Newton were elevated to second place in Division One and to within two points of leaders, Mersey Royal, when Jackson Ellis netted eight times

Representing the Cheshire County FA, MSC Express West Cheshire League Division One leaders, Mersey Royal, faced the East Riding CFA, represented by Hedon Rangers, in the first round of the Association of Northern Counties Cup Competitions, at Vauxhalls on Saturday, and it was celebration time for Cheshire, after a Liam Driscoll double was supplemented by further efforts from Jimmy Ludbrook, Kieran Cartwright and Ryan Coles in an impressive 5-1 victory, WRITES ERNIE MCDONALD.

On the domestic scene, three of the four Haworth & Gallagher Bowl semi-final places were resolved, spearheaded by consistent performers, Ashville Res., who romped home 5-0 against Cheshire Lines, courtesy of goals from Derek Taylor(2) Dan Whitehead, Leon Jones, and Connor Sandham.
Despite a goal from Louie O'Brien, Maghull Res. were eclipsed 2-1 by a double from Bootle Res.' Cam Grant while a solitary strike from Sam Bailey saw Helsby take the scalp of South Liverpool Res.

In a West Cheshire Shield 2nd round tussle, Steve Duckers and Nathan Saunders bagged a goal apiece as Hooton won 2-1 at Neston Nomads, who had Will Sar-Kelly in response, but an Alex McDermott brace failed to prevent BRNESC from making their exit from the Liverpool County FA Saturday Youth Cup 3rd round, after they suffered a 7-2 defeat at the hands of Lower Breck.
Elsewhere, efforts from Ben Ryan, Reece Darling and Charlie Harland inspired Victoria Colts to a 3-2 decision over Vauxhall Motors in the Youth Plate 1st round . Jakub Brzostowski claimed both consolations for the visitors.

At Thursday's Management Committee meeting, semi-final pairings for the domestic cups were drawn out as follows :
PYKE CUP
Mersey Royal/Capenhurst Villa v Maghull
Mossley Hill Ath./ Marshalls v Rainhill Town/Vauxhall Motors Res.

HAWORTH & GALLAGHER BOWL
Bootle Res. v Poulton Royal/Mallaby
Ashville Res. v Helsby

WEST CHESHIRE SHIELD
Hooton v Capenhurst Villa Res./ Groves
Aintree Villa Res./ Higher Bebington Kelma v Chester Nomads Res./ Poulton Vics Res.

YOUTH PLATE
Maghull/Poulton Vics v City of Liverpool / BRNESC / Runcorn Linnets
Victoria Colts v Mossley Hill Ath./ Ormskirk West End/ South Liverpool

At the same meeting, The West Cheshire League also conveyed congratulations to Ashville FC's John Dennett on his being awarded the British Empire Medal in the King's New Year’s Honours List.

On Friday evening, a rampant Newton were elevated to second place in Division One and to within two points of leaders, Mersey Royal, when Jackson Ellis netted eight times in anchoring Lee Kissock's charges to a 9-0 rout of Chester Nomads. Tom Field was the other marksman but a goal into 2nd Round Pyke Cup from Mark Madden counted for nothing, after third placed challengers, Bootle St. Edmunds, were undone by replies from Maghull's James Allen and Nicky Kerr.
On Saturday, an Elliot Taylor hat trick, allied to an effort from Dan Curran steered Litherland Remyca Res. to a 4-3 result over Rainhill Town and a further step towards mid-table sanctuary. Dylan Hodgkinson, Stephen Melville and Carl Lownsbrough made the scoresheet for Rainhill.

Sutton Ath. assumed pole position in Division Two, and were indebted to Josh Lyth strike and an own goal for their 2-1 win against West Kirby, who hit back via Tom Davies. Nearest rivals Poulton Vics., however, are three points in arrears, but have five games in hand.
At the other end of the table, South Sefton Borough secured three vital points in their bid to stave off relegation, Sean Robinson's fine double helping his side to a 2-1 victory over Mossley Hill Ath. Adil Mohammed netted for the visitors.

Only one fixture got under way in Division Three, and it proved a profitable run-out for West Kirby Res. who overcame South Wirral outfit, Groves 3-1, as three goal Ben Keane took the plaudits. The visitors had Harrison Cooper on target.