THE game was an absolute thriller but Division Two leaders Atherton C&N were agonisingly denied a place in the last four of the Redwaters Cup in a 3-2 extra time defeat by Division One top side Royal Oak.

Twice Jonathan Wood gave C&N the lead on 10 and 50 minutes with the home side hitting back each time through Jason Huyton on 42 minutes and Mark Fishwick in second half injury time. Fishwick got the match clincher on 101 minutes.

In the Carl Brown Memorial Trophy Quarter Final, Moonraker and Higher Folds finished 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes and drew 3-3 after extra time before the latter scraped through 7-6 on sudden death penalties.

Goals came from Neil Clayton, Brian Twist and Steve Ashbrook for Folds with Steve March, Steve Anderton and Scott Mulcrow on the mark for Moonraker.

In Division One games played Craig Faulkner scored four, Paul Banks three and Steve Hewitt two in Leigh Avenue's 9-5 away win at Britannia, Dave Shacklady scoring three for the losers who had led 2-0 after just seven minutes following quickfire goals from Chris Foster and Terry Croft.

A goal from Gary James on 80 minutes gave Leigh Sportsmen a 1-0 home win over Three Crowns A. Two goals in the five minutes before the break from Dale Evans and Nigel Cooper set up Limelight for a 2-1 win over Church Inn, Mark Spencer scoring in the second half for the losers. Former Atherton Colls and LR player Barry Lowe scored twice and Mark Howarth and Paul Valentine once in Union Arms' 4-2 win at Courts A. Dave Dooley and Mick Thorpe hit the target for the losers.

Hag Fold WMC hung on to second place in Division Two with John Clarke (2), John Barker and Dave Casey earning a 4-0 away win at bottom of the table Asda Golborne. Fir Tree Rangers are breathing hard down their necks in third place as two from Damien Lowe and one from John Bailey clinched a 3-0 win at Mechanics Arms. Atherton Royals led by the interval at home to Howe Bridge Mills thanks to a 25th minute Carl Barrington goal but second half strikes from David Hogan, two from Paul Molyneux and an 86th minute conversion from Stuart Hughes gave the visitors a 4-1 victory.

With eight minutes left Anthony Davey cancelled out Michael McPike's 68th minute goal to earn Courts B a 1-1 draw at Sailors and Soldiers.

The one remaining Carl Brown Memorial Trophy game between big rivals Union Arms and Limelight takes place tomorrow.

In Division One reigning champions Higher Folds, having slipped to fourth by virtue of being involved in so many recent cup ties, face a tricky away trip to third placed Three Crowns A.