BARRY Massey has stepped down as manager of champions Hindsford.

The popular, much-travelled character, who led the Squires Lane men to the first two of their three successive Premier Division titles and also represented them as a player, has resigned his position because of personal and work commitments.

His assistant, Adam Scoular, has taken charge of team affairs.

“I’ll still help where I can,” Massey said, “but I’ve changed my job recently and it involves a lot more weekend work.”

Massey, who returned to Hindsford at the start of this season for his second spell as manager to help the club chase a fourth successive title, ended his reign with a 2-0 home defeat to Springhead in the Gilgryst Cup.

Incensed after a visiting player escaped a red card, Hindsford went behind to a penalty just before half time and conceded a second two minutes from time when they were pressing for an equaliser.

Premier League neighbours Atherton Town, meanwhile, enjoyed their best result since returning to the top flight, beating table-toppers Walshaw Sports 2-1 at Howe Bridge.

Shaun Lynch’s side, who are targeting a top-half finish, took the lead on 10 minutes when striker Nick Eastham hit a powerful shot into the top corner of the net from 25 yards and were a constant threat throughout the game, despite the visitors having more of the ball.

Town central defender Keith Clarkson was outstanding at the back and keeper Louis Murray pulled off a number of excellent saves to protect the lead, which was doubled 20 minutes from time when Dane Grimes scored from the penalty spot after Gaz Shaw had been brought down.

John Stephenson pulled one back for Walshaw five minutes from time but it proved no more than a consolation for the league leaders.

“That was definitely our best result since we came back into the Premier Division,” said Atherton boss Shaun Lynch. “It’s all coming together now with our injuries clearing up and being able to get a settled side out.

“We’re looking up the table now and trying to catch the teams above us.”

Breightmet United’s hopes of a cup run to salvage something from a season of fluctuating fortunes were shattered when they lost a penalty shootout at home to Leigh Athletic in the Murray Trophy.

All the goals came in the first half, Breightmet leading twice through Ben Walmesley and Jordan Mulligan while the Dooley brothers, Dave with a header and James from the penalty spot, hit back with equalisers for the Latics.

Karl Shepherd missed a glorious chance to seal it for the visitors five minutes from the end of extra time, but his miss proved academic as team-mates James Dooley, Milo Ogden, Andy Whitworth, Ryan Knowles and Tony Lewis were all successful from the spot to win the shootout 5-4.

Breightmet did feel hard done by though after their keeper, Ash Whittle, saved the third Leigh penalty, only for the referee to order it to be re-taken because he had not blown his whistle.

Pennington’s hopes of getting their Division One revival back on track suffered a setback when they went down to a second successive defeat, 3-0 at home to fourth-placed Beechfield United.

Pennington are now third bottom of the table – seven points ahead of the bottom two.