ASHVILLE re-captured top spot in the race for the Carlsberg West Cheshire league's Division Two title, but almost came unstuck in a dramatic finale to their clash at Hale.

Defenders Lee Bridge and Mike Reynolds had fired the visitors into a 2-0 lead.

Hale were then awarded two penalties in the last five minutes, and although Jimmy Eves reduced the defiicit, the second spot kick was saved which enabled the Wallasey challengers to leapfrog rivals, Marshalls, and secure a one point advantage at the top.

At the other end of the table, West Kirby Reserves edged three points nearer to mid-table sanctuary after they posted a 5-3 result at bottom club, Southport Trinity, who had Ashton Browning, Connor Wright and Marcus Kavanagh on target.

Hero of the hour for Kirby, was three goal hot shot Jordan Griffiths.

Further efforts from Jack Ireland and Kieran Donaghue completed the statistics.

In Division One, only two games survived the conditions, but goals were certainly the order of the day.

Cammell Laird 1907 Res scored through Danny Lomax but were on the receiving end at form side, Upton AA, who ran out 6-1 victors courtesy of goals from the excellent Lee Guiardo (2), Alan Dorian, Chris Rowlands, Chris Melia and George McGrogan as the Chester outfit celebrated a 19-point return from their last seven outings.

A real end-to ender between Richmond Raith Rovers and a young Vauxhall Motors line up provided plenty of entertainment, in a game either side could have won.

It was Richmond who profited however, inspired by a superb hat trick from Jamie McDonald.

A Kyle Sambor double allied to a Ryan Nightingale left the game in the balance before Jonathan Parkinson claimed a late winner for the hosts.

Saturday's Division Three action was restricted to a single fixture, and it proved a worthwhile sortee for Chester Nomads Res, who made the long trek to Redgate Rovers Res and came back with all three points, thanks to a solitary strike from Sandro Maletta.

For the third time in four years, Maghull Res found themselves eliminated at the semi-final stage of the Haworth & Gallagher Bowl competition, this time at the hands of Prescot Cables Res, who progressed via a 13th minute effort from Lewis Smyth.

The winners now await the outcome of the postponed Bootle Res v Heswall Res encounter.

Cheshire Lines turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory, in their West Cheshire Shield semi-final tussle with Division Three promotion rivals, Ellesmere Port Town, who went in front thanks to stunning long range effort from Josh Lyth.

Not to be denied, Lines will now meet Litherland Remyca Res in the final after a two goal blast from Steve McGarry turned the tie on its head.

The all-West Cheshire Lverpool County FA Youth Cup semi-final between Maghull and Maghull Town was resolved in Town's favour when Jack Copeland converted a precision pass from Chas Cooney to line up a showdown with cup favourites, Churchtown Ath.