ELLESMERE Port Town's chances of achieving promotion to te Carlsberg West Cheshire League's Division One at the first time of asking, received a timely boost at the weekend, after three goal Louie Gorman stole the show, in a 4-1 victory over Rainhill Town Reserves.

James Davies was the other marksman as third-placed Port drew level on points with second-placed Maghull Res. Elliot Fagan obliged with the visitors' consolation.

Andrew Silsby bagged the game's only goal, as fourth-placed Vauxhall Motors Res overcame South Liverpool Res, while doubles from Peter Kettle and James Purcell were supplemented by singles from Mike Garside and Ben Sinclair as Prescot Cables Res romped home 6-1 at Heswall Res.

Division One leaders South Liverpool suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Richmond Raith Rovers in midweek, but put their third title success in four years back on an even keel on Saturday, after a penalty from James Thomas decided a dour tussle with Chester Nomads.

Nearest rivals Vauxhall Motors also came unstuck in midweek, when they went down 2-1 to goals from Chester Nomads' John Cadwallader and Dan Delgado but they too atoned at the weekend, when an opener from Ashville's Wes Hynes was cancelled out and overhauled by replies from Josh Donnelly(2) and Josh Brabin.

Honours were shared after a goal from West Kirby's Chris Lavery was negated by an opporunist effort from Mallaby's Matty Croft.

After posting a 5-0 result at Heswall, Rainhill Town stretched their unbeaten run to ten games and moved into third place in the table.

There was no stopping Upton AA who had three goal Steve Rowlands in top form in their fine 5-1 victory at Marshalls.

Lee Guiardo and Chris Melia also made the scoresheet while Tom Hackett was the hosts' scorer.

New leaders in Division Three are Mersey Royal, but third placed Wirral SB with three games in hand and three points adrift, remain a big threat and they maintained interest, following a 4-3 decisiion over Marshalls Res, thanks to efforts from Jack McGrotty, Ross Pringle, Will Sara-Kelly and Ben Pearson.

The visitors hit back via Matt Challinor, Daniel Abayomi and Dan Grace.

Seasoned campaigner Simon Andrews rolled back the years with a hat trick for Chester Nomads Res, but still finished on the losing side, when goals from Ryan Dobney, Colin Bousique-Green, Henry Latimer and Chris Orritt steered Burscough Dynamo to a 4-3 triumph.

Elsewhere, Cheshire Lines Res were indebted to efforts from Matty Long (2) Dave Wharton and Steve McGarry for their 4-1 win against Neston Nomads Res.

Congratulations to Capenhurst Villa Res, who progressed to the Development Trophy final after they beat Poulton Royal 4-1, with goals from Sam Cooper (2), Louis Phelan and Eric Gilmour and it was celebration time also, for South Liverpool Youth, who won through to the Jimmy Brain Plate final, after efforts from Mike Kielty (2), Rob Louis (2) and Liam Murphy anchored their side to a 5-3 result over Mossley Hill Ath Youth, who had Tom Blundell, Kalaeb Jones and Joe Ellison on target.