CURRENT holders and league leaders Birkenhead Town suffered defeat for only the second time this season to Blacon Youth FC Reserves, a team 28 places below them in the league standings, in the first round of the CWFL Roodee Web Designs Tom Gerraghty Memorial Trophy.

Martin Dean's young squad played an exceptional game with goals coming from Callum Barlow, Chris Williams, Joe Henry and Jake Dean.

Blacon Reserves will now face their first team in round two next week in what promises to be a local derby to remember.

Wade Sword and Ryan Atherton were the scorers for the Town.

With Birkenhead Town on cup duty, the other teams in the CWFL Queensferry Sports Premier Division had to play catch up to close the gap at the top.

Shaftesbury Youth leapfrogged Lodge Bar to move into third after seeing off Chester Nomads III 8-1 thanks to strikes from Ian McGra (3), Jimmy Gomez (2), James Osbyrne, Ryan Griffiths and Tom Hodson, Mark Cuthbert replying for Nomads.

Lodge Bar went down 3-2 at home to Ellesmere Port Town Reserves.

Scott Boswell hit a brace for them but Port took the points thanks to goals from Jack Sales, Luke Williams and Tyler Thorpe.

Scott Hoather, Simon Tierney and Mark Lawler were the marksmen for Higher Bebington Kelma as they eased past Kelsall 3-0.

Blacon Youth put in a fantastic performance as they beat MBNA 10-0 with their goals coming via James Henry (2), Aaron Stokeo (2), Lee McElmeel (2), Danny Davies, Luke Jones, Warren Roberts and an own goal.

Adi Gough is now within touching distance of his 500 CWFL career goal mark after hitting four for Cestrian Alex in their 6-1 win over Neston Nomads III in the CWFL Olympic Trophies Division One.

Cestrian's other goals came from Mike Taylor and Sub Josh Cami as they continue their impressive run of form.

AFC ESSAR now sit at the top of the division after a closely-fought win over New Ferry Rangers.

New Ferry went into the latter stages of the game 3-1 up thanks to a Lee Doyle brace and a solo effort from Lawrence Whelan. However, ESSAR's newly-found spirit forced them on to the win with goals from Stuart Clarke (3) and Dean Rattcliffe securing all three points.

Jordan Jones, Aaron Rowland, Paul Joyner and a Graham Dodd brace were enough for FC UBER to see off Whitby Athletic 5-0, moving them into fifth place, while Clubbies had Chris Hulse to thank for both their goals in a 2-1 win over Ellesmere Port FC Reserves, Graham Davidson bagging the Port goal.

Football returned to the Roodee Race Course in Chester for the first time in 20 years as Chester Argyle entertained Sutton Athletic at their new home in the CWFL Link Up Division Two.

Sutton turned on the class at this historic venue to record a 10-2 win in a game that was closer than the scoreline would suggest.

Argyle took an early lead and held their own for over an hour of the game with goals from Robb Foster and Zach Caveney, but the more experienced Sutton ran out comfortable winners with goals from Dan Higginson (4), Paul Butler (2), Tom McGill (2), Pete Barnett and Tom Bowen.

St Saviours enjoyed a 6-2 win away to Crossway with strikes from Tom Bloodworth (2), Regan Barlow (3) and Liam Wall. Paddy Hearn and Jason Day hit the Crossway goals.

Mitch Glover, Jack Rigby, Mark Newman and a hat-trick for Andy Grimes and Lee Huish gave Princes Villa a 9-1 win at Elton Rigger.