Middleton Lads under 9s Red continued their winning ways and booked their place in the semi-final of the cup with a 2-0 victory over Unsworth at Parkfield.

Last time the teams met middleton ran riot, but this time Unsworth were better equipped.

After a fairly even opening 10 minutes Middleton took the lead through a patient build up, captain Mark Pearson and Ryan Pickford linking up to release Riley Smith who expertly slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

The second goal arrived after the break when Ryan Beard and James Barlow Merrick linked up to good effect, teeing up Ryan Pickford who calmly drilled the ball past the helpless keeper.

Referee’s man of the match went to Callum Ormrod who was outstanding at the back.

The under nines Blue team faced a tricky away trip to Bury Amateurs from a division higher with a place in the quarter final of the cup at stake.

The Lads made a sluggish start and conceded an early penalty, saved by Luke Atkinson.

Bury continued to press the lads back and finally got theirreward by going a goal up.

Just before the break, Mason Breeze broke through to net a superb leveller and make it 1-1 on the day and lift the Lads’ spirits.

With no further goals in the second half nor extra time, it was down to penalties to decide the contest.

Goalkeeper Atkinson managed to save two out of the four Bury penalties and see the Lads squeeze through to the last eight. Penalty scorers were Breeze, Corey Evitt, Declan Hopkins and Jack Crossley . The referee’s man of the match went to Luke Atkinson for his penalty heroics.