After a six week break the Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League returns with just domestic fixtures. 

The early part of the break was enforced due to clubs being in different tiers, then a full government lockdown. 

FC Tranmere had a resounding win 8-2 at AFC Tima in the first round of The Tony Houlihan Memorial Challenge Cup (Phil Bibby, Mark Redgrift), on the scoresheet for FC Tranmere were Iain Colligan, who led the way with a fine hat-trick supplemented by singles from Matt Holland, Paul Lindfield, Jack Woods, Tom Charters and Liam Randles.

Glenavon Athletic (Dave Roberts, Callum France, Jordan McAteer, Alex Perry, Jack Templeton, Alex Lamb, Bailey, Onwuemene) also hit eight (8) without reply in the David Keith Tacy Cup round one against Madisons. 

Division Three side New Ferry Rangers won by the odd goal in five 3-2 at Division Two club Bromborough Rake (Kie Hughes, Carl Boyd). A brace from Jack Kelly and a Leon Murray strike gave them the passage to round two. 

Also making progress are Eagle Stirrup FC (Ciaran Byrne, Jordan Martin), who narrowly defeated Wellington FC (Joe Kelly) 2-1.

The past few years the Premier Division Title has been won by either Dock AFC (Adam Bagley) or Queens Park FC (Steve Curran). 

Last Sunday the two clubs met and it ended all square at 1-1, with both clubs dropping early season points.

Beechwood FC and a rejuvenated Rock Ferry Social will be having a huge say where the prestigious Ryan ‘Gigsy’ Atherton Premier Division Trophy will end up, as Mitch Duggan hit a fine treble for Beechwood FC at Bushell Grange Athletic to stay in pole position. 

Hot on the heels only by goal difference is Rock Ferry Social who had a splendid 4-0 win over Great Float Sports & Social. 

Neston Nomads, who also want to have say in the destination of that special Blue Riband Trophy, claimed third spot after a inflicting a 3-1 reversal on Lancelyn Glenavon (Lloyd Winkle).

Rivacre FC (Joe Foster) dropped their first points of the season in a keenly contested 1-1 draw with Corsair FC (Jason Bull) but remain top of Division One. 

A double from Connor Egan and an Ash McCoy effort was enough for Wirral Radio to call the tune 3-0 at Ellesmere Port Athletic. 

Woodchurch Rovers (Ben Robinson, Matt Smith, Tom Briggs) dented Lions FC superb start to the season with a 3-0 result while Shaftesbury Youth (Daryl Hellon 2, Lewis McKnight) posted a 3-1 scoreline over Telegraph.

Neston United made it a fourth maximum point haul to head up Division Two with a comfortable 3-0 win at JPL Jets thanks to strikes from Kev Exell, Liam Jeacock and Ben Pearson. 

Belmont FC maintained their unbeaten record to inflict a first loss on Barkers FC 5-2.

A four-timer from Josh Ross supported by Owen Hughes and Ryan Coles for Victoria Colts kept them up with the Division Three leaders after inflicting a 6-1 result on AFC Park North. 

The points were shared between AFC Raeburn (Johnny Williams, Dan Piggott) and Oval FC (John Skipsey, Michael Simpson) 2-2.

A single goal was enough for Parkgate St Germain to take the spoils at Rangers Breaks. 

Division strugglers MSC Eastham went goal crazy with Josh Worsley hitting seven (7) and to complete the 13-0 rout were Dillon Bartley, Jim O’Toole (2), Chris Howells, Joe Keenan and Joe Riley at Wirral Athletic.