DESPITE taking the lead through Elliot Hughes, Mossley Hill Athletic forfeited pole position in the race for the League's Division One.

They suffered a 7-2 defeat at the hands of Richmond Raith Rovers, who had four-goal hot-shot Aiden Preston on top of his game.

A Jonathan Parkinson double allied to a Jay O'Donnell effort completed the statistics as Jimmy Woods' charges celebrated their twelfth win of the season.

As a result, Rainhill Town went back to the top but had to turn a 3-1 deficit at West Kirby into a 4-3 result, thanks to doubles from Dave Mnteith and Colm Lynch.

Spare a thought for Jordan Griffiths who scored all three goals for the hosts.

Strongly-fancied Newton profited from another of their games in hand after efforts from Jamie Murrray, Liam McDowell, Gerard King and Dom Coddington anchored them to a 4-2 victory over Upton AA, who hit back via Steve Rowland and Luke Finch.

After trailing 2-0 to goals from Vauxhall Motors' Ryan Nightingale and Luke Newcombe, third-placed Maghull managed to salvage a point, courtesy of a goal apiece from Josh Purcell and Danny Boyle.

Goals from Ryan Nichol, Krk McMurray, Phil Jones and Phil Quillam had Capenhurst Villa four goals to the good inside 31 minutes at Chester Nomads, who staged a brave revival through James McIintosh, Sam Manton and Jack Delgado before losing out 4-3.

In Division Two, second-placed Marshalls eroded Ashville's lead at the top to a single point, after they stormed home 8-0 at Vuaxhall Motors Res.

Nabeel Salem, Wade Maxwell, Joel Douglas and Ali Asgari each scored twice, while third paced Mossley Hill Ath Res were indebted to efforts from Joe Hornby(2) and an own goal for their 3-0 success at Prescot Cables Res.

A Dylan Fitzsimmons hat trick was supplemented by further goals from Farshad Parvas, and Jordan Dilworth as Maghull Res savoured a 5-2 win at Southport Trinity who had Chris Owens and James Doyle in reply.

Honours were shared after a goal from South Liverpool Res' Dave Mee was negated by an effort from Hale's Louis Ruddock and in another stalemate, goals from Willaston's Nat Wilson and Trevor Worsley were cancelled out by a smart doble from Kirby Town Railway's Adam Campbell.

Congratulations to Heswall Res, who progressed to the Haworth & Gallagher Bowl final after Adam Walker, Paul Lindfield and Aaron Woods applied the finishing touches in Saturday's 3-1 semi-final triumph at Bootle Res.

Dylan Pierce netted the home side's consolation.

Division Three leaders Rainhill Town Res afforded little mercy to an understrength Mersey Royal and struck through Chris Davidson (4), Henry Newnes (3) and Luke Garvey to record an 8-1 triumph.

Nearest rivals, Ellesmere Port Town, were given a run for their money by lowly Cammell Laird 1907 DVLPMNT who had Taylor Jones and Ben Murray on the mark, before replies from Andy Henry, Callum Freeman and Dave Pealing swung the game in the visitors' favour.

A goal from Neston Nomads Res. Sean Lunt failed to prevent his side from losing 3-1 to Redgate Rovers Res, who confirmed the win thanks to goals from Sam Holcroft, Craig Lowe and Paul Gavan.

Top scorers were Marshalls Res who rattled nine past Helsby Res without reply.

Jonathan Biggs was a three-goal star with Lewis Ellwood and Dan Grace adding doubles.

Seasoned campaigner Nathan Mapletoft struck twice for Upton AA Res.

But it was visitors, Litherland Remyca Res. who went home with the points - Mark Barnes (2), Tom Seddon, Shaun Reid and Liam Van Gelder obliging in a 5-2 victory.

Luke Wilson plundered both goals as South Liverpool Youth beat Vauxhall Motors Youth 2-1 in the Youth Division and in a Development Trophy clash, West Kirby Res overcame Princes Villa Youth 3-2 with Jason Bull, Connor Sandham and Kieran Donaghue on target.