Mersey Royal and Newton progressed to the last four Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup semi-finals.

Team of the moment, Ashville Res., continued their amazing run of results after efforts from Danny Whitehead and Jordan Dilworth clinched a 2-0 result over Helsby and earned their side a place in the MSC Express West Cheshire League's Haworth & Gallagher Bowl final. Having already reached the Wirral DFA Amateur Cup final, and with Cheadle FC standing in their way of a place in the Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup semi-finals, the Wallasey outfit have enjoyed an excellent season to date, and in addition, still have a more than realistic chance of achieving promotion from Division Two, WRITES ERNIE MCDONALD.

Cheshire Cup holders, Mersey Royal, progressed to the last four of this season's competition when a Jamie Leyland hat trick anchored them to a 5-1 victory over Dukinfield Town. Liam Driscoll and Kieran Cartwright also found the net, and it was celebration time for Division One title rivals, Newton, who progressed thanks to Saturday's 2-1 triumph at Sandbach Utd. Res. On the minus side, Vauxhall Motors Res.' bid for a semi-final spot foundered after they went down 3-0 at Broadheath Central.

Congratulations to Youth Division side Poulton Vics, who went through to the Wirral DFA Junior Cup final after they finished 5-5 with Hooton Vets and then won 3-1 on spot kicks. Vics' normal time marksmen were Kian Hamm (3) Jack Bentley and Matty Barclay.
Despite goals from Jack Terry and Stephen Andrews, Aintree Villa Res.' were denied a place in the West Cheshire Shield semi-finals after replies from Andy Simpson, Luke Walker, Kal Herbert and Ben Kierman anchored Higher Bebington Kelma to a 4-2 win.

In the Youth Plate first round, Adam Lyons (3) Billy Kelly (2) and James Mylett were on target as City of Liverpool eclipsed Runcorn Linnets 6-2, but it was sad tales for South Liverpool, who had Kian Kinley on the mark but lost 2-1 to Pex Hill Jets in the LCFA Saturday Junior Cup.

Success stories in the LCFA Junior cup 4th round included Maghull Res., Marshalls Res., and South Liverpool 3rds.
Danny Ricketts (2) I saac Jones and Oscar Pugh scored for Maghull Res. who beat Valley OB 4-1 while South Liverpool 3rds posted the same scoreline at Old Cathinians. John Foulkes, Jordan Flynn, Matt James and Olllie Tomlinson scored the goals .
Jacob Cunliffe plundered both goals for Marshalls Res. who finished 2-2 with Wood Street before progressing 4-2 on penalties.

On the League scene, Bootle St. Edmunds narrowed Mersey Royal's lead at the top of Division One to two points, when Mark Madden(2) Phil Grimes, Jay McShane and Dylan Westerside struck in Friday evening's 5-2 victory over Rainhill Town, who had Lee Tracey and Dave Kelly in reply.
Chester Nomads secured their fifth win of the season, Davie Finnie and Brandon Dickinson obliging in a 2-1 result over Maghull who responded via Hamish Essa, while Capenhurst Villa ran riot against local rivals, Ellesmere Port Town, and progressed towards mid-table sanctuary, Jamie Easton(3) Dom Hoppe, Brad Bland, Ellis Williams, John Britton and Harley Williams sharing the goals in an 8-0 rout.

Elsewhere, a Matty Wardle double failed to prevent Aintree Villa from capitulating 4-2 at Litherland Remyca Res. who sealed the issue courtesy of goals from Josh Rice(2) Kieran Hughes and Ellis Carroll.

Division Two leaders, Poulton Vics, kicked for home in the race for the title and went three points clear at the top, thanks to a 2-1 win against Bootle Res. Aaron Rainbow and Tom Dandall netted for Vics with Salam Djabi scoring for the visitors. In a keenly contested tussle at Vauxhalls, 90 minutes failed to produce a goal between evenly matched Mallaby and South Liverpool Res. and it was a welcome return to winning ways for West Kirby, who were indebted to efforts from Dan Lewis, Tom Davies and Lewis Boardman for their 3-1 victory over South Sefton Borough who had Wayne Law on the scoresheet.

Cal Jones scored for Mossley Hill Ath. Res. but it was visitors Poulton Royal who profited, Tommy Carroll and Ryan Slater applying the finishing touches in a 2-1 triumph, while honours were shared after goals from Runcorn Sports Ryan Bazely (2) were negated by replies from Cheshire Lines's Sam Halpin and Nathan Barnes.

New leaders in Division Three are Wirral DFA Amateur Cup finalists, Hooton, who assumed pole position after efforts from Lloyd Ithell (2) Ben Smith, Liam Smith and Nathan Saunders secured a 5-0 result over Heswall Res.
Efforts from Scott Fogg, Ryan Maxwell and an own goal set Groves on course for a 3-0 win against Poulton Vics Res., while Matty Vickers (2) and Matt Barclay claimed the goals as Capenhurst Villa Res. accounted for Helsby Res. 3-0.
On the mark for West Kirby Res. in their 2-1 success at Rainhill Town Res., were Owen Hollywood and Tyler Jameson . The hosts answered through Darren Moran and respective scorers in Chester Nomads Res.' 1-1 draw with Neston Nomads were Connor Davies and Jack Lloyd.

The improving Victoria Colts continued their vein of form in the Youth Division, Charlie Harkand (3) Rocco Ceraolo (2) Rory Aldiss, Joe Emery and Dylan Roche all scoring in an 8-0 win at Maghull. Third placed Vauxhall Motors, with goals from Denny McHugh and Leo Patton savoured a 2-1 decision over BRNESC and as a result eroded Poulton Vics' at second lead at to a single point. Callum Cureton scored BRNESC's consolation.