Front-runners miss chance to set fearsome pace

Oct 9 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

LEAGUE matches were thin on the ground on Saturday as cup competitions took to the forefront, but those playing fixtures were battling hard to make up some ground on the leaders in all divisions.

Surprisingly, the top three teams in the Premier Division all suffered losses, allowing those below to close the gap.

Queens Park suffered their first defeat of the season to Woodchurch AFC, who managed a 1-0 win at home with a goal from James.

The Dock, who are eager to close the gap on Queens, continued their good form with goals from B Holmes, S Holmes and McGrath to seal a 3-0 win over second place Hoylake Athletic.

Penny Lane (O’Hare 2, Lunden) won 3-1 over struggling Stirrup Sports & Social and the Brow (J Broadbent, J Harrison, G Edge) managed a 3-2 win over Shaftesbury A, Bidston (Cox) and Houlihans VC (Jones) shared the points with a 1-1 draw.

In Division Two, Horse & Jockey (Hudson 2) were winners with a 2-1 scoreline against Heswall Windows (Gunner), but have lost Danny Jones with a suspected broken leg.

Neston Nomads are still applying the pressure at the top of the table with a 6-0 win over Parkside.

Division Three saw the Ballard Brothers on the scoresheet again for Bebington Legion, helping them to a 5-3 win over Comecon FC.

The Youth Division highlight was a 10-0 drubbing of Shaftesbury by Heswall Legion while in the Wirral Sunday Amateur Cup, Argyll beat an on-form JB Leasing 7-2.

In the Wirral Sunday Junior Cup, a thrilling match between Automatic Door Company and Heygarth United produced a 2-2 scoreline after normal and extra-time and then 9-8 after penalties to see the ADC go through to the next round.

Meanwhile, man of the match Steve Rudd helped Black Horse to a 4-1 win over Hamiltons and Pollards Inn beat Heswall Legion 3-2.

In the Wirral Sunday Youth Cup Vauxhall Motors Youth continued their good form to win 6-1 against Upton FC, taking them through to round three.

Finally Rock Ferry Social dumped St Josephs (Birkenhead) out at the first fence of the Houlihans Memorial Challenge Cup with a 6-0 win.

Rocky’s Gym found their form with a resounding 7-0 win over Shillings Bar, and Royal Sun Alliance had a surprise defeat by Rangers Breaks, who managed a 3-1 win after extra-time.