The Tony Houlihan Memorial Challenge Cup was the order of the day in The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League yesterday.

Division One leaders The Lukes played host to Division Two high flyers Wellington FC who are still unbeaten in league and cups, only drawing twice early in the season.

Wellington started the game the stronger team. A Ben Dufton-Kelly effort was hooked into the corner of the net for Wellington to take a well deserved 1-0 lead at half time. The Lukes, with a never say die attitude, tried in vain to get back into the game but with 12 minutes left, Dufton-Kelly doubled his and Wellington’s goals with the second.

The Lukes again tried to get back into the game and a Ryan Youds effort brought the score to 2-1 with six minutes remaining, ensuring a very nervy final few minutes for both teams, but Wellington ran out 2-1 winners.

Wirral Athletic were another club who inflicted a giant killing act, with the Division Three side taking the honours 3-1 at Barcode FC (Jack Cohen). Doing all the damage were Harry Huggins and Jack Roberts with a double for Athletic.

JPL Jets shot down AFC Tima (Tom Hunt 2) thanks to strikes from Liam McCrellis, with a brace, allied to a Sam Parker goal.

Into the hat for round three are Corsair FC and MSC Eastham, who both had the fortune of winning a penalty shootout against Rock Ferry Social and Silva Athletic (Ian Jones) respectfully.

Corsair (Alan Bull, Lewis Clarke) finished 2-2 and won their shootout 4-3, while MSC Eastham - after finishing the normal regulatory time at 1-1 - achieved a 4-2 penalty shootout triumph.

Also through to the last 16 are Queens Park - who were the last team to pick up the trophy and have won it on 10 occasions - romping to a 6-0 win at Bromborough Rake with Tom Black leading the way with a hat-trick and singles from Wade Sword, Lewis Haddock and Player Manager Danny Brookes.

Great Float S&S (Carl Murphy) were sunk by Dock AFC (Adam Lea 2, Ryan Smith and Haydn Cooper) in an-all premier division clash. Another all premier division battle saw Beechwood take the honours at Lancelyn Glenavon (John Adediran, Danny Stephen’s) 5-2. Finding the net for the Beechwood boys were Rob Cull, Tom Hayes, a 25-yard lob from Fenton Cavanaugh, Morgan Woods and a Ryan Duffy 30-yard strike that flew into the top corner.

It was the two Matt’s that called the tune for Wirral Radio at the expense of Lions FC (Paul Ryan), with Matt Lydiate and Matty Walker bagging the important goals.

FC Bidston registered back-to-back wins and possibly turned their fortunes around with a comfortable 6-2 win at Woodchurch Rovers (Ben Robinson, Lewis Hunt). Bidston's goals came via an Alan Goodhall treble, a pair from Mikey Parnell and a single from Jamie Mearns.

Barkers Armchair (Dom Swift 2, Luis Brown) made it into the next round after a narrow 3-2 verdict over fellow Division Three rivals Old Parks FC (Sammy Watkins, Charlie Jones).

Neston Nomads have certainly found a rich vein of form in recent weeks, hitting Oval FC for seven without reply. Respective scorers were Ollie Dutton (2), Callum Blondel (2), Reece Kerr, Jake Ramsey and Jamie Gardiner.

In an all Division Two clash, leaders Rockpoint also bagged seven goals. Dava Bowe, Kyle Bennett (2), Liam Whelan (2), Stuart Hardman and Kyle Dayton all got their names on the scoresheet at Saughall FC (Andy Noonan, Tom Ashcroft) in a resounding 7-2 success.

Woodchurch Hotel (Jordan Deer, Ben Holmes) made their passage into the semi finals of The Wirral District Football Association Sunday Premier Cup 5-4 on penalties after finishing all square 2-2 at Rivacre FC.

The remaining quarter final ties are scheduled to take place next Sunday, November 21.

Dan Price and Hatim Altamal netted for Poulton Vics S&S (formerly Telegraph FC) in the Wirral District Football Association Sunday Amateur Cup, to take their place in the semi finals. They will have to wait until next Sunday to find out who their opponents could be.

AFC Park North (John Gibson) defeated our very own Parkgate Saint Germain (Declan Wray) 3-1 on penalties after the sides could not be separated after 90 minutes (1-1) in the Jimmy Core Cup first round tie.

Only one game was possible in Division One with Neston United gaining revenge from an earlier 4-1 reversal by putting nine (9) past AFC Shaftes (Eddie Jebb). Rob Marrs, Liam Peacock and Dean Jones all hitting a double each, added to singles from Jack Lloyd, Cameron Meadows and Luke Jones.

New Ferry Rangers have steered themselves into second place in Division Two after a tremendous 4-1 result over Glenavon Athletic (Mike Roberts). Finding the net for New Ferry Ranges were Harrison Hindley, Lewis Evans, O.G. and Harry Challinor.

It is all to play for with many teams being in the mix.

Matty Vickers bagged a seven-goal haul for Whitby Rangers in their demolition of AFC Raeburn, with single strikes from Ryan Hughes, Tom Sixsmith, Sam Bartley and Matty Hickman. Rangers have a three point cushion at the top of Division Three and have played two more league games than their nearest rivals.

Ethan Cartwright hit four and supported by a Harvey Dean effort, registered a 5-0 win for West Kirby United over AFC Rangers who saw a 4-3 reversal earlier in the season.

North Wirral Saints (Mike Manser, Sam Platt, Frazer Lucking) recorded 3-2 win to stay in the chasing group and are handily placed in their early season push for promotion.