FLIXTON 1, RADCLIFFE BORO 3 TWO classic finishes in the dying minutes from top striker Ian Lunt saw Radcliffe Boro storm to an impressive victory at fifth in the table Flixton.
The good news did not end there for Kevin Glendon's side as leaders Lincoln United went down at home 2-1 to Ashton United, cutting the gap at the top of the table to seven points with Radcliffe having a game in hand.
Boro set off in determined mood at Flixton with Simon Whittle having the ball in the net in the first minute but it was ruled out for a foul on the keeper. Conner and Farrelly went close but it was striker Peter McRae who opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a volley opening his account in an injury-hit season.
Boro keeper Andy Johnston pulled off good saves from Shaungnessy and Byrne but was left helpless on 33 minutes when Chris Simms headed the equaliser from a free kick. Flixton hit the post through Dave Esdaille but were hit in the 87th minute when Lunt converted after good work by Jon Senior and on 89 minutes when he scrambled the ball home from Joe Conner's cross. ATHERTON LR 1, MOOR GREEN 1 ATHERTON LR manager Dave Morris celebrated his 50th birthday last week but family and friends alike forgot to buy him what he would really have wanted - a top class striker!
Yet again Rovers created enough chances to win several games, let alone one, but they went begging and tragedy struck late on when Moor Green grabbed an equaliser.
The two sides must now replay their Umbro Trophy 1st Qualifying Round tie tomorrow in Birmingham.
Rovers took a second minute lead when Paul Griffin produced some superb skill to turn and smack in a tremendous volley. The Moor Green goalkeeper pulled off some fine saves in the first half, especially from Tony Pemberton and Gavin McDonald.
The visitors had Ritchie Marshall sent off on the half hour for persistent infringements but still Rovers could not extend the lead. The second half saw Rovers less dominant, although still on top. In the last minute Gavin McDonald made a hash of an absolute sitter and four minutes into injury time the visitors equalised through Mark Russell. CHADDERTON 1, ATHERTON COLLS 3 (after extra time) ATHERTON Colls had top striker Graham Dodd to thank for two extra time goals earning a 3-1 away win at Chadderton in the NWC Challenge Cup first round.
Dougie Owen, back at the club after a spell at Turton, opened the scoring for Colls in the second minute, only for Andy Pendlebury to put through his own net just two minutes later.
Surprisingly there were no more goals in the 90 minutes but two superb strikes from Dodd on 100 and 119 minutes put Colls in the second round and the added psychological advantage of a 1-0 win from the first leg when the two meet again tomorrow night in the Floodlit Cup first round second leg at Chadderton.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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