Sunday saw the Liverpool Business Houses and the Southport and District Football League entertain fixtures across their respective divisions.
The Business Houses is arguably the most anticipated competition across the city with its six divisions having multiple title, promotion and relegation battles to be determined as it enters the last month of the season.
Those fighting to be crowned the best team in their respective divisions continued their surge to the top but the trailing pack aren’t too far behind.
Campfield’s 1-0 win after extra-time in the FA Sunday Cup stole all the headlines as Anthony Clarke’s side joined an elite list of Merseyside clubs to win the National Cup twice.
MATCH REPORT: Campfield 1-0 St Joes – Nevitt Nods The Campy to National Cup Glory
Liverpool Business Houses League
Premier Division
With just under 10 games remaining in the Premier Division, all 14 teams are fighting for their own objectives. Unlike many amateur leagues, you rarely see battles at both ends of the league, but this is the case in the Prem.
Canada’s survival chances took a blow as they tasted defeat, despite coming from 2-0 down to go in level at the break, Home Bargains came out strong in the second half and feasted on the Canada’s mistakes to move within seven points of Custy’s in second.
Lobster and title-chasers, Custy’s, played out a thrilling draw in what was described as a ‘game of two halves’. A win could’ve took the second-placed side level on points with league leaders Oyster Martyrs.
Whereas it could well turn out to be a good point for the Lobster, who moved five points clear of Huyton Cons and nine points off Dengo United who currently sit bottom of the league, as they fought back from going a goal behind three times.
A Joel Powell header, Mikey Ordish’s spot kick and a well-worked goal after Jack Flynn and Jay Britt combined, for the Lobster, before coming agonisingly close as the post denied a second for Britt.
With two games in hand, Dengo still have safety firmly in their sights and they came mightily close to edging closer to their goal. However, they relinquished a two-goal lead before the break. With the score at 4-3, Dengo saw their penalty saved by the Dovecot goalkeeper before they wrapped up the points in the closing stages.
The Oyster came out on top against Melling Victoria thanks to goal either side of half-time in a tight affair, their win and Custy’s draw means they sit two points clear at the summit.
Mayfair came from a goal down to beat AFC Bull at Lower Breck on Sunday afternoon. Joe Cawley showed great strength, latching onto a clearance and had the finish to match.
But they were soon level, a superb reverse pass from the midfielder was tapped home by the forward past the on-rushing goalkeeper.
The Mayfair midfielder was instrumental in their second goal too. A quick one-two created some space on the by-line as he lofted the left-footed cross to the back post before it was thumped home.
They added a third with a counter attack and a piece of individual brilliance. The inside-forward burst forward beating one before finding the bottom left corner under the challenge of the recovering defender. The fourth was fired home afrer a surging run inside from the right as it had too much venom for the Bull shot-stopper to keep out.
To see all the goals, visit MOTJ Goals on Twitter. Goal 1 (AFC Bull), Goal 2, Goal 3, Goal 4, Goal 5 (Mayfair).
Pineapple rued ‘three mistakes’ as they were beaten by Kensington Fields. The Chunks went 1-0 up but ultimately fell victim to their errors. It was an important win for Kenny Fields as the three points took them to within six of the Oyster.
Results:
Custy’s 3-3 Lobster
Canada 2-5 Home Bargains
Dengo United 3-5 FC Dovecot
Oyster Martyrs 2-0 Melling Vics
AFC Bull 1-4 Mayfair
Kensington Fields 4-2 Pineapple
Championship
Mackenzies cruised to victory over Sefton to move two points clear at the top of the Championship, but Mottram and Mount Carmel both continued to apply the pressure as they both won to nil in their respective fixtures.
Down the other end of the table, The Canon came out on top against The Village, coming from behind to earn the three points with Craig Potter amongst the scorers from the spot.
Naylorsfield and Kirkdale couldn’t be separated in their mid-table clash as The Brow’s match with Allerton was abandoned.
Results:
Mackenzies 9-0 Sefton
Mount Carmel 4-0 Netherley Woodlane Legion
AFC Botanic Athletic A-W Claybrow (Away Walkover)
Naylorsfield 1-1 Kirkdale
Allerton A-A The Brow (Abandoned)
BRNESC 0-2 Mottram
The Canon 4-2 The Village
Division 1
Coffee House tasted defeat for the first time, in the league this season, as Taxi Club won away from home. Quarry Green and Lingmell both continued their surge towards promotion as they both won their respective fixtures with a point separating the two in the standings.
Broad Lane Social Club picked up just their third win of the season as they picked up the valuable three points away to Mariners Inn.
Standard Fuel Oils edged past table rivals Fulwood Arms in a tense match, with MSB Woolton coming out on top in a nine-goal thriller with Stadium.
Results:
Fulwood Arms 2-3 Standard Fuel Oils
Coffee House 1-3 Taxi Club
Lingmell 2-0 Merton
Mariners Inn 0-1 Broad Lane Social Club
Quarry Green 7-1 St Teresa’s
Stadium 4-5 MSB Woolton
Clubmoor Athletic A-W John Brodie Allerton (Away Walkover)
Division 2
It remains tight at the top of Division Two with a point separating the leaders with AFC Swan five points off.
Fazakerley Athletic saw off AFC Warner Colts as the title race heat up with Huyton Athletic in ‘control’ as they beat Oldy Athletic taking a three-goal lead into the second half.
It was disappointment for AFC Swan as they drew with FC Utility Locker who gained a deserved point moving two points clear of Knowsley South who were beaten by Griffin Inn.
Whilst, North End moved to within three points of AFC Swan with their 2-0 win over St Helens Town.
Results:
FC Utility Locker 2-2 AFC Swan
AFC Warner Colts 1-3 Fazakerley Athletic
Knowsley South 2-4 Griffin Inn
North End 2-0 St Helens Town
Oldy Athletic 1-4 Huyton Athletic
Division 3
There was a huge result in the complexion of the Division Three promotion race as AMC narrowly beat East Liverpool to move within two points of league leaders Derby Park Rangers.
But it is far from over as East Liverpool have a game in hand, knowing a win would see them move level with Sunday’s opponents.
Derby Park Rangers continued their unbeaten run making it seven unbeaten with their win over Aintree Village.
Walton and Glenbuck Hotel both enjoyed big wins over FC Sparta and FC Fazakerley respectively.
Harry Burton and Joe Perry starred for Glenbuck both chipping in with two goals apiece.
Results:
Glenbuck Hotel 6-3 FC Fazakerley
N2L Development 3-3 The Old Albion
Garston Park 1-3 Wyncote
Core 2-3 Childwall Celestial
Aintree Village 2-4 Derby Park Rangers
AMC Liverpool 3-2 East Liverpool
Walton 6-1 FC Sparta
Division 4
Like many of the divisions in the Liverpool Business Houses, it is tight at the top and the LBH Division Four is no different.
Front runners, Hyper Bar and Algarb, both exchanged blows in the form of three points in their respective fixtures which sets up perfectly for their clash this Sunday at Clubmoor Rec.
Hyper Bar almost handed over their lead at the top to their nearest challengers after they made to work hard for their win despite having a three-goal lead.
Algarb continued their impressive run as Jack O’Leary starred.
Heron Nicosia had a free weekend after they received the points after AFC Barnham failed to field a team.
Elsewhere in the division, it was three points for Queen’s Aintree, Wood Street, ACA Sports and Byrom Street.
Results:
AFC Barnham A-W Heron Nicosia (Away Walkover)
Queen’s Aintree 5-1 Princes Park Rangers
Wood Street 4-1 Morgan Athletic
ACA Sports 1-0 Knowsley AFC
Byrom Street 2-0 Park Avenue
Hercules 1-4 Algarb
Hyper Bar 3-2 Seaforth Athletic
Southport and District Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Lydiate FC extended their lead at the top after they edged past second from bottom Digmoor.
Sefton Young Boys are hot on their heels with a game in hand, they’re just two points behind the leaders after their win over Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs extended their unbeaten run.
Fleetwood Hesketh Herald scraped past Sacred Heart, who remain at the foot of the table searching for their first win of the season.
Results:
AFC Marine 3-2 Giro FC
Fleetwood Hesketh Herald 1-0 Sacred Heart
Lydiate FC 3-2 Digmoor
Muniflex 2-1 FC St Paul’s
Sefton Young Boys 3-0 Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs
First Division
Upsteps and leaders Blue Anchor couldn’t be separated in their top-of-the-table clash. Both sides’ unbeaten record remain intact as a result of their score draw but the balance is slightly in Upsteps favour with two games in hand.
Second placed Hesketh Casuals eased past Southport Hesketh as Fleetwood Hesketh came from a goal down to thrash the Bold Arms.
Results:
Upsteps 2-2 Blue Anchor FC
Hesketh Casuals 6-1 Southport Hesketh
Fleetwood Hesketh 5-1 Bold Arms
Second Division
League leaders Elevate had a weekend off which allowed for Southport Central to close the gap at the top.
Their win over Cream meant it was game, set and match upon the final whistle, whilst MCA made hard work of their win as a second half fightback from Digmoor Reserves made for a nervy-ending.
Orme FC moved up to fourth with their win over Sporting Panthers, who are now three points off the bottom two.
Results:
Digmoor Reserves 4-5 MCA
Orme FC 3-1 Sporting Panthers
Southport Albion FC First 2-1 Formby Dons
Southport Central 6-3 Cream
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(Featured image courtesy of Paul Moran)
