BOTH Avro's chief challengers slipped up at the top of the Manchester League Premier Division, Wythenshawe Amateurs surprisingly being held to a draw by AFC Blackley.

The visitors took the lead in the first half through Lee O'Brien, but a David Wright effort secured the Ammies a point.

It was an even worse day for Prestwich Heys, who went down 3-2 at home to Rochdale Sacred Heart.

It finished all-square at Squires Lane where Hindsford AFC bounced back in the second period to draw level, thanks to a Peter Costello brace, after Billy Craven and Simon Finnegan had seen East Manchester establish a commanding half-time lead.

Two sides hovering just clear of the relegation places met at Crompton CC, and it was Royton Town who took the points, and moved above visitors Atherton Town, with Wayne Dean netting both goals.

Whitworth Valley defeated Heywood St James 4-1, with Dave Luker hitting a hat-trick to set his side en route to victory. Two sides on the edge of the promotion frame, Walshaw SC and Gregorians, cancelled each other out in Bury to draw 0-0 and give up ground on the sides above them.

Salford AFC have seen their form dip of late, but bounced back with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Pennington, the goals being spread amongst Dale Dwyer, Mark Bradshaw, Colin Eyres, Carl O'Malley, Callum Higginbotham, James Thompson pulling one back in the first half for the visitors.