Weekly Round Up

After last week’s devastating storms which virtually wiped out the league programme, the Halloween weekend brought calm and sunny weather to allow a full programme of league games and County Cup matches to go ahead. It was full-on action in all six divisions with quite a few shocks for leading teams. The RFAITS Premier Division now has a logjam of four teams within a point of each other at the top of the table and several others hot on their heels. The big upset was long-time

On a weekend ravaged by storms, Division One leaders Gamesley dropped their first points of the season. The division was limited to two games but with second-placed Village Manchester not in action, Gamesley had an opportunity to stretch their lead at the summit. However, they were held by a spirited Moorside who registered a 3-3 draw. It means Gamesley are three points clear but if Village win their game in hand handsomely, they will leapfrog the current leaders. In the othe

This weekend saw a recently promoted club hit the top of the Premier Division as AFC Stockport moved a point clear after recording an impressive 4-2 win over Cheat Daze. AR Elite are currently their closest challengers and won by the same score at Chadderton Cott, while Urmston Meadowside Reds dropped a place to third after losing a tense thriller at Oldham Hulmeians 5-4. Bedians are also in the hunt after an efficient 5-1 win at Bollington United sees them level on points wi

Last weekend’s action saw a mixture of league and cup competition as many teams started their knockout journeys and teams continue to make their mark in the league. The RFAITS Premier Division is wide open and Urmston Meadowside Redstar made their move to the summit with a 4-1 win over Wythenshawe Wanderers. AFC Stockport were too hot for Winton Wanderers to handle in a 7-0 cruise to move a point behind. Manchester South End and Bollington United showed their qualities in an

The weekend saw a programme of league and cup fixtures take place. A high-quality encounter at the top of Division Two stood out, with leaders Fitton Hill securing a late 1-1 draw at 10-man Timperley Villa. Timperley took the lead but were reduced to 10 men and Fitton Hill took advantage, sharing the spoils to remain three points clear. Stoconians are level with Timperley after a tight 2-1 win over Milltown, while Abacus Media crushed Swinton 8-3 to notch their first win of t

Cheat Daze FC secured their first RFAITS Premier Division win of the season with a gritty 1-0 win over Manchester South End on a weekend which perfectly displayed how competitive the division will be this season. Oldham Hulmeians were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Wythenshawe Wanderers to remain a point off the summit at this early stage, while AFC Oldham edged another tight contest, seeing off Bollington United 2-1, with both teams showing they are capable of competing at

Most of the teams in the L&C were able to shake off their pre-season dust in an action-packed programme of league and County Cup competitions The RFAITS Premier Division’s showcase game of the weekend came at Bedians who held reigning champions Wythenshawe Wanderers to a 3-3 draw in a breathless encounter. Wanderers flew out of the traps with two well-taken early strikes, but Bedians had restored parity by the break. The visitors’ goalkeeper Leyton Entwistle was in inspired f

The L&C returned this weekend and defending RFAITS Premier Division champions Rushford Park – now relocated to Wythenshawe Wanderers – began their title defence with an eight-goal thriller in a breathless 4-4 draw with Chadderton Cott to set the new standard for the upcoming season. AFC Stockport have moved up a division but they look equipped for the challenge, earning their first point in a pulsating 3-3 draw at Oldham Hulmeians. Fellow Premier Division newcomers AR Elite l

The weekend saw completion of the remaining league fixtures, as well as the annual Inter League match with rivals and friends from the Lancashire Amateur League to contest the John Howard Shield. It was a dramatic encounter to match up to the occasion as the L&C scored a 90th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 and win the subsequent penalty shootout. The L&C played hosts for the game and it was played at Bedians FC, who provided an immaculate grass pitch drawing universal praise fr

Three more cup competitions reached their exciting climax which saw Saddleworth 3D, Oldham Hulmeians and Signol Athletic lift trophies after triumphing in their respective finals. Saddleworth 3D are the new Wray Cup champions after the Division Two outfit edged Fitton Hill Allstars 1-0 in a tightly contested game. History was going to be made either way as both sides were aiming for their maiden trophy and the game was settled by 3D’s leading marksman Zack Barton who struck m

Signol Athletic secured the second part of what could be a memorable treble-winning season after beating Village Manchester Reserves 4-2 to lift the Division A title. After clinching the Whitehead Cup, Signol went into the game knowing a win would hand them more silverware. But it was not plain sailing for Signol as a well organised Village led 2-1 at the break with strikes from Franky Habbaa and Ayo Oyesaliya. Village were reduced to ten men early in the second half with a r

Signol Athletic’s dream week continued as they reached the Keith Marsden Cup Final in by dramatically beating AFC Salford on penalties. Fresh from securing the Whitehead Cup, Signol could make it a memorable treble given they are well placed to secure the Division A title. They secured their spot in a second domestic cup final of the season when, after drawing 3-3 with AFC Salford, they edged the shootout 5-3 to set up a meeting with Newton Vikings in the final. In league act

Rushford Park lifted the Rhodes Cup for the first time in their history after defeating valiant East Manchester Galaxy on penalties. There was always going to be a new name on the trophy in a competition that has ran since 1913, and there were high hopes that a Rushford team going for Premier Division glory and a Galaxy side well set to snatch the Division One title would produce a classic. But few could have predicted the pulsating nature of the game held at West Didsbury an

Congratulations to Signol Athletic who edged past Newton Vikings 2-1 at West Didsbury and Chorlton in the Whitehead Cup Final. West Didsbury and Chorlton FC were again excellent hosts as they provided a superb pitch, great hospitality and a their usual warm and friendly welcome for the L&C’s first cup final of the season It was the Whitehead Cup Final for teams in Divisions A and B. The match was between two teams in Division A- unbeaten league leaders Signol Athletic and New

The finalists of the Geoff Garnett Cup were decided in a busy week of action as the leaders of the top two divisions are set to face off. RFAITS Premier Division pace-setters Bollington United were tested by Santos of Division One but ultimately overpowered their opponents to triumph 3-1. They will play Division One leaders Oldham Hulmeians who enjoyed a comfortable 5-1 win over Stretford Paddock Ams. In the Keith Marsden Cup semi-finals, Newton Vikings booked their spot in t

Rushford Park and East Manchester Galaxy set up a mouthwatering Rhodes Cup final as they both enjoyed a pivotal week in their respective quests for league and cup glory. In an all- RFAITS Premier Division semi-final with Manchester Rose at the weekend, a late winner gave Rushford a dramatic 4-3 win. Rose looked set for the final as an Adekunle Otuland’s brace and Gerald Magande’s strike cancelled out Bailey Napier’s opener. But Rushford roared back and after Demel Cumnerbat

L&C teams were given the opportunity to enjoy the Easter break and play their games in the coming weeks, which meant a limited programme, but Rushford Park reinforced their RFAITS Premier Division title ambitions with an impressive 8-2 win at AFC Oldham to close the gap on leaders Bollington United to nine points, though with three games in hand, they will fancy their chances. At the other end, Manchester South End moved out of the bottom two with a 3-1 win over Manchester Ro

Two further cup finalists were confirmed as Fitton Hill All-Stars and Newton Vikings won their respective cup semi-finals. In the Wray Cup, Fitton Hill were faced with a difficult task as the Division Three outfit took on Moston Brook Reserves who are second in Division Two and well placed to achieve promotion. But they were shocked by Fitton Hill who edged home 2-1 to set up a final against Saddleworth 3D. There were no giant killing antics in the Whitehead Cup as Division A

The domestic cup semi-finals got underway this weekend and Saddleworth 3D set an L&C record by surging to victory in their Wray Cup clash with fellow Division Two side Heywood St James. Only a point separates these two in the league but Saddleworth made that gap seem markedly wider by sauntering to a 13-1 win. Zak Barton enjoyed an afternoon for the ages, scoring seven first-half goals in a remarkable encounter, including four in the opening 25 minutes as Saddleworth raced in

Boothstown and Grappenhall pulled off seismic shocks in the Geoff Garnett Cup this weekend. Division One Grappenhall SC gained revenge on the Premier Division outfit Manchester Rose who came out on top in their Rhodes Cup fixture earlier this season. This time though, Grappenhall powered to victory, securing a convincing 4-1 win. In the other game, Boothstown’s performance belied their lowly Premier Division position as they produced a heroic performance to keep league leader