LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Top two open up the gap in the Premier Division

The top two teams still have a healthy lead over the chasing pack as they both posted victories.

Leaders Whalley Range were made to work hard for a 4-3 win at Parrs Wood Celtic who gave a good account of themselves after taking an early lead.

It was even for much of the game after that with strikes from Luke Scarry, Callum Scarry, Connor Downes and Joey Kinsella eventually taking Range across the line.

Bedians held Mellor until the break but the Mellor power told as they scored five times without reply to stay a point behind Range but with a vital game in hand.

Tintwistle Athletic are in third spot after a convincing 7-3 win against Old Trafford and Gorse Hill and South Manchester kept up their good run to move into the top six after a 6-4 win against Morston Brook.

On target for South were Kane Berkeley (three), Jamie Walker, Badoo Dremeh and Anthony Aitcheson.

Old Ashtonians are also on a good run of form as they climbed away from the lower reaches with a close 2-1 derby win against Newton.

The other game was another close affair as High Lane shared four goals with Abacus Media.

With Division One leaders Moorside Rangers on County Cup duty, Signol Athletic took full advantage as they took over top spot via a 4-2 win at Oldham Victoria but Rangers now have three games in hand.

Stoconians kept up their recent good form as a 2-1 win against Milton lifted them into third place and the other game produced a convincing 5-1 win for Bury Ams against Salford Vics.

It’s tight at the top of Division Two with three teams locked on 21 points as they all won their games.

Waterloo are top on goal difference after a fine display at Chorltonians brought them a 6-1 win.

Waterloo came flying out of their blocks to lead 5-1 after 30 minutes and added another after the break with the firepower coming from five-goal hero Kieran Mills and Tom Heap.

Hooley Bridge Celtic also had an emphatic 4-0 win at Newton seconds and AFC Oldham won 4-2 against South Manchester seconds to keep firmly in the frame.

With Division Three side Chorltonians seconds in cup action Salford Vics seconds missed the chance to close the gap as they lost 2-1 to Cheadle Hulme Athletic.

There were draws for Heaton Mersey, 1-1 with High Lane seconds, and Rochdalians seconds and Santos in a 4-4 goal fest.

A basement-battle saw Manchester Polonia climb out of bottom slot with a gritty 2-1 win against Hooley Bridge Celtic seconds.

Division A leaders Whalley Range thirds were in cup action and closing the gap were Stoconians seconds with a 5-1 win at AFC Oldham seconds and Chorltonians Rovers with a big 7-1 win against Hargreaves Bury.

Aldermere had one of their biggest wins of the season with a 6-0 victory over Mellor thirds and Signol Athletic seconds were firing on all cylinders as they romped to a 7-1 win against Moston Brook thirds.

Abacus Media seconds continue to rule the roost in Division B as a 3-0 win at Milton seconds keeps them three points clear of Old Trafford and Gorse Hill seconds who were 3-1 victors over Bedians seconds.

Rochdale Galaxy pulled off their first win of the season to climb out of the bottom two, beating Chorltonians Villa 4-2 while Deans and Tintwistle Athletic thirds shared six goals.

Spurley Hey seconds moved level on points with Division C leaders Moorside Rangers seconds with a 6-2 win against Manchester Rovers and Didsbury seconds are in third spot after an equally convincing 6-1 derby win against Parrs Wood Celtic thirds.

Salford Vics thirds stay in the frame with a 7-3 win at AFC Stockport and the other games saw Abacus Media thirds beat Stoconians thirds 6-2, while Moston Brook fourths and AFC Oldham thirds were locked in a 3-3 derby draw.

The top two in Division D were without fixtures and Bury Ams fourths were unable to close the gap on the top two as they were beaten 4-2 by a sprightly Chorltonians Athletic.

Chadderton Park seconds score the only goal of their local derby with AFC Oldham fourths and Staly Lions thirds were delighted with a 5-2 win at Stoconians fourths.

In the Stockport Senior Cup, Spurley Hey seconds won a penalty shootout against Hillgate 3-2 after a 3-3 draw in normal time.

Tintwistle Athletic seconds are out of the Derbyshire Junior Cup, losing 5-1 at Coteheath,

The bulk of the cup action was in the Manchester Amateur Cup and Division One leaders Moorside Rangers gained local bragging rights after beating their second team 4-0.

The firsts enjoyed early goals from Heard and Brown but the seconds showed why they are having a good season as Parker went close. But the firsts asserted themselves with strikes from Kay and Kelly.

Newton Heath are also through after winning an amazing game at Boothstown seconds 7-6 and Old Stretfordians kept up their recent hot run with a 6-1 win at Didsbury.

Trafford United squandered an early 2-0 lead, provided by goals from Charlie Watts and Curtis Slater, to lose 4-3 hosting AFC Middleton and Swinton were no match for South Manchester Ambassadors who strolled to a big 8-1 win.

Whalley Range seconds were also well beaten 7-0 by the powerful Failsworth Dynamos, as were Chadderton Park, 6-2 at Heaton.

Newton Heath seconds marched through with a 7-2 win against Old Strets seconds and Didsbury seconds went down 4-3 on penalties after a creditable 1-1 draw with Beechfield United.

There was an amazing finish between Chorltonians seconds and East Manchester Academy after the game had ended 3-3.

It took a marathon 26 penalties before East went through 11-10.

Village Manchester were deserving 2-0 leaders against Manchester Celtic Adults with Dominic Mooney and Muneki Mbaro on target before the break but Celtic came back to draw level then win the penalty shootout 4-2.

Another tight game saw Whalley Range thirds lose by the odd goal in seven at Blackley Town.

Trafford United seconds also gave a good account of themselves before going down 4-3 to Manchester Gregorians seconds and the final heroes were Old Strets thirds who beat Heyside 5-4 in an epic encounter.