The BEN Cup Round Two on Saturday saw second in the Premier Division Walkers given a real scare by Division One outfit Diamond before scraping through 3-2.

Regular scorer Stuart Battle put Walkers in front on 24 minutes but this was cancelled out for the lower division hosts five minutes before the break through Kevin Baison.

Tex Leece restored the lead just after the interval but still Diamond hit back with Wesley Kent making it 2-2 on the hour. Eight minutes from the end of the ninety Mark Callow gave Walkers victory. Walkers veteran defender Dave Clayton being named as man of the match gives some indication of just how well the home team performed.

Bagged two

Kersal Vale stay on course for a Premier Division title and Cup double after a 5-0 comfortable home win over Walkden Reserves. Star performer John Smith bagged two in three minutes at the start of the second half after Steve Tidmas' goal had divided the sides at the interval. Paul Whealing on 64 minutes and Steve White on 80 killed of the Harriet Street outfit's 2nd team's brave challenge.

The Walkden 1st team also crashed out beaten 2-0 at home by Stoneclough. The Brook Street lads, with Peter Morris yet again pulling all the strings, went through with goals from Gareth Branthwaite on 40 minutes and Trevor Ball with twenty minutes left. Tottington United beat Fearnleys 4-1, goals coming from Craig Rummens with two to take the man of the match award and individual strikes from Peter Kay and Neil Kay.

A Carl McNight hat-trick was the highlight of Walkers Reserves 4-3 Division One Cup Round One win over Commercial.

The Westhoughton outfit had led by two clear goals at the break through Ian Moss and home defender Lee Holden putting through his own goal. A first goal for McNight reduced the arrears but Moss scored again to restore Commercial's two goal advantage. Walkers rallied late with Holden thankful to make amends with a goal in the correct net to add to McNight's three. Left back John Bonney was named as man of the match.

In Division One AS Weaste threw the title race wide open with a 5-4 home victory over leaders Brindle Heath. The win completed the Salford outfit's double by the same scoreline over the table-toppers.

Weaste's goals came from Anthony Green, Michael Cooney, Chris Cunliffe, Michele Girgenti and Marc Bailey with midfielder Neil Speirs named as man of the match. Brindle's scorers were Joe Thornton with two, Andy Buckley and Paul Lowe.

In another nine goal thriller Mitchell Shackleton won 5-4 at Light Oak Rangers with a Nick Robinson hat-trick and goals from John Firth and Gary Parsons. Despite being on the losing side Gary Alder had cause for celebration with a three goal strike and the star performer vote. Phil Wilson was Rangers' other scorer.