NEWTON issued a 'catch us if you can' warning after beating General Chemicals 2-0 to open up a seven-point gap at the top of the Carlsberg West Cheshire League's Division One.

Joey Gibilliru and Tony Gray plundered the goals as Simon Jennings' charges, who boast both the best attack and defensive records in the division, moved three points nearer their first title success since 1962.

Second-placed Poulton Victoria suffered their first defeat in 11 games after going down 2-0 at Mallaby, Lee Gibson (pen) and Jay Blackburn finding the net for the home side, who resumed winning ways following a four-game losing sequence.

Hennessey and Hughes struck for Manweb in a hard-earned 2-0 result at Heswall, while Ronnie Morgan (2) and Gary Reay were responsible for the goals as Cammell Laird eclipsed Maghull 3-1, Dave Oxton replying.

West Kirby's fine 5-1 victory over Ellesmere Port featured efforts from Carl Maughan (2), Chris Barrow, Tommy Baker and Matty Cass, and a smart double from Simon Donoghue was supple-mented by a James Kelly effort as Ashville overcame Vauxhall Motors Reserves to record their sixth consecutive win. In contrast, Castrol Social lost for the sixth time on the trot after goals from Lee Fletcher and Mark Brady earned Aintree Villa a 2-0 decision.

Division Two leaders Maghull Reserves increased their advantage at the top to four points after beating Christleton Res 3-1. Ian Owens, Kevin Parkes and Mark Vickers were the marksmen, with Eden Fenlon in reply while two goals from Chris Killen anchored Merseyside Police to a deserved 4-2 verdict over Blacon YC.

Capenhurst Villa's luck changed for the better, thanks to a 3-0 win against Manor Athletic, John Farrell, Paul Brown and Dave Kendricks hitting the target.

Tony Spellman (2) was joined on the scoresheet by Graham Roderick and Simon Crabtree as unbeaten Division Three leaders Manweb Reserves savoured a 4-2 win over Mond Rangers Res. A superb hat-trick from Scott Houghton, allied to singles from Paul Adams and Lee Walker, guaranteed Shaftesbury of a 5-2 success at Upton AA Res, Paul Lilburn and Leroy Palmer netting for the home side.

Saturday's Wirral FA Amateur Cup first round saw holders Cammell Laird Res safely through after Robbie Stewart (2) and Paul Tosney obliged in the 3-0 win at Ellesmere Port Res and Carl Tatler was another two-goal hero who played his part in setting FC Pensby up for a 3-1 result against New Brighton Res. Extra time was needed before Manor Athletic Res emerged 4-2 victors against Ashville Res and the same scoreline enabled Mersey Royal to progress at the expense of Bronze Social, Peter and Tobbie Courtney, Andy McIvor and Nick Scholes scoring the winners.

Shaun Cassidy and Carl Thomas answered for Bronze, while a solitary goal from Adam Barton gave Heswall Res the nod over Willaston.

Paul Finnan paid his way with a hat-trick as Poulton Vics Res accounted for West Kirby 5-2. Further goals from Mike Jones and John Thompson made up the balance, with Owen Davies and Ben McDade on the mark for the visitors.

Best wishes this week go to Poulton Vics first team, who will line up on Saturday at North West Counties Division One outfit Curzon Ashton, in the 1st round proper of the FA Challenge Vase (2pm kick-off). Not forgetting also, the Carlsberg West Cheshire League contest the annual Cooper Smith Trophy with the Mid-Cheshire League this evening at Trafford FC (7.30pm kick-off).

RESULTS Div One: Aintree Villa 2 (Lee Fletcher, Mark Brady) Castrol Social 0; Ashville 3 (Simon Donaghue 2, James Kelly) Vauxhall Motors Res 1 (Zak Smith); Cammell Laird 3 (Ronnie Morgan 2, Gary Reay) Maghull 1 (Dave Oxton); General Chemicals 0 Newton 2 (Joe Gibiliru, Tony Gray); Heswall 0 Manweb 2 (P Hennessy, M Hughes); Mallaby 2 (Lee Gibson, Jay Blackburn) Poulton Victoria 0; West Kirby 5 (Carl Maughan 2, Chris Barrow, Tommy Baker, Matty Cass) Ellesmere Port 1 (Danny Mulla).

Div Two: Capenhurst Villa 3 (John Farrell, Paul Brown, Dave Kendricks) Manor Ath 0; Maghull Res 3 (Ian Owens, Kevin Parkes, Mark Vickers) Christleton Res 1 (Eden Fenlon); Merseyside Police 4 (Chris Killen 2, Lee Welch, Jamie Chantler) Blacon Yth Club 2 (M Aiden, R Whitley).

Div Three: Manweb Res 4 (Tony Spellman 2, Graham Roderick, Simon Crabtree) Mond Rangers Res 2 (Eddie Droughton, Mike Lewis); Upton AA Res 2 (Paul Lilburn, Leroy Palmer) Shaftesbury 5 (Scott Houghton 3, P Adams, L Walk).

Chester Senior Cup 1st round: Brewery Arms1MBNA 6 (Lee Highfield 3, Matt Owen, Brian Worrell, Andy Cross (pen); Chester Nomads 1(Tom Sutcliffe) Upton AA0; Christleton 8 (Andy Shelton 3, Wes Kilgannon 2, Matty Woodward 2, Chris Herbert) Upton Borough 3; St Werburgh's 2 (Nigel Jones, Nicky King) Duddon United 1.

Runcorn Challenge Cup 1st round: FC Trannie 4 Helsby 2 (Richard Keane,Daryl Gavin); Mond Rangers 6 (MThompson 2, M Nelson 2, G Bushell, R Thompson) Kydds Athletic 0; Moor United 2 Pavilions 3 (Ian-Waller, Paul Dwyer, Robbie Gibbons).

Wirral Amateur Cup 2nd round: Ellesmere Port Res 0 Cammell Laird Res 3 (Robbie Stewart 2, Paul Rosney); Manor Athletic Res 4* Ashville Res 2 (aet); Mersey Royal 4 (Peter & Robbie Courtney, Nicky Scholes, Andy McIver) Bronze Social 2 (Shaun Cassidy, Carl Thomas); New Brighton Res 9 (Kevin Pink) FC Pensby 3 (Tatler 2, Ebbrell); Poulton Victoria Res 5 (Paul Finnan 3, Mike Jones, John Thompson) West Kirby Res 2 (Ben McDade, Owen Davies); Shaftesbury v Newton Res w.o.; Vauxhall Motos A 3 Grange Athletic 2 (aet); Willaston 0 Heswall Res 1 (Adam Barton).

FIXTURES First Division: Ashville v Helsby; Ellesmere Port v Genral Chemicals; Maghull v Castrol Social; Newton v Heswall; West Kirby v Mallaby. Second Division: Blacon Youth Club v Maghull Res; Christleton Res v Cammell Laird Res; FC Pensby v Manor Athletic; Heswall Res v Mersey-side Police; Mond Rangers v New Brighton; Pavilions v Poulton Victoria Res; Upton AA v Ashville Res.

Third Division: Bronze Social v Upton AA Res; Grange Athletic v Capen-hurst Villa Res; Manor Athletic Res v West Kirby Res; Manweb Res v Ellesmere Port Res; New Brighton Res v Mond Rangers Res; Shaftesbury v St Werburgh's. FA Challenge Vase 1st round proper: Curzon Ashton v Pulton Victoria. Lancashire Amateur Cup 3rd round (2pm): Southport Trinity v Aintree Villa; Wythenshaw Amateurs v Manweb.Wednesday, October 22: First Division (7.30pm): Cammell Laird v Aintree Villa.