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

With an improvement in the weather, it was back to a busy programme of league and cup fixtures. In the Rhodes Cup  Manchester Rose made it through to the semi-finals with a hard-earned 2-1 win at Grappenhall SC. The Wray Cup  saw a real thriller as Moston Brook Reserves pulled off a tense 5-4 win over South Manchester. In the Whitehead Cup , AFC Oldham A drew 3-3 with AFC Salford and won the dramatic penalty shoot-out 5-4. The other catch-up Whitehead Cup was also close as a

League and cup action continued this weekend and in the Rhodes Cup, AFC Stockport once again sprang a shock, defeating promotion-chasing Didsbury FC in an all-Division One affair. Having dispatched Bedians in the last round, AFC Stockport’s run looked to be at an end after Didsbury went three up early in the second half, but AFC fought back in style, netting five times without reply to march into the next round. Joining them are Premier Division high-flyers Rushford Park who

There was a flood of goals to match the torrential rain conditions on yet another inclement weekend in the L&C which saw arguably the shock of the L&C season. In the Keith Marsden Cup, three games were completed which included an almighty upset as Santos U23s – midtable in Division B – shocked Division Three Stoconians 3-2 to record a famous win. Elsewhere, Fitton Hill All-Stars triumphed at Spurley Hey by the odd goal in five. There were five goals in the other game, but all

Cup action continued over the weekend and the Rhodes Cup saw an eye-catching display from Grappenhall Sports Club who belied their Division One status to put Premier Division Boothstown to the sword 6-2 thanks to a clinic of ruthless finishing. Their reward is a home tie with Manchester Rose. There were no such problems for Premier Division high-flyers Chadderton Cott who comfortably saw off Mellor 5-2. In the Geoff Garnett Cup , there was a tense encounter at Manchester Sout

East Manchester Galaxy, AFC Stockport and Didsbury FC all delivered Rhodes Cup shocks to reach the quarter finals. Galaxy, second and unbeaten in Division One, illustrated their quality by defeating Premier Division leaders Bollington United on penalties. The underdogs took the lead through a well-worked set piece which the outstanding Muhamed Jatta converted, only for Bollington – who have dropped just three league points all season – to level at the break. A few tactical ad

The L&C AFL and other football organisations in the area were saddened to hear of the recent passing away of two significant figures of amateur football in Greater Manchester. Mark Wilson (Rochdalians) and Chris Carney (Salford Victoria) had been involved with their clubs for a combined total of nearly 100 years. They guided their respective clubs to many honours – both team and individual – over the years. To recognise their great contribution to their clubs and amateur foot

There was an upset in the Rhodes Cup  as RFAITS Premier Division Abacus Media were sent packing by Division One’s Didsbury. The game was one of a series that completed the domestic cup preliminary rounds, saw Didsbury saunter to a convincing 5-0 victory. Rushford Park showed why they are flying high in the RFAITS Premier Division with a big 8-1 win over Richmond Rovers. Rochdalians were also impressive in a 3-1 win at Division One leaders Oldham Hulmeians. The Wray Cup  saw f

This weekend saw attention primarily shift to the domestic cup competitions and in the Rhodes Cup,  featuring Premier Division and Division One sides, saw two pulsating preliminary round games. In the first, Division One Mellor edged out Premier Division Trafford United in a seven-goal thriller while in the other all-Division One game, East Manchester Galaxy came out on top 5-3 against Stretford Paddock Reserves. The Wray Cup for Division Two and Three teams, saw Division Thr

The eagerly awaited start of the second half of the season was disrupted by a stiff frost following on a snowy week casing the bulk of the matches on grass to be called off by frozen pitches. A new pair of domestic cup competitions (the Geoff Garnett Cup ) for teams in the Premier division and Division One and Two and (the Keith Marsden Cup ) for teams in Divisions Three, A and B were set for inaugural preliminary rounds. Only two games in the Geoff Garnett Cup were able to g

In the final round of fixtures before the mid-season break, RFAITS sponsored Premier Division leaders Bollington United consolidated their position at the summit with an efficient 2-0 victory over hard-working Manchester South End. It means that, in their first season at this level, Bollington hold a six-point lead over AFC Oldham who have two games in hand. In effect, Bollington’s superior goal difference means the lead is seven points. The other game in division saw Bedians

A better week of weather saw a bigger number of games completed to hot up the title challenges across the six divisions. It’s hot at the top of the  Premier Division  as AFC Oldham ended the 100% record of Rushford Park with a 2-0 win to leapfrog them into second place three points behind long-time leaders Bollington United with a game in hand. Oldham showed plenty of determination in an exciting and close contest which was settled by two clinical finishes and gritty defendin

Moorside took the total of L&C teams through to quarter-finals of the Manchester Amateur Cup  to three with a demolition 7-0 win over Heywood St James Reserves thanks to a brace apiece from Joe FAGAN and Jason EVANS, along with strikes by Ryan BEECH, Rhys ROBERTS and Liam MAHER. Their reward in the last eight is a meeting with Heywood St James Development, and this latest victory extends their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions. Just one game completed in the RFA

Heavy showers on the previous day followed by steady rain on match day produced a lot of postponed games on what was to be a busy league programme across the divisions. This was despite the excellent efforts of league and club officials to try and find alternative venues at late notice. There was just one cup game, and it saw Bedians lose to the only goal of the game in their Northern Cup clash with Daten FC Reserves. The top game in the RFAITS Premier Division  between the t

Despite the after effects of Storm Claudia followed by some winter weather it was virtually a full programme of league and county cup matches. In the Manchester Amateur Cup  last week’s postponed matches were completed and East Manchester progressed to the quarter finals with a 6-4 triumph over Didsbury Reserves. They fought back impressively after shipping two within the opening 10 minutes but pulled a goal back before the break and were level a minute into the second half.

It was back to a full league programme and in the Premier Division, Bollington united continue to rule the roost after a comfortable 4-0 at Richmond Rovers maintains their six-point lead at the summit. Second-placed Rushford Park have three games in hand over United and stretched their 100% record in the game of the day with Chadderton Cott. Cott hit hard on the break in the early stages to lead 2-1 at the interval but Rushford showed their intent as they ran out 4-3 breathle

L&C teams were involved in County Cup action and a thriller at Rochdalians in the Lancashire Amateur Cup  saw the home team edge out Stoneclough Reserves on penalties. It ended at 2-2 and in the penalty shoot-out Rochdalians kept their nerve to breeze through 4-2. Oldham Hulmeians join them in the next round after comfortably seeing off Hapton 5-1. But in the Manchester Challenge Trophy  it was the end of the hopes of Manchester Rose, who lost 3-1 at Chadderton Reserves and R

A busy day of Manchester County Cup competitions and league fixtures saw many of the games scheduled to be played on grass washed out by Storm Amy. The postponed fixtures in the cup competitions will be scheduled to be played this coming weekend giving fixtures secretary Malc Kershaw a busy time changing the planned busy programme. In the Manchester Amateur Cup  there was a fine win for Stretford Paddock Amateurs at Egerton Reserves who edged a dramatic penalty shoot-out 2-1

It was a day of torrential rain which led to many postponements but there was still plenty of exciting action to see out the summer. The...