ATHERTON Town posted up their Manchester League Premier Division title credentials with a 1-0 away win on Saturday at table-topping Wythenshawe Amateurs.

Over a three week spell Shaun Lynch's side face the top three championship chasers and to have picked up three points at the first hurdle is a major boost for the Howe Bridge outfit.

The result will have served notice to next up opponents Stand Athletic and the week after East Manchester that there is now another name to be added to the title betting.

"We did really well," enthused Lynch. "Wythenshawe are a good side. We knew that beforehand but the only time they really troubled us was from set pieces. They are a big outfit so that is understandable but Steve Dixon and Scott Hodgson our centre backs were superb. We just can't wait for these next two games now."

Town's midfield trio of Jonathan Hyde, Barry Atkins and Mark Warburton never let the Wythenshawe side settle for a moment with the latter voted the Leighton Packaging Man of the Match.

Up front Town always looked a potent force with recent signing Daniel Christie, the former Pennington striker, linking up with Phil Hornby for the first time. The two combined to create the matchwinning goal with Hornby getting to the byeline and cutting the ball back for Hyde to shoot. The ball was helped into the back of the net by the oustretched foot of a home defender.

Two other recent signings, both once with Pennington, made their 1st team debuts with Allan France slotting in comfortably at right back and Neil Lewis entering the fray as second half substitute for injured Martin Garner. Town's Reserves kept up their winning run with a 4-1 victory over Old Alts. Goals came from Andy Morris (2), Anthony Lavery and Dave Brooks. David Meakin who has just signed for Town after returning from a coaching stint in the States had an excellent debut in the centre of midfield.

According to Elton Fold manager Guy Mallinson his side should have been the first this season to inflict defeat on East Manchester in any competition. Unfortunately early promise fizzled out and hapless Fold eventually went down 2-1.

"We were the better team by far in the first half," fumes Mallinson. "We scored a quality goal and had two more good chances before the break to have finished it off completely. They second half they came at us strong and pinned us back.

"Their first goal came form us conceding a silly free kick and the smallest bloke on the field headed in unmarked and the winner with fifteen minutes left came from us losing possession in our own half and they stuck it away at the third attempt - not the first or the second but the third attempt. That's how bad it was. It's very disappointing because we had it for the taking in that first half."

Fold's goal came when Steve Smith charged into the penalty area and appeared to be fouled. Any complaints about a penalty not being given became superfluous when Stefan Shaw stuck in the loose ball. The Bury outfit's goalkeeper Steve Crossley won the man of the match vote.

Hindsford made hard work of the trip to Wilmslow Albion before sealing a 5-3 win to slot into third place in the Division One table behind Leigh Athletic and Breightmet United. Peter Barry junior put Hindsford in front but Peter senior the team manager was far from happy after seeing his team totally dominate the fist half but go into the interval 2-1 down. Worries turned to jubilation in the second period with goals from Chris Jolley, Paul Thorpe and two from man of the match Matt Toone.