LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP FIRST ROUND

Rochdale Town won the battle of the unbeaten records to progress through to the Second Round of the League Challenge Cup where they will face either Irlam or Formby whose game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Irlam and Formby incidently will try again on Tuesday.

The home side, unbeaten in the league at Little Wembley this season, took the lead in the 17th minute through Jonathan Hodgkinson, with Ricardo Brandao equalising for Rochdale five minutes later. Rochdale, unbeaten away from home this season, scored what proved to be the winner 12 minutes into the second half when leading scorer Kristian Evans fired home.

Biggest result of the day came at The Recreation Ground where West Didsbury & Chorlton celebrated their first game in the competition with a 4-0 win over Eccleshall. Two goals in two minutes swung the game the home side's way with Michael Aston putting West ahead after 34 minutes before Scott Jones doubles the lead. Tre Baldwin Willis' goal just before the hour made it 3-0 with Tommy Walsh rounding off the scoring with seven minutes remaining. They will now face Norton United in the next round.

Abbey Hey, with a 100% record in the league this season, progressed through to the next round where they will face Colne after a 2-1 victory at home to Oldham Boro. They did not have it all their own way though with ex-Abbey player Lee Knowles deservingly giving Oldham a 34th minute lead. Damian Healey levelled the scores after 72 minutes with John Hardy's superb finish winning the game for Abbey with nine minutes remaining.

Chadderton were another side to record a home win, with a 2-0 victory over Atherton Collieries giving them an away trip to Winsford United in the next round. Two first half goals separated the sides with Sean Sherwood putting Chadderton ahead after 18 minutes and Matthew Russell's penalty just after the half hour securing the win.

The final game in the cup saw Cheadle Town host Ashton Town and they will have to do it all over again as they played out a 2-2 draw over two hours of football at Park Road. Michael R Boyle (they have two!) powered home the opener in first half stoppage time from Ben Sumner’s cross, with Josh Taylor equalising from the spot after 74 minutes following Ben Sumner's foul on Ben Brooks.

With the game level at the end of 90 minutes, extra time was needed with Boyle grabbing his second of the game five minutes in when Mikey Cummins' effort was saved, Boyle reacting quickest. In first half stoppage time, Cheadle equalised again, Matthew German finding the net. The replay is on Tuesday evening with a home tie against Silsden on the cards for the winners.

The two other games in the competition were called off due to waterlogged pitches. AFC Darwen and Leek CSOB will try again a week on Tuesday, the 16th October, with Northwich Villa hosting Daisy Hill the following evening. Holker Old Boys await the winners of the first game in the Second Round, with Padiham hosting the winners of the second game.

PREMIER DIVISION

The Premier Division this season is wide open at present, with just FOUR points separating the top EIGHT in the league. Result of the day came at the Delta Taxi Stadium where Maine Road ended the only unbeaten record in the top division as they won 2-1 at Bootle to move up to third in the table with Bootle dropping five places to seventh.

In a rare first half attack, Road took the lead in the 36th minute when Tom Bailey's corner found Matt Warburton who headed his 8th goal in 6 appearances. The lead doubled after 64 minutes when Martin Hill crossed from the right to Tom Bailey who found the net. Bootle scored a consolation in stoppage time, with player manager Neil Prince hitting his third goal of the season.

Bootle's defeat means that Stockport Sports now have the only unbeated home record, and they made it 16 points from the last 18 available with a 3-0 home win over AFC Blackpool. Josh Symons opened the scoring after 20 minutes, the full-back following up after John Marsden's shot was saved. After 37 minutes it was 2-0 when Gomez Dali was fouled in the box, Marsden tucking away his 15th goal of the season, all of which have come in the league. The scoring was complete ten minutes into the second half, Matty Ward scoring a fine individual goal as he cut in from the right and fired an unstoppable left foot into the net from 25 yards out.

Congleton Town remain top of the table and a point ahead of Stockport after a 2-2 draw at home to AFC Liverpool in front of the days best crowd of 163. Chris Smith broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time as he headed in Kurtis Gill's free kick, the league leading scorer making it six consecutive games he has scored. The scores were level ten minutes into the second half when Ryan Wilkinson got to the bye line and pulled it back for debutant Darrell Hale to smash home.

Twelve minutes from time the Reds took the lead when Lawless' corner was flicked on at the near post with Anthony Brown heading home at the back post. However three minutes later Michael Koral rescued a point for the home side from the spot after a handball in the box.

Padiham continue to impress and they are up to fourth after a 2-1 home victory over Glossop North End. Debutant Nathan Bond opened the scoring for Glossop after just seven minutes when he rose to head home Adam Oakes' corner from the left. Another corner levelled things up after 65 minutes, with Martin Broderick's inswinger finding the net without being touched. The winner came eight minutes from time when a flowing passing move found Joe Garvin in space, his effort from 20-yards giving the keeper no chance.

Barnoldswick Town are fifth with Runcorn Town sixth after the two sides played out a 2-2 draw at Pavilions. Paul Shanley's seventh goal of the season gave Runcorn the lead after four minutes with Danny Toone's free kick after 32 minutes doubling the lead. On the stroke of half time Lewis Jordan headed home a throw in to reduce the arrears, with Billy Priestley turning in a corner to equalise after 63 minutes.

Propping up the top eight are Wigan Robin Park who secured their third away win of the season with a 1-0 win at Squires Gate. The only goal of the game arrived five minutes from full time when Paul Cliffe's cross was volleyed in by Joe Hull, yet another debutant finding the net this weekend.

Biggest win of the day in the Premier Division came at Keighley Road where Silsden won 7-1 against St Helens Town after a devastating opening period by the home side. Joe Gaughan opened the scoring after just two minutes from Andy Lee’s pass, with Michael Garrod following up when Danny Husband's header was saved to double the lead 12 minutes later. Almost immediately it was 3-0 when another Lee cross was buried by Garrod, with Gaughan grabbing his second with just 25 minutes on the clock when Elliott Holmes found him in the box. Lee grabbed the fifth goal six minutes before the break when Danny McNulty broke clear and squared the ball.

St Helens reduced the arrears after 58 minutes when Adam Howard's corner was headed in by Shaun Judge. The five goal lead was restored though eight minutes later when Joe Jalil broked clear and set up Garrod for his hat-trick. Not to be outdone, Gaughan notched his third after 74 minutes when he caught the keeper off his line with a 30-yard lob.

Runcorn Linnets got back to winning ways after two defeats with a 3-0 win at a Norton United side who had lost five of their previous six games. Runcorn opened the scoring on 32 minutes when Neil Black found the bottom corner from distance. Black doubled the score less than a minute into the second half with a fine individual goal, beating two defenders before rounding the keeper and scoring. Another solo effort with 20 minutes remaining made it 3-0, Tommy Turner picking the ball up on halfway and playing a one-two with Sean Pearson before breaking clear and finding the net.

Norton remain second from bottom in the table, two points ahead of Stone Dominoes who are still looking for their first league win of the season after a 3-0 loss at Ashton Athletic. Carl Addison put the home side ahead after 18 minutes, with ex-Rochdale forward Helio Andre marking his debut with the second just after the hour. Rob Flint added the third after 74 minutes, and it could have been worse for Stone with Ashton having three goals ruled out over the 90 minutes.

Bacup Borough leapfrogged Alsager Town after a 2-1 victory at the Brian Boys Stadium. Haydn Paul opened the scoring on 4 minutes when Daniel Cocks' corner was turned onto the crossbar with Paul heading home the rebound. Paul added his and Bacup's second on 53 minutes when he turned in Kingsley Williams' cross, and despite Jack McKay pulling one back from Tom Parkes' pass after 67 minutes, Bacup hung on to claim all three points.

The final game of the day saw Colne beat Winsford United 3-2, with TWO own goals by the visitors helping matters. The first arrived after just five minutes with Patrick O'Brien doubling the lead four minutes later. Winsford got back into the game on the half hour through Lois Maynard before Andrew Hurst's goal just before the hour levelled the match. However the second own goal of the afternoon with four minutes remaining ensured the points stayed in Lancashire.

RESERVE DIVISION

Glossop North End recorded their fourth successive victory as they moved to the top of the Reserve Division with a 4-1 victory over basement boys AFC Darwen. Open dated Nelson remain level on points at the top with New Mills climbing to third after a 6-3 win away at Ashton Town.

Runcorn Linnets are still looking for their first home win since joining the Division, fourth placed Padiham returning from the Millbank Linnets Stadium with three points after a 5-2 win. Losing their unbeaten home record though was Wigan Robin Park, Irlam returning with the points after a 3-1 win.

EXTERNAL CUPS

Cheadle Town progressed through to the second round of the Stockport Senior Cup after a 4-0 away win at Hazel Grove. However it was not such good news for our sides in the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup with Silsden losing 3-2 at Grasington United and Barnoldswick Town going down 1-0 at Wibsey.

Photos taken from the official club websites of Ashton Town, Runcorn Town, Glossop North End and St Helens Town.