In what has the makings of being a closely fought contest, Bootle St. Edmunds stayed a point in credit at the top of the MSC Express West Cheshire League’s Division One following Friday evening’s 5-0 eclipse of Heswall.
Brad Shearwood struck four times and was joined on the scoresheet by Mark Madden as Saints posted their ninth win of the season.
Nearest rivals, Mersey Royal, with efforts from Jamie Leyland, Jack Ledsham, Tom Morgan, and Lewy Willingham, savoured a 4-0 result at Rainhill Town, while third-placed Newton, inspired by doubles from Marc Gibson and Jackson Ellis, maintained interest thanks to a 4-0 victory at Litherland Remyca Res.
Despite a goal from Charlie Taylor, Maghull capitulated 7-1 at home to Capenhurst Villa who had Richie McQuade (3), James Davies, Nathan Lightfoot, Jamie Easton, and Mike Simmons on target and a goal from Vauxhall Motors Res.‘ Chris McGowan wasn’t enough, as Mossley Hill Ath. emerged 2-1 victors thanks to a smart double from Cal Jones.
Mark Barnes netted for Aintree Villa but it was visitors Marine U23s who profited, replies from Harrison Denton and Reece Cansfield securing a 2-1 decision.
Elsewhere in the top flight, efforts from Brandon Dickinson (2), Hugo Barretta-Eames, and Ben Coward assured Chester Nomads of a share of the spoils following a 4-4 stalemate with Prescot Cables Res.
In Division Two, runaway leaders, Poulton Vics, recorded their eleventh win from as many outings, when Jason Bull (2), Ben Kearney (2), Tom Randall, and Steve Forbes shared the goals in a 6-0 rout of basement outfit, Marshalls Res.
Second-placed Sutton Ath., with goals from Connor Doyle (2), Lee Ludgate, Ash Wardle, and Dan Woodcock, triumphed 5-2 at Bootle Res. who had Marmadou Djabi and Sal Djabi in reply.
An Ellis Byrne hat trick was supplemented by further efforts from Tom Black (2), Danny McLoughlin (2), and Jack Brown as Mallaby won 8-1 against South Sefton Borough who responded via a stunning strike from Sam Thompson.
Poulton Royal and Maghull Res. finished 0-0 while a solitary strike from Harvey Bleasedale saw Mossley Hill Ath. Res. over the line at West Kirby.
An Owen Kucharski hat-trick allied to a Josh Clayton penalty set Helsby up for a 4-1 win at Cheshire Lines, who scored through Perry Hughes, while Runcorn Sports played their joker in four-goal Lee Turkington who sparked a 4-2 victory over South Liverpool Res. The visitors’ consolations were claimed by Jahquesai Smith and Wisdom Uwadiae.
With Division Three leaders, Aintree Villa Res. unengaged, nearest rivals Neston Nomads failed to fully capitalise after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Hooton. Cam Meadows and Nathan Saunders were the respective marksmen.
A goal from Higher Bebington Kelma‘s Josh Griffiths was negated by a reply from Ellesmere Port Town Res.’ Sam McNeill, while Neil Ellison (2), Kyle Bennett, and Brandon Gordon made the scoresheet, as Poulton Vics Res. accounted for Runcorn Sports Res. 4-0.
Goals from Groves‘ Ryan Maxwell and Jordan Finlay were cancelled out by a double from Rainhill Town Res.’ Mick Johnson and in another 2-2 nailbiter, efforts from Heswall Res.‘ Kevin Thompson and Sean Hogan were nullified by goals from Chester Nomads Res.‘ Cam Clark and Marco Apollonio.
Joe Stephenson and Ashton Jameson were on the mark for West Kirby Res. at Capenhurst Villa Res. but it was the hosts who had the last laugh, with Tom Ruffer (2) and Tom Murray obliging in a 3-2 success.
Courtney Bushell, Sam Stephens, and Danny Holden netted for Helsby Res., but their efforts proved to no avail after South Liverpool 3rds ran out 5-3 winners courtesy of replies from Mike Thomas (2), John Foulkes, Jack Bryant, and James Stolburger.
Saturday’s Youth Division action saw leaders Mossley Hill Ath. extend their lead at the top to six points after Remy Clovis (2), Mohammed Alsaqqa, and Cal Jones left their calling cards in a 4-0 win at Victoria Colts.
Second-placed South Liverpool had to settle for a share of the points after efforts from Owen Thompson and Ellis Jago were matched by replies from City of Liverpool‘s Adam Lyons and Billy Kelly.
Top scorers on the day were Vauxhall Motors, with Denny McHugh (3), Josh Jeffery (2), Luke Burns (2), and Nick Swift applying the finishing touches in an 8-0 verdict over BRNESC.
Dan Swindells found the net for Ormskirk West End, but still finished on the losing side when third-placed challengers Poulton Vics hit back through Kian Hamm, Kyle Ward, Scott McCready, and an own goal and clinched a 4-1 win.
Runcorn Linnets‘ 5-2 victory over Maghull was confirmed by efforts from Jake Hill (2), Bob Martin (2), and Luke Smith. The visitors responded through Elliot Barry and Harry Ley.
First Division
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| 1 | FC Bootle St Edmund’s | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 10 | 32 | 28 |
| 2 | Mersey Royal | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 5 | 29 | 27 |
| 3 | Newton | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 10 | 24 | 25 |
| 4 | Mossley Hill Athletic | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 22 |
| 5 | Capenhurst Villa | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 19 |
| 6 | Vauxhall Motors Res | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 22 | 3 | 18 |
| 7 | Maghull | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 18 |
| 8 | Marshalls | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 20 | -5 | 12 |
| 9 | Litherland Remyca Res | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 35 | -12 | 12 |
| 10 | Marine U23s | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 11 |
| 11 | Aintree Villa | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 29 | -7 | 11 |
| 12 | Rainhill Town | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 25 | -13 | 11 |
| 13 | Ellesmere Port Town | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 26 | -2 | 10 |
| 14 | Chester Nomads | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 32 | -10 | 8 |
| 15 | Heswall | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 25 | -18 | 6 |
| 16 | Prescot Cables Res | 13 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 55 | -40 | 5 |
Second Division
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Poulton Victoria | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 | 23 | 33 |
| 2 | Sutton Athletic | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 34 | 24 | 10 | 24 |
| 3 | Ashville Res | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 24 | 10 | 22 |
| 4 | Helsby | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 11 | 15 | 20 |
| 5 | Mallaby | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 36 | 23 | 13 | 20 |
| 6 | Maghull Res | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 17 |
| 7 | Runcorn Sports | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 15 |
| 8 | Mossley Hill Athletic Res | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 27 | -5 | 15 |
| 9 | South Liverpool Res | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 24 | 27 | -3 | 13 |
| 10 | Cheshire Lines | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 20 | -7 | 11 |
| 11 | West Kirby | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 31 | -21 | 9 |
| 12 | Poulton Royal | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 7 |
| 13 | Bootle Res | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 6 |
| 14 | South Sefton Borough | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 32 | -21 | 4 |
| 15 | Marshalls Res | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 35 | -25 | 0 |
Third Division
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Aintree Villa Res | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 9 | 37 | 31 |
| 2 | Neston Nomads | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 28 | 17 | 11 | 23 |
| 3 | Higher Bebington Kelma | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 23 |
| 4 | Poulton Victoria Res | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 12 | 18 | 22 |
| 5 | Hooton | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 18 |
| 6 | Helsby Res | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 42 | 43 | -1 | 18 |
| 7 | Capenhurst Villa Res | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 21 | -1 | 17 |
| 8 | South Liverpool Third | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 23 | 5 | 16 |
| 9 | Runcorn Sports Res | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 29 | -11 | 16 |
| 10 | Chester Nomads Res | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 32 | -14 | 12 |
| 11 | Groves Athletic | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 23 | -6 | 11 |
| 12 | Ellesmere Port Town Res | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 32 | -16 | 11 |
| 13 | Rainhill Town Res | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 30 | -15 | 10 |
| 14 | West Kirby Res | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 35 | -12 | 8 |
| 15 | Heswall Res | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 29 | -13 | 8 |
Youth Division
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Mossley Hill Athletic | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 7 | 25 | 22 |
| 2 | South Liverpool | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 16 |
| 3 | Poulton Victoria | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 12 |
| 4 | Vauxhall Motors | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 10 |
| 5 | Runcorn Linnets | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 9 |
| 6 | BRNESC | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 17 | -6 | 9 |
| 7 | City of Liverpool | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 8 |
| 8 | Ormskirk West End | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 14 | -4 | 6 |
| 9 | Victoria Colts U18 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 21 | -12 | 4 |
| 10 | Maghull | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 | -21 | 0 |
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