TARPORLEY clinched an important victory on Saturday when they beat their biggest rivals for the Premier League title.

Goals by Anthony Killilea, Henry Buckley and Simon Gresty earned them a 3-2 win at Newton Athletic who had Lee Woodworth and Paul Taylor on target.

Hoole Rangers, who have the same points at Vics, but have played five games more, beat Cestrian Alex (Adi Gough 2) 3-2, thanks to Stewart McIntosh, Ray Prior and Ian Hastings (pen), while at the bottom Barrow Athletic were close to gaining their second point of the season when they were pipped 3-2 by Frod-sham United whose marksmen were Gavin Daily (2) and Lee Pedder.

Christleton A continue to lead Division One following a 5-2 win at promotion rivals Duddon United, Mike Hughes (3), Craig Rowlands and Nicky Ashford doing the damage.

Team Highfield are two points adrift with three games in hand after a 6-3 win over Crossway who had the lead three times in the first half. Gary Ellams led the home scorers with a hat-trick and Graham Tomlinson, Simon Davies and Adam Langton added the others.

Barrow Athletic Seconds chalked up a rare win when they beat Frodsham United Reserves (Phil Moon 2) by the odd goal in five, Jimmy Farrell (2) and Mike Artell on target.

Bank of Scotland kept their promotion hopes alive with a 3-1 win at Chester Nomads Thirds (John Campbell) with strikes from Ian Daltry (2) and Glen Hutchinson and in the local derby Kelsall won 3-1 at Tarvin Athletic (Sean Roberts) where Andy Johnson, Callum McMullan and Lee Welsh were on target.