Reigning MSC Express West Cheshire League Division One champions, Mersey Royal, overcame Chester Nomads 4-0 in midweek, thanks to goals from Kieran Cartwright, Jamie Leyland, Liam Owen, and Liam Driscoll and following Saturday’s 2-1 eclipse of Maghull, confirmed by a goal apiece from Andy Rogers and that man, Driscoll again, the leaders went five points clear of the chasing pack.
Nicky Kerr was Maghull‘s marksman while nearest rivals, Newton, were indebted to an effort from Jackson Ellis and a last minute winner from Ross McDowell in a narrow 2-1 decision over Ellesmere Port Town who had Joe O’Brien in response.
Third placed challengers, Bootle St. Edmunds, with goals from Mark Madden (2), James McShane, and Danny Shearwood stayed in contention after they overcame Marshalls 4-1, Max Canavan netting the visitors’ consolation.
A solitary strike from Mark Barnes earned Aintree Villa all three points against Heswall and in contrast, fourth-placed Mossley Hill Ath., inspired by three goal Cal Jones, romped home 10-0 at Chester Nomads. Further efforts from Connor Anderson (2), Dom Murphy (2), Paul Pearson, Owen Cassidy, and Danny Rigby completed the score line.
On target for Rainhill Town in their 4-1 victory over basement outfit, Prescot Cables Res., were Joe Clifton, Dylan Hodgkinson, Stephen Melville, and Eddie Hawthorne. Cables hit back via Chris Hesketh.
Despite efforts from Anthony Griffith, Elliot Taylor, and Jon Kenda, Litherland Remyca capitulated 5-3 to replies from Marine U23‘s Tyler Ackah-Wheatcroft (2), Konstantinos Misios (2), and Regan Rhodes.
In Division Two, Poulton Vics took over at the top, following a 2-0 success at Cheshire Lines but previous leaders, Sutton Ath., slipped up after scoring through Josh McEwan before losing 3-1 at home to Bootle Res. who had Baf Djabi, Darren Brannigan, and Sal Djabi on the mark.
An Adam Shelton hat trick anchored South Liverpool Res. to a 3-2 result at Maghull Res., whose marksman was Isaac Jones (2) while third-placed Ashville Res., cranked up their challenge when Lewis Clarke (2), Derek Taylor, and Ben Leeman obliged in 4-0 triumph at Mossley Hill Ath. Res.
Elsewhere, a Seb Tweed strike failed to prevent South Sefton Borough from going down 4-1 at home to Runcorn Sports. Ryan Burnell, Kier Fenlon, Dom Bazley and Tom MacDonald found the net for the victors who remain handily poised in fifth place.
New leaders in Division Three are Hooton, who went two points clear at the top after efforts from Joel Whalley (2), Ben Smith, Paul Byrne, Nathan Saunders, Danny Cross, and Ben Wood set up a 7-1 win at Runcorn Sports Res., who had Mike Ratcliffe on target.
Honours were shared after goals from Helsby Res.‘ Courtney Bushell (2) and Sam Telford were negated by replies from Heswall Res.‘ Tom Ryan, Kevin Thompson, and Jack Gibson.
Third-placed Higher Bebington Kelma maintained interest in the promotion race, after they won 6-0 at Ellesmere Port Town Res. Tom Byrne, Kal Herbert, Andy Noonan, Jamie Balderstone, Josh Griffiths, and Ben Kierman shared the goals.
Saturday’s Youth Division action saw leaders Mossley Hill Ath., consolidate their position at the top after Jon Liddle (2), Asher Duncan, and Sam Bowsie scored in a 4-1 victory over Maghull, Lewis Jones replying.
Poulton Vics‘ title hopes were interrupted after they scored through Kian Hamm and Matt Barclay but crashed 6-2 at Victoria Colts who sealed the issue, courtesy of efforts from Rocco Ceraolo (2), Charlie Holland (2), Reece Darling, and Lewis Howard.
Goals from Charlie Hogan and Charlie Campbell couldn’t stop Ormskirk West End from losing 3-2 at home to Vauxhall Motors who had Will Jones, Denny McHugh, and Luke Burns on the scoresheet.
On the County scene, Capenhurst Villa‘s hopes of making the fourth round of the Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup were foundered after they lost 2-1 at home to Broadheath Central. Bradley Bland netted for Cape, but it was celebration time for Vauxhall Motors Res., who progressed, Josh Green and Shay Roberts scoring in Saturday’s 2-1 verdict over Styal FC.
Mallaby completed the quartet of Haworth & Gallagher Bowl semi-finalists and will now face Bootle Res.. Ellis Byrne put the visitors in front before Gregg Sandalls headed an equaliser for Poulton. Paul Ellison made it 2-1 for Mallaby with 12 minutes remaining.
In the LCFA Saturday Junior Cup third round, South Liverpool 3rds pulled the mat from under rival Division Three outfit, Aintree Villa Res., Joe Collins, Joe Ferguson, and Alex Yates netted in a 3-2 result. The visitors contribution came from Stephen Andrews and an own goal.
Its congratulations to Marshalls Res., who beat Vulcan Res. 3-2 with efforts from Cal Hodgkinson, Danny May and Kane Johnson.
City of Liverpool, with goals from Adam Lyons, Freddie Beckwith, and Ethan Wetton finished 3-3 with BRNESC in a keenly contested Youth Plate preliminary round before taking the tie 4-3 on spot kicks.
Mackenzie James, Ben Marray, and Matty Vickers were accredited with the goals as Capenhurst Villa Res. earned a West Cheshire Shield semi-final meeting with Hooton after they beat Groves 3-1. Ryan Maxwell scored for the visitors.
The other quarter final saw Chester Nomads Res. and Poulton Vics. Res. finish 0-0 after extra time before Nomads earned the nod 4-3 on penalties, and they will now face either Aintree Villa Res. or Higher Bebington Kelma in the last four.
Images: Heswall FC (Yellow) 0 Aintree Villa FC (Orange) 1 Credit: Bob Shaw
First Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mersey Royal | 16 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 45 |
| 2 | Newton | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 40 |
| 3 | FC Bootle St Edmund’s | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 35 | 40 |
| 4 | Mossley Hill Athletic | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 32 | 34 |
| 5 | Marine U23s | 20 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 30 |
| 6 | Rainhill Town | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | -1 | 30 |
| 7 | Vauxhall Motors Res | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 28 |
| 8 | Maghull | 15 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
| 9 | Capenhurst Villa | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 19 |
| 10 | Litherland Remyca Res | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -18 | 19 |
| 11 | Marshalls | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | -10 | 18 |
| 12 | Aintree Villa | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | -9 | 14 |
| 13 | Chester Nomads | 15 | 3 | 2 | 10 | -32 | 11 |
| 14 | Ellesmere Port Town | 15 | 3 | 1 | 11 | -28 | 10 |
| 15 | Heswall | 18 | 3 | 0 | 15 | -30 | 9 |
| 16 | Prescot Cables Res | 17 | 1 | 2 | 14 | -50 | 5 |
Second Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poulton Victoria | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 42 |
| 2 | Sutton Athletic | 21 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 42 |
| 3 | Ashville Res | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 31 |
| 4 | Helsby | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 27 |
| 5 | Runcorn Sports | 13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 27 |
| 6 | South Liverpool Res | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 25 |
| 7 | Maghull Res | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 23 |
| 8 | Mallaby | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 21 |
| 9 | Bootle Res | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 18 |
| 10 | Mossley Hill Athletic Res | 17 | 6 | 0 | 11 | -18 | 18 |
| 11 | Cheshire Lines | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -14 | 15 |
| 12 | Poulton Royal | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 10 |
| 13 | West Kirby | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -30 | 10 |
| 14 | South Sefton Borough | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -27 | 7 |
| 15 | Marshalls Res | 15 | 2 | 0 | 13 | -26 | 6 |
Third Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hooton | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 34 | 36 |
| 2 | Aintree Villa Res | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 34 |
| 3 | Higher Bebington Kelma | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 33 |
| 4 | Runcorn Sports Res | 18 | 10 | 1 | 7 | -15 | 31 |
| 5 | Neston Nomads | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 29 |
| 6 | Helsby Res | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | -7 | 28 |
| 7 | Poulton Victoria Res | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 26 |
| 8 | South Liverpool Third | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 25 |
| 9 | Capenhurst Villa Res | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 22 |
| 10 | Chester Nomads Res | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | -10 | 18 |
| 11 | West Kirby Res | 21 | 5 | 2 | 14 | -20 | 17 |
| 12 | Ellesmere Port Town Res | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | -27 | 14 |
| 13 | Heswall Res | 18 | 2 | 6 | 10 | -18 | 12 |
| 14 | Groves Athletic | 17 | 3 | 2 | 12 | -24 | 11 |
| 15 | Rainhill Town Res | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -22 | 10 |
Youth Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mossley Hill Athletic | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 29 |
| 2 | Poulton Victoria | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 25 |
| 3 | Vauxhall Motors | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
| 4 | South Liverpool | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 19 |
| 5 | BRNESC | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Victoria Colts U18 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | -6 | 13 |
| 7 | Runcorn Linnets | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | -11 | 12 |
| 8 | Ormskirk West End | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | -10 | 12 |
| 9 | City of Liverpool | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -5 | 9 |
| 10 | Maghull | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -29 | 0 |
Why not follow birkenhead.news on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to news@birkenhead.news
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter