Fears for Heswall’s MSC Express West Cheshire League Division One status worsened after they fell victim to a solitary effort from Aintree Villa’s James Alty.
Saturday’s result confirmed the Gayton Park outfit’s sixteenth reversal of the season, and left them firmly entrenched in a relegation battle.
Fellow strugglers, Ellesmere Port Town also paid the price but stayed a point clear of Heswall with three games in hand, when hosts Maghull posted a 3-0 result, courtesy of a goal apiece from Dylan Fitzsimmons, Nick Kerr, and James Hooper.
Despite a goal from John Britton, Capenhurst Villa lost 3-1 to replies from Chester Nomads‘ Brandon Dickinson (2) and Sandro Malletta.
In Division Two, stunning goals from Callum Doyle and Tom McGill couldn’t prevent second-placed Sutton Ath. from losing for the second week in succession, this time at the hands of Mallaby, who emerged 3-2 victors, thanks to efforts from Paul Ellison, an own goal and a last-minute winner from Jack Brown.
Honours were shared after a goal from Cheshire Lines‘ Kaylem Atkinson was negated by a response from Mossley Hill Ath. Res.‘ Adil Mohammed and it was a point each for South Sefton Borough and Marshalls Res. following a 2-2 stalemate. Ben Robertson (2) struck twice for the hosts, with Charlie Waldron and Ethan Dickson in reply for Marshalls Res.
Tom Kelly and Mark Doran netted for Maghull Res. but it was fourth-placed Runcorn Sports who profited, and cranked up their promotion drive, after Kier Fenlon (2), Steve Woodward (2), and Paul Humphries obliged in a 5-2 success.
Adam Shelton scored for South Liverpool Res. but finished on the losing side when Helsby clinched a 3-1 decision with goals from Lee Guirado, Sonny Dean, and Courtney Bushell.
Elsewhere, efforts from Alex Lowe and Ryan Slater saw Poulton Royal eclipse West Kirby 2-1, Mason Piercy scoring for the visitors.
Aintree Villa Res. went back to the top of Division Three, thanks to a 3-1 win at Poulton Vics Res., who hit back via Neal Ellison, while third-placed challengers, Higher Bebington Kelma maintained interest, Kal Herbert, Andy Noonan, and Jamie Bolderston finding the net in a 2-1 result at Heswall Res. who scored through Neal Thomas.
South Liverpool 3rds top scorers on the day, Jeff Adekunle (3), Mike Thomas (2), John Foulkes, and Joe Collins sharing the scoring duties, in 7-1 rout of Groves. Jordan Finlay netted the visitors’ consolation.
Charlie Williams was on the mark for Rainhill Town Res. but replies from Kwarteng (2), Hickman, and Buckers assured visitors, Capenhurst Villa Res. of a 4-1 victory while Jack White, Liam Maddock, and Mike Hindley were Runcorn Sports Res.‘ scorers in a 3-1 triumph at Ellesmere Port Town Res., who had Jack Smith on target.
Youth Division action saw BRNESC‘s Alex McDermott take the plaudits after his four-goal salvo anchored his side to a 5-2 victory at Runcorn Linnets. A Ben Harper effort completed the scoring, with Mike Martin and Jake Hill making the scoresheet for the home side.
The improving Victoria Colts, with goals from Rocco Ceraolo (2) and Rory Aldiss, accounted for South Liverpool 3-1, Jack Colburn replying, while strikes from City of Liverpool‘s Adam Lyons, Ethan Wetton, and Callum Stevenson were evened up by efforts from Vauxhall Motors‘ Will Jones and Denny McHugh.
On the District scene, Mersey Royal‘s four-pronged attack on silverware took a step nearer fruition after they secured their place in the Wirral DFA’s Senior Cup final, when goals from Adam Smith, Jamie Leyland, and Ben Graham inspired their side to a 3-0 verdict over Vauxhall Motors Res.
This season’s Wirral DFA Amateur Cup final will feature two West Cheshire clubs after strongly fancied Ashville Res., with goals from Corey Scarisbrick and Derek Taylor beat West Kirby Res. 2-0 and Division Three promotion contenders, Hooton, who finished 1-1 with Black Horse before winning 5-4 on spot kicks. Lloyd Ithell was the Hoot’s normal time scorer.
Darren Brannigan’s goal proved scant reward for Bottle Res. who lost 4-1 at BRNESC in the LCFA Saturday Challenge Cup. Goals from Jon Liddle (2) and Asher Duncan steered Mossley Hill Ath. to a 3-1 victory over Ormskirk West End in the Youth Plate preliminary round. Sam Erinie replied for West End.
In the first round proper, Poulton Vics, with goals from Kian Hamm (3), Liam Grealis, and Tom Edge beat Maghull 5-0.
Goals from Alan Bond and Sam Walton were insufficient as Helsby Res., capitulated 4-2 at home to Chester Nomads 4ths in the Chester & District Cup quarter-finals and despite goals from Spencer Postles and Jamie Edge, it was curtains for Chester Nomads Res. who lost 5-2 at Upton Juniors FC.
Images: Wirral FA Amateur Cup Semi-Final between Black Horse FC (black & white) and Hooton FC (yellow). Full Time 1-1. Hooton through 5-4 on penalties at Ridgewood Park, Pensby 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 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
| 9 | Capenhurst Villa | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 19 |
| 10 | Litherland Remyca Res | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -18 | 19 |
| 11 | Marshalls | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | -10 | 18 |
| 12 | Aintree Villa | 16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | -8 | 17 |
| 13 | Chester Nomads | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | -30 | 14 |
| 14 | Ellesmere Port Town | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -31 | 10 |
| 15 | Heswall | 19 | 3 | 0 | 16 | -31 | 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 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 42 |
| 3 | Ashville Res | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 31 |
| 4 | Runcorn Sports | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 30 |
| 5 | Helsby | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 30 |
| 6 | South Liverpool Res | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 25 |
| 7 | Mallaby | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 24 |
| 8 | Maghull Res | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 23 |
| 9 | Mossley Hill Athletic Res | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -18 | 19 |
| 10 | Bootle Res | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 18 |
| 11 | Cheshire Lines | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -14 | 16 |
| 12 | Poulton Royal | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | -5 | 13 |
| 13 | West Kirby | 17 | 3 | 1 | 13 | -31 | 10 |
| 14 | South Sefton Borough | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | -27 | 8 |
| 15 | Marshalls Res | 16 | 2 | 1 | 13 | -26 | 7 |
Third Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aintree Villa Res | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 37 |
| 2 | Hooton | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 34 | 36 |
| 3 | Higher Bebington Kelma | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 36 |
| 4 | Runcorn Sports Res | 19 | 11 | 1 | 7 | -13 | 34 |
| 5 | Neston Nomads | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 29 |
| 6 | South Liverpool Third | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 28 |
| 7 | Helsby Res | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | -7 | 28 |
| 8 | Poulton Victoria Res | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 26 |
| 9 | Capenhurst Villa Res | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 25 |
| 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 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | -29 | 14 |
| 13 | Heswall Res | 19 | 2 | 6 | 11 | -20 | 12 |
| 14 | Groves Athletic | 18 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -30 | 11 |
| 15 | Rainhill Town Res | 17 | 3 | 1 | 13 | -25 | 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 | BRNESC | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
| 4 | Vauxhall Motors | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 21 |
| 5 | South Liverpool | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 19 |
| 6 | Victoria Colts U18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | -4 | 16 |
| 7 | Ormskirk West End | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | -10 | 12 |
| 8 | Runcorn Linnets | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | -14 | 12 |
| 9 | City of Liverpool | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -5 | 10 |
| 10 | Maghull | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -29 | 0 |
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