MORE heavy rain overnight reduced a busy programme of Lancashire and Cheshire league and cup matches to a skeleton, giving a potential headache for fixture secretaries in 2009.

Premier Division action was limited to just one game which ended with Moston Brook and Rochdalians sharing six goals.

Going through in the Rhodes Cup were Newton Heath who won 4-3 in a thriller at Staly FC.

With their title rivals not playing, New East Manchester took advantage to go back on top of the division two table with an 8-4 rout of Deans FC.

Mellor’s fourths made hard work of completing a back-to-back double over Chorlts’ fifths, one of the three Chorltonians teams in action.

The best result was posted by their fourths who won 4-1 against Manchester Rovers’ seconds, while the sixths went down 5-2 against Spurley Hey’s third team.

  • THERE is a last chance for people to buy a copy of the league’s centenary book, put together by former secretary John Howard. His work gives a vivid insight to the immense efforts of league and club officials over the years and has attracted the interest of football enthusiasts across the country. The book costs £10 per copy, plus postage and packaging, and orders can be made by contacting Dave King on 0161 748 6349 or Brian Davies on 0161 456 9239.