Mersey Royal confirmed back-to-back Division One titles and completed the third leg of a possible five-pronged bid for silverware,
MIDWEEK ACTION – Monday 24/4/23 – Division One action saw Vauxhall Motors Res. confirm South Wirral bragging rights after they romped home 6-1 against local rivals, Ellesmere Port Town. A Graham Mort double was supplemented by further efforts from Jack Darlington, Joe Ford, Zak Catesby, and Jamie Eaton as the Motormen secured a comfortable victory. Tom Killilea was the visitors’ marksman.
In Division Three, despite a double from Neal Ellison, Poulton Vics Res. went down 4-2 at leaders Aintree Villa Res. who had Jack Terry (2), Ricky Ager, and Dylan Lawless on target while a smart double from Sam Cooper anchored Capenhurst Villa Res. to a 2-0 result over Chester Nomads Res.
Congratulations to Youth Division champions Mossley Hill Ath. who secured their passage to the LCFA Youth Cup final, after they finished 3-3 with Lower Breck before winning 4-1 on spot kicks.
Tuesday 25/4/23 At Ashville’s venue, Villa Park, it was smiles all round for Wirral DFA Amateur Cup finalists, Hooton, who clinched silverware after efforts from Nathan Saunders and Kyle Jones inspired their side to a 2-1 decision over division Three promotion rivals, Higher Bebington Kelma in a competitive West Cheshire Shield final. Kai Herbert netted Kelma’s consolation. In Division Two, Maghull Res. celebrated a 5-2 win at South Sefton Borough.
Wednesday 26/4/23 Mersey Royal confirmed back-to-back Division One titles and completed the third leg of a possible five-pronged bid for silverware when a goal apiece from Dillon Thomas and Lewy Willingham lay the foundations for a 2-0 victory over Chester Nomads.
John Daley obliged with the game’s only goal as Marshalls beat Litherland Remyca Res., and a double from Marcus Stewart set Maghull up for a 3-2 win over Aintree Villa. Dylan Fitzsimmons was Maghull’s other scorer with Jamie Alty and Mark Barnes in reply for the visitors.
It was third time lucky for Mallaby, who came from behind twice and landed the Haworth & Gallagher Bowl for the first time at the expense of Division Two rivals, Ashville Res. A Billy Rainbow goal was cancelled out by a Paul Ellison effort before Ashville regained the lead through Corey Scarisbrick. After the break, a superb strike from Ellison brought the scores level and with twelve minutes remaining, Levi Chiduku raced clear and sealed the issue for Neil Pickering’s men.
In Division Two, James Harper struck twice and was joined on the scoresheet by Josh Lavender as Marshalls Res. won 3-2 at Mossley Hill Ath. Res. who hit back via Dan George and John Ashton.
South Liverpool 3rds 2-0 result at Heswall Res. (pictured) in Division Three saw goals from Kian Skinley and Dan Forrester.
Friday 28/4/23 The Runcorn & District FA Saturday Cup final played at the Viridor Stadium, featured West Cheshire Division Two opponents Runcorn Sports and neighbours Helsby. Mick O’Neill scored for Sports but it was Helsby who posted a 2-1 result, thanks to a goal apiece from Owen Kucharski and Charlie Wiggins.
Rivals for the Division One runners up medals, Newton and Mossley Hill Ath. both won on the night to keep their respective hopes alive. Newton, inspired by doubles from Ross McDowell and Danny Bulayima together with an effort from Jackson Ellis, eclipsed Capenhurst Villa 5-1. Stephen Rowland scored for Cape while Mossley beat Heswall 3-0, with goals from Caleb Jones, Dom Murphy and Owen Cassidy.
Division Three leaders, Aintree Villa Res. went five points clear at the top following a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Chester Nomads Res. Dylan Lawless (2) and Dave Pursglove were the scorers.
WEEKEND ACTION Newly crowned Division One champions, Mersey Royal, suffered only their third defeat of the season after a solitary strike from Ryan Stamper proved their undoing at Maghull. The same scoreline, with Sandro Maletta on target, saw Chester Nomads over the line at Rainhill Town while the points were shared, after an effort from Marshalls Jacob Till was cancelled out by a reply from Bootle St. Edmunds‘ Mike Wilson.
Second-placed Ashville Res. made the most of another of their games in hand in their aim to pip leaders, Poulton Vics for the Division Two title, after goals from Lewis Clarke, Billy Rainbow, and Derek Taylor steered Luke Cullen’s challengers to a 3-0 victory over Marshalls Res.
Tom Davies lay claim to the only goal of the game as West Kirby won at South Sefton Borough while Haworth & Gallagher Bowl winners, Mallaby, recorded their eighth win of the season after beating Cheshire Lines 3-2. A Paul Ellison double allied to a Ben O’Neill effort were enough with Lines responding with a brace from Connor Smith.
Elsewhere, Harvey Billington (2), Ben Burns, and Amir Badhawi hit the target for fourth-placed South Liverpool Res. in Saturday’s 4-1 verdict over Poulton Royal whose marksman was Ryan Slater.
Second-placed Higher Bebington Kelma cranked up their challenge for promotion from Division Three after efforts from Andy Noonan(2), Ben Kierman, and Andy Simpson set up a 4-2 win at Runcorn Sports Res. who had Mike Hindley (2) on the mark.
Kian Skinley (3), Joe Collins, and Tom Feeley scored the goals as South Liverpool 3rds beat Hooton 5-2, Nathan Saunders and Joe Whalley posting for the Hooton.
Goals from Matty Vickers, Ben Marray, and Harley O’Brien-Williams assured Capenhurst Villa Res. of a 3-0 success over Ellesmere Port Town Res., while Lee Tracy (3) and Tom Hagan left their calling cards, as Rainhill Town Res. recorded a 4-1 victory at Poulton Victoria Res. Vic’s scorer was Harvey Sample.
A goal from Simon Pattinson helped Neston Nomads to a 1-1 stalemate with West Kirby Res. who answered through Ashton Jameson.
Images: Heswall FC Reserves (Yellow) v South Liverpool FC 3rds (Red) Credit: Bob Shaw
First Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mersey Royal | 28 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 58 | 70 |
| 2 | Newton | 27 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 53 | 64 |
| 3 | Mossley Hill Athletic | 26 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 49 | 62 |
| 4 | FC Bootle St Edmund’s | 27 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 41 | 53 |
| 5 | Vauxhall Motors Res | 27 | 16 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 50 |
| 6 | Marine U23s | 27 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 38 |
| 7 | Maghull | 25 | 11 | 3 | 11 | -1 | 36 |
| 8 | Marshalls | 27 | 8 | 6 | 13 | -11 | 30 |
| 9 | Rainhill Town | 27 | 8 | 6 | 13 | -18 | 30 |
| 10 | Litherland Remyca Res | 27 | 9 | 3 | 15 | -19 | 30 |
| 11 | Aintree Villa | 27 | 8 | 5 | 14 | -12 | 29 |
| 12 | Chester Nomads | 28 | 9 | 2 | 17 | -40 | 29 |
| 13 | Capenhurst Villa | 24 | 8 | 2 | 14 | -18 | 26 |
| 14 | Heswall | 27 | 4 | 2 | 21 | -41 | 14 |
| 15 | Ellesmere Port Town | 26 | 4 | 1 | 21 | -67 | 13 |
Second Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poulton Victoria | 28 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 43 | 66 |
| 2 | Ashville Res | 24 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 29 | 56 |
| 3 | Helsby | 22 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 33 | 52 |
| 4 | South Liverpool Res | 27 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 51 |
| 5 | Runcorn Sports | 23 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 46 |
| 6 | Maghull Res | 26 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 45 |
| 7 | Sutton Athletic | 28 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 43 |
| 8 | Bootle Res | 25 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 33 |
| 9 | Mallaby | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | -5 | 32 |
| 10 | Poulton Royal | 25 | 9 | 3 | 13 | -14 | 30 |
| 11 | Mossley Hill Athletic Res | 28 | 8 | 2 | 18 | -24 | 26 |
| 12 | West Kirby | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | -30 | 22 |
| 13 | Cheshire Lines | 25 | 5 | 6 | 14 | -27 | 21 |
| 14 | Marshalls Res | 27 | 5 | 2 | 20 | -30 | 17 |
| 15 | South Sefton Borough | 26 | 4 | 5 | 17 | -46 | 17 |
Third Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aintree Villa Res | 25 | 20 | 2 | 3 | 61 | 62 |
| 2 | Higher Bebington Kelma | 25 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 45 | 57 |
| 3 | Hooton | 27 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 52 |
| 4 | South Liverpool Third | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 50 |
| 5 | Capenhurst Villa Res | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 45 |
| 6 | Runcorn Sports Res | 26 | 12 | 4 | 10 | -21 | 40 |
| 7 | Neston Nomads | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
| 8 | Helsby Res | 27 | 9 | 5 | 13 | -16 | 32 |
| 9 | Poulton Victoria Res | 25 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 30 |
| 10 | Chester Nomads Res | 25 | 8 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 29 |
| 11 | West Kirby Res | 28 | 8 | 3 | 17 | -19 | 27 |
| 12 | Rainhill Town Res | 24 | 7 | 3 | 14 | -18 | 24 |
| 13 | Groves Athletic | 28 | 7 | 2 | 19 | -36 | 23 |
| 14 | Ellesmere Port Town Res | 27 | 6 | 3 | 18 | -51 | 21 |
| 15 | Heswall Res | 25 | 2 | 9 | 14 | -29 | 15 |
Youth Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mossley Hill Athletic | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 41 | 42 |
| 2 | South Liverpool | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 31 |
| 3 | Vauxhall Motors | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 30 |
| 4 | BRNESC | 16 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 28 |
| 5 | Victoria Colts U18 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 28 |
| 6 | Poulton Victoria | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 25 |
| 7 | Ormskirk West End | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 23 |
| 8 | City of Liverpool | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | -6 | 21 |
| 9 | Runcorn Linnets | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | -27 | 16 |
| 10 | Maghull | 17 | 1 | 0 | 16 | -46 | 3 |
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