MSC Express West Cheshire Football League round-up, 7 January 2023

Following the arrival of the new year, three clubs have emerged as principal contenders in the race for the MSC Express West Cheshire League’s Division One crown.

Third-placed Newton promptly threw down the gauntlet, after a Jackson Ellis hat trick was supplemented by further efforts from James Burns (2) and Adam Campbell in Friday evening’s, 6-1 rout of relegation-threatened Heswall, who hit back through Ethan Mort.

Leaders and reigning champions, Mersey Royal, safeguarded their two-point advantage at the top after a solitary strike from Tyler Oates won the day against Ellesmere Port Town, while second-placed Bootle St. Edmunds were indebted to a Brad Shearwood double which secured a 2-1 result over Marine U23s, who had Jonathan Bravo in reply.

Honours were shared after an effort from Rainhill Town‘s Lee Tracey was negated by a response from Vauxhall Motors Res.‘ Zak Catesby.

In Division Two, despite a goal from Liam Brennan, second-placed Sutton Ath. missed out on the chance to assume pole position, when replies from South Liverpool Res.‘ Matty Kiwanuka and Adam Shelton assured the visitors of maximum spoils.

Skipper Wade Sword scored Mallaby‘s consolation in a 3-1 defeat at Marshalls Res. who had Jacob Till, Andrew Starkey and Brendon Ndlovu on the mark, while Poulton Royal celebrated a 5-1 victory over Mossley Hill Ath. Res. thanks to goals from Tommy Carroll (2), Ben Hawitt, Dan Lamara, and Alex White. Mossley’s scorer was Mike Fearneyhough.

A goal from Tom Lawrence failed to prevent South Sefton Borough from capitulating to a smart double from Helsby‘s Lee Guirado, while West Kirby earned a point, following a 1-1 stalemate with Cheshire Lines. Dave Hird and Connor Smith were the respective marksmen.

Second-placed challengers, Runcorn Sports Res. enhanced their outside Division Three title claims and moved to within three points of the leaders, after efforts from Steve Butler (2) and Kyle Short anchored their side to a 3-1 decision over Rainhill Town Res. Mike Johnson netted for the visitors while a double from Sam Stephens inspired Helsby Res. to a 2-0 win at Heswall Res.

Higher Bebington Kelma, with goals from Kai Herbert (2), Jack Bolderston, Luke Walker, and Tom Byrne stayed handily poised in fourth place with games in hand, after they eclipsed West Kirby Res. 5-1, Jack Calveley obliging for West Kirby.

In a high-scoring encounter, efforts from Ellesmere Port Town Res.‘ John Skipsey (2), Mo Hafsi, and Jack Smith failed to suffice, after replies from Kyle Bennett (2), Mick McStein, Omar Hoyle, and Tom Dewis steered Poulton Vics Res. to a 5-4 triumph.

Only one fixture took place in the Youth Division, and it was a profitable run out for fourth-placed BRNESC who had Patrick Irving (2), Shea Housley, and Ben Harper on target, in a narrow 4-3 win against City Of Liverpool, who answered through Billy Kelly, Will Harrison, and Alan Lyons.

Saturday’s cup action encompassed several competitions and in a Pyke Cup first-round clash, the honours went to Capenhurst Villa who scored through Jamie Easton, Mike Williams, and Dom Hoppe to clinch a 3-2 verdict over Aintree Villa. James Mundy and Mark Barnes scored for the Racecourse outfit.

The local Wallasey derby in the Haworth & Gallagher Bowl first-round clash between Poulton Vics and Ashville Res. saw Ashville progress after they won 5-2 highlighted by a Danny Whitehead hat trick. Ben Leeman and Lewis Clarke also made the scoresheet with Jason Bull and Sam Turner accredited with Vics’ replies.

Chester Nomads suffered a shock 6-0 defeat at the hands of Upton Juniors FC in the Chester & District Challenge Cup, and in the Liverpool FA Challenge Cup third round, it was a disappointing return from the WCL contingent, after three of the four representatives were eliminated.

In form Bootle Res., secured their passage, after doubles from Cam Grant and Baf Djabi helped their side to a fine 4-1 result at Garswood Utd.

Mossley Hill Ath. finished 2-2, with Eagle Sports before going out 4-2 on penalties and the same fate befell Litherland Remyca Res. who went down at The Naylo after brothers Elliot and Cam Taylor had scored a 2-2 finish.

Maghull scored through Connor Rankin, Shaun Sandison, James Allen, and Charlie Taylor in a 4-4 stalemate with Sefton Ath. before losing out 6-5 on spot kicks.

In the Runcorn & District Saturday Cup, Division Two side, Runcorn Sports were afforded a walkover against Grappenhall Sports.

First Division

POSTeamPWDLGDPTS
1Mersey Royal1513024139
2FC Bootle St Edmund’s1512123337
3Newton1512123237
4Mossley Hill Athletic148421628
5Vauxhall Motors Res15915728
6Marine U23s188371027
7Maghull14806424
8Rainhill Town16736-424
9Capenhurst Villa13616219
10Marshalls12435-1015
11Litherland Remyca Res16349-1813
12Chester Nomads12327-911
13Aintree Villa14329-1011
14Ellesmere Port Town13319-2110
15Heswall173014-299
16Prescot Cables Res151212-445

Second Division

POSTeamPWDLGDPTS
1Poulton Victoria1413012539
2Sutton Athletic1813051939
3Ashville Res119111428
4Helsby128311827
5Maghull Res147251223
6South Liverpool Res14716622
7Runcorn Sports117041321
8Mallaby15636621
9Bootle Res12507115
10Mossley Hill Athletic Res14509-1315
11Cheshire Lines14338-1412
12Poulton Royal11317-610
13West Kirby153111-2910
14Marshalls Res152013-266
15South Sefton Borough10118-264

Third Division

POSTeamPWDLGDPTS
1Aintree Villa Res1311114034
2Runcorn Sports Res161015-631
3Hooton159332130
4Higher Bebington Kelma139311930
5Neston Nomads158521329
6Helsby Res18837027
7Poulton Victoria Res167541526
8South Liverpool Third147431625
9Capenhurst Villa Res14644022
10Chester Nomads Res15438-1315
11Ellesmere Port Town Res164210-2114
12Heswall Res172510-1811
13Groves Athletic163211-2211
14West Kirby Res193214-2311
15Rainhill Town Res153111-2110

Youth Division

POSTeamPWDLGDPTS
1Mossley Hill Athletic118213026
2Poulton Victoria98012824
3South Liverpool11614419
4BRNESC9603018
5Vauxhall Motors11515-116
6Ormskirk West End10406-912
7Runcorn Linnets10406-1112
8Victoria Colts U1810316-1010
9City of Liverpool10235-59
10Maghull9009-260

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