DIVISION Two leaders Hale remained firmly on course for promotion to the Carlsberg West Cheshire League's top flight next season, and maintained their six-point advantage at the top, following Saturday's hard-fought 2-1 success at Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves.

Efforts from Craig Williams and Colin Mee secured maximum returns for the visitors, with Luke Wynn on target for Mossley.

Nearest rivals South Liverpool Res won by the same scoreline at Rainhill Town Res, courtesy of a goal apiece from Dave Mee and Luke Partington.

In another 2-1 away victory, Sean Weaver obliged with both goals for Capenhurst Villa at local rivals, Willaston.

Mike Bebb, Louie Gorman, Matty Scott, Josh Lyth and Jamie Easton shared the goals as Ellesmere Port Town romped home 5-0 at Heswall Res, while a Mark Madden double was supplemented by further efforts from Mark Vogel and Jordan Dilworth, as Maghull Res. triumphed 4-1 at West Kirby Res.

Sam Dickson was another two-goal star, who shone for Cheshire Lines in their 5-1 win against Prescot Cables Res.

Further efforts from Danny Mulville, Steve McGary and Andy Dickson completed the statistics. Gary Purcell bagged Cables consolation.

Mallaby skipper, Danny Murphy, scored his obligatory goal but it was current Division One leaders, Neston Nomads, inspired by three-goal man-of-the-match Luke Blondel, who profited from a 6-1 result and stayed a point clear at the top. Dean Jones, Joe Foster and Chris Kennedy were the other marksmen.

Second-placed title favourites, South Liverpool, were indebted to efforts from Jimmy Eaves and Brad Williams for their 2-0 win at Rainhill Town.

Despite a goal from John Hedges, Maghull suffered a 2-1 defeat against Redgate Rovers who sealed the victory thanks to Ollie Gallagher and an own goal.

The two Chester based Division One sides both savoured a good day, Lee Guiardo (2), Joe Ormond, Steve Rowlands and Chris Melia scoring as Upton AA beat Heswall 5-3, while Sam Manton, Joe Imlach and James McIntosh found the net as Chester Nomads overcame West Kirby 3-0.

Honours were shared when a goal from Ashville's Ben Greenop was cancelled out by an equaliser from Vauxhall Motors' Ryan Nightingale.

Jamie Hurworth gave Newton the lead against title aspirants, Mossley Hill Ath, who rallied and won 2-1 after Tom McNamara struck twice and consigned the hosts to their third league defeat on the trot.

Jimmy Woods' Richmond Raith Rovers celebrated their fifth win of the season and edged nearer mid-table sanctuary, after they beat Marshalls 4-3, with efforts from Mike Wynne, an own goal, Matty Parker and a superb winner from Paul Gouthwaite.

Division Three leaders Page Celtic went down 4-3 at home to Marshalls Res. 

That result allowed third-placed Mersey Royal to take closer order and they took full advantage, after Chris Driscoll and Adam Smith both scored hat tricks in the 6-0 rout of Ellesmere Port Town Res.

Burscough Dynamo also scored six times as Josh Lewis (2), Henry Latimer, Chris Orritt, Ben Pallett and Colin Bousique-Green made the scoresheet in their side's 6-2 verdict over Redgate Rovers Res.

Graham Edge plundered the game's only goal as Poulton Royal won at Capenhurst Villa Res, while promotion-chasing Litherland Remyca Res and Wirral SB both forfeited points following an entertaining 2-2 stalemate.

This season's Liverpool County FA Junior Cup semi-finals will feature four Carlsberg West Cheshire League Youth Division sides.

Strongly-fancied South Liverpool Youth finished 3-3 with neighbours, Mossley Ath Youth, before going through 5-4 on penalties.

Liam Fitzgerald's lone strike saw Maghull Youth earn the nod over Maghull Town, while Blain Hughes and Jake McKettrick applied the finishing touches as Bootle Youth beat Maghull White 2-0.

The quartet of semi-finalists was completed by Litherland Remyca Youth, who accounted for Formby Juniors 3-1, thanks to goals from Jack Carr, Ben Wilkinson and Chris Walker.