Mossley Hill Ath.'s bid to lift the Division One title for the first time gathered momentum, after the new leaders eclipsed third placed rivals, FC Bootle,

Mossley Hill Ath.'s bid to lift the Go2Day West Cheshire League's Division One title for the first time gathered momentum, after the new leaders eclipsed third placed rivals, FC Bootle, thanks to a solitary effort from Mark Owens, while fourth placed Newton maintained interest, following a 4-1 result at Rainhill Town WRITES ERNIE MCDONALD.
A Nathan Quirk double was supplemented by further goals from Alex Stranach and Jack McDowell with Colm Lynch on target for Rainhill. At the other end of the table the battle to beat the drop continued, with just five points now separating the bottom eight clubs. Despite goals from Joe Ford and Jack Wood, Heswall capitulated 3-2, to replies from Litherland Remyca's Anthony Griffith (2) and Cam Taylor and as a result dropped to the bottom rung. Having played more games than their relegation rivals, Vauxhall Motors Res. nevertheless welcomed maximum spoils from their trip to Aintree Villa, Dave Beaumont, Thomas Hoather and Gino King finding the net in a 3-0 victory and it was celebration time for Chester Nomads, who beat Ellesmere Port Town 2-1 with goals from Louis Moss and Ben Coward. Sam McNeil scored for the Port. Jude Mante's goal was enough for Marshalls to bag all three points from visit to Helsby, while efforts from Kevin Fields, Steve Rowlands, Phil Quilliam and Matty Scott anchored Capenhurst Villa to a 4-1 win over Ashville Res., who had Ben Leeman in reply.
Saturday's Division Two action saw Chay Dysart claim both goals, as third placed Hooton emerged 2-1 victors from their tussle with Neston Nomads, who hit back via Callum Spence. Steven Woodward's hat trick inspired Runcorn Sports to a 6-0 decision over Aintree Villa Res and with games in hand, a top three finish is well within their grasp. Reece Jones (2) and Luca Tron were the other marksmen. Elsewhere, in the second tier, the points were shared, after an effort from Marshalls Res.' Ben Jones was matched by a reply from South Sefton Borough's Sal Djabi.
Division Three title challengers, Cammell Laird 1907 Res., stayed a point behind current leaders, FC Kirkby and with three games in hand, look difficult to oppose. Fynlee Eason (4) and Kieran Hughes (3) were the main men in Saturday’s 12-0 rout of Great Sutton. Further efforts from Ben Crossley, Adam Larway, Henry Willatt, Aaron Bunclark and Tom Taaffee confirmed the scoreline. Brendan Rawcliffe struck twice and was joined on the scoresheet by Liam Johnstone as FC Kirkby beat West Kirby Res. 3-0 while Ellesmere Port Town U23's marksmen in their 3-3 stalemate with Frodsham Park JFC were James Gahame (2) and Alan Richardson.
Dan Steele's effort failed to prevent Neston Nomads from going down 3-1 at home to Youth Division leaders, Maghull B, who sealed the issue, with goals from Adam Ralph, Billy Brennan and Jack Jemkinson. Nearest rivals, Cammell Laird 1907, remained five points adrift with two games in hand after a smart double from Kyle McGregor steered his side to a 2-1 triumph over fifth placed AFC Knowsley who responded through Maddox Melbourne. James Dawson was on the mark for Vauxhall Motors at West Kirby Utd,. but it was the hosts who profited, Lewis Greenhalgh and Dan Osunjimi obliging in a 2-1 victory. Basement outfit, Litherland Remyca were second best on the day against Mossley Hill Ath., who scored six without reply. Ryan Fitzgerald (2) Charlie Kenny, Reece Byrne, Harry Watt and Charlie Norris shared the goals.
Bobby Murphy and Yusuf Moshin found the net for South Liverpool Res. who beat Mossley Hill U23's 2-0 and will now face West Kirby in the Haworth & Gallagher Bowl semi-finals.
Congratulations also to Capenhurst Villa Res., who made it to the last four of the West Cheshire Shield, after efforts from Matty Hickman, Matty Vickers and McKenzie James secured a 3-0 result at Heswall U23's and best wishes also to Groves Ath., who progressed in the Wirral DFA Junior Cup, when Ben Roberts, Joe Humphries, Liam Smith and Max Percival made the scoresheet in Saturday's 4-2 verdict over Neston Nomads Vets.
On the minus side, it was an early exit for Mersey Royal (Cheshire FA) who went down 5-1 at MSB Woolton (Liverpool FA) in the Association of Northern Counties Cup first round.