MIDWEEK ACTION: Monday 3/4/23 Division One action saw fifth-placed Vauxhall Motors Res. claim South Wirral bragging rights, after efforts from Ben Wood, Jack Darlington, and Charkie Rooke secured a keenly contested 3-1 victory over local rivals, Capenhurst Villa, who hit back via Bradley Brand.
Mossley Hill Ath. and Newton failed to make up significant ground on runaway leaders Mersey Royal, after a goal from Mossley’s Dom Murphy was chalked off by a reply from the visitors’ Liam Smith.
A Darren Brannigan double was supplemented by Mark Doran effort and an own goal, as Maghull celebrated a 4-2 win against Marshalls, Harrison Worden and Ben Fulton obliging for the all greens.
In Division Three, Higher Bebington Kelma used up one of their games in hand and eroded Aintree Villa Res.‘ lead at the top to five points with two games in hand, following a 7-0 rout of Groves, confirmed by doubles from Kal Herbert, Josh Griffiths, and Tom Byrne. A further goal from Luke Walker completed a job well done.
Tuesday 4/4/23: It was business as usual for Division One pacesetters, Mersey Royal, who took a step nearer retaining the title they lifted for the first time last season, when goals from Adam Smith, Andy Rogers, and dependable anchorman, Kieran Cartwright, anchored their side to a 3-0 triumph over Aintree Villa, and saw Glynn Norman’s men extend their lead at the top to eleven points, five points short of guaranteeing them the championship.
Wednesday 5/4/23: Ellesmere Port Town‘s slim chances of avoiding relegation from Division One received a timely boost when they recorded a 5-0 result over fellow strugglers Chester Nomads. A double from Ollie Welch, together with further efforts from Sam McNeill, Harvey Foster, and an own goal cemented the scoreline and saw the basement outfit go level on points with nearest rivals Heswall from the same number of games played.
Division Two’s only game of the evening took place at Marshalls Res., where a goal from the hosts’ Jack Ward was negated by a reply from Maghull Res.‘ Jack Barton.
Friday 7/4/23 Good Friday lived up to its name for Youth Division representatives, Poulton Vics, who lifted the Wirral DFA Junior Cup at Heswall’s Gayton Park venue, after a superb header from Harvey Sample won the day against Capenhurst Vets.
On the minus side, Division One champions-elect, Mersey Royal, saw their unbeaten run interrupted by nearest rivals, Mossley Hill Ath., who eroded the Royal’s lead to eight points after goals from Connor Anderson (2), Caleb Jones, and Dom Murphy secured an impressive 4-0 result.
Vauxhall Motors Res.‘ purple patch continued after young Zak Catesby netted the game’s only goal at Aintree Villa.
In Division Three, a smart double from Jack Bryant, coupled with an effort from Tom Feeney and an own goal, steered South Liverpool 3rds to a 4-1 win against Ellesmere Port Town Res., with Ollie Galloway responding for the Port.
WEEKEND ACTION: Despite a goal from evergreen campaigner Nathan Mapletoft, Ellesmere Port Town forfeited three crucial points in their bid to avoid relegation from the MSC Express West Cheshire League’s Division One after they lost 2-1 to replies from third-placed Newton‘s Jackson Ellis and Joe Williams and that result afforded rival strugglers, Heswall, a little breathing space following a 0-0 stalemate with Maghull, (pictured)
Marine U23s recorded their eleventh win of the season, Harrison Denton and George Maddock finding the net in the 2-1 eclipse of Capenhurst Villa, and it was celebration time for Litherland Remyca Res., who had Elliot Taylor (2) and Josh Rice on the mark, in the 3-2 victory over Chester Nomads,who answered via James Tucker and Jack Delgado.
Long-time Division Two leaders, Poulton Vics., opened up a seven point lead at the top of Division Two after they put a depleted Sutton Ath. to the sword, with Frankie Ward (3), Jason Bull (2), Josh Chu, Joel Kelly, and Tom Randall sharing the scoring duties in an 8-1 rout. Billy Nixon bagged the hosts’ consolation.
Danny Ricketts plundered both goals for Maghull Res. in a 2-1 decision over Mallaby, who reduced the deficit through Seb Pierce and where denied a share of the spoils when the same player struck the woodwork with minutes remaining.
An Ant Evans double was supplemented by an effort from the ageless Tommy Carroll as Poulton Royal beat Bootle Res. 3-2. Sal Djabi and Oda Osasuyi were the visitors’ marksmen, while fourth-placed Helsby stayed in the promotion equation after Lee Turkington (3), Lee Guirado, and Courtney Bushell applied the finishing touches in a 5-1 result at Marshalls Res. who consoled themselves with a strike from Brendon Ndlovu.
A Nial McEnery effort failed to prevent South Sefton Borough from capitulating 2-1 to third-placed South Liverpool Res., who sealed the issue, courtesy of a goal apiece from Queenton Manase and Cam Dalton.
In Division Three, promotion favourites Higher Bebington Kelma suffered a rude awakening after they scored through Kal Herbert (2) and Brian Layfield but went down 4-3 to replies from Rainhill Town Res.‘ Luke Edwards (3) and Kyle Ferguson.
Elsewhere, Chester Nomads Res., thanks to efforts from Scott Evans, Marco Apollonio and Cam Clark, posted a 3-0 result over West Kirby Res.
Images: Heswall FC (Yellow) v Maghull FC (Blue & White) Credit: Bob Shaw
First Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mersey Royal | 24 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 52 | 64 |
| 2 | Mossley Hill Athletic | 24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 43 | 56 |
| 3 | Newton | 23 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 46 | 52 |
| 4 | FC Bootle St Edmund’s | 24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 38 | 48 |
| 5 | Vauxhall Motors Res | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 41 |
| 6 | Marine U23s | 26 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 37 |
| 7 | Rainhill Town | 24 | 8 | 6 | 10 | -10 | 30 |
| 8 | Maghull | 21 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 29 |
| 9 | Aintree Villa | 25 | 8 | 4 | 13 | -11 | 28 |
| 10 | Litherland Remyca Res | 25 | 8 | 3 | 14 | -21 | 27 |
| 11 | Capenhurst Villa | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | -6 | 23 |
| 12 | Marshalls | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | -18 | 23 |
| 13 | Chester Nomads | 24 | 7 | 2 | 15 | -39 | 23 |
| 14 | Heswall | 24 | 4 | 2 | 18 | -34 | 14 |
| 15 | Ellesmere Port Town | 24 | 4 | 1 | 19 | -59 | 13 |
Second Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poulton Victoria | 24 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 32 | 56 |
| 2 | Ashville Res | 20 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 49 |
| 3 | South Liverpool Res | 24 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 45 |
| 4 | Helsby | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 26 | 43 |
| 5 | Sutton Athletic | 26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 43 |
| 6 | Runcorn Sports | 20 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 40 |
| 7 | Maghull Res | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 36 |
| 8 | Mallaby | 23 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 29 |
| 9 | Bootle Res | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 27 |
| 10 | Poulton Royal | 21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 27 |
| 11 | Mossley Hill Athletic Res | 25 | 8 | 2 | 15 | -21 | 26 |
| 12 | Cheshire Lines | 23 | 5 | 5 | 13 | -26 | 20 |
| 13 | West Kirby | 23 | 4 | 4 | 15 | -33 | 16 |
| 14 | South Sefton Borough | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | -34 | 13 |
| 15 | Marshalls Res | 22 | 3 | 2 | 17 | -29 | 11 |
Third Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aintree Villa Res | 21 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 52 | 50 |
| 2 | Hooton | 23 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 46 |
| 3 | Higher Bebington Kelma | 20 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 45 |
| 4 | South Liverpool Third | 20 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 41 |
| 5 | Runcorn Sports Res | 24 | 12 | 3 | 9 | -19 | 39 |
| 6 | Neston Nomads | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 37 |
| 7 | Capenhurst Villa Res | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 33 |
| 8 | Poulton Victoria Res | 21 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 30 |
| 9 | Helsby Res | 26 | 8 | 5 | 13 | -19 | 29 |
| 10 | Chester Nomads Res | 21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | -1 | 28 |
| 11 | West Kirby Res | 27 | 8 | 2 | 17 | -19 | 26 |
| 12 | Groves Athletic | 27 | 7 | 2 | 18 | -33 | 23 |
| 13 | Rainhill Town Res | 23 | 6 | 3 | 14 | -21 | 21 |
| 14 | Ellesmere Port Town Res | 24 | 6 | 2 | 16 | -42 | 20 |
| 15 | Heswall Res | 23 | 2 | 8 | 13 | -27 | 14 |
Youth Division
| POS | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mossley Hill Athletic | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 35 |
| 2 | Vauxhall Motors | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 30 |
| 3 | BRNESC | 16 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 28 |
| 4 | Victoria Colts U18 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 28 |
| 5 | Poulton Victoria | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 25 |
| 6 | South Liverpool | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 24 |
| 7 | City of Liverpool | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | -2 | 20 |
| 8 | Ormskirk West End | 15 | 6 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 19 |
| 9 | Runcorn Linnets | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | -29 | 13 |
| 10 | Maghull | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 | -45 | 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