After months of postponements, midweek games have become a fixture of the latter stages of the football calendar, something we will see over the coming weeks.
Wednesday night saw the Saturday league teams continue to chip away at their remaining games.
The beauty of the leagues in the city is that some leagues are going down to the wire whilst those who are at the summit are within touching distance of glory.
MSC Express West Cheshire League
Division 1
South Liverpool’s grasp on the Division One title became stronger despite nearest challengers Mossley Hill Athletic matched them in sealing three points.
Whilst at the bottom, Aintree Villa moved off the foot of the table thanks to Bobbie Short’s double in their 3-2 win over Rainhill Town, moving to within one point of Wednesday’s opponents.
Liam Fitzpatrick was instrumental for Capenhurst Villa as his brace helped his side to a 3-2 win over Ellesmere Port Town.
Mossley Hill made it seven wins on the bounce with an away win against Ashville, handing the Wallasey club just their second away defeat of the season. Three points separate the two south Liverpool clubs but the permutations fall heavily in favour of the league leaders.
Results:
Prescot Cables Reserves 0-3 South Liverpool
Aintree Villa 3-2 Rainhill Town
Ashville 1-2 Mossley Hill
Capenhurst Villa 3-2 Ellesmere Port Town
Division 2
Off The Park was in attendance as four second half goals from John Howard, Mark Madden, Neil Storey and Connor Harland ensured FC Bootle ended their season unbeaten, lifting the Division Two title in the process.
In what has been a disappointing year and a bit for Ste Scott’s side, their win over Marine Reserves was made even sweeter and almost a sense of relief was lifted as they celebrated upon the full-time whistle and sang “Campioné, campioné, olé, olé, olé” before getting their hands on the first piece of West Cheshire silverware after two back-to-back title wins.
The scoreline possibly flattered the champions as Glynn Hurst’s young side threatened displaying brilliant football in stages at Litherland Sports Park.
Madden signed off the campaign with the golden boot (15 league goals) and a brilliant solo goal whilst Howard opened the scoring with a smart volley.
Storey was given the honours to put away from the spot with the help of the post, after the top goalscorer was brought down, before a determined Harland hunted down the Mariners goalkeeper, forcing the ‘keeper into a mistake before rounding off the scoring.
Back-to-back promotions were sealed for FC Bootle after completing a topsy-turvy 18 months as they now prepare for Division One and enjoying football at Vesty Road, home of Bootle Football Club.
West Kirby kept their name in the hunt for promotion with a 3-2 win over Litherland Remyca Reserves, moving level on points with Heswall – who have a game in hand – and just three points behind Poulton Vics. However, both Heswall and Poulton boast the superior goal difference.
Results:
FC Bootle St Edmunds 4-0 Marine Reserves
Litherland Remyca Reserves 2-3 West Kirby
South Liverpool Reserves 2-0 Mossley Hill Reserves
Division 3
Two first-half goals for Mersey Harps put them in a good position against Neston Nomads Reserves.
Fortune was on the Harps side as the hosts squandered a golden opportunity after a slip from the spot.
Despite pressure from the hosts, Mersey Harps held on to win 3-1.
Whilst there was a postponement in Heswall Reserves game against Bootle Reserves after the Bucks failed to field a squad, handing Heswall the three points.
Results:
Neston Nomads Reserves 1-3 Mersey Harps
Heswall Reserves H-W Bootle FC Reserves (Home Walkover)
Liverpool Premier League
Second Division
Bluecoat moved to within five points of league leaders Waterloo Grammar School Old Boys with two games in hand.
Warbreck and FC Marsden are ahead of them with 20 and 17 points respectively but the win adds to the bubbling pot that is the promotion race.
Result:
Botanic 1-3 Bluecoat
The Cheshire Football League
Reserve League 1
With the game 2-1 in their favour, Billinge Reserves, saw their game abandoned after 25 minutes due to as they could only describe it as a “storm of biblical proportions.”
It remains to be seen whether the match will be rescheduled as it was a second washout in as many days for the Storks reserves after their match on Saturday was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
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