ASHTON ATHLETIC RES 1, GLOSSOP NORTH END RES 3
Antony Trucca's young team claimed a deserved piece of silverware on Thursday when they ran out 3-1 victors at Ashton Athletic, taking the NWCFL's reserve cup home with them.

In driving rain, the Hillmen were always in charge, and Birch had already hit the bar twice before James Acton's neat cut in a left foot finish secured a half time lead.

After the break Luke Pearson's 25 yard free kick was seemingly going to claimed by the Ashton keeper, but he let the ball slip between his hands and legs to give North End a two goal lead, before Acton made it 3 with 15 minutes to go.

Ashton hit back immediately, pouncing on a poor goalkeeper's kick to blast in, but that proved to be a consolation as Glossop nearly added more.  Indeed, Acton thought he had his hat trick, only for play to be called back for a throw in as he celebrated.

The reserves now go into Saturday's match at New Mills (to be played at Oldham Town), looking for a victory that may, or may not, secure them the league title.  There is much confusion at the moment over whether clubs with points deducted may get some of those points back, and so with the goalposts moving, the team cannot rest on their laurels.