Finnair Manchester League: ATHERTON Town extended their unbeaten run to eleven, the last four games without a goal conceded, with a superb performance earning a 1-0 away victory at Dukinfield Town.

"We did play very, very well," beamed manager Shaun Lynch. "Every player was outstanding and we fully deserved the win."

The all-important goal came early in the second half when Neil Lewis set Phil Hornby through to turn his marker and fire into the bottom corner.

Town went on to have the upper hand, Daniel Christie twice denied by the home keeper but Town's Gary Osborne playing his part in securing all three points with an outstanding stop on a rare home team effort. Left back Phil Reynolds was voted Town's Leighton Packaging man of the match.

Pennington added another precious point to their tally in the effort to climb clear of relegation danger with Dave Fashou scoring twice in a 2-2 home draw with Springhead.

Elton Fold crashed to a 4-1 home defeat by title chasing Mitchell Shackleton but manager Guy Mallinson wasn't too despondent saying: "We were without Doran, Shaw, Dearden, Ingham and Laing and up against one of the best sides in the division.

"With five minutes to go it was only 2-1 and we got caught out. We battled very hard so I can't ask the players for more. It was nowhere near as bad as it may sound." Fold's goal was put in by a visitors defender.

A quite stunning first half performance killed off home team Avro as Breightmet United stormed to a 8-2 away victory.

John Crossland fired home a free kick on ten minutes, Phil Hinks bagged two and Andy Hicks one. Shortly after the interval Hinks completed his hat-trick before the home side reduced the arrears from the penalty spot.

Adam Wigley chipped a beauty into the top corner and man of the match Paul Smith scored twice. Paul Livesey came of the subs bench with ten minutes to go to hit the bar, post, have a goal disallowed and fire wide when well placed.

"We didn't perform to our capabilities," admitted Hindsford manager Peter Barry after his team's 1-1 away draw at Wythenshawe Town.

"We started well but only one of the best goalkeeping displays I've seen for a long time from Scott Jones kept us within chasing distance."

The one time Jones was beaten it came from an unexpected source as one of his own defender's deflected in a shot. Chris Jolley fired home from the edge of the area on 80 minutes for the point saver.

In the last few minutes Darren Briggs almost pinched the game for Hindsford hitting both the bar and the post from two free kicks. Leigh Athletic boosted title hopes with a 3-2 home win over top challengers Whitworth Valley. Goals came from Dave Stead, and the Wilson brothers, Rick and Danny. Atherton Town and Pennington Reserves fought out a scoreless draw, Dave Aspinall scored three minutes into injury time to give Elton Fold Reserves a 1-0 away win at Mitchell Shackleton, whilst Breightmet United 2nds went down 1-0 at home to East Manchester.