Cup Week

Four Go2Day West Cheshire League sides progressed to the Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup 3rd round, spearheaded by the cup holders for the past two seasons, Mersey Royal. The reigning Division One champions savoured a 3-2 result over Upton JFC, thanks to goals from Dillon Thomas, Liam Owen and Jamie Leyland and they were joined by Division Two promotion challengers, Mallaby, who lowered the flag of Division One counterparts, Helsby, WRITES ERNIE MCDONALD. An Ellis Byrne double was supplemented by further efforts from Jack Ireland and James Fee as the visitors posted a 4-1 win, with Lee Turkington scoring Helsby's consolation from the spot. Two goals from Steve Rothwell helped Runcorn Sports to a 2-0 decision over Bollington Town, and the quartet of successful clubs was completed by Division Three, Poulton Vics, who overcame Moore Utd. 3-0. On the minus side, Capenhurst Villa and Heswall were eliminated by Hattersley 0-2 and Winsford Town 1-2 respectively, Lee Naylor scoring for Heswall.
Goals from Andy O'Toole and Eddie Hawthorne inspired Rainhill Town to a 2-0 result at AFC Knowsley in the LCFA Challenge Cup 1st round, but despite goals from Joe Prendergast and Jacob Till, Marshalls suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Netherley Woodlane Legion. It was also an early exit for South Liverpool Res., who had Ellis Bateman on the mark but lost 2-1 to Joey Orr's. Mossley Hill Ath. progressed to the second round with a 6-0 victory over FC Clubmoor.
In the Wirral DFA Junior Cup1st round, it was celebration time for Youth Division outfit, Cammell Laird 1907, who romped home 5-4 against Division Three side, Great Sutton.
On the domestic scene, Division One leaders, Maghull, with goals from Harrison Worden, Darren Brannigan and Robbie McDonald, beat Ellesmere Port Town 3-0 and opened a four-point lead at the top, while third placed challengers, Newton, made it eight wins from as many starts, after efforts from Ged King (2) and Jackson Ellis secured a 3-1 victory at Vauxhall Motors Res. who responded through Bisensio Kamilo. Elsewhere, a hat trick from Jacob Jones was supplemented by further strikes from Tom Ward, Isaac Jones and Matty McHale, as FC Bootle breezed to a 6-0 victory over Ashville Res.
Joel Whalley was a four-goal hot shot who anchored Hooton to a 5-2 win against Marshalls Res. and to within three points of current pacesetters, South Liverpool Res., in the race for promotion from Division Two. Cole Saunders was the other marksman with Jude Mantha and Sam Bowsey in reply for the visitors. The points were shared, when efforts from Higher Bebington Kelma's Tom Byrne (2) and Josh Griffiths were negated by replies from Maghull Res.' Louis O'Brien (2) and Sam Burke. West Kirby's 3-1 victory over Huyton Rovers was confirmed by efforts from Joel Kelly, Ash Power and Frankie Ward, Mick McStein obliged for Huyton.
The match of the day in Division Three, saw leaders, FC Kirkby taste defeat for the first time this season, and it was nearest rivals, Cammell Laird 1907 who inflicted the damage, Adam Larway, Dale Atherton and Kieran Hughes applying the finishing touches in a 3-2 triumph. Adam Saad and Jason Bow netted for the hosts. Two goal Tom Haynes took the plaudits as Heswall U23's accounted for third placed Chester Nomads Res., but efforts from Tom Welch and Lewis Jones failed to prevent Ellesmere Port Town U23's from capitulating 6-2, to goals from Runcorn Sports Res.' Steve Butler (3) Luke Ton, Ethan Hampton and Jake Hill. Capenhurst Villa Res. also struck six times through Matty Vickers (2) Matty Hickman, Jake Hill, Terry Watts and Sam Cooper, after winning 6-1 at Frodsham Park JFC and Groves Ath., were also in free scoring mood, Corey Beavan (2) Joe Humphries, Max Percival, Ryan Maxwell and Ryan Bailey finding the net in a 6-2 rout of Helsby Res. who had two goal Anthony Collo on the mark. Fourth placed Rainhill Town Res., with efforts from Ian Hughes, Kyle Ferguson and Cvam Ramsey chalked up their sixth win of the season after beating West Kirby Res. 3-0.
Saturday's Youth Division action saw leaders, Maghull B, stay four points in credit at the top, after they won 4-1 at Mossley Hill Ath., confirmed by goals from Nathan Moffitt (2) Billy Brennan and Mitch Bennett. Sean McGowan netted for Mossley, while second placed AFC Knowsley, boosted their goal difference to good effect, George Clarkson (4) Bobby Connor(2) Elliot Holmes (2) Cohan Campbell, Dom Windever and Rowan Cook all making the scoresheet, in an 11-1 result at Runcorn Linnets, who hit back through Tom Ledward. Lucas Kennedy netted for Litherland Remyca, but doubles from Niall King and Finlay Batterton saw visitors South Liverpool emerge 4-1 winners. Elliot Barry was a two-goal marksman for Maghull who were outdone by a rampant West Kirby Utd., who had Brad Downey (3) Lewis Greenhalgh (2) Dan Osunjimi and Tom Barrat on target in a 7-2 away win. Jack Coll, Lucas Roberts-Wood and Ben Hughes bagged a goal apiece as Neston Nomads eclipsed Vauxhall Motors 3-1, Harvey Bruce scoring for Motors.