ARE they made of sterner stuff in Leigh or was the weather kinder to the town than anywhere else in the North West on Saturday?

Whatever the reason league secretary Malc Blakeley was able to account for four matches being played. Not a lot admittedly but more than any other amateur league north west of Cheshire on Saturday.

One player who certainly showed a liking for the conditions was Leigh Avenue striker Craig Faulkner. He was able to celebrate in grand style having scored all his team's goals in a 5-2 away Carl Brown Memorial Trophy Round One win at Leigh Sportsmen.

Craig Costello in the first minute of the second half and Neil Thompson in the last were the consolation scorers for the beaten home side.

In the same competition John France on 20 minutes and Sean Burton on 65 gave Royal Oak the edge to resist a last half an hour fightback by Church Inn. The visitors rallied forces late and got a goal back on 85 minutes through Gary Nugent but time ran out and Oak went through into the second round courtesy of a 2-1 defeat.

In Division One luck appears to have totally deserted Astley Villa. You can't ask for much more than scoring four goals away from home but it all counts for nothing if the home team nets five.

Goals from Mark Broli (2), Mark Bretherton, Dave Shacklady and Ian McKinnon with the clincher on 80 minutes gave Britannia a 5-4 victory.

For hapless bottom placed Villa with just one point from eleven played ,Matt Willan converted twice from the penalty spot with further goals coming from Martin Lomas and Craig Guest.

Mark Toothill bagged two and Neil Unsworth and Andy Turner one each in third placed Three Crowns A's 4-1 home win over Moonraker. Lee Morris netted a 64th minute penalty for the losers.