Elton Vale...2 New Mills...1 - ELTON returned to winning ways after their victory over New Mills, having lost to them by the same scoreline in the previous week.

Vale made a number of changes as they searched for the winning formula, and John Armstrong celebrated his come-back after injury by notching the winning goal. However, the changes seemed to have backfired when New Mills took the lead in the tenth minute, as sloppy defending allowed striker, Wes Gibbons, two shots on goal. Goal-keeper Chris Grady blocked the first but Gibbons didn't make a mistake with the second.

The home side eventually began to get into their stride and Derek Watson was unlucky when a couple of his headers went to the wrong side of the post. He should have done better when he rounded 'keeper Barry Eaton, some ten yards outside the penalty box, but sliced his effort wide of the goal.

Armstrong was now beginning to stretch his legs and pump over some dangerous crosses. Front man Dave Malius, was a constant concern for the New Mills defence, but they were up to task and Elton went in at the break a shade unlucky not be at least on level terms.

That all changed within ten minutes of the re-start as Vale, despite losing defender Steve Dearden with a cut mouth, hit back to score twice and put themselves in the driving seat. John Price, still only 20-years-of-age yet making his 100th first team appearance, celebrated that milestone by equalising from the penalty spot after Damion Keegan had been brought down.

This was quickly followed by Armstrong's shot which squeezed just inside the post through a crowded goal-mouth. Watson could then have sewn up the game for Elton when he again rounded Eaton, only to place his shot wide of the far post, as Vale were now well on top and New Mills looking somewhat forlorn.

The visitors raised themselves for a hectic fight-back in the last ten minutes and they looked to have grabbed an equaliser in the 87th minute, when a header from Gibbons hit the net. A linesman's flag cut short the celebrations as the goal was disallowed for offside. Grady then pulled off a top-class save with just ten seconds remaining to preserve the lead and clinch the three points that take Elton back up into the top half of the table.

Team: Grady, Slater, Wilkes, A. Doran, Dearden, S. Doran, Keegan, Price, Armstrong, Watson, Malius. Subs: Shaw, Hopkins, Owen.

The Reserves lost 3-2 to New Mills' Reserves with Keith Ingham and Paul Higginbottom on target for Elton.

In the Lancashire Shield match tomorrow, the West Lancs. League Second Division side, Furness Cavaliers, make the journey from Barrow to Elton Vale Road for a second round tie, kick off 1.45pm.

The Reserves have an away league fixture at Wythenshawe Amateurs' Reserves, kick-off 2.30pm.

The draw for the second round of the Manchester League's domestic cup competitions can be heard live on Wednesday, October 30, on BBC Radio GMR's sports programme, 7.15pm.