Manchester Super News

Heartbreak for Stockport as Orient edge tense semi-final on penalties Stockport County’s hopes of reaching the League One play-off final were dashed in agonising fashion as they lost out to Leyton Orient in a dramatic penalty shootout at a packed and passionate Edgeley Park. Author - Mark Lee After a controversial and tightly contested first leg ended level, the return fixture proved just as tense. Neither side could find a winner over 120 minutes of breathless football, with Orient eventually holding their nerve from the spot. It was Ethan Galbraith who delivered the decisive blow, slotting home the winning penalty after Stockport’s Jack Diamond saw his effort saved and Ryan Rydel struck the post. The match began at a furious pace. The visitors struck early, silencing the home crowd just two and a half minutes in when Ollie O’Neill volleyed in at the near post following a deftly delivered free-kick from Galbraith. Orient looked the more composed side in the early exchanges, but St...

Wigan edged past Warrington in a Magic Weekend thriller Wigan Warriors reclaimed second place in Super League with a narrow but gripping 22-20 victory over Warrington Wolves in a pulsating Magic Weekend encounter at St James’ Park. Author - Amy W Jai Field opened the scoring with a trademark burst of pace before Bevan French added a second to give Wigan an early cushion. Jake Thewlis responded for Warrington with a well-finished try in the corner, keeping the contest finely poised. Rodrick Tai’s try shortly after the interval gave the Wire renewed hope, but further scores from Abbas Miski and Adam Keighran appeared to put Wigan in command. However, Joe Philbin powered over to set up a tense finish, and Thewlis crossed for his second late on to bring Warrington within touching distance. READ MORE | Rugby League match reports and more from across Greater Manchester  Stefan Ratchford’s missed conversion proved decisive, leaving Wigan to cling on in the closing stages for a win tha...

Wigan Warriors climbed to second in the Super League. This was a composed and clinical victory over Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium. Author - Amy W The visitors made an immediate impact, opening the scoring within five minutes as Bevan French capitalised on a defensive lapse to claim his sixth league try of the season. Hull responded through Will Pryce, who cut inside smartly to reduce the deficit. Jai Field’s agile finish restored Wigan’s lead, and although Harvey Barron replied for the hosts, further scores from Junior Nsemba and Jake Wardle gave the Warriors a firm grip on the contest before the break. In the second half, Abbas Miski's acrobatic finish in the corner extended the advantage, before French added his second of the evening with a surging 80-metre run. Nsemba crossed again late on to complete a dominant team performance. READ MORE:  Meet our reporter that covers all things Wigan READ MORE: The last time these sides faced each other French’s opener came after he latch...

Stockport County came from two goals down to secure a stirring 3-2 victory over Lincoln City. Substitute Isaac Olaofe struck a late winner as they remain in 3rd place, still needing a win to secure a home 2nd leg in the play-offs. Author - Jamie P With a play-off place already assured, County appeared destined for defeat after first-half goals from Ben House and Erik Ring put the visitors firmly in control. But a spirited second-half fightback, featuring goals from Jayden Fevrier and Will Collar, set the stage for Olaofe to complete the comeback in dramatic fashion. Lincoln took the lead in the 24th minute when House finished clinically from Tendayi Darikwa’s incisive pass. The Imps then doubled their advantage shortly before the interval, Ring rifling a shot beyond Corey Addai after finding space in the area. Stockport responded just three minutes into the second half as Fevrier fired low past George Wickens to halve the deficit. Kyle Wootton went close to an equaliser soon after,...

Will you be taking part in this year's event? More than 35,000 runners are expected to descend on Manchester this weekend as the city prepares for its annual marathon. Author - Sophie T Source | Manchester Marathon YouTube Participants from across the globe are set to take on the 26.2-mile route on Sunday, with this year’s race finishing outside the University of Manchester on Oxford Road, a new location for 2025. Organisers are advising both runners and spectators to plan ahead, as major roads in and around Trafford will be closed for much of the day. Public transport is also likely to be disrupted, with bus routes diverted and Metrolink services expected to be particularly busy. What’s the route? The course weaves through South Manchester, beginning outside Old Trafford football stadium before following Chester Road towards Sale and on to Altrincham. From there, runners loop back through Baguley and pass through Sale once more, before heading towards Chorlton, Whalley Range a...

Stockport County confirmed their place in the play-offs This was secured with a late victory over a Huddersfield Town side that was reduced to ten men. Author- Josh D A closer look at what happened at Edgeley Park Josh Koroma gave the visitors the lead just after the hour, finding too much space on the edge of the box before drilling past Corey Addai. But County responded with resilience, skipper Fraser Horsfall heading home from an Ollie Norwood corner to draw the hosts level. The momentum swung firmly in County’s favour in the closing stages when they were awarded a penalty in the 86th minute. Norwood stepped up and calmly converted, sending Addai the wrong way to complete the turnaround. Best County reaction to the win Gary, a Stockport season ticket holder was delighted with the win, saying: "Really pleased that we came from behind and managed to win. Gutted that we can't finish in the automatic spots but finishing in the play-off places is still great. Onwards now. Ho...

Lincoln all but ended Bolton’s play-off ambitions on Easter Monday. This was achieved with a pulsating 4-2 win at the LNER Stadium, where veteran striker James Collins struck twice. Author - Sophie T Erik Ring and Reeco Hackett were also on the scoresheet for the hosts. Jay Matete and Alex Murphy replied for Bolton, who slipped to a fourth straight defeat at the worst possible time. The Imps took an early lead when Ring’s inswinging cross, delivered from a short corner routine, sailed through a crowded box and nestled into the far corner of Nathan Baxter’s net. Ben House went close to doubling the advantage, but Baxter saved well from his flicked effort. Moments later, Lincoln were awarded a penalty after Ethan Erhahon was bundled over by David Abimbola.  Collins then stepped up and lashed the spot-kick into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 after just 17 minutes. READ MORE: Meet the author READ MORE: Bolton 0 - 2 Wycombe Bolton pulled one back out of nothing shortly before th...

Manchester City edged past Everton to stay in Champions League hunt Manchester City took a step closer to securing a place in next season’s Champions League with a hard-fought win at Everton, sealed by two late goals. Author - Macca It had been a largely forgettable contest until the closing stages, when City finally found a breakthrough. With just six minutes left, 19-year-old full-back Nico O'Reilly arrived in the box to turn in Matheus Nunes’ cutback and give the visitors the lead. Mateo Kovacic, introduced from the bench, made sure of the result in stoppage time, stretching to poke home City’s second. The win lifts Pep Guardiola’s side into fourth place, four points ahead of Chelsea, who play Fulham on Sunday. READ MORE:  Manchester City 2 - 0 Leicester City The first half lacked any real spark, with few moments of quality from either side. Everton’s best chance came when James Tarkowski met James Garner’s corner, glancing a header against the post. City might have snatched...

Bolton's play-offs dented again Bolton Wanderers' hopes of securing a play-off place took another hit as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Wycombe, extending their difficult run of form to three straight losses. Author - Sophie T Steven Schumacher's side struggled to create clear chances at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and failed to register a single shot on target over the 90 minutes. The result leaves Wanderers outside the top six with just three matches remaining and puts serious pressure on their promotion ambitions. A frustrating afternoon took a further turn when former Bolton loanee Caleb Taylor, who scored a late winner for Wycombe the previous weekend, returned to haunt his old side. The defender opened the scoring in the 58th minute, rising highest to head home from Luke Leahy’s well-delivered free-kick. READ MORE:  Wigan Athletic 0 - 0 Wrexham Leahy then turned scorer deep into stoppage time, driving the ball past Nathan Baxter in the 94th minute to s...

Leigh Leopards have completed the signing of Tonga international Joe Ofahengaue  There will be a deal that runs until the end of the 2028 season. Author - Michael Haldsworth The 29-year-old prop, who has represented Queensland in State of Origin, joins on a three-and-a-half-year contract following his release from Parramatta Eels. Ofahengaue featured in the first six rounds of the NRL season before being granted an early departure. Born in New Zealand, he brings a decade of experience in Australia’s top flight, having previously turned out for Brisbane Broncos and Wests Tigers. A positive start to the season for Leigh. Can this signing further improve things? He arrives at a Leigh side that has firmly established itself in the Super League since promotion, reaching the play-offs in both of their top-flight seasons so far. The Leopards currently sit fifth on the ladder, with four wins from their opening seven matches. You can watch one of their recent matches in the video below....

It's hard to tell if that was one point gained or two points dropped for Salford  They remain in 10th place with four games left to play Author - Michael Haldsworth Rob Street's goal for Doncaster was soon cancelled out by Luke Garbutt to leave Doncaster level with third-placed Walsall, with Salford four points off the play-off spots. A closer look at what happened  On the back of a six-game unbeaten run, the away side began the match brightly and had a goal ruled out after 16 minutes when Street's header was chalked off for a foul. Karl Robinson's side ultimately failed to heed the early warning signs and fell behind five minutes later when Street latched on to a clever Owen Bailey free-kick to rifle the ball into the top corner. READ MORE: More football and rugby league news from the glorious Salford READ MORE: European Super Football for some of the latest EFL stories and match reports However, Salford fought their way back into the contest and drew level after 2...

A potentially important win for Rochdale in their quest to return to the English Football League Devante Rodney scored twice as they stabilised their National League play-off push with a resounding 4-0 victory over Eastleigh at Spotland.  Author - Liam C Fifth-placed Rochdale, who had not won in three prior attempts in all competitions, took the lead after 11 minutes as Tobi Adebayo-Rowling found Rodney with a low cross that was rifled into the bottom corner. The hosts' lead was doubled only seven minutes later as Luis Fernandez put through his own net while Sam Beckwith was trying to turn home Aidan Barlow's delivery. Club favourite Ian Henderson fired Dale well clear of Eastleigh with a goal from another Adebayo-Rowling tee-up, this time into the near post, in the 63rd minute. READ MORE: Football match reports and more from Manchester Super News The contest was over when Rodney converted Adebayo-Rowling's third assist 12 minutes later. In the process, they extended Ea...

A battling point for Wigan Athletic against promotion chasing Wrexham Many fans would have certainly taken that before the match. Author - Amy W The Latics shaded what was a largely uneventful opening half, with Maleace Asamoah curling wide for the hosts at the Brick Community Stadium. Midfielder George Dobson fired wide at the other end as both sides went into the break having failed to register a shot on target. Wrexham then appealed in vain for a penalty after Ryan Longman's cross hit Luke Robinson shortly after the interval as Wrexham improved. READ MORE: Exeter 1 - 1 Wigan match report Arthur Okonkwo produced a fine save to deny Asamoah shortly after the hour mark before keeping out an Owen Dale effort. Parkinson who was fresh from being named League One Manager of the Month for March then sent on Steven Fletcher, Elliot Lee, Ryan Barnett and Jack Marriott as Wrexham, who are second in the table, pushed for a winner. However, Wigan’s defence held firm and picked up what is...

Bolton Wanderers were left frustrated after narrow defeat to Rotherham They suffered a frustrating evening at the Toughsheet Community Stadium as a dominant performance failed to yield a result, with Rotherham United snatching a 1-0 win through Sam Nombe's early strike. Author - Mark Lee The visitors took full advantage of their only clear-cut chance, capitalising on a misplaced pass from Gethin Jones in the 11th minute. Nombe finished clinically to give the Millers the lead against the run of play. From that moment on, it was one-way traffic as Bolton relentlessly pressed forward in search of an equaliser. Despite creating numerous opportunities, Wanderers were repeatedly denied by an inspired performance from Rotherham goalkeeper Cameron Dawson. READ MORE: EFL News from European Super Football The stopper made vital saves to thwart Josh Dacres-Cogley, John McAtee, Aaron Collins and George Johnston. McAtee came agonisingly close in the second half, rounding Dawson only to se...

Wigan were held to a frustrating draw at Exeter Wigan Athletic were made to settle for a point at St James Park, as Reece Cole's second-half strike earned Exeter City a 1–1 draw in a scrappy affair. Author - Amy W It was the hosts who had the first real sight of goal after 13 minutes, but Joel Colwill could only blaze his effort high and wide following a lay-off from Josh Magennis. Wigan responded well through Maleace Asamoah, whose lively play down the flank saw him cut inside sharply, only to see his effort comfortably gathered by Exeter keeper Joe Whitworth. Chances were few and far between in a largely cagey first half. Sam Tickle was called into action to keep out a long-range attempt from Cole, who then fired another effort over the bar from the resulting corner. The breakthrough came six minutes after the restart when Asamoah was brought down in the box by Angus MacDonald. Dale Taylor kept his cool from the spot, sending Whitworth the wrong way to put the Latics ahead. W...

What do you think the dull 0-0 draw between United and City? Liam C was at Old Trafford and offered some analysis alongside catching up with some fans in and around Old Trafford. This was a result that reflected the current state of both teams more than any great tactical masterclass.  Manchester United and Manchester City played out a 0-0 at Old Trafford that lacked the energy and intensity typically associated with one of English football’s biggest fixtures. Ruben Amorim’s tactical system is showing the results it can yield after one first-team Manchester United player impressed against Manchester City at Old Trafford. #MUFC #PremierLeague #Football [image or embed] — United In Focus - Manchester United News ( @unitedinfocus.com ) 7 April 2025 at 18:04 Manchester United adopted a familiar approach, sitting deep and attempting to hit City on the counter-attack. While their defensive discipline was commendable, their attacking play once again left much to be desired.  RE...

Leigh Leopards are one game from another trip to Wembley Second-half tries from Fanitesi Niu and Bailey Hodgson helped them through to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup after a comeback victory at Wakefield Trinity. Author - Josh T Lachlan Lam's try put the visitors 6-0 up at the break before two quick tries after the interval from Matty Russell and Josh Rourke turned the game around to put the home side 12-6 ahead. However, there were some twists to come Rourke's knock-on led to a superb try from Niu to bring Leigh level, before Gareth O'Brien kicked a penalty to put them ahead. Wakefield again lost possession cheaply and Hodgson pounced to score the decisive try and send Leigh through. READ MORE:  Warrington Wolves 20 - 12 St Helens READ MORE: Sports news from Manchester Super News Revenge for Leigh and a closer look at what happened. Leigh are back in the last four of the competition they won back in 2023, and they avenged last weekend's 40-14 Super League hum...

Jack Grealish ended a long wait for a Premier League goal as City climbed to fourth place. In the process, they deepened Leicester’s relegation woes with a comfortable win at the Etihad. Author - Macca With Pep Guardiola serving a touchline ban and watching from the stands, Grealish—making his first league start since December—made an immediate impact, slotting home from Savinho’s cutback inside two minutes. At least Guardiola saw it. Many City fans, however, were still outside in protest against expected season ticket price hikes and the club’s new commercial deal with ticket resale platform Viagogo. Omar Marmoush, leading the line in Erling Haaland’s absence, doubled City’s lead just before the half-hour mark. The Egyptian forward reacted sharply when Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen failed to deal with Ruben Dias’ chipped pass, thumping a first-time effort in off the underside of the bar. READ MORE:  Bournemouth 1 - 2 Manchester City READ MORE:  Premier League news and s...

Forino’s late strike ends Bolton’s long wait for derby win over Wigan Chris Forino struck deep into stoppage time to hand Bolton Wanderers their first victory over League One rivals Wigan Athletic in more than a decade. Author - Amy W The Bolton defender bundled home from a corner in the third minute of added time, securing Bolton’s first win against Wigan since an FA Cup tie in January 2015. Tensions boiled over in the aftermath, with heated exchanges in the technical area leading to Wigan manager Ryan Lowe being shown a red card, while goalkeeping coach Andy Lonergan received a yellow. Bolton settled into the game quicker, with Joel Randall’s shot deflected just past the far post by former Wanderers defender Will Aimson. Wigan had a golden opportunity of their own when Maleace Asamoah found space in the box, but he failed to direct his free header on target from Jonny Smith’s cross. READ MORE:  Stockport County 2 - 1 Burton Albion READ MORE:  Wigan Atheltic 1 - 0 Cambrid...

Two unusual goals ensured Barrow and Salford played out a 1-1 draw Where does leave Salford's chanced of qualifying for the play-offs? Author - Michael Haldsworth Tyler Smith scrambled the Bluebirds into a 37th-minute lead from Ben Whitfield's cross with his fourth goal of the season. Salford claimed the striker's effort had not crossed the line or that the ball had been knocked out of keeper Matty Young's grasp. Barrow provided a greater attacking threat in the second half, with Dean Campbell and Whitfield flashing shots over the crossbar. The former Barrow loanee Cole Stockton was denied his 14th goal of the campaign after 60 minutes by Wyll Stanway's third crucial save of the night. Smith should then have doubled Barrow's lead only to be denied by Young. A stunning view and sunset at the ground This did prove to be something of a turning point as Salford grabbed a deserved leveller after 69 minutes. Attempting to punch clear from under his crossbar, St...