CHESHIRE FA Amateur Cup holders Cammell Laird Reserves progressed to the semi-finals of this season's competition after winning a tense battle at rival Carlsberg West Cheshire League Division One heavyweights, Heswall.
Laird went in front on 15 minutes through Andy Pugh, and although Gary Reay equalised for the hosts after the interval, a 75th minute penalty from Mark Brown and an injury time effort from Phil Stafford saw Laird emerge 3-1 victors. Ellesmere Port secured their place in the last four after a solitary strike from John Powell curtailed the interests of Ashville. Vauxhall Motors Reserves accounted for Division Two promotion-chasers, Blacon YC. Louis Hughes and Timmy Ojapah netted for the Motormen in Saturday's 2-1 triumph.
Chester challengers Christleton scored through Craig Warrington and Tom Rowlands but have it all to do again this weekend after they finished 2-2 with Linotype Chn.
Poulton Victoria failed to consolidate their position at the top of Division One following a shock 3-2 defeat at New Brighton. Efforts from Mike Pickles, Dave Rudge and Chris Moores steered the seasiders to victory. Kevin Davies and Ian Burrows replied.
Third-placed West Kirby were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Aintree Villa. Liam Atherton and Eric Woodward were the respective marksmen.
A second-half double from Ian Cox anchored Runcorn Town to a 3-0 eclipse of Mallaby, while Maghull celebrated a 4-1 success at Newton, courtesy of goals from Kevin Dolan, Mike Carberry, Gary McGuiness and Dave Thompson. Bottom club Castrol Social opened their new year account with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Merseyside Police.
Division Two leaders Maghull Reserves raced four points clear at the top after strikes from Jed Maloney and Gavin Williams sealed a 2-1 result over nearest rivals, Upton AA. James Shaw (2), Martin Kent, Mark Irvine and Craig Parry found the net for FC Pensby in their 5-5 thriller with Helsby.
Three-goal Danny McNicholas was the star turn in Poulton Vics. Reserves' 4--1 eclipse of Heswall Reserves. MANWEB scored through Ronan Kelly, but had to settle for a share of the spoils after Willaston hit back through Richie Foulkes.
A Paul Stanley effort was to no avail for third-placed Capen-hurst Villa, who slumped 2-1 at home to Mond Rangers Reserves. Tommy Hughes and Mark Tudor made the scoresheet for the visitors. In Division Three Bebington Athletic's Ben Jenner cracked five goals in his side's 6-4 decision over bottom club Shaftesbury.
DIVISION ONE: Castrol Social 0 Merseyside Police 0; New Brighton 3 (Mike Pickles, Dave Rudge, Chris Moores) Poulton Victoria 2 (Ken Davies, Ian Burrows); Newton 1 (Ged Hennington) Maghull 4 (Kevin Dolan, Mike Carberry, Gary McGuinness, Dave Thompson); Runcorn Town 3 (Ian Cocks (2), Mike Garland) Aintree Villa 1 (Eric Woodward)
DIVISION TWO: Capenhurst Villa 1 (Paul Stanley) Runcorn Town Res 2 (Tom Hughes, Mark Tudor); Chester Nomads 2 (Dan Riley, Eden Fenlon) Ashville Res 1 (og); FC Pensby 5 (Craig Parry, Mark Irvine, Martin Kent, James Shae (2)) Helsby 5 (Nick Askey (2), G Cottager, C Jones, S Dowling); Halton 3 (A Horrocks, S Bailey, A Siner) Christleton Res 2 (M Marsh, A Shilton); MANWEB 1 (R Kelly) Willaston 1 (Richie Foulkes); Maghull Res 2 (J Maloney, G Williams) Upton AA1 (J Cadwallader); Poulton Victoria Res 4 (D McNicholas 3, A Bolton) Heswall Res 1 (S Brammer)
DIVISION THREE: AFC Bebington Ath 6 (B Jenner (5), M Erp) Shaft-esbury 4; Ellesmere Port Res 0 New Brighton Res 3 (Lee Davey (3)); Focus 5 (S Robinson (3), P Gilfoyle, J McAdams) Grange Ath 2 (Ian Armstrong); MBNA 5 (M Crotty (2), B Erwin, J James, A Cross) Manor Athletic 0; Mersey Royal 3 (J Strange, N Scholes, M Skillen) Manweb Res 3 (J Bentley, A Frances, C McGarry); Merseyside Police Res 1 (C Bellis) Bronze Social 1 (Jimmy Deacon); St Werburgh's v West Kirby res, postponed ; Upton AA Reserves 0 Capen-hurst Villa Res 0
CHESHIRE COUNTY AMATEUR CUP 4TH RND: Ashville 0 Elles-mere Port 1 (John Powell); Christleton 2 (Craig Wellington, Tom Rowlands) Linotype Chn 2 (aet); Heswall 1 (G Reay) Cammell Laird 3 (A Pugh, M Brown, P Stafford); Vauxhall Motors 2 (L Hughes, T Ojapah) Blacon YC 1 (J Rogers)
YOUTH SUBSIDUARY CUP COMPETITION: Castrol Social 3 (C Carlin, R Jones, R Griffiths) New Brighton 4; West Kirby 4 (L Swanick, M Dobbs, M Foulkes (2), Poulton Victoria 2 (T Gunnery (2)).
