NEWTON reached their second cup final of the season, but were hard-pressed to get the better of a resilient Ellesmere Port Town who took the reigning Carlsberg West Cheshire League Division One champions to extra time, before penalties proved their undoing in Saturday's Wirral & District FA Senior Cup semi-final.

Efforts from Newton's Liam and Jack McDowell were negated by replies from the Port's Max Jolly and Phil McQuilliam prior to the Division Two outfit's 3-1 capitulation on spot kicks.

The Port's second string were also made to suffer on the day, after they went down 7-1 to St Saviours in their Wirral & District FA Amateur Cup semi-final clash.

Congratulations to Wirral SB, who progressed to the Development Trophy semi-finals when they cancelled out an opener from Bootle Youth's Cameron Grant and secured a 2-1 result, courtesy of a goal apiece from Callum Blondel and man of the match Jack McGrotty.

In Division One, leaders South Liverpool increased their lead at the top to seven points, following an impressive 5-0 victory at Redgate Rovers, confirmed by Fraser Ablett, Cameron Dalton, Alex Woodcock, Jimmy Eves and an own goal.

Despite efforts from Ollie Sanderson and Dave Kelly, Mossley Hill Athletic played second fiddle to Richmond Raith Rovers, who struck through Jonathan Parkinson (2) and Colyfa Kamara to claim a 3-2 decision.

Chester Nomads pulled off an excellent 2-0 triumph at Maghull with Jack Delgado and Mike Jeffs on target, while West Kirby savoured back-to-back wins after they beat Upton AA 2-0 with goals from Adam Jones and Chris Lavery.

Mallaby came from behind in dramatic fashion and led Rainhill Town 3-2 inspired by a brilliant hat trick from Ben Glover, but the hosts' celebraations were cut short, after Dave Monteith headed home a 95th-minute equaliser.

Saturday's Division Two action saw leaders Hale storm 14 points clear at the top, when hat tricks from Louis Corness and Louis Ruddock anchored them to 6-1 eclipse of Willaston, who hit back via Jamie Menagh-Harrison.

A smart double from Dave Mee was South Liverpool Res.' contribution against Maghull Res, who claimed a share of the spoils, after they replied through Dave Lynch and Steve Carroll.

Mossley Hill Ath Res' 3-1 win against West Kirby Res featured goals from Sam Gainer (2) and John Ashton.

There was jubilation for Ashville Res, who secured a 2-0 win at Vauxhall Motors Res, with Ryan Smith and Lewis Clarke on the mark in a rehearsal of the two clubs' impending Haworth and Gallagher Bowl final meeting.

Andy Scarisbrick and Menad Messar-Aghilasse hit the target for Prescot Cables Res, but it was Capenhurst Villa who profited. Goals from Lee Ludgate, Mike Henry and Shaun Weaver steered the visitors to a 3-2 result.

Experienced campaigners Poulton Royal interrupted Litherland Remyca Res' charge to the Division Three title, after they wiped out goals from Mike Barnes (2) and Josh Rice and claimed a 6-3 victory.

Luke Street (3), Jay Thompson (2) and Kieran Sait obliged for the Wallasey outfit.

That result enabled second-place Mersey Royal to take closer order and with four-goal Adam Smith in top form, they posted an 8-2 win at Redgate Rovers Res.

Andy Rogers (2), Tom Morgan and Aaron Hughes also found the net, with Sam Delmonte scoring both goals for Rovers.

Elsewhere, brothers Paul and Dillon Bousique-Green were joined on the scoresheet by Jamall Thomason as Bursco Dynamo overcame Neston Nomads Res 3-2.

Alfie Hawkins and Jack Ratcliffe netted Nomads' consolations.