The Tony Houlihan Memorial Challenge Cup round 4 took centre stage in The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League.
The game of the day was at Vauxhall Motors sports ground the current home of Rock Ferry Social. It was second versus third in the Premier Division, with the game evenly balanced at 2-2 and with five minutes remaining it was former Ferry man Charlie Macinnes who hit a stunning volley for Beechwood FC to seal a place in Round five 3-2. Rob Cull and Owen McMahon were also on the mark for Beechwood FC. Social’s scorers were Joe Whittle and Connor Doyle.
Another cracker of a game was The Maxwell Barbers Division One leaders hosting Premier Division leaders Bushell Athletic (Dean Fleming, Ben Glovers 2) held out to hold Woodchurch Hotel 3-3 at 90 minutes, only for Woodchurch Hotel to take the tie 3-2.
Ten-time winners, Queens Park, eased through with a 4-0 win over Upton Town, thanks to Aaron Rainbow, Liam Owen, and a brace from Aaron Gerard.
Also through to the last eight are Great Float S&S who also recorded the same 4-0 scoreline at Division Three promotion hopefuls Old Parks.
Dock AFC, who have lifted the Challenge Cup on seven occasions, made progress after Ryan Smith, Danny Cross, and Adam Lea all netted at Corsair PV, with a late replacement referee having a fabulous game.
Strikes from Joe Fernyhough, Callum Doyle, Josh McEwen, Andy Henry, and Daniel Woodcock for Rig Move saw off AFC Shaftes in an all Division One clash, 5-2, with consolation replies from Luke Rollings and Ben Liegeman.
There was no giant-killing act for Wellington FC (Ellis Jones, Matty Molyneux) after narrowly dipping 3-2 to KRCT Bidston (Liam Siddorn, Leon Clarke, Ben Kearney).
Eastham Rangers Colts (Sean Hayes) on their maiden season from the Maxwell Barbers Division One who secured a place in the last 16 as they are one round behind after a giant-killing act who outpointed Lancelyn Glenavon (Connor Courtnell) from the Premier Division. The game finished all square at 1-1 only for Colts to win the game 4-2 on penalties.
Cheshire Cheese cemented a place in round four of The David Tacy Cup, 3-1, at the expense of Eastham Rangers (Martin Marshall). Goal getters for Cheshire Cheese FC were Sam Hughes, Carl Mullen, and Lee Bridge. They will be joined in the hat by Prenton FC who cruised through to an 8-0 win after Luke Wynne notched a fine treble supplemented by further strikes from Jake Whittaker (2), Tom Molloy, Dean Wylde, and Iain Bennett.
Also into the quarter-finals are Whitby Rangers, thanks to Brad Bland, Matty Vickers, Tom Ruffer, and Gabe Kwateng who defeated Barcode FC (Danny France) 4-1.
There was just one game in the Maxwell Barbers Division One as JPL Jets (Taylor Davies) was trimmed back to a 1-1 draw by Woodchurch Rovers‘ Liam Guy.
With most of the top teams from Division Two playing in the various domestic cup competitions, Saughall FC (Tom Ashcroft) shared the points with Poulton Victoria S&S (Jack Gordon) 1-1. Likewise, between Victoria Colts (Mike Williams) and Barkers Armchair (Dom Thomas), who traded goals and points.
Jake Byrne, James Lally, and Callum Jones all netted for Eagle Stirrup to put three valuable points on the board after a 3-2 success over Glenavon Athletic.
West Kirby United returned to winning ways to maintain the top spot in Division Three, with a narrow 3-2 win over AFC Tima. Finding the net with the all-important goals were Thirusel Van Akil, Robert Douglas, and Robert Nairn with Mike Redgrift and Phil Bibby replying for Tima.
AFC Rangers enhanced their chances of promotion back to Division Two after a long break with a Lewis McKnight double in a 2-1 tussle at North Wirral Saints (Ben Dunn).
Athletic VH also registered the same scoreline at Parkgate Panthers, as did Wirral Athletic who had Harry Huggins and Dylan Palmer on the scoresheet at AFC Raeburn.
Higher Bebington Kelma did their chances no harm with an outside chance of being in the mix at the business end to the season accounting for Parkgate St Germain 3-0 with Connor Cox, Adam Clarke, and Tom Weaver finding the net.
The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League are now accepting applications from new prospective clubs to join the League for the 2023-2024 season, a limited number of vacancies are available also a proposed Youth Division for the same season that is scheduled to start in August 2024, any Youth clubs that wish to enter two teams can do so, one team will be known as Youth U/18’s and a second team is normally known as a Colts U/17’s, please visit the League website for contact details.
Images: David Tacy Memorial Trophy – Round 3 – Prenton FC (Blue) v Oval FC (Green) – Credit: Bob Shaw
Premier Division
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | WOODCHURCH HOTEL FC | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 14 | 20 | 28 |
| 2. | ROCK FERRY SOCIAL | 13 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 35 | 23 | 12 | 28 |
| 3. | BEECHWOOD FC | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 12 | 13 | 24 |
| 4. | DOCK FC | 10 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 21 |
| 5. | QUEENS PARK FC | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 15 | 12 | 19 |
| 6. | GREAT FLOAT SPORTS & SOCIAL FC | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 14 |
| 7. | NESTON NOMADS | 12 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 26 | -12 | 9 |
| 8. | LANCELYN GLENAVON | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 33 | -16 | 9 |
| 9. | CORSAIR PV | 12 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 28 | -12 | 6 |
| 10. | KRCT BIDSTON FC | 14 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 22 | 54 | -32 | 4 |
Division One
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | BUSHELL ATHLETIC | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 13 | 16 | 29 |
| 2. | JPL JETS | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 10 | 26 | 25 |
| 3. | CHESHIRE CHEESE FC | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 41 | 11 | 30 | 22 |
| 4. | WELLINGTON FC | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 20 |
| 5. | EASTHAM RANGERS COLTS | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 19 |
| 6. | RIG MOVE SERVICES FC | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 14 |
| 7. | UPTON TOWN FC | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 12 |
| 8. | WIRRAL RADIO FC | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 28 | -10 | 12 |
| 9. | MSC EASTHAM | 13 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 42 | -31 | 7 |
| 10. | WOODCHURCH ROVERS | 12 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 40 | -27 | 3 |
| 11. | AFC SHAFTES | 12 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 44 | -31 | 3 |
Division Two
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | BEDFORD FC | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 10 | 33 | 28 |
| 2. | PRENTON FC | 12 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 46 | 9 | 37 | 26 |
| 3. | BARCODE FC | 12 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 17 | 4 | 20 |
| 4. | SAUGHALL FC | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 17 |
| 5. | WHITBY RANGERS FC | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 4 | 24 | 16 |
| 6. | LIONS FC | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 16 |
| 7. | EAGLE & STIRRUP FC | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 13 |
| 8. | POULTON VICS S&S | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 29 | -10 | 13 |
| 9. | BARKERS ARMCHAIR FC | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 42 | -25 | 13 |
| 10. | VICTORIA COLTS | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 40 | -27 | 6 |
| 11. | GLENAVON ATHLETIC | 13 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 52 | -45 | 0 |
Division Three
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | WEST KIRBY UNITED | 18 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 40 | 24 | 16 | 34 |
| 2. | OLD PARKS FC | 14 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 22 | 18 | 30 |
| 3. | AFC RANGERS | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 33 | 20 | 13 | 29 |
| 4. | OVAL FC | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 19 | 9 | 21 |
| 5. | AFC TIMA | 13 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 32 | 30 | 2 | 20 |
| 6. | HIGHER BEBINGTON KELMA | 13 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 26 | 6 | 19 |
| 7. | EASTHAM RANGERS | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| 8. | ATHLETIC VH | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 17 |
| 9. | PARKGATE PANTHERS | 13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 31 | 27 | 4 | 15 |
| 10. | WIRRAL ATHLETIC | 15 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 27 | 55 | -28 | 13 |
| 11. | NORTH WIRRAL SAINTS | 13 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 24 | 29 | -5 | 11 |
| 12. | PARKGATE ST GERMAIN | 13 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 30 | -14 | 9 |
| 13. | AFC RAEBURN | 14 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 44 | -28 | 5 |
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