ROYAL OAK'S Grey day turned into a nightmare.

In the Leigh & District Amateur Football League's first evening matches of the season they suffered a shock 5-2 home defeat against relegation threatened Three Crowns.

Dave Greyson scored a hat-trick and Andy Dorrington netted twice in the Carl Brown Memorial Trophy.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom. Oak finished runners-up in Group B and qualify for the semis.

Union Arms top the group after a 5-1 win at Rileys, who whom Lee Boardman was first on target. Union hit back with goals from Shaun Rigby, Paul Nixon, Steve Poole, Paul Monoghan and Chris Jolley.

Royal Oak and Union Arms A shared the spoils in an eight goal thriller. Dave Calland 2, Kevin Mullins and Mark McHugh netting for Oak, Paul Monoghan, Paul Nixon, Andy Corrigan and Steve Butterworth replied.

In Group A super sub Clinton Andrews scored a hat-trick for Leigh Eagles A to clinch a 3-0 win at Higher Fold Village Inn - and top spot.

In Division One's relegation battle Queens and Rileys drew 3-3. Gary Grundy, Andrew Grundy and Mick Knowles scored for Queens, Gary Hogan, Simon Delvard and Lee Boardman replied.

This result should keep Queens in the top flight, while Rileys are still next to bottom fighting for their life.

In Division Two Union Arms B beat Leigh Eagles B 2-1 with goals from Colin Nemis and Shaun Norbury; Stuart Welsh scored for the Eagles.

Ross's Wanderers had their best win since November, 4-0 at home against Concert Rovers. Tony Brough, Alan Lomas, Phil Smallman and Craig Guest on target.

A Jason Caldwell hat-trick helped Corbett Brewery to a 5-3 win at Leigh Victoria. Gary McDonald and Malcolm Lucas added Corbett's other goals, James Taylor, Philip Pilkington and Steve Hibbert replied. RESULTS - Carl Brown Memorial Trophy, Group A: Higher Fold Village Inn 0 Leigh Eagles A 3; Group B: Rileys 1 Union Arms A 5, Royal Oak 2 Three Crowns 5, Royal Oak 4 Union Arms A 4. Division One: Queens 3 Rileys 3. Division Two: Leigh Eagles B 1 Union Arms B 2, Leigh Victoria 3 Corbett Brewery 5, Ross's Wanderers 4 Concert Rovers 0.

FIXTURES - Tonight (April 10, 6.15pm) - Division One: Royal Oak v Rileys (A Thompson), Three Crowns v Leigh Eagles A.

Saturday (April 12, 2.30pm) - Division One: Blue Lion v Higher Fold Village Inn (M Jones), Leigh Eagles A v Royal Oak (T Horridge), Punch Bowl v Union Arms A (M Sargent), Rileys v Westleigh Village Club (J Cambray); Division Two: Ross's Wanderers v New Inn Rangers, St Gabriel's v Church Inn (A Packwood).

Monday (April 14, 6.15pm) - Division One: Royal Oak v Queens (D Rhoden).

Tuesday (April, 15, 7.30pm) - Sharman Cup Final: Butchers Arms v Union Arms B (Hilton Park; A Packwood; P Rathbone, D Rhoden; N Lea); Division One: Leigh Eagles A v Punch Bowl (J Gardener, 6.15pm).

Wednesday (April 16, 6.15pm) - Division One: Blue Lion v Westleigh Village Club.

Thursday (April 17, 6.15pm) - Davenport Cup, semi-finals: Church Inn v Royal Oak (Atherton Town; T Horridge; M Horridge), Leigh Eagles A v Union Arms A (Hindsford FC; J Gardener; A Thompson, M Sargent). Next news story

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Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.