Sharples School Under 16s are flying the flag for Bolton schools with a good cup run writes GRAEME HOLLINSHEAD

They reached the semi finals of the Greater Manchester Individual Schools Cup with a 3-1 win over St. Peter's School, Manchester. On target for Sharples were Carl Lilley, Nicky Adams and Cabbar Bagdagi.

Sharples will now travel to meet Middleton Technology College for their semi- final clash on Friday.

Thornleigh were not so lucky. Their under 14s side slipped out of the English Schools Cup after going down 3-0 to Ellesmere Port Catholic High School in their fourth round clash.

Elsewhere Bolton under 15s' Northern Merit League match against West Lancashire in Skelmersdale was postponed but the town team quickly rearranged a challenge match against Daisy Hill FC, which they won 4-2.

They had an early shock when Daisy Hill took the lead mid way through the first half but Billy McGuinness (Turton) then took over with a spectacular goal show. First he brought Bolton back on level terms with a 12 yard strike before adding a second just after the restart,

He completed his hat trick with a fine 18 yard shot after being put clear by Ben Rooney (Mount St. Joseph's) and went on to hit a fourth after receiving a through ball from Keir McNeill (Turton) before Daisy Hill grabbed their second late in the game.