Manchester FA Under-18s share the spoils in goal glut

 Source: MEN

 Manchester FA Under-18s didn't know whether to laugh or cry after sharing in a eight-goal thriller in their Northern Counties Youth Championship opener at East Riding.

Martin Ivison’s young guns twice fought back from two goals down to lead 4-3 only to be denied a winning start by an injury-time equaliser.

The County’s representative-team co-odinator Jim Gould said: “The boys were disappointed to have had victory snatched away from them like that, but they can still take great heart from their performance.

“They showed great character in coming from behind and, considering we started the game with just three players from last season's successful team, it was a promising way to kick off the new season.”

Mossley's Adam Bezzina bagged two of Manchester's goals and FC United duo Matthew Boland and James Brooks added the others.

East Manchester seized on Hindsford surrendering their unbeaten record in crashing 6-3 to Avro to replace them at the BOS Manchester League's summit.

A Danny Williams penalty was enough to give East a fourth successive victory as they beat champions Manchester Gregorians to take over pole position.

Avro's James Hampson and Vinny Howell both hit hat-tricks as the Failsworth outfit responded to back-to-back defeats with a win to lift them within a point of Hindsford in third.

Lancashire and Cheshire League champs Whalley Range eased into the second-round of the Lancashire Amateur Cup with Liam Bennion's hat-trick helping them thrash Eagle Chorley 6-1.

Meanwhile, Range's rivals Old Trafford launched their defence of the L&C's Rhodes Cup with a 5-2 romp over Moorside Rangers.

Second division minnows Droylsden Amateurs and Tintwistle Athletic will both join the holders at the next stage after knocking out premier pair Old Ashtonians and Old Stretfordians.

Knutsford stretched their winning start in the CBS Cheshire League to nine games with a 1-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Billinge.

Tony Glennon
September 27, 2011