THE promotion and relegation issues are becoming serious by the week in the Murray Smith Accountants Cheshire County League with only a month of the season remaining.

After last Saturday's near wash-out, Birkenhead Park have maintained their position four points clear at the top of Division One, with the excellent record of eight wins and only three defeats.

Chris Foran's men should retain their advantage when they visit moderate Maccles-field tomorrow.

A close second are Bram-hall, led by Cheshire skipper Andrew Hall, who face a more daunting task away to Didsbury. Unbeaten for a year, Urmston and still well in the frame, take on 10th-placed Winnington Park at Moorside Road, but will be without paceman Gary Saunders, out for the season with a compound hand fracture

Warrington have become badly detached by 67 points with only one win in 17. But skipper Mal Agar fancies his team's chances at home to Cheadle Hulme at Walton Lea. Upton, 11th, go to Alsager.

The championship of the second division looks likely to end in the capable hands of Timperley, unbeaten with 10 victories and 42 points clear. But there's going to be a dogfight for the second promotion spot between Bollington, at home to Bredbury, Burnage at home to Irby and Mobberley, who may find their recent winning run halted at Timperley.

Middlewich and Tattenhall have dropped badly and occupy the two bottom positions with only three wins in 34 games between them.

Both face demotion to the Meller Braggins Cheshire League under normal circumstances, however, the current Meller Braggins leaders are Prestbury, whose ground may not qualify as suitable for promotion.

If this ultimately proves to be the case, only the runnersup would be promoted.

The excellent relationship between the two leagues is renewed annually when they meet for the Chesters Challenge Trophy. The County League field a Second Division XI to make for a more even game and this year have named the following team to play at Cholmondeley on Bank Holiday Monday (1pm): Rob Porter captain, Tom Blease (Congleton), Mark Leathley, Tom Twiney, Danny Higgin (Timperley), Jamil Nasir (Mobberley), John Birchall (Brooklands), Mohammed Kamran, Sabtain Baig (Burnage), Stephen Parry (Middlewich), Mel Dobson (Tattenhall).

The League team to play Manchester Association at Warrington in the semi-final of the Royal and SunAlliance North-West Colts Trophy on Sunday (1pm) is to be managed by Upton skipper Gary Dixon. His son Lee leads the team which also comprises: Mark Rowlands, Danny New-house (Upton), Danny Berry (Hyde), Ollie Sadler (Nantwich), Tom Blease (Congleton), Nick Reid (Alderley Edge), Nick James (Oulton Park), Steve Hurworth (Oxton), David Hurst (Neston), Peter Roberts wicket-keeper (Brooklands).