POULTON VICS remained in the slipstream of current Carlsberg West Cheshire League Division One leaders Vauxhall Motors Reserves after pulling off a fine win at Chester challengers Chris-tleton.

They are now a point in arrears of the Motormen with two games in hand. Ian Burrows and Danny Edwards bagged the goals, as Steve Leyland's charges posted a 2-1 win, to galvanize the Wallasey club's chances of lifting the title for the first time since 2000. Chris Herbert hit Christleton's consolation.

Efforts from Chris Daniels and Alan Griffiths were enough for Vauxhalls to overturn local rivals Ellesmere Port 2-0, but reigning champions, Heswall, came unstuck against Runcorn Town.

The visitors emerged 2-1 victors with goals from Ricky Thompson and Martin Molyneux. It was a bad day also for Newton, who had Terry Murray on the mark, but were undone by a smart double from Castrol Social's Mike Banks, while 90 minutes failed to produce a goal following an excellent contest between Cammell Laird Reserves and West Kirby.

Despite goals from Syd Mort and Stuey Speed, Ashville dipped 3-2 at home to Merseyside Police. Russ Dunne, Lee Crowder and Lee Welsh netted for the Bobbies.

Division Two leaders, Capen-hurst Villa, stretched their lead to four points, after prolific marksman, James Fletcher, struck twice in the 4-0 eclipse of Heswall Reserves.

Phill Coffin was another two-goal star who left his calling card in Poulton Vics Reserves' 3--2 win over Blacon YC. FC Pensby's 3-1 triumph over Christleton Reserves saw goals from James Shaw, Martin Kent and Craig Parry, as Paul Wakeham's outfit edged nearer to mid-table sanctuary.

The Chester derby between Chester Nomads and third placed Upton AA, was settled 2-1 in Upton's favour, Mike Moran obliging with both goals. Bottom club MANWEB slipped deeper into the relegation mire after losing 5-0 at Helsby.

In Division Three promotion-chasing Merseyside Police Reserves had Vic Charles and Karl Garnell on target, in their 2-1 verdict over Capenhurst Villa Reserves. Two-goal hot-shot, James Murphy steered bottom club Manor Athletic to a 2-1 win at St Werburghs while Bronze Social's welcome 3-1 win against MBNA witnessed strikes from John Deakin, Neil Blackmore and Mark Sherritt.

RESULTS: Cooper Smith Challenge Trophy: Coors/WRPC Mid Cheshire AF League 1 (Sutch) Carlsbers West Cheshire FA League 1 (Kenyon). Division One: Ashville 2 (Mort, Speed) Merseyside Police 3 (Dunn, Crowder, Walsh), Cammell Laird Res 0 West Kirby 0, Christleton 1 (Herbert) Poulton Victoria 2 (Burrows, Edwards), Ellesmere Port 0 Vauxhall Motors Res 2 (Daniels, Griffiths), Heswall 1 (Howells) Runcorn Town (Mond Rngs) 2 (Thompson, Molyneux), New Brighton 0 Mallaby 0, Newton 1 (Murrya) Castrol Social 2 (Banks 2).

Division Two: Capenhurst Villa 4 (Fletcher 2, Dodds, Keefe) Heswall Reserves 0, Chester Nomads 1 (Powell) Upton AA 2 (Moran 2), FC Pensby 3 (Shore, Kent, Parry) Christleton Reserves 1 (Sweeney), Halton v Willaston (postponed), Helsby 5 (Jones 2, Askey 2, Guest) Manweb 0, Poulton Victoria Res 3 (Coffin 2, Sherridan) Blacon Youth Club 2 (Jones, pen, Rogers), Runcorn Town (Mond Res) 3 (Mayers, Dover, Bushall) Ashville Reserves 0.

Division Three: Bronze Social 3 (Deakin, Blackmore, Sherritt) MBNA 2 (Cross, Worrell), Merseyside Police Res 2 (Charles, Gar-nell) Capenhurst Villa Res 1 (Jones), St Werburghs 1 (Best) Manor Athletic 2 ( Murphy 2).

Division Three West Cheshire Shield Round 2 : AFC Bebington Athletic 1 (Earp) New Brighton Reserves 2 (Black 2), Manweb Reserves 1 (Bennett, pen) Ellesmere Port Res 0, Upton AA Reserves 3 (Row-land 3) Mersey Royal 1 (Senegles), West Kirby Reserves 3 (Hudson 3) Grange Athletic 1 (Webb).

Youth Division: Merseyside Police 2 (Thompson, Doyle) Maghull 2 ( Rockcliffe, Foulkes), Vauxhall Motors v Poulton Victoria postponed, West Kirby 3 (Atherton 2,l Foulkes) Castrol Social 1 (Graves). Liverpool Challenge Cup Round 3 : Ford Motors 0 Aintree Villa 1 (Wainwright), Maghull 3 (Carberry, Henders, Ains-worth) Old Xaverians 2. Liverpool Junior Cup Round 3: Finn Harps 0 Maghull Reserves 8 (Burns, G Maloney, R Maloney 3, Parvas, Oxton 2), Garswood United Res 2 Focus 1 (MacMichael).