Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League round-up, 19 December

Match of the day in The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League Premier Division was blown wide open with up to 8 clubs that have a chance of winning the beautiful blue ribbon trophy that is sponsored by the Atherton Family in memory of Ryan ‘’Gigsy’’ Atherton.

Current holders and preseason favourites Dock AFC found themselves 4-0 down after 42 minutes to Rivacre FC. Jay Harvey, a Joe Foster (Penalty), Jake Hully and Joe Brandon all finding the net but a strike from Kieran Hamm right on halftime gave Dock some hope for a better second half.

Dock did rally round in the second half with a second effort from Kieran Hamm then it was the turn of Adam Bagley to get the third followed by a superb goal from Cameron McGregor to bring the scores level at 4-4.

With 5 minutes remaining, Mike Burkey cut in from the right curled one into the bottom corner of the net for Rivacre to take the honours. Both teams finished the game with 10 men on the park. It was an early Christmas present for Rivacre FC who have moved up to 4th in the Premier Division are now two points behind second-placed Dock AFC and also have a game in hand.

Division One side Upton Town took the lead at home in The Tony Houlihan Memorial Challenge Cup 2nd round tie through Scott Billington but Division Two outfit Victoria Colts hit back through a brilliant volley from Gaz Dickenson and a Billy Harrison effort to claim a place in Round three 2-1.

There was another giant-killing act in a third-round tie with Bushell Grange Athletic taking the honours 3-1 at with FC Bidston. On the mark for Bushell’s were Leigh Carpenter, Dean Fleming and Liam Atherton, Thomas Murray replied for FC Bidston, Beechwood FC (Tom Quinn, Leo Riley, Jack McGrotty, Mitch Duggan) saw off Neston Nomads (Thomas Murray) in an all Premier Division clash.

The Lukes maintain pole position and go six points clear after a comfortable 4-0 success over AFC Shaftes. Thanks to Jack Maybury, Ellis Jones, Ben Kearney and Will Bullpin, Wirral Radio FC registered only their second maximum points haul over Neston United 4-1.

Rockpoint is still the only team in the league with a 100% league record after easing their way to a 7-1 success at Ridgewood Park against Barcode FC and lead Division Two. Finding the net for Rockpoint were Stuart Hardman with a hattrick, supplemented by further strikes from Liam Whelan, Jason Rigby, Jami Payne and Anthony Gardner.

Their nearest rivals, Wellington, continued an unbeaten league run after accounting for Prenton FC 2-0 with Lewis Gouldson notching a fine double. After a much-needed break to take stock of the playing personnel, Eagle Stirrup FC got a much-needed win under their belt 5-1 at Silva Athletic (Samuel Davies), Saughall FC (Owen Kelsey 2, David Ollerhead, Andy Noonan) posted a 4-1 win after defeating Glenavon Athletic 4-1.

A solitary goal from Oscar Sargent for AFC Park North was enough to stay at the top in Division Three at North Wirral Saints. Barkers Armchair FC continued their current fine run with a fourth straight league win 3-2 over West Kirby United (Robbie Nairn, OG) and are aiming for a promotion place.

Parkgate St Germain recorded their first win of the season 4-2 against long time league stalwarts AFC Rangers. Finding their names on the scoresheet were Seth Geary with a brace and singles from Sean Wilding and Sam Brown, Sean Hellon, Adam Lamb and James Swindle helped Old Parks FC to wrap up the points 3-1 over Wallasey Village FC.

The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League Management Committee and Sponsors would like to wish all clubs, players, supporters and match officials the very best for the festive season and we hope to see you all again on 9 January 2022.

The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League are now looking to bring back The Youth Division in August 2022 and are now accepting new applications for the season 2022/2023, this season’s under 16’s can join as Colts, last season’s under 16’s can come in as Youth especially if some clubs wish to enter two teams, please check the League’s website for contact details

Dock v Rivacre on a misty Sunday morning. Credit: The Old and The New
Premier Division
Dock AFC 45 Rivacre FC
Woodchurch Hotel FC PP Rock Ferry Social
Division 1
The Lukes FC 40 AFC Shaftes
Wirral Radio AFC 41 Neston United
Division 2
Barcode FC 17 Rockpoint FC
Prenton FC 02 Wellington FC
Saughall FC 41 Glenavon Athletic
Silva Athletic 15 Eagle Stirrup FC
Division 3
AFC Raeburn PP AFC Tima
Barkers Armchair FC 32 West Kirby United
North Wirral Saints 01 AFC Park North
Old Parks FC 31 Wallasey Village FC
Parkgate St Germain 42 AFC Rangers
Tony Houlihan Memorial Challenge Cup – Round 2
Upton Town 12 Victoria Colts
Tony Houlihan Memorial Challenge Cup – Round 3
FC Bidston 13 Bushell Grange Athletic
Neston Nomads 14 Rock Ferry Social

Premier Division Table

#TeamPlWDLFADiffPts
1.ROCK FERRY SOCIAL861124121219
2.DOCK AFC952230151517
3.WOODCHURCH HOTEL FC95222113817
4.RIVACRE FC850327151215
5.CORSAIR FC95041716115
6.QUEENS PARK FC94232415914
7.BEECHWOOD FC93422618813
8.GREAT FLOAT S&S83141519-410
9.NESTON NOMADS103161927-810
10.FC BIDSTON91171554-394
11.LANCELYN GLENAVON8026923-142

Division One Table

#TeamPlWDLFADiffPts
1.THE LUKES FC98012982124
2.BUSHELL GRANGE ATHLETIC86022213918
3.AFC SHAFTES105142322116
4.BROMBOROUGH RAKE850322121015
5.UPTON TOWN84041818012
6.NESTON UNITED83141826-810
7.POULTON VICS S&S7304141409
8.WOODCHURCH ROVERS72231516-18
9.WIRRAL RADIO FC82061422-86
10.LIONS FC91081034-243

Division Two Table

#TeamPlWDLFADiffPts
1.ROCKPOINT FC990051114027
2.WELLINGTON FC97203973223
3.JPL JETS862025101520
4.NEW FERRY RANGERS86112471719
5.MSC EASTHAM115062928115
6.SAUGHALL FC104063225712
7.VICTORIA COLTS9315925-1610
8.EAGLE STIRRUP FC63031318-59
9.PRENTON FC72051519-46
10.BARCODE FC91171133-224
11.GLENAVON ATHLETIC101181440-264
12.SILVA ATHLETIC8107443-393

Division Three Table

#TeamPlWDLFADiffPts
1.AFC PARK NORTH1090127141327
2.WHITBY RANGERS970252153721
3.BARKERS ARMCHAIR FC116232416820
4.NORTH WIRRAL SAINTS851226141216
5.AFC TIMA851222121016
6.OLD PARKS FC105142219316
7.OVAL FC95041928-915
8.AFC RANGERS114161936-1713
9.WIRRAL ATHLETIC92341932-139
10.WEST KIRBY UTD92162125-47
11.WALLASEY VILLAGE FC91261322-95
12.PARKGATE ST GERMAIN6114715-84
13.AFC RAEBURN90181336-231

Image credit: RF._.studio

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