Unbeaten Mersey Royal, with five wins from as many starts, recorded a league double over Newton and assumed pole position in the race for the MSC Express West Cheshire League's Division One title, following Saturday's 2-0 victory at the Wirral Tennis Centre.

A Leon Detlaff effort and an own goal were enough, as Glynn Norman's young charges continued to impress.

Third placed challengers, Redgate Rovers, had Dan O'Leary on target, but capitulated 2-1 at fifth placed Marshalls, who sealed the result, thanks to a goal apiece from Adam Langley and Chris Sang.

It's a similar situation at the top of Division Two, were leaders, Bootle St.Edmunds safeguarded their 100% record, and went three points clear, after John Howard (2), Mark Madden and an own goal anchored them to a 4-1 decision over Ashville Res., who had Dillon Jeffery in reply.

Ben Kearney continued his goal scoring spree, with a smart double in helping Poulton Vics to a 2-0 win against Rainhill Town Res., while honours were shared after an effort from Mossley Hill Athletic's Kyle Parr was negated by a goal from Heswall's Chris McGowan.

At Harrison Park, Mallaby avenged an earlier defeat at the hands of Poulton Royal when Paul Ellison struck twice and was joined on the scoresheet by Danny McLoughlin in a 3-0 triumph which gave Neil Pickering's outfit their first win of the season.

Cheshire Lines recorded their second win of the campaign, Sam Dixon, Connor Porteus and Chris Cruickshank obliging in the 3-0 eclipse of Marine Res.

Saturday's only Division Three fixture was a top of the table affair, and it was a profitable run-out for second placed Runcorn Sports, who lowered the flag of current pacesetters, Marshalls Res., with Steve Woodward (2), John McDonald and Reece Dwyer on target in a 4-1 victory. Danny McCrystal bagged the visitors' consolation.

In the Youth Division, a solitary strike from Lucas Rogers earned South Liverpool maximum returns from their trip to Litherland Remyca Ath., while nearest rivals, Mossley Hill Ath. made it it four wins on the trot, after romping home 6-1 at Bootle, thanks to efforts from Joe McMahon (3), Jack Boden, Luke Johnson and Leo Reynolds.

Maghull enjoyed a 7-0 rout over Runcorn Town, while Runcorn Linnets beat Netherley Wood Lane Legion 4-1.

Marshalls Barkhill were indebted to a goal from Jack Davies which earned all three points against Knowsley South.

Midweek action saw last term's Haworth & Gallagher Bowl final played to a conclusion and it was Heswall who took the honours and recorded their fourth Bowl success to date when a goal from Paul Lindfield dashed the hopes of Aintree Villa.

The West Cheshire Shield final was also carried over, and it was celebration time for Helsby, Lee Turkington's hat-trick and an effort Nathan Conlon securing a 4-0 result over Marine Res.