STRONGLY-fancied Ashville Reserves secured their passage to the Wirral & District FA's Amateur Cup semi-finals after a Paul Howell hat trick and an effort from Ryan Clarke anchored them to a 4-2 result over rival Division Two outfit, Heswall Reserves.

It was celebration time also for Bebington Athletic who went through after they triumphed 3-2 at Shaftesbury YC, courtesy of goals from Matty Earp, Ben Crossley and Steve Duckers.

In the Chester Senior Cup second round, Christleton progressed when Joel Douglas (2) Adam Thelwell-Wilson and Jake Turner netted in the 4-1 eclipse of Malpas.

Local rivals, Chester Nomads, also saw their name go into the hat after they beat Hoole Rangers 2-1.

Division One leaders Maghull, put nearest rivals, South Liverpool to the sword at Old Hall Field and extended their advantage to 13 points when Colin McDonald (2), Lee Tynan and Mick McGinn struck in a superb 4-0 victory.

A second half effort from Yusuf Malik earned third placed Mossley Hill maximum spoils, from their trip to Mallaby, while Hale turned on the style, in a 7-1 rout of reigning champions, Heswall. Wayne Smith (3) and Mike Massey were the tormentors-in-chief.

Danny Ventre and Tommy Hughes found the net, as Southport Trinity won 2-0 at Vauxhall Motors Reserves and a goal from Adam Kelly helped bottom club, Upton AA to a creditable point against Cammell Laird Reserves.

Ben Holmes was on the mark for the visitors. Elsewhere, A goal from Newton's Jamie Hannah, was negated by a reply from West Kirby's Stuart Jackson.

Division Two title favourites Capenhurst Villa took over at the top as a result of their 6-2 blitz of Prescot Cable Reserves.

Rob McDowell and Simon Thelwell bagged two goals each.

Third-placed Helsby inspired by a hat trick from Carl Rendell accounted for second placed Manor Athletic 3-1 and Jake Connolly was another three-goal star who took the plaudits, after Redgate Rovers won 3-1 against Richmond RR Mags.

Anthony Scotland, Joe Connolly and Kurt Owens made the score sheet, in Gateacre Village's 3-1 success at Mossley Hill Ath. Res. Willaston's fortunes took a turn for the better, after efforts from Andy Noonan (2), Jaimie Gardiner and Aiden Ryan, sealed a crucial 4-1 win at fellow strugglers, West Kirby Reserves.

In Division Three's match of the day, leaders, St Helens Town Reserves emerged 1-0 victors from their clash with third placed Ford Motors, thanks to a Danny Norris effort, and that result safeguarded Saints' six-point lead at the top.

Callum Johnson (2), Alan Bond, Jake McCallum and Mike Apolonio applied the finishing touches, as Chester Nomads Reserves won 5-2 in their local derby with Christleton Reserves.

Neston Nomads' third win of the season was confirmed, after Ben Pearson, Neil Ellison and Adam Moore scored in Saturday's 3-2 win at Belfry.

Second-placed Rainhill Town stayed in contention, after Matt Dooling (2), Luke Garvey, Jack West and Colin Lynch scored in the 5-2 decision over Bootle Res. Jamie Easton and Phil Quilliam bagged the goals as Capenhurst Villa Res. won 2-1 at South Liverpool Reserves.

Youth Division leaders Vauxhall Motors Youth were indebted to a Cy Sullivan double which inspired them to a 2-1 win at South Liverpool Youth.

Respective scorers in Maghull Youth's 2-2 stalemate with Newton Youth, were Tom Baker, Kevin Furlong, Joe Molyneux and Tom Morgan.