6-5.

Few problems in the same competition for Hadfield Athletic as they kept up their recent hot form to cruise to a 4-1 win over South Manchester reserves.

There was just one game played in the Hellawell Shield with Irlam Tiger Rangers showing why they lead the way in division C as they were comfortable 9-1 winners over Moston Brook fourths.

Limited league action saw Salford Vics reserves in hot form in division three as they enjoyed a goal-fest against Stoconians reserves.

Jay Carney and Jake Blair-Steenson both bagged hat-tricks backed by James Grantham (two), Isiah Parke, Ashley Emare and Chris Birkhead in an 11-2 romp with Stoconians having possibly the goal of the season as one of their two consolation strikes.

There were two games in division A which produced a 5-3 win for Rochdale Galaxy at Moston Brook thirds and the spoils were shared in a 3-3 deadlock between AFC Oldham seconds and Waterloo seconds.

With no league or cup action for a couple of weeks all eyes will be turned to Hyde United this Saturday as they host the annual fixture between the Land C and their old friends and rivals from the Lancashire Amateur FL.

It is the 99th fixture between the two leagues and entry to the match is free with a nominal charge of £1 for a programme.

The kick off will be at 2pm and the current L and C chosen squad led by captain Davey Luker (Rochdalians) is Norbert Neigowski, Dawid Majewski, Claudio Campos, Kordian Nowak and Krystian Babicz – (all Mcr Polonia), Rob Swallow, Ewan Malcolm, Jack Wray,Jack Davies, Sam Wrigley – (all Waterloo), Phil Noon – (Milton), Anthony Horrox – (Abacus Media), Paul Arrowsmith Daniel Deardon –(Radclyffe), Jamie Luker, Liam Murray, Jordan Simmonds ,Reece Gregory – (all Rochdalians)

And there also will be two players from Dom Doyle

By Geoff Garnett