AFTER losing several key players from the side which finished fourth in last season's Carlsberg West Cheshire League Division One title race, MANWEB have managed only seven league wins so far this term, but they enjoyed a superb 3-2 victory over Leigh Athletic in a keenly contested Lancashire Amateur Cup semi-final.
Sam Siddell was a two-goal hero with Phil Nze also on target as Mark Jones's side booked their place in the final.
Also in midweek a goal either side of the half from Carl Lamb and Anthony Riley assured Heswall Res of a 2-0 victory over Poulton Vics Res in the West Cheshire Bowl semi-final, while doubles from Paul Hallows and Andy Cross anchored Chester outfit MBNA's 7-0 rout of Bronze Social in the semi-finals of the West Cheshire Shield.
Saturday's Division One action saw Cammell Laird dislodge Newton from top spot, after efforts from Ronnie Morgan (3) and Kevin Bimpson (2) paved the way for a 5-2 win against Ashville. Christleton became the latest victims to suffer at West Kirby's Marine Park fortress, after Tommy Baker and Chris Barrow struck to clinch a 2-1 result.
Maghull won by the same score-line against Mallaby, with goals from Jay Harrison and Mark Horrigan, to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games.
Vauxhall Motors top-scored on the day, Davies, Smith, Hopkins, Crawford and McCoy netting in the 5-0 eclipse of bottom club, Helsby.
In Division Two, Merseyside Police returned to the top of the table after a Mark Ellison hat-trick inspired a terrific 4-1 win against previous leaders, Cammell Laird Res. Karl Tatler followed suit as FC Pensby won 3-1 at Christleton Res.
Mersey Royal's goal machine Peter Courtney left his calling card with yet another hat-trick in helping his side to a 6-1 triumph at Upton AA Res in Division Three.
RESULTS Tuesday February 24 West Cheshire Shield semi final: Bronze Social 0 MBNA 7 (Paul Hallows 2, Andy Cross 2, Ben Carrigan, Tim Foreman, Andy Hughes).
Wednesday February 25 West Cheshire Bowl semi final: Heswall Res 2 (Carl Lamb 40 mins, Anthony Riley 85) Poulton Victoria Res 0. Thursday February 26 Lancashire Amateur Cup semi final: Leigh Athletic 2 Manweb 3 (Sam Siddell 2, Phil Nze).
Saturday February 28 Division One: Aintree Villa 0 General Chemicals 2 (Tony Erickson, Gawry Tyrrell); Cammell Laird 5 (Ronnie Morgan 3, Kevin Bimpson 2) Ashville 2 (T Lamb, N Wenham); Elles-mere Port 2 (Andy Walker 2) Poulton Victoria 4 (Bates 2, Davies 2); Heswall P Newton P; Maghull 2 (Jay Harrison, Mark Horrigan) Mallaby 1 (Jay Blackburn); Manweb 1 (Sam Siddell) Castrol Social 0; Vauxhall Motors Res 5 (S Davies, Z Smith, G Hopkins, R Crawford, A McCoy) Helsby 0; West Kirby 2 (Tommy Baker, Chris Barrow) Christleton 1 (og). Division Two: Ashville Res 0 Willaston 1 (Ian Cross); Blacon Youth Club 0 New Brighton 2 (Gordon Harrison 2); Capenhurst Villa 0 Upton AA 1 (Simon Andrews); Christleton Res 1 (Mike Garrod) FC Pensby 3 (Karl Tatler 3); Manor Athletic 2 (Liam Phelan, Stuart Forshaw) Maghull Res 2 (J Williams 2); Merseyside Police 4 (Mark Ellison 3, Chris Killen) Cammell Laird Res 1 (Mike McLean); Mond Rangers 3 (Eddie Droughton 2, Micky Thompson) Heswall Res 1 (Carl Lamb); Poulton Victoria Res 1 (Jason Berry) Pavilions 3 (Geoff Tann, Carl Thomas, Jamie O'Brien).
Division Three: Bronze Social 4 (John Deakin 2, Mark Sharratt, Shaun Cassidy) Manor Athletic Res 2 (John Thorne og); MBNA P Grange Athletic P; New Brighton Res 2 (Graham Edge 2) West Kirby Res 2 (Jay Burke 2); Shaftesbury 1 (Scott Houghton) Capenhurst Villa Res 2 (Chris McNeil 2); St Werburgh's 4 (Nathan Maletoft 2, Mark Tilson, Danny Rad-ford) Ellesmere Port Res 3 (Kirk McMurray, Mark Roberts, Daryl Freeman); Upton AA Res 1 (Phil Lloyd) Mersey Royal 6 (Peter Courtney 3, Robbie Courtney, Nicky Scholes, Matty O'Shea).
