THE race for the MSC Express West Cheshire League's Division One title looks set to go to the wire, after main players, Ashville and Mersey Royal each dropped points in the spell of four days.

In midweek, a Dan Hardman effort assured leaders Ashville of maximum spoils against Ellesmere Port Town, while the Royal emerged 3-2 victors at Aintree Villa, courtesy of goals from Jamie Eaton (2) and Kieran Cartwright.

On Saturday, despite a goal from Liam Driscoll, the Royal forfeited their unbeaten record after they went down 2-1 at Marshalls, while Ashville also dropped points but remained a point claear at the top, following a 0-0 stalemate with Chester Nomads.

Best wishes to Mersey Royal who line up this Thursday evening at Congleton FC , in the Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup final against Stockport Georgians.

Making their second appearance in succession the Wirral DFA Senior Cup final, last term's beaten finalists Heswall, suffered further heartache after they capitulated 3-0 to Cammell Laird 1907, while Heswall Res endured a simlar fate, when they lost 2-1 to Hooton Arms in the Wirral FA Amateur Cup final.

Helsby's bid to secure promotion to the MSC Express West Cheshire League's Division One was bolstered in midweek following a 6-0 rout of Ashville Res which featured a smart double from Sonny Dean, supplemented by further efforts from Lee Turkington, Chris Gear, Dillon Westhead and George McGrogan.

At the weekend, brothers Lee and Tom Turkington bagged a goal apiece for Helsby, who finished 2-2 at South Liverpool Res, James Thomas and Danny Ventre obliging for the hosts.

Second-placed Litherland Remyca Res had Cam Taylor and Jamie Hughes on target against Runcorn Sports who hit back via Ryan Bazeley and Keelan Densmoore.

Promotion outsiders, Mallaby, boasting eight wins from their last nine outings, stayed in the mix after Paul Ellison, Jack Ledsham, Nathan Leyland and Joey Hamm shared the goals in Saturday's 4-1 eclipse of Poulton Vics.

In Division One, Ryan Nicoll found the net for Capenhurst Villa in their 1-0 decision over South Wirral rivals, Ellesmere Port Town, while Mark Madden followed suit, as Bootle St Edmunds beat Vauxhall Motors Res by the same scoreline.

Poulton Royal's hopes of a return to Division Two next season nosedived after they went down to a goal from Aintree Villa Res' Dylan Lawless which puts rivals Bootle Res in the driving seat for the second promotion spot.

Ninety minutes failed to produce a goal between Neston Nomads and Chester Nomads Res and the points were divided after an effort from West Kirby Res' Tila Davies was negated by a reply from Ellesmere Port Town Res' John Skipsey.

In their debut season, South Wirral outfit Groves celebrated their thirteenth win of the season when Liam Cunningham, Ryan Maxwell and Neil Stephens applied the finishing touches in a fine 3-1 victory at Runcorn Sports Res, who scored through Danny Kavanagh.

Congratulations to West Cheshire League representatives, BRNESC, who secured their passage to the LCFA Youth Cup final when efforts from Alex McDermott (2), Jack Todd and Patrick Irving clinched a 4-3 win over AFC Kirkby.

Saturday's Youth Division action saw leaders, Vauxhall Motors remain twelve points in credit at the top, after Joel Jones struck three times and was joined on the scoresheet by Alfie Tomlinson in a 4-1 success over Runcorn Linnets who answered through Adam Moseley.