WITH their main title rivals Tintwistle Athletic and Old Trafford and Gorse Hill out of Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League action Mellor took full advantage to hit the top of the table.

They beat Old Ashtonians 3-1 to preserve their 100-per-cent record to lead on goal difference from Athletic and they have a game in hand.

Whalley Range missed a chance to join the top two as they were held to a 1-1 draw by reigning champions Rochdalians.

There were some fine results for league teams in the Manchester Challenge Cup led by Parrs Wood Celtic with a 9-3 thrashing of Heywood St James.

Old Trafford and Gorse Hill accounted for Beechfield United 4-1 and Newton were superb in a 6-3 win at Hollinwood but Abacus Media went out, losing 5-3 to Curzon Ashton seconds.

The Lancashire and Cheshire inter-league team warmed up for their forthcoming game with the Liverpool League beating Rochdale Scared Heart 3-1 with several new players impressing manager Rob O’Connor.

Moorside Rangers continue to rule the roost in Division One with an unblemished record but they were given a good contest by a spirited Oldham Victoria.

Rangers won 2-1 with goals from Goodman and an own goal and Vics got a well-deserved late consolation strike.

The big game in the division ended with honours even as Newton Heath and Signol Athletic shared six goals which leaves them both five points adrift of Moorside.

Milton and Didsbury stay in the hunt as Didsbury kept up their recent good run with a 3-1 win against Swinton and Milton won by the odd goal in nine in a thriller with Trafford United.

Stoconians kept an immaculate clean sheet as they enjoyed their first win of the season, 3-0 against Salford Vics.

A close game between Old Stretfordians and Bury Ams saw Bury home 2-1 to climb into mid-table.

Waterloo continue to set a hot pace in their first season in the league and they lead Division Two by three points with a big win at second-placed AFC Oldham.

AFC lead three other teams by three points who are led by Hooley Bridge Celtic after they edged a 4-3 win at Spurley Hey.

Whalley Range seconds are in great form and they posted an impressive 6-3 win at Newton seconds with the goals flowing from Paul Smethurst (two), Owen Trainer (two), Paul Taker and Nick Doyle.

Also on nine points are Mellor seconds who cruised to an 8-2 win against Moston Brook seconds.

Chorltonians were always in control in a 4-0 win against Parrs Wood Celtic seconds but South Manchester seconds had to work hard for a 2-1 win at Staly Lions.

It’s tight at the top of Division Three with four teams locked on nine points led by Salford Vics seconds who won 6-4 at Hooley Bridge Celtic seconds with Liam Craven (three), Mike Gandy (two) and Tom Lawman netting for Vics.

High Lane seconds were knocked off top spot as they lost another close encounter 4-3 to Santos and Didsbury seconds defended impeccably in a 2-0 win at Chadderton Park.

Also in the frame are Chorltonians seconds who were 3-1 winners at Rochdalians seconds.

Manchester Polonia were celebrating after recording their first win since joining the league as they won 4-2 hosting Cheadle Hulme Athletic and Heaton Mersey were good value for a 3-0 home win against Newton Heath seconds.

There are new leaders in Division A after Tintwistle Athletic seconds lost for the first time, going down 5-2 hosting Aldermere.

Whalley Range seconds stepped up to the plate with a gritty 3-1 win at Hargreaves Bury with goals from Gabriel Calwell, Ahmed Ramadan and Sam Remeh.

In the other games the big hitters were Signol Athletic seconds with a 7-0 win against Chorltonians Rovers.

But it was much closer in the other matches as Hollingworth won 2-1 at Bury Ams seconds, Moston Brook thirds won 4-3 against Stoconians seconds and AFC Oldham seconds and Mellor thirds shared six goals.

In Division B two teams still have 100-per-cent records at the top of the table as Abacus Media seconds scored the only goal of their game at Bury Ams thirds and Old Trafford and Gorse Hill seconds enjoyed a 6-3 romp at Rochdale Galaxy.

Hillgate got back to winning ways with an 8-2 trouncing of Staly Lions seconds and Bedians seconds kept up their good form with an emphatic 4-1 win at Old Strets seconds.

The other game produced a rare goalless draw between Tintwistle Athletic thirds and Village Manchester.

In Division C Moorside Rangers seconds kept up their club’s fantastic start to the season as they won 5-0 at title rivals Didsbury thirds.

Goals from Parker, and Fry and Birchall both with doubles, preserved Rangers' 100-per-cent record and moved them three points clear.

There were goals galore at Salford Vics thirds who beat Manchester Rovers 7-3 with a Jordan Jones hat-trick backed by two apiece for Karl Smith and Jordan Byrne giving them their second successive seven-goal haul.

Parrs Wood Celtic thirds were also on fire with a 9-3 win at AFC Stockport but the other game produced a 2-2 deadlock between Stoconians thirds and Abacus Media thirds.

Bedians thirds are flying high in Division D with a 7-0 win at Staly Lions thirds keeping them clear of Droylsden JFC who edged a 4-3 win against Stoconians fourths.

Bury Ams fourths kept in the frame scoring the only goal of their game with Didsbury fourths and another tight game saw Old Strets thirds win 4-3 at Swinton seconds.

Trafford United seconds were 3-1 victors hosting AFC Oldham fourths and in the local derby at Whalley Range strikes from Sam Millar and Ryan Lyle were not enough to prevent a 4-2 win for Chorltonians Athletic.