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Celtic success in match of the day

13/ 3/2008

LANGLEY Celtic boosted their hopes of lifting the Middleton Sunday League Premier Division title when they scored a comfortable victory over closest rivals Blackley Alliance.

They opened up a three-point gap, with a game in hand, by defeating second-placed Alliance 3-1.

Two goals from Tudor and one from Moses gave Celtic the points, Colin Bennett replying for the visitors.

The other Premier match, between Cardinal Villa and Langley Rangers, was abandoned with eight minutes still to play at Parkfield.

With the relegation scrap poised at 2-2, Villa were awarded a penalty. This prompted a touchline complaint from Rangers’ manager Chris Roach which earned him a red card.

The referee then abandoned the game before the penalty could be taken. (Read George Dodds’ report on page 54).

Woodman moved to the top of Division One thanks to a 5-2 victory over St Clares.

Ryan Worsley (3) and Steve Goodier (2), claimed the Woodman goals.

Saints battled well, and the outstanding Phil Smith had to marshal his makeshift defence in typically effective style to keep Woodman ahead.

With FC Radclyffe playing in the Geoffrey Allen Memorial Cup, Woodman took the opportunity to move ahead of their title rivals, although they have played a game more.

Brunswick’s hopes of pulling off a giant-killing in the HPS Challenge Cup ended in heavy conditions at Bowlee – the Division Two side losing 4-2 to Red Barn of Division One.

Goals from Colin Brown and Tom Crossley gave Brunswick a 2-1 interval lead, but their opponents scored twice in the last 10 minutes to ensure that they made it into the next round.

Hutton and Owen shared the goals for the visitors.

Middleton Colts continue to find the switch to senior football tough, but their manager Paul Hindley says that the sharp learning curve will serve them well in the long run.

Colts, most of whom were playing under 16s football last season, have only one point to their name in Division Two, and on Sunday they lost 10-5 to Kestel in the Subsidiary Cup Group B.

Lewis Jacobs and Jamie Cord both scored twice and Dean Parkinson hit Colts’ fifth in a committed performance. Marshall led the way for Kestel with four goals, and there were two apiece for Duff, Dillon and Eaton.

"We knew it was going to be tough stepping into open age football with such a young team, but there are still 14 or 15 players turning up each week and giving their all," said Hindley.

He added: "At the moment it is tough. The lads are getting bullied on the pitch by some of the older heads in the league, and maybe not getting the rub of the green from referees. It is a sharp learning curve, but one which they are taking in their stride.

"As a club we have 16 different teams, and the ethos is to get kids off the streets and playing football. Winning isn’t everything, but I am confident that in a couple of years the Colts will be equipped to move up through the divisions.

"I won this league 25 years ago with Middleton Victoria, and a lot of that side now have children playing within the Colts’ system."