WEST KIRBY last won the Carlsberg West Cheshire League's Pyke Cup back in 1986, but this season's crop of youngsters did their club proud after a fifth-minute goal from Jay Burke killed off strongly-fancied Newton in last Tuesday's tense semi-final at Cammell Laird.
Currently holding a safe 10th place in their return to Division One this season, the Marine Park outfit's second string may also have cause for celebration, with imminent promotion from Division Three.
On Saturday, West Kirby Reserves tightened the noose on long-time leaders Manweb Reserves after Tommy Baker (2), James Evans and own goal set up a 4-1 win at Mersey Royal, while Manweb Reserves had Wilson and Williams on target, but went down 3-2 at Mond Rangers Res.
Anthony Crawford and Jimmy Gomez made the scoresheet as Shatesbury posted a 2-1 result over Manor Athletic Reserves, Andy Sanderson replying. Deakin (2) Gillam and Thomas were responsible for the goals in Bronze Social's fine 4-0 win at St Werburgh's.
The Division One title race looks set to go to the wire, with Cammell Laird still holding pole position from nearest rivals Newton after they were anchored to a 4-0 mid-week result over Vauxhall Reserves by two-goal hot-shot Kevin Bimpson.
Newton produced the goods at the weekend however, to stay in contention, with Lee Furlong (2) Billy Knowles, Tony Gray and John Gibb on the mark in the 5-2 win at Heswall.
Maghull eclipsed West Kirby 2-0, while Mallaby made it three wins on the trot, after coming from a goal down to edge General Chemicals 2-1, thanks to a double from Robbie Stewart.
Manweb savoured their eighth League win with a 2-1 success at Castrol Social and Poulton Vics turned Helsby over 7-0, with efforts from Craig Cartwright (3) John Paul Stanhope (2) Anthony Sheehan and Chris Edge.
Division Two leaders, Mersey-side Police, dropped three points after losing 2-1 at FC Pensby, which enabled leaders Cammell Laird Reserves to consolidate their position, after four-goal Chris Nezianya took the plaudits in a 8-3 win over Capenhurst Villa.
Result of the day in Division Two, saw relegation battlers, Willaston, pull off a superb 3-2 win at champions Poulton Vics Reserves. Elsewhere, Adam Carden was on hand with both goals as Maghull Reserves won 2-1 at Pavilions, which went a small way to easing the pain of Tuesday evening's 3-0 defeat by Halewood in the Liverpool Junior Cup final.
RESULTS Tuesday, March 16 - Pyke Challenge Cup semi-final: Newton 0 West Kirby 1 (Burke).
Liverpool Junior Cup final: Halewood T 3 Maghull Res 0. Wednesday March 17: Division One: Ashville 1 (Burquest) Christleton 1 (Roberts); Vauxhall Motors Res 0 Cammell Laird 4 (Bimpson 2, Maguire, og).
Saturday, March 20 - Division One: Castrol 1 Manweb 2 (Shaw, Nze); Ellesmere Port 2 Aintree Villa 1; Helsby 0 Poul-ton Victoria 7 (Cartwright 3, Stanhope 2, Sheehan, Edge); Heswall 2 (Brunt, Wiggins) Newton 5 (Furlong 2, Knowles, Gray, Gibb); Mallaby 2 (Stewart, 2) General Chemicals 1 (Smith); West Kirby 0 Maghull 2 (Thompson, Carberry). Division Two: Ashville Res 2 (Murphy, Sheridan) New Brighton 3 (Atkinson, Robinson, Harrison); Blacon Youth Club 3 (Hooley 2, Rogers) Upton AA 1 (Bones); Cammell Laird Res 8 (Nezianya 4, McIlroy, Morgan, O'Brian, og) Capenhurst Villa 3 (Farrell, McNulty, Brierley); Christleton Res 4 (Fenlon, Rogers, Hollifield, Herbert) Manor Athletic 1 (Kearns); FC Pensby 2 (Irvine, Doyle) Merseyside Police 1 (Crowder); Pavilions 1 (Nethercott) Maghull Res 2 (Carden, 2); Poulton Victoria Res 2 (Finnan 2) Willaston 3 (Williams, Mosedale, Kaye).
Division Three: Ellesmere Port Res 0 Chester Nomads 7 (Kerr 3, Cutler 2, Harris, Jeffs); Manor Athletic Res 1 (Sanderson) Shaftesbury 2 (Crawford, Gomez); Mersey Royal 1 (O'Shea) West Kirby Res 4 (Baker 2, J Edwards, og); Mond Rangers Res 3 (Thompson 2, Gandy) Manweb Res 2 (Williams, Wilson); New Brighton Res 2 (Mathias, Edge) Capenhurst Villa Res 2 (McNeil, Smith); St Werburgh's 0 Bronze Social 4 (Deakin, Gillan, Thoms, og); Upton AA Res 1 (Price) MBNA 3 (Owen 2, Thomas).
