HALFWAY House saw their hopes of reaching the league's Martin Caulfield Junior Cup semi-finals dashed after they came unstuck against Wirral Athletic at Ness Park.

In a game which could have gone either way, it was Wirral who came up with the goods and went through, leaving the visitors cursing their luck after missing an 85th minute penalty.

Following a goalless first-half, it was Wirral who made the breakthrough with a strike from Tom Black.

The visitors strove to get back into the game and when Rob Mason equalised, extra time looked on the cards.

The real drama enfolded when with five minutes remaining, the visitors failed with a spot kick and were duly punished after Ben Winstanley secured the hosts’ passage with a 98th-minute winner.

Division Two promotion chasers Champions Bar had Jamie Rainford (pen) and Adam Bennett on the mark, but forfeited their chance of a league and cup double when they met their match in a determined Bromborough side who boasted the man of the match in two-goal hero, Louis Galloway.

Andy Birchill and Joe Unsworth also netted as the Brom sealed a 4-2 result.

Table-topping Greave also went into the hat but were hard pressed to get the better of a resilient Star Ozzys before Jamie Hughes and Dean Talman inspired the Upton outfit to a 2-1 success.

In the Senior Cup first round, Chris Georgeson was the main man after his sparkling hat-trick set Lever Bushell Athletic up for a 5-0 rout of luckless MSC Eastham.

Further efforts from Adam Corless and Kieran Latham completed a job well done.

Only one fixture took place in the Premier Cup’s round robin format, and it was a point apiece after Towers finished 1-1 with Riverside.

As the season enters its second half, the Division Championship is heading for a two-horse race with current leaders Higher Bebington RBL and third-placed rivals Bebington - who are five points adrift but have two games in hand.

Five clubs are in the mix for the Division Two Title which could go to the wire. Leaders Greave hold a two-point advantage over Champions Bar with Gladstone Athletic, Wirral Athletic and Bronze in close pursuit.

The Wirral Sunday League has a limited number of vacancies for season 2014/15.Application forms can be obtained from league secretary Dave Lea by telephoning 0151 608 4332.