NEWTON have provided the benchmark for consistency in this season's Carlsberg West Cheshire League Division One title race, and on Saturday, eight months of determination came to fruition as Simon Jennings's side were crowned champions for the first time since 1962 after putting luck-less Helsby to the sword.
Four goal hot-shot Lee Furlong led the assault, with Billy Knowles(2), Joey Gibiliru, Tony Gray, Phil Wood and John Ryder also making the scoresheet, as the champagne corks began popping following a 10-0 romp.
The club's presentation evening is set for Saturday May 22 at Millcroft, their home for the past 50 years, and the occasion is sure to be a nostalgic affair with plenty of talking points for players both past and present.
After losing 3-0 in midweek against Heswall, Kevin Ryan, Ian Brunt and Anthony Reilly finding the net, Poulton Vics corrected their shortcomings on Saturday, winning by the same scoreline at Christleton. Craig Cartwright was a two-goal star, with Paul Wood also on target.
A goal from Robbie Sheppard against West Kirby, followed by a 0-0 draw with Heswall, secured Castrol Social's Division One status for another season, but a Simon Donoghue double failed to prevent Ashville from dipping 4-2 at General Chemicals.
Despite battling against relegation from Division Two for the best part of the season, Heswall's second string have still come up smelling of roses. On Easter Monday, they lifted the Wirral FA Amateur Cup after beating Vaux-hall Motors A 2-1, thanks to efforts from Carl Lamb and Paul Wiggins, and are now on course for a cup double when they line up against fellow strugglers, Capenhurst Villa, in the West Cheshire Bowl final at Cammell Laird on May 1 (3pm).
In midweek, Poulton Vics Res held promotion-chasing Blacon YC to a 1-1 draw.
On Saturday, a Steve Pinnington effort was insufficient for Capenhurst Villa, who appear destined to follow Willaston into Division Three after dipping 2-1 at home to Blacon YC, Kevin Jones and Lee McElmeel scoring for the visitors.
Phil Coffin struck three times as Ellesmere Port Res stormed home 6-1 in their Ellesmere Port derby clash with Grange Ath in Division Three.
RESULTS Monday April 12 Wirral Amateur Cup Final: Heswall Res 2 (Lamb, Wiggins) Vauxhall Motors 'A' 1 (McNicholas).
Tuesday April 13 Division Two: Christleton Res 4 (Herbert 2, Warrington, Garroud) Mond Rangers Res 0; Poulton Vics Res 1 (Leach) Blacon YC 1 (McQuillan).
Wednesday April 14 Division One: Castrol Social 1 (Shepherd) West Kirby 0; Heswall 3 (Ryan, Brunt, Reilly) Poulton Vics 0. Saturday April 17 Division One: Christleton 0 Poulton Vics 3 (Cartwright 2, Woods); General Chemicals 4 (Erickson 2, Tyroll, Whitehead) Ashville 2; Heswall 0 Castrol Social 0; Manweb 0 Aintree Villa 0; Newton 10 (Furling 4, Gray, Gibiliru, Knowles 2, Wood, Ryder) Heslby 0.
Division Two: Capenhurst Villa 1 (Pinnington) Blacon YC 2 (Jones, McElmee); Maghull Res 1 (Kelly) Merseyside Police 6 (Killen, Ellison 2, Crowder 2); Poulton Vics Res Res 2 (Stanhope, Finnan) Mond Rangers 4 (M Thompson 2, R Thompson); Upton AA 5 (Andres 3, Goulton, Butcher) Pavilions 3 (Kann, Edge, Ward); Willaston 1 (Mosedale) New Brighton 3 (Conner, Griffiths, Evason).
Division Three: Ellesmere Port Res 6 (Coffin 3, Shephard, Hall 2) Grange Ath 1 (Reynolds); Mond Rangers Res 0 New Brighton Res 2 (White, Edge); St Werburghs 3 (Beab, Wallis, Dodd) Shaftesbury 1 (Crawford).
