The Tony Houlihan Memorial Challenge Cup dominated the fixture programme in The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League and had a couple of giant-killing acts with third Division Wirral Athletic posting a superb success after running out 5-1 victors over second Division side Eagle Stirrup (Callum Jones).
Finding the net for Wirral Athletic were Joe Roberts, Dylan Palmer, Josh Colton, Richie Whitby, and Craig Mills
Also into the hat for round two are Eastham Rangers who are also from Division Three and knocked out Glenavon Athletic 4-0 another side from Division Two. Kieran Hodgson led the way with a fine double and efforts from Jordan Crowder and Liam Harris.
A tremendous cup tie took place at Leverhulme Sports Field with Eastham Rangers Colts taking the honours in 5-4 game against Sheridans. Finding the back of the net for Colts were Dillon Thomas with a double, and singles from Matty Howe, Connor McCann, and James Ludbrook. Replying for Sheridans were Leon Bower (2), Leon Jones, and Dylan Doyle.
AFC Shaftes threw their current form out of the window easing to a 5-0 result at Ridgewood Park over Barcode, with Travis O’Brien bagging a double, and Luke Rolling and Andre Santos adding their names on scoresheet.
After finishing all square at 0-0, Lions won their cup tie 6-5 on penalties at hosts AFC Rangers. Tom Briggs, Declan and James Kirkham helped Old Parks FC to a 3-0 win over rivals Oval FC.
Upton Town (OG, Scott Billington) curtailed the hopes of Poulton Victoria S&S (Dan Price). Rig Move FC saw off the challenge from Whitby Rangers (Rowan Whelan) thanks to a pair from Brandon Burrows, and a Daniel Woodcock strike; 3-1.
Cam Nuttall was also amongst the goalscorers for Cheshire Cheese with a double and further efforts from Luke Gallagher, and Lewis Gouldson with a 5-3 result over West Kirby United.
The fish n’ chips, or better known as the ice cream derby, took place in a Jimmy Core Cup first round tie between Parkgate St Germain and Parkgate Panthers (Rob Mars). St Germain ran out 3-1 winners via Joe Gibson, Ollie Hand and Tom Swift netting.
Dock AFC got back to their winning ways in the Premier Division, having been on a 4-1 reversal four weeks ago, completing a league double over Lancelyn Glenavon, with strikes from Steve Forbes, Jamie Eaton, and Cameron McGregor 3-0 to remain in pole position on goal difference from Beechwood FC who maintained their unbeaten start to the season in all competitions who won 1-0 with a solitary goal from Fenton Cavanagh in a local derby with Corsair PV.
Last season’s runners up, Great Float S&S. registered their fourth draw of the campaign, this time 0-0 at Neston Nomads.
Adam Larway was amongst the goalscorers, bagging a five-goal haul for JPL Jets against Woodchurch Rovers, who remain four points clear at the helm of The Maxwell Barbers Division One.
Wellington FC stay on the heels of the leaders, accounting for Wirral Radio FC (Matt Lydiate) 3-1 who netted from Nathan Leyland, Tom Bradshaw, and Billy Rainbow.
Prenton FC moved to the top of Division Two with a resounding win over AFC Park North, with new signing Matty O’Shea being the stand out player as he found the net no less than four times.
Saughall FC (Terry Ainsworth (2), Dave Ollerhead, Ben Noble, Matty Scott) are staying within distance recording a 5-0 scoreline over Victoria Colts.
Division Three side AFC Tima (Jack Grimes (2), Mark Goodacre, Kyle Pulford, OG) for the fifth consecutive week have been involved with a six-goal match after sharing the spoils last week they inflicted a 5-1 defeat on Higher Bebington Kelma (Adam Clarke), while Athletic VH accounted for AFC Raeburn (Matty Amey) 3-1.
The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League are now accepting applications for a proposed Youth Division for the season 2023/24 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: AFC Rangers v Lions FC. Credit: Bob Shaw
Premier Division
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1 | Dock AFC | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 21 |
| 2 | Beechwood SC | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 21 |
| 3 | Great Float S&S | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 13 |
| 4 | Queens Park | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| 5 | Rock Ferry Social | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 12 |
| 6 | Woodchurch Hotel | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 10 |
| 7 | Neston Nomads | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 9 |
| 8 | Lancelyn Glenavon | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 38 | -15 | 9 |
| 9 | KRCT Bidston FC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 8 |
| 10 | The Lukes FC | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 29 | -18 | 3 |
| 11 | Corsair PV | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 18 | -9 | 1 |
Division One
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1 | JPL Jets | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 12 |
| 2 | Wellington FC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 11 |
| 3 | Bushell Athletic | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| 4 | Cheshire Cheese | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 10 |
| 5 | Wirral Radio FC | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 9 |
| 6 | Eastham Rangers Colts | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 8 |
| 7 | Upton Town | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | Rig Move FC | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 7 |
| 9 | MSC Eastham | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 29 | -18 | 7 |
| 10 | AFC Shaftes | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 24 | -16 | 3 |
| 11 | Woodchurch Rovers | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 1 |
Division Two
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1 | Prenton FC | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 5 | 32 | 17 |
| 2 | Saughall | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 6 | 25 | 16 |
| 3 | Sheridans FC | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 7 | 21 | 16 |
| 4 | Whitby Rangers | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 20 | 13 |
| 5 | Barkers Armchair FC | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 12 |
| 6 | Barcode FC | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 11 |
| 7 | Lions FC | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| 8 | Eagle & Stirrup FC | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 9 | Victoria Colts | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 32 | -24 | 5 |
| 10 | Glenavon Athletic | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 32 | -25 | 3 |
| 11 | AFC Park North | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 37 | -31 | 3 |
| 12 | Poulton Vics S&S | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 25 | -17 | 2 |
Division Three
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1 | West Kirby United | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 18 |
| 2 | Old Parks FC | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 10 | 12 | 17 |
| 3 | AFC Tima | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 26 | 3 | 16 |
| 4 | AFC Rangers | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 15 |
| 5 | Eastham Rangers | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 15 |
| 6 | Oval FC | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 13 |
| 7 | Athletic VH | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 11 |
| 8 | H Bebington Kelma | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 11 |
| 9 | Parkgate Panthers | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 8 |
| 10 | Parkgate St Germain | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 6 |
| 11 | North Wirral Saints | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 18 | -5 | 4 |
| 12 | Wirral Athletic | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 36 | -21 | 4 |
| 13 | AFC Raeburn | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 32 | -20 | 1 |
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