With a depleted programme of fixtures due to waterlogged pitches, The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League were only able to get three games played, all on 3G surfaces.

The most notable match involved Woodchurch Hotel, who progressed to the quarter finals of the Cheshire County Football Association Sunday Cup.

Woodchurch Hotel V Duckinfield. Photo: Bob Shaw

Woodchurch Hotel V Duckinfield. Photo: Bob Shaw

Woodchurch had to rely on a successful penalty shoot-out to dump Duckinfield out 4-2 after both teams were locked at 1-1 in regulatory time.

Ben Holmes was the marksman for Woodchurch Hotel, who are the first of a possible seven teams from the Birkenhead Sunday League to claim a place in the final eight.

There was a change of venue to the Solar Campus in Leasowe for the top two clubs in Division One, Bushell Grange Athletic - who are second - hosting division leaders The Lukes.

On a cold, windy and very bright Sunday morning, Bushell had a few early chances but the final ball was not always there. A strike from Ash Power midway through the first half was enough for The Lukes to collect all three points.

Bushell may have won the game themselves only for The Lukes keeper to keep them at bay. Lukes have now gone nine points clear at the helm with Bushell having a games in hand.

The only time Lukes were beaten and dropped points was back in early September, with a 3-2 reversal at Neston United. The last time Bushell lost any game was in The Cheshire FA Sunday cup to Lukes -a bit of a bogey team. Both clubs are expected to win promotion to the elusive Premier Division.

Premier Division action saw Queens Park share the honours with Beechwood 2-2.

Harvey Sample notched a fine brace with Tom Hayes and an own goal registering for Beechwood. There was no league double for Queens Park, who won the reverse fixture earlier in the season 3-2.