Double Cup Joy for Didsbury

Before all league and cup games this weekend, L&C players, management and officials paid their respects on Remembrance weekend, impeccably observing a minute’s silence.

The postponed Manchester Amateur Cup games produced good results for the L&C with four more teams going through to the last 16, making it eight in total.

It was a great day for Didsbury FC as both their first and second teams made it through for a great double for the club in two close and dramatic contests.

Didsbury’s first team took on Rushford Park Reserves and were indebted to their keeper for a string of fine saves to limit a lively young Rushford team to one goal as Didsbury edged it 2-1.

Didsbury Reserves were in a breathless thriller with Elton Fold and won by the odd goal in nine.

Joining the dynamic Didsbury duo in the next round are Waterhead who beat Heywood St James Reserves 5-1 and Moorside SC who cruised to a 7-2 win at AFC Monton.

With Premier Division leaders Bollington United without a game the chasing pack were aiming to cut their big lead at the top.

Rushford Park hosted the top game as they took on Manchester Rose, who gave a good account of themselves before losing a tight encounter by 3-2.

AFC Oldham stay level on points with Rushford after an efficient 3-1 win over Boothstown,

Bedians have plenty of games in hand on Bollington and they kept up their hopes of catching them with a 4-2 victory over Abacus Media.

Also in contention are Chadderton Cott who had to graft hard for a 2-1 win at Richmond Rovers.

At the other end, Trafford United lifted themselves away from the bottom two as they enjoyed a 5-1 win over Manchester South End.

Division One is very competitive with just a handful of points separating the top six teams.

Oldham Hulmeians stay in top spot after a clinical 4-0 win at Grappenhall Sports and a 3-1 win for East Manchester Galaxy over Stretford Paddock Ams keeps them level on points with Hulmeians.

Rochdalians shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Santos to stay on the heels of the top two and Mellor kept up their recent good run of form with a 5-2 win over Village Manchester to remain firmly in the mix.

The other game in the division was a 5-2 win for AFC Stockport over Withington Wanderers.

The top four teams in Division Two were out of league action and South Manchester picked up their first points of the season with an impressive 7-1 win over Abacus Media Reserves.

Saddleworth 3D kept an immaculate clean sheet winning 4-0 at Konger and Old StretsGregs enjoyed a 4-2 home win over Old Alts Thirds.

Fitton Hill All-Stars rule the roost in Division Three and they kept up their hot form with a fine 5-1 derby win at AFC Oldham Reserves.

Chasing them all the way are Timperley Villa who stay three points behind with a game in hand after a big home win over AFC Stockport Warriors.

Spurley Hey have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks but they hit a wall as they went down 4-1 at Moston Brook Thirds.

The other game in the division between Altrincham Hale Thirds and Trafford United Reserves was a great advert for the L&C. After an enthralling 3-3 draw, referee and former President James Keeley reported: “A beautiful sunny November day for a game of football. Altrincham Hale had the majority of the play throughout the game but despite the possession and chance after chance, they couldn’t find the back of the net.

“Trafford took the chances they had and completely against the run of play found themselves 3-0 up at half-time.

“Alty continued the pressure into the second half, eventually clawing one back. A second came from a long free kick which somehow bounced over everyone to find the top corner.

“The equaliser was a long time coming and Alty left it late in injury time with a ball over the top. A superb game for the neutral to enjoy from first to last minute!”

There were goals galore in Division A led by leaders Signol Athletic who moved four points clear at the top with a 6-1 win over main rivals AFC Salford.

Prestwich Marauders were also in good form with a 5-3 win over AFC Stockport Titans.The other in-form team are new boys Silver Birch who, after a slow start to the season, have raced up the division with four successive wins, the latest being a 3-0 victory at Newton Vikings.

Stoconians Reserves continue to fly high at the top of Division B and they showed why they are leading by six points with a ruthless 7-0 win over Moston Brook Fourths.

Their nearest rivals are Santos u23’s who had few problems in a 5-2 win over Didsbury Thirds.

Plenty of goals in the other games in the division led by Waterhead reserves’ 14-1 win over Cavaliers and Bury Ams B dispatching Manchester Victoria 7-2.

It was closer in the other games with 4-3 wins for Richmond Rovers Reserves at Saddleworth 3D Reserves and Oldham Hulmeians Reserves in their local derby over AFC Oldham A.