THE six times postponed LFA Amateur Challenge Shield Round Two ties between Blackrod Town and Atherton Town, Walkden and Hindley Green plus Eagley against New Vic finally got played on Saturday.

The "Two Towns" clash finished 3-2 in Blackrod's favour but Atherton team boss Shaun Lynch was left seething by the whole event.

"No referee turned up for a Lancashire Shield tie which is a complete farce," he fumed. "They got someone local but some of the things which went on in the game were an absolute disgrace.

They equalised four minutes into injury time and yet not once was a physio on the pitch in the second half. I feel totally gutted but if we'd taken our chances it would never have been in doubt."

Former Blackrod striker Phil Hornby gave Atherton the lead early on when he outstripped the home defence and finished into the bottom corner. Despite the controversy surrounding Blackrod's injury time leveller it was indeed a fine strike form Micky O'Neill from the edge of the area.

In extra time two goals in as many minutes from Darren Shalliker gave Blackrod victory, the first a move he started and finished with good interplay between Darryl Martinus and Noel Corrigan.

"We didn't play that well," admitted Blackrod boss Arthur Flatters, "but we did score two goals fashioned out of quite brilliant moves."

Eagley crashed out in a 2-1 home defeat by Rochdale outfit New Vic. The Villagers opened the scoring when Mel Bentham turned his marker and crossed for Lee Whitehead to power in a header but the visitors twice pounced on slack defending for the goals which eventually won the tie.

"I just can't believe we didn't win that with all the possession we had in the second half," bemoaned Eagley boss Billy Williams. "They were very direct and had two quick lads up front who caught us napping twice."

Old rivals from their Bolton Combination days Walkden and Hindley Green fought out a cup tie of the highest order at Harriet Street with the latter team, now in the Wigan Amateur League, going through on a sudden death penalty shoot out.

Walkden, still in the Combination, took the lead with a quality finish from Marcus Corfield before Hindley equalised on the hour mark direct from a free kick.

The extra period saw Hindley Green go in front but in the 119th minute Frank O'Neill forced home a deserved equaliser for Walkden. The scores stood level after the first five penalties but a Walkden miss in the eliminators put Hindley through.