THE top two in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League Premier Division were not in league action at the weekend, allowing the chasing pack to make up ground.

Tintwistle Athletic pulled off the result of the day as they thrashed a depleted third-placed Parrs Wood Celtic 10-0.

But Old Trafford and Gorse Hill stay ahead of Tintwistle in fourth place on goal difference after a 4-2 win against Newton.

Newton failed to take early chances and were made to pay as Gorse Hill went on to win with strikes from Kyle Millington, Reece Vanden and Anthony Mundell (two) topping the Newton efforts from Liam Woolley and Otu Etuk.

High Lane are climbing away from relegation trouble as they beat South Manchester 4-2, with a brace from Kane Berkeley not enough to rescue South.

Abacus Media began the new year in seventh heaven after hammering Bedians 7-1 and there was a rare goalless draw at Ashtonians as they hosted champions Rochdalians.

There were wins for all of the Division One promotion hunters in some close encounters.

Leaders Signol Athletic had to work hard for a 2-1 win at Salford Vics with plenty of chances created by both teams and although Vics lost their keeper to a red card, the substitute came on to produce some stunning saves to keep the Signol lead at 2-1.

Moorside Rangers scored the only goal of their game with Trafford United to stay three points behind Athletic with four games in hand.

Their hero was Chris Jones who capped a fine performance with a header shortly after the break and only dogged defending kept Trafford at bay.

Milton are on a good run of form and they kept up their momentum with a 4-2 win against Stoconians to stay in third place, four points clear of Newton Heath who won by the odd goal in nine in a thriller at Oldham Vics.

There were also plenty of goals at Didsbury when they took on Old Stretfordians.

The lead changed hands several times with strikes from the ageless Alex Ritchie, Alex Burton, Joe Mullarkey and Wes Miller-Smith for Strets eclipsing the Didsbury goals from Ben Doherty and Yanni Gen-Bhl (two).

There was a real goal fest in Division Two as the six games played yielded 48 goals.

Leaders Waterloo and second-placed Oldham AFC set the standard as Waterloo emerged from a thrilling encounter with a 5-4 victory to extend their lead at the top to nine points.

Hooley Bridge Celtic stay in third after a 6-3 victory over Moston Brook seconds – they are one point clear of Mellor seconds who won by the odd goal in five against South Manchester seconds.

The goals flowed for Whalley Range seconds in a 9-2 derby win against Parrs Wood Celtic seconds and Spurley Hey were 5-3 winners at Staly Lions, while Newton seconds won 4-2 hosting Chorltonians.

Salford Vics seconds took over at the top of Division Three after a comfortable 6-0 win against Manchester Polonia took them ahead on goal difference from Didsbury seconds who were beaten 4-3 at Newton Heath seconds.

Vics led 2-0 for the bulk of the game but Polonia missed two good chances before Vics made sure of the points as Ryan Ratcliffe, Carl Daly, Jonathan Hayes and Liam Craven (two) netted.

Santos kept an immaculate clean sheet in a 3-0 win against Chorltonians seconds but the other two games went to the wire as Rochdalians seconds shared six goals with Chadderton Park and Heaton Mersey beat Hooley Bridge Celtic seconds 3-2.

Chorltonians Rovers continue to set the pace at the top of Division A with a huge win at AFC Oldham seconds and Whalley Range thirds remain three points off their hot pace after a comfortable 7-1 win against Hargreaves Bury.

Hollingworth also hit seven as they won their local derby with Tintwistle Athletic 7-2 to stay in third spot with games in hand over the top two.

Signol Athletic seconds drew 2-2 in their local derby with Mellor thirds and Bury Ams thirds also shared the points in a 1-1 deadlock with Moston Brook thirds. The other game produced a 4-2 win for Stoconians seconds against Aldermere.

Division B runaway leaders Abacus Media seconds were without a game but Old Trafford and Gorse Hill seconds were unable to close the gap as they suffered an emphatic 4-0 defeat at Bedians seconds.

Third-placed Tintwistle Athletic were also beaten, going down 4-1 to an impressive Village Manchester.

There was an amazing 14-8 win for Rochdale Galaxy hosting Staly Lions seconds and Deans FC won 5-3 at Hillgate.

Milton seconds were 3-1 winners at Chorltonians Villa and Bury Ams seconds moved away from the bottom two with a 3-1 win at Old Stretfordians seconds.

Spurley Hey seconds increased their lead at the top of Division C to three points with a 3-0 win against Abacus Media thirds as main challengers Moorside Rangers were held 3-3 at Manchester Rovers.

AFC Stockport and Stoconians thirds shared 10 goals in their local derby and Salford Vics thirds hit double figures in a big win at AFC Oldham thirds.

Another thriller at Didsbury thirds saw the visitors Moston Brook fourths win by the odd goal in nine.

Bedians thirds are 16 points clear in Division D but they were taken all the way before scoring the only goal of the game against Manchester Amateur Cup heroes Old Stretfordians thirds.

Chadderton Park seconds stay in a distant second place after a 5-4 win against Droylsden JFC.

The clash between the next two teams ended with honours even as Trafford United seconds and Didsbury fourths shared eight goals.

Eight goals also found the back of the net at Stoconians fourths but the home team conceded seven of them to visitors AFC Oldham fourths who left Whalley Range fourths stranded at the foot of the table as they went down 5-2 at Staly Lions thirds.

The other game in the division had Swinton seconds emerging with a tight 4-3 win at Bury Ams fourths.