THE rain again decimated the Finnair Manchester League programme last weekend leaving clubs with yet another fixture to slot into the schedule.

Some games were played however and sadly Pennington's disastrous run continued in a 2-0 home defeat by Prestwich Heys, leaving Steve Cooney's side bottom of the Premier Division table with just 11 points from 22 games, three points adrift of Stockport Georgians with a game in hand.

Matters improved on Tuesday with a 1-1 home draw with Sacred Heart, Les Moores getting the vital goal.

In Division One Leigh Athletic's winning surge continued with a 3-1 home derby victory over fifth placed Hindsford.

After a rather fortuitous penalty award on the quarter hour mark which Gordon Walker dispatched, Latics scored either side of the interval through Neil Sumner and Rick Wilson. Hindsford got a goal back through Craig Briggs.

Atherton Town's Premier Division title hopes were severely dented on Wednesday in a 3-0 defeat at Stand Athletic.

Crucially for Town, they were without four key players.

There was little to chose between the two sides until the last 20 minutes when Stand, looking strong favourites now to retain their title and achieve elevation to the North West Counties League, rattled in three goals.

On Monday night Town had won through to the Bolton Hospital Cup semi-finals with a penalty shoot-out win over defending champions Tempest United who included former Bolton Wanderers star John McGinlay in their ranks. It was a bad tempered affair which saw two Tempest players and one of Town's goalscorers Tony Walker sent off. The other goals came from Daniel Christie and Phil Hornby.

Tomorrow in the Premier Division, Pennington travel to Dukinfield Town, Atherton Town are at Willows and in Division One Leigh Athletic entertain Ashton Athletic and Hindsford clash at Squires Lane with Breightmet United.