Mersey Royal, took a step nearer lifting the Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup for the second year in succession.

Current MSC Express West Cheshire League Division One leaders, Mersey Royal, took a step nearer lifting the Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup for the second year in succession after they took the scalp of Govan & University of Manchester. Glynn Norman's outfit secured their passage to the 4th round, after efforts from Andy Rogers, Adam Smith and Kieran Cartwright set up a deserved 3-1 victory, WRITES ERNIE MCDONALD.

On an adjacent pitch, Division Two side Mallaby took the lead against Division One title contenders Newton, and then came from behind three times in a no quarters given 5-5 stalemate. Tom Black and Jack Brown both hit doubles with Ellis Byrne also on target for the hosts, with Ryan Beigan (2) Tom Field (2) and Jackson Ellis in reply for Newton, who then went through 4-3 on spot kicks.
Elsewhere, Andy Simpson netted for Division Three minnows Higher Bebington Kelma, but his goal was to no avail after Ashville Res. went through after they won 3-1.

In the Liverpool CFA Saturday Junior Cup 3rd round, it was celebration time for Maghull Res. when goals from Tom Ward (2) and Dan Ricketts sealed a 3-0 decision over Sefton Park Rangers but on the minus side, despite goals from Freddie Beckwith (2) and Adam Lyons, it was curtains for City of Liverpool who capitulated 7-3 to 7 Elite Academy in the Liverpool CFA Saturday Youth Cup 3rd round.

On the domestic scene, Bootle St. Edmunds scored via Brad Shearwood and Dylan Westerside but failed to assume pole position in Division One after they were eclipsed 3-2 by replies from Litherland Remyca Res.' Elliot Taylor, Anthony Griffith and Josh Rice.
Fourth placed Mossley Hill Ath. cranked up their challenge when a Dom Murphy hat trick inspired his side to a 7-1 rout of Ellesmere Port Town. Further efforts from Owen Cassidy, Paul Pearson, Will Maddock and Joe Hornby completed the statistics, with Ben Kelly obliging for the Port.
Colm Lynch and Dave Kelly were on the mark for Rainhill Town who moved up to seventh place in the table thanks to a 2-1 result over Marine U23's who hit back through Owen McDonough.

Jason Bull's fine double couldn't prevent Division Two leaders, Poulton Vics from sliding to their second defeat of the season after efforts from Ryan Burnell (2) and Ryan Bazely anchored Runcorn Sports to a 3-2 triumph. Nearest rivals, Sutton Ath. also came up short and were denied top spot, after they went down 2-0 to goals from Cheshire Lines' Connor Smith and Sam Halpin.
Bootle Res. scored through Salam Djabi but saw their winning sequence interrupted by Mossley Hill Ath. Res., strikes from Mike Fernehough and Jonathan Liddle clinching a 2-1 result for the visitors.

Top scorers in Division Three were Hooton who romped home 7-0 against Helsby Res., and as a result, eroded Aintree Villa Res.' lead at the top to a single point. Liam Smith (3) Paul Byrne, Lewy Dixon, Matt Redmond and Nathan Saunders shared the goals.
Cam Clark obliged with all three goals as Chester Nomads Res. posted a 3-0 result at Runcorn Sports Res., while West Kirby Res. pocketed maximum spoils, Ben Keane bagging the game's only goal against Rainhill Town Res.

90 minutes failed to produce a goal in Friday evening's Youth Division clash between Vauxhall Motors and Poulton Vics, thus preventing Vics from seizing top spot from current leaders, Mossley Hill Ath.