THERE were mixed fortunes for the local clubs involved in the Lancashire FA Shield, with only Bury Amateurs emerging with something to smile about.
And the Manchester League First Division side did it at the expense of Premier League local rivals and hosts Elton Vale by a thumping 4-0 scoreline.
The Cams Lane outfit stormed into a 2-0 lead inside eight minutes with goals from Baboucar Njie and Lee Bruce.
The same two men were on target again as Vale never really got into the match.
Elton came closest to scoring with a 20-yard free-kick from Ross Buckley that Vinny Bentham did well to save.
Bruce made it 3-0 on 65 minutes and Njie capitalised again 10 minutes from time thanks to an excellent ball in from Thomas on the right.
Elton Vale return to league action at home to East Manchester on Saturday while their second team travel to Wythenshaw Amateurs, both start at 2pm.
Vale’s Premier League rivals Walshaw Sports followed them through LFA Shield exit door with a 3-2 defeat at Norcross after leading 2-0.
The local men suffered a blow after only five minutes when Chris Smithies pulled his hamstring, which forced Jordan Hulme into early action.
Walshaw took the lead on 10 minutes when new signing Dave Ridings hooked a half volley in.
It was soon 2-0 when Brierley scored from close range. More chances came and went but the visitors could not add to their first-half tally.
Chapman hit the bar after the interval, and Walshaw’s failure to add to their advantage proved costly as Norcross’s long ball game began to make inroads.
Two goals from the home side saw the tie go into extra time, and a third in the second period saw Walshaw make an early exit from the prestigious competition.
But Walshaw atoned for their cup defeat by moving to top of the Manchester Premier League with an emphatic 8-1 win at home to Rochdale Sacred Hearts in midweek.
A hat-trick from from Craig Duerden, a double from Richard Woodward and one each from Ben Sharples, new signing James Parkinson and Phil Dean — a 40-yard screamer — took the Sycamore Road outfit to the summit.
Walshaw reserves got their first points of the campaign with a 7-2 win against Monton, Ben Sharples weighing in with a hat-trick.
Walshaw play their first game at Sycamore Road this weekend against reigning champions Gregorians, kick-off at 2pm.
Meanwhile, Bury Grammar School Old Boys were beaten 3-2 at home by Lancashire Amateur League Premier Division rivals Failsworth Dynamos.
Bury were chasing the game after going behind on 25 minutes and they got a deserved equaliser when Derek Aljoe volleyed home from inside the six-yard box. But Failsworth regained the advantage with a free-kick just outside the 18-yard area and they scored from the resulting set piece.
The Old Boys dominated the game in the second half, peppering the Failsworth goal, but, with some excellent goalkeeping and some bad luck, they only managed to equalise with two minutes remaining as Simon Grimshaw hit a thundering drive.
It was not to be Bury’s day, however, as Failsworth scored straight from the kick-off to seal the points with seconds remaining.
Bury’s reserves lost 3-0 at Accrington Amateurs.
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