THE Tony Houlihan Memorial Challenge Cup Round 4 took centre stage in the Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League and game of the day was at Vauxhall Motors' sports ground, the current home of Rock Ferry Social.

It was second versus third in the Premier Division, with the game evenly balanced at 2-2, but with five minutes remaining it was former Ferry man Charlie Macinnes who hit a stunning volley for Beechwood FC to seal a place in Round 5 3-2. Rob Cull and Owen McMahon were also on the mark for Beechwood FC while Social’s scorers were Joe Whittle and Connor Doyle.

Another cracker of a game was The Maxwell Barbers Division One leaders hosting Premier Division leaders Bushell Athletic who held out to hold Woodchurch Hotel 3-3 at 90 mins only for Woodchurch Hotel to take the tie 3-2.

10 times winners Queens Park eased through with a 4-0 win over Upton Town thanks to Aaron Rainbow, Liam Owen and a brace from Aaron Gerard.

Also through to the last eight are Great Float S&S who also recorded the same 4-0 scoreline at Division Three promotion hopefuls Old Parks.

Dock AFC, who have lifted the Challenge Cup on seven occasions, made progress after Ryan Smith, Danny Cross and Adam Lea all netted at Corsair PV with a late replacement referee having a fabulous game.

Strikes from Joe Fernyhough, Callum Doyle, Josh McEwen, Andy Henry and Daniel Woodcock for Rig Move saw off AFC Shaftes 5-2 in an all Division One clash with consolation replies from Luke Rollings and Ben Liegeman.

There was no giant killing act for Wellington FC  after they narrowly lost 3-2 to KRCT Bidston whose scorers were Liam Siddorn, Leon Clarke and Ben Kearney.

Eastham Rangers Colts, who are playing their maiden season in the Maxwell Barbers Division One, secured a place in the last 16 after a giant killing act over Lancelyn Glenavon from the Premier Division - the game finished all square at 1-1 only for Colts to win the game 4-2 on penalties.

Cheshire Cheese cemented a place in Round 4 of The David Tacy Cup 3-1 at the expense of Eastham Rangers - goalgetters for Cheese were Sam Hughes, Carl Mullen and Lee Bridge.

They will be joined in the hat by Prenton FC who cruised to an 8-0 win over Oval FC after Luke Wynne notched a fine treble supplemented by further strikes from Jake Whittaker(2), Tom Molloy, Dean Wylde and Iain Bennett.

Also into the quarter finals are Whitby Rangers, thanks to Brad Bland, Matty Vickers, Tom Ruffer and Gabe Kwateng, who netted in a 4-1 defeat of Barcode FC whose consolation came from Danny France. 

There was just the one game in the Maxwell Barbers Division One as JPL Jets were held to a 1-1 draw by Woodchurch Rovers.

With most of the top teams from Division Two playing in the various domestic cup competitions, Saughall FC shared the points with Poulton Victoria S&S 1-1 with the same score between Victoria Colts and Barkers Armchair.

Jake Byrne, James Lally and Callum Jones all netted for Eagle Stirrup to put 3 valuable points on the board after a 3-2 success over Glenavon Athletic.

West Kirby United returned to winning ways to maintain top spot in Division Three with a narrow 3-2 win over AFC Tima - finding the net with the all important goals were Thirusel Van Akil, Robert Douglas and Robert Nairn with Mike Redgrift and Phil Bibby replying for Tima.

AFC Rangers enhanced their chances of promotion back to Division Two after a long break with a Lewis McKnight double in a 2-1 tussle at North Wirral Saints. 

Athletic VH also registered the same scoreline at Parkgate Panthers as did Wirral Athletic, who had Harry Huggins and Dylan Palmer on the scoresheet at AFC Raeburn.

Higher Beb Kelma did their chances of being in the mix at the business end of the season no harm after accounting for Parkgate St Germain 3-0 with Connor Cox, Adam Clarke and Tom Weaver finding the net.

 

The Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League are now accepting applications from new prospective clubs to join the League for the 2023-2024 season, a limited number of vacancies are available also a proposed Youth Division for the same season that is scheduled to start in August 2024, any Youth clubs that wish to enter two teams can do so, one team will be known as Youth U/18’s and a second team is normally known as a Colts U/17’s, please visit the League website for contact details