The Wirral District Football Association Sunday open age cup competitions made inroads into the Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League programme, there were a few all-local Houlihan’s club clashes in the Sunday Amateur Cup.
Despite having not the best of times, Lions FC roared back to a comfortable 7-1 win over Glenavon Athletic to maintain their fine start to this campaign with Mark Head leading the way bagging four. Also in support were Paul and Dave Ryan, and Dan Chamney.
A solitary strike from Victoria Colts‘ Gaz Dickenson was enough to shoot down The Gunners FC, 1-0.
There were plenty of smiles at Wallacre Park where Cheshire Cheese (Cam Nuttall, Sam Hughes, Bill Magee, Nick Lynch) eased to a 4-0 success over Sheridans in what was a local derby clash.
A Danny Payne double for AFC Park North saw off the challenge of Eagle Stirrup (Joe Beattie) 2-1.
Also in the hat for the first round proper are Bushell Athletic who had marksmen Tom Quinn and a Ben Glover brace on hand in their victory over Poulton Victoria S&S (Grant Reay, Adam Eaton) 3-2.
Whitby Rangers made progress via Brad Bland and a pair from Matty Vickers 3-1 over Bromborough Town. JPL Jets motored to a 5-2 success at Vauxhall Motors Vets thanks to a hattrick from Adam Larway and further strikes from Ryan Jones and Jamie King.
Wirral Radio (Liam Blundell) dipped out on penalties 4-2 after the scores had finished 1-1 in their game against Trident. Despite the best efforts from Ryan Thompson and Lewi Hunt, Woodchurch Rovers lost out to Mersey Athletic 3-2.
Premier Division Beechwood FC romped to a 6-0 win in the Sunday Premier Cup at Maxwell Barber’s Division One side Bromborough Rake. It was a similar affair again with Neston Nomads from the Premier Division, out pointing Eastham Rangers Colts 5-1 from Maxwell Barbers First Division thanks to a brace each for Luke and Callum Blondel with Reece Kerr also on target.
Jamie Eaton and Haydn Cooper were on target again for Dock AFC to maintain a perfect start to the season 2-1 over The Lukes, despite a 30 yard worldy strike from Ash Power.
Despite an indifferent start to the new campaign, Queens Park FC claimed their third consecutive league win at Corsair PV (Brad Greer, Kie Cartwright), thanks to Harvey Sample with a pair and singles from Callum Maddocks and Tom Black.
Game of the day for the Ryan ‘Gigsy’ Atherton Memorial Premier Division Trophy was between KRCT Bidston (Ben Kearney (2) Lewis Evans, Dega Taylor) and Great Float S&S in a nine-goal thriller. The Float triumphed 5-4.
Adam ‘Sabu’ Smith notched a hattrick for current champions Rock Ferry Social with further efforts from Jack Brown and Leon Detlaff registering a 5-1 win over Lancelyn Glenavon who replied through Jack Larson.
The League had five clubs who requested to take part in The FA National Sunday Cup and they have all been successful to go into the draw that will take place around 1.00pm on Friday 9 September, with the first round ties being played a month later.
There were just two games in The Maxwell Barbers Division One. In both games the hounours were shared as AFC Shaftes (Andre Santos) traded goals and points with Upton Town (Tyler Jameson).
Meanwhile, two of the fancied clubs aiming for promotion; Wellington FC (Ellis Byrne, Paddy Fiddaman) and Rig Move (Josh Lyth, Ellis Williams) will both look at it with two points dropped.
Only one game remained in DivisionTwo with high flying Barcode FC moving into second place thanks to single strikes from Andrew McKiver, Jake Norton, and Joe Salsby aginst a strong Barkers Armchair FC (Louis Rice).
The suprise result of the day was in Division Three and saw Wirral Athletic defeat high flyers Eastham Rangers 5-3. Joe Roberts and Harry Huggins notched a brace each with Dylan Palmer also on the scoresheet. Replying for Eastham Rangers were Jordan Crowdet (2) and Joe Skinner. It was Wirral Athletic’s first maximum of the season and Eastham Rangers’ first reversal.
AFC Rangers (Billy Newman) dipped to their first loss of the season while West Kirby United kept their unbeaten start to the season intact with the youngest of the Austin brothers Finlay netting twice alongside Jack Safadi 3-1.
Higher Beb Kelma and Old Parks, who are both unbeaten, remain undefeated after serving up a 2-2 draw. Liam Atherton and Harris Randles bagged the goals for Kelma while Ben Kierman and Davey Southall netted for Old Parks FC.
It was doubles all round for Oval FC thanks to John Skipsey (2) and Mike Gratten (2), with North Wirral Saints responding via Mike Manser (2) 4-2.
A South Wirral clash saw Parkgate St Germain (John Gibson (2), Ben Swift) earn all three points over FC Tima, 3-2.
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
Image: Higher Bebington Kelma v Old Parks. Credit: Bob Shaw
Premier Division Table
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | DOCK FC | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| 2. | QUEENS PARK FC | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| 3. | BEECHWOOD FC | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 11 |
| 4. | ROCK FERRY SOCIAL | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| 5. | WOODCHURCH HOTEL FC | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 9 |
| 6. | GREAT FLOAT S&S FC | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 9 |
| 7. | NESTON NOMADS | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| 8. | LANCELYN GLENAVON | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 5 |
| 9. | THE LUKES FC | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 16 | -9 | 3 |
| 10. | KRCT BIDSTON FC | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 26 | -14 | 3 |
| 11. | BROMBOROUGH RAKE FC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 0 |
| 12. | CORSAIR PV | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 0 |
Division One Table
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | JPL JETS | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 12 |
| 2. | WELLINGTON FC | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| 3. | CHESHIRE CHEESE FC | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| 4. | RIG MOVE SERVICES FC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| 5. | MSC EASTHAM | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 18 | -8 | 6 |
| 6. | BUSHELL ATHLETIC | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 5 |
| 7. | UPTON TOWN FC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 8. | AFC SHAFTES | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 3 |
| 9. | EASTHAM RANGERS COLTS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 2 |
| 10. | WIRRAL RADIO FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
| 11. | WOODCHURCH ROVERS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 0 |
Division Two Table
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | WHITBY RANGERS FC | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 20 | 13 |
| 2. | BARCODE FC | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
| 3. | SHERIDANS FC | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 10 |
| 4. | PRENTON FC | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 8 |
| 5. | SAUGHALL FC | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
| 6. | LIONS FC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 7. | EAGLE & STIRRUP FC | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 8. | BARKERS ARMCHAIR FC | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 15 | -9 | 6 |
| 9. | AFC PARK NORTH | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 17 | -11 | 3 |
| 10. | GLENAVON ATHLETIC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 17 | -11 | 3 |
| 11. | VICTORIA COLTS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 20 | -14 | 2 |
| 12. | POULTON VICS S&S | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 20 | -15 | 2 |
Division Three Table
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | OLD PARKS FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 14 |
| 2. | WEST KIRBY UNITED | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 11 |
| 3. | EASTHAM RANGERS | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 11 |
| 4. | AFC RANGERS | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 11 |
| 5. | OVAL FC | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 10 |
| 6. | HIGHER BEBINGTON KELMA | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
| 7. | PARKGATE PANTHERS | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 7 |
| 8. | PARKGATE ST GERMAIN | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 6 |
| 9. | AFC TIMA | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 18 | -5 | 6 |
| 10. | WIRRAL ATHLETIC | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 28 | -15 | 4 |
| 11. | ATHLETIC VH | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 12. | NORTH WIRRAL SAINTS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 1 |
| 13. | AFC RAEBURN | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 19 | -13 | 0 |
Why not follow birkenhead.news on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to news@birkenhead.news
Sign up for our free newsletter using this form
Facebook comments