Town bow out

ROYTON Town suffered a first-round exit in the Lancashire Amateur Shield.

The Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League outfit produced a disappointing display as they lost 3-2 at Leigh Athletic.

The hosts, who dominated for long spells, went in front early on courtesy of an overhead after Town ’keeper Andy Fitzsimmons had been dispossessed.

Athletic also hit the crossbar, had a goal disallowed and saw a penalty saved by Fitzsimmons on the stroke of half-time.

Town were better after the break and equalised through Michael Moss, and Fraser Hatton had the ball in the net moments later, only for play to be pulled back for an offside decision.

But their efforts were in vain as Athletic scored from the penalty spot — Carl Dean was penalised for handball on the goal-line and promptly sent off — and they added a third on the break.

The Glebe Street outfit continued to press and were rewarded when Jason Titterington scored in the last minute.

In the premier division, a superb hat-trick from James Hampson clinched a 3-3 draw for Avro at home to Hindsford, but Hollinwood were beaten 2-1 at Dukinfield Town.

Premier division: Avro 3, Hindsford 3; Chapel Town 1, Manchester Gregorians 1; Dukinfield Town 2, Hollinwood 1; Rochdale Sacred Heart 0, East Manchester 4; Stockport Georgians 0, Old Alts 1.

County Cup: Crooklands Casuals 1, Wythenshawe Amateurs 3; Elton Vale 0, Bury Amateurs 4; Leigh Athletic 3, Royton Town 2; Lytham Town 4, Atherton Town 1; Norcross & Warbreck 3, Walshaw Sports 2; Vickerstown 1, Prestwich Heys 2; Monton Amateurs 3, Tempest United 0; Poulton Town 3, West Didsbury 1; Lostock 4, Breightmet United 0.

Division one: Fives Athletic 4, Beechfield United 1; Heywood St James 3, Wythenshawe Town 8; Salford Victoria 1, West Didsbury 5; Division two: Leigh Athletic Res 1, Avro Res 4; Prestwich Heys Res 1, Springhead Res 4. Division three: Royton Town Res 0, Fives Athletic Res 2; Hollinwood Res 5, Manchester Gregorians ‘A’ 2. Division four: Wilmslow Albion Res 2, Hollinwood ‘A’ 3.