Sutton Athletic upped the odds in the West Cheshire League’s Division Three title race, after a Shaun Weaver hat trick and a Mason Flavell effort secured a 4-2 victory for the leaders against local rivals, Neston Nomads.

Harry Blair and Cam Meadows hit the consolations for Neston.

Nearest rivals, Poulton Royal stayed in contention, when doubles from Tommy Carrol and Ben Hawitt anchored the New Brighton side to a 4-1 victory over Ellesmere Port Town Res.

Top scorers were South Liverpool IIIs, who blitzed West Kirby Res. 7-0, thanks to efforts from James Thomas (3), Matt James (2), Tom Feeley and an own goal.

Poulton Vics Res. also hit form, with Liam Owen and Callum Morrison both bagging doubles in the 4-2 eclipse of Heswall Res.

Despite efforts from Tom Black and Wade Sword, Mallaby forfeited ground in the Division Two Championship chase when current leaders Marine U23s turned a 2-1 deficit with 17 minutes remaining into a 5-2 triumph, endorsed by goals from Alex Northover (2), Harrison Worden, Joe Shelvey and Matty Chan.

Jeyden Moore obliged for West Kirby who finished 1-1 with Litherland Remyca - Lennon Whewell scoring for the visitors - while second placed Helsby, moved to within three points of the leaders with a game in hand after beating Marshalls Res. 5-1.

Rainford United’s second win of the season was confirmed after Saturday’s 6-2 win against Rainhill Town Res.

Just three points separate the four top clubs in the Division One title race, and unbeaten leaders, Mersey Royal, continued to force the pace at the top, making it nine wins from as many starts, when Kieran Cartwright, Lewy Willingham and Jordan Deer hit the target in a 3-1 success at Vauxhall Motors Res. Jamie Eaton netted Motors’ consolation.

Second placed Bootle St. Edmunds also boast an unbeaten record, and stayed firmly in the equation after efforts from Mark Madden and John Howard secured a 2-1 result at Elllesmere Port Town, who scored through Tom Merrill.

Fourth-placed Ashville cranked up their challenge, when Tommy Johnstone and Lewy Moynes found the net in a 2-0 victory at Heswall.

Third-placed Capenhurst Villa had Dom Hoppe on the mark but forfeited ground after they finished 1-1 at Mossley Hill Ath. Dom Kelly netted for the hosts.

In another 1-1 stalemate, a goal from Marshalls’ Alex Schulz was cancelled out by a reply from Aintree Villa’s Liam Van Gelder.

Chester Nomads recorded their third win of the season and were indebted to efforts from Max Carter (2), Ryan Chatburn and an own goal for their 4-1 win against Prescot Cables Res., who had Yazzan Houssen in reply and despite a smart double from Connor Rankin, Maghull capitulated 3-2 to strikes from Rainhill Town’s Eddie Hawthorne, Ben Donlevy and Chris Sheehan.

City of Liverpool Partisans went level on points with Vauxhall Motors at the top of the Youth Division after Joe Howard (2), Tom Ward, Ruben Edwards and Ben Harper applied the finishing touches in a 5-4 victory at Mossley Hill, who responded through Chris Hapi-Fankum (2), Jonathan Liddle and Cai Jones.

Third-placed South Liverpool maintained interest after efforts from Jack Burke (2), Tom Evans and Mackenzie Hilton clinched a 4-2 result over Maghull.

Harry Monnaghan and Finn Spence scored for the hosts, while respective marksmen in Poulton Vics' 2-2 nail-biter with City of Liverpool were Charlie Fitzsimmons, Jack Cooper and Malikai Fry with both goals for the visitors.