NEWTON cranked up the pressure on their West Cheshire Division One title rivals after posting a 4-1 result over struggling Marshalls.

The third-placed challengers were indebted to efforts from Ross McDowell, Ged King, Paddy Doyle and a Lee Kissock penalty which kept the Frankby outfit in striking distance of current leaders, Maghull, who forfeited valuable points, after a goal from Mike Boyle was negated by a reply from Ellesmere Port Town's Ryan Nicoll.

Second-placed Mossley Hill Athletic stayed in contention but had to rely on an own goal to get the better of a resilient Ashville and in another single goal success, Upton AA's Nathan Mapletoft

netted to deny Redgate Rovers.

Bottom club West Kirby remain winless but gave a good account of themselves before falling victim to a solitary strike from Vauxhall Motors Reserves' Tom Davies.

Top scorers were Hale, who romped home 7-0 against Chester Nomads, inspired by hat tricks from Jimmy Eaves and Ryan Stratulis.

The other marksman was Stuart Cornfoot.

New leaders in Division Two are Capenhurst Villa, who beat Prescot Cables Res 2-1 with goals from Andy Henry and Danny Page but despite efforts from Joe Ford and Scott Connolly, previous leaders, Heswall were second best at Mossley Hill Ath Res who had Sam Gainer, Aaron Bleakley, Jack Garrock and Tom Blundell on target in a 4-2 triumph.

Third-placed South Liverpool came from behind to edge a 3-2 decision over Mallaby thanks to goals from Gerard Forde, Curtis Cummins and Bobby Murphy.

The visitors scored through Tommy Johnstone and Sam Byrne.

Rainhill Town Res found the net via Matt Farrell, Kyle Ferguson, Jamie Pendleton and Joe Croxford in Saturday's 4-1 eclipse of Litherland Remyca Dev.

Elsewhere, Ross Pringle bagged both goals for Wirral SB in their 2-2 stalemate with Maghull Res.

It was business as usual for unbeaten Division Three leaders, Aintree Villa, who recorded their eleventh win of the season, John Lawless (2), David Pursglove (2) and Jamie Aspinall netting in a 5-0 rout of Heswall Res.

Second-placed South Sefton Borough Res stayed in contention after they overcame Chester Nomads Res 6-2, highlighted by a fine hat-trick from Liam Van Gelder.

Doubles from Colin Morrow and Shaun McNicholas anchored Marshalls Res to a 5-1 result over Neston Nomads Res and it was celebration time for Poulton Royal, who had Lee Dermody, John Pomphrett and Graham Edge on target in a 3-0 decision over Redgate Rovers Res.

Veteran campaigner Alan Schumaker stroked home a penalty in helping Capenhurst Villa Res to a 6-1 victory at local rivals, Ellesmere Port Town Res.

At the Wirral Tennis Centre, goals were also the order of the day when Liam Driscoll (2), Lewis Willingham (2), Andy Rogers, Mike William, Jimmy Ludbrook and Ryan Coles shared the goals as third-placed Mersey Royal blitzed Wirral SB Res 9-0.

West Cheshire Division One sides Richmond Raith Rovers and South Liverpool acquitted themselves well in their respective Liverpool County FA Challenge Cup third round tussles with Page Celtic and Parklands respectively.

Two goal hot-shot Jonathan Parkinson shone in Richmond's 3-2 win while Cam Dalton, Sharif Yusuf and Danny Ventre obliged in South's 3-2 success.

Peter Silcock was a four-goal hero for Litherland Remyca RemycaU18 as his side won 7-4 at Bootle Academy in the Youth Division while Mossley Hill Ath U18 scored a 3-1 win at West Kirby U18 with goals from Charlie Langan, Tom Jepson and Jacob Till.