Teams are up for the cup

Abacus Media are already through to the Manchester Challenge Cup final where they take on Egerton FC at Hyde United on February 25. 

Now in the Manchester Amateur Cup the league are assured of another final place after three teams made it through to the semi-finals. 

Baguley Athletic are new to the league this season but they have impressed and made a solid start in division two. 

They took on AFC Droylsden in the quarter final and showed great fighting spirit to come back from 3-2 down with a terrific team effort and some stunning strikes to secure a 5-3 win. 

It was a physical game in tough conditions but Athletic tried to get it down and play. 

Droylsden have a 100% record in their league and a GD of +51 and also beat a team from the L and C on pens in the last round. 

There was a hat trick for Guy Eastwood – the first was a header and the last a sumptuous chip. 

Argentine forward Paolo Ortiz also took advantage of the keeper being off his line with a chip from distance. 

Athletic missed a pen when we were 2-1 up and Ben Boyne scored the final goal after a cross from Ramone Williams. 

Irlam Tigers had two of their teams in the other quarter-finals and their first team pulled off a great win scoring the only goal of the game at division one champions Chadderton Cott. 

But their A team found division two high-fliers Eccles United too hot to handle as United cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win. 

The only team standing in the way of the L and C teams are AFC Middleton in the semi-finals on February 26. 

More poor weather caused a number of league games to be postponed but the Premier division had plenty of action. 

The three-horse race for the title continued as there were wins for leaders Stretford Paddock by 2-0 hosting Manchester Polonia. 

Chasing hard each with a game in hand over Paddock are Moston Brook and De La Salle. 

They both showed their title intent with big wins for De La Salle by 7-3 in their local derby with North Walkden and Moston Brook were in seventh heaven with a 7-1 win at Salford Vics. 

The other game saw Milton returning to form with a 3-1 derby win at Abacus Media. 

Cup action and waterlogged pitches saw division one reduced to just one game and Hadfield had few problems in a 6-3 win over Didsbury. 

In division two leaders Hattersley maintained their ten-point lead at the top with a 3-1 win at lowly Bedians. 

Wythenshawe Wanderers stay second after accounting for South Manchester 5-2. 

Sale Amateurs continued their improved form with a comfortable 9-1 over Milltown and the other two games were close affairs with Irlam Tiger Rangers scoring the only goal of their game at Mellor and Stretford Paddock reserves won by the odd goal in five at Newton. 

The big game in division three saw the top two teams playing each other in a fine end-to-end contest which saw leaders Chadderton Park share six goals with AFC Stockport to stay eight points clear. 

Plenty of goals in the other two games with Elton Lib Hargreaves beating Woodhouses 5-2 and Stoconians had one of their best results of the season with a 6-0 win over Aldermere. 

Division A leaders North Walkden reserves were without a game giving Woodsend Athletic the opportunity to overtake them as they took on basement team Trafford United reserves. 

Trafford showed great spirit to hold them to a 1-1 draw that leaves Athletic level with the leaders on points with a vital game in hand. 

Santos kept a rare clean sheet as they won 1-0 at AFC Oldham reserves. 

Milton reserves were the top scorers in the division with a 7-3 victory over Milnrow Firgrovia. 

Salford Storm enjoyed an excellent grass surface at Hough End as two late goals secured a close 2-1 win at Greater Manchester FC. 

It was the same score in the other game in favour of Moston Brook reserves at Stretford Paddock Development. 

In division B Aldermere reserves got into touching distance of the title as they kept up their remorseless progress with a clinical 4-0 win over Hillgate. 

Old Stretfordians reserves overtook Greater Manchester reserves into second place on goal difference with a big 8-2 win at Oldham Saints as Greater Manchester shared the spoils in a tight 1-1 draw at Flixton JFC. 

A thriller at Moston Brook thirds saw visiting AFC Oldham reserves win by the odd goal in nine and a tight contest at Heaton Mersey saw the home team score the only goal of their derby clash with Parrs Wood Celtic to avoid their draw specialists reputation. 

Plenty of hot shots in division C with Mellor reserves closing the gap on non-playing leaders Dukinfield Athletic to 12 points as they despatched Salford Storm reserves 6-0. 

Bury Ams reserves went one better as they beat Urmston Town Vale 7-0. 

The six-goal theme continued as Staly Lions beat Altrincham Hale 6-3 and Eccles United reserves made it a good day for the club with a 6-0 victory at Stoconians reserves. 

Village Manchester reserves enjoyed an efficient 3-0 win at Chadderton Park reserves. 

The other game was much tighter with AFC Stockport Warriors edging a 3-2 win over a lively Govan Athletic Development. 

A rain-soaked division D was reduced to just one game but it was important as Moston Brook fourths beat Mellor Development 5-1 to lead over Whalley Range to three points but Range have two games in hand over Brook.