All the latest results from Houlihans Birkenhead Football League

Mar 18 2009 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL DFA Youth Team were representing the District against Macclesfield in the Final of the Cheshire District FA Youth Cup.

The match was played at Macclesfield, however the home advantage didn’t make a difference in a match that saw a few substitutions through injury, including the Referee!

It took Wirral until the 89th minute to slot home the winner courtesy of Billy Foster, making it the 18th time Wirral have won the Cup. Well done to all who have been involved in this year’s competition.

Both Semi Finals in the Houlihan’s Memorial Challenge Cup went ahead, and the result was the same in both matches.

Firstly Neston Nomads played host to Queens Park, who already have a place in the Final of the Cheshire Sunday Cup booked.

Neston scored in the first minute of the match, but the goal was disallowed as it was deemed not to have gone over the line.

They tried again 15 minutes later when the ball was chipped over the Queens keeper and a battle ensued on the goal line again, yet again the decision went against the Nomads.

With their tails up after two lucky escapes, Queens ran straight up the other end of the pitch and another contentious goal this time by Robbie Courtenay was allowed, putting Queens Park 1-0 up.

The rest of the first half saw chances for both teams to find the net, but no more goals were forthcoming.

However, after the restart, Queens Park were into their stride and a shot on goal came back out and fell to the feet of Andy Bolton who slotted home from close quarters to make it 2-0.

It took Neston a further 20 minutes to break down the Queens defence allowing Richie Wainwright to open the scoring for Nomads.

Despite plenty of vocal harassment all around, the Queens lost their way a little and Richie Foulkes took advantage, first with a fabulous shot from the left side of the Queens goal, 25 yards out that rocketed into the back of the net, and then the winner on 88 minutes when the Queens keeper fumbled the ball, enabling Foulkes to slot it home and sail into the final of the competition.

In the other semi-final, Rock Ferry Social were at home to the Dock.

Last time the teams met in a League fixture, the Dock walked away winners after a 4-2 result.

It looked to be going the same way when the Dock were 2-1 up thanks to goals from Bernie Holmes and Darren McGuinness, but nobody told Rock Ferry.

Jamie Kenyon scored a brace and Craig Cairns added to the tally to finish 3-2 winners, therefore booking their place in the final.

In the League matches, the Premier Division’s FC Beehive have been having their share of problems lately, but managed to secure a point after Scott Houghton scored.

Peter Hannon scored for the Brow FC, taking a share of the points on offer.

Stirrup Sports & Social have had an upturn in fortune of late, this week taking the points from Houlihans Variety Club in a 3-1 result.

Carl Maughan (2) and Mike Andrews netted for the Stirrup and Kevin Machin was in reply for Houlihans. The Woodchurch retained their place at the top of the table after a 4-0 win over the Bidston Hotel.

Phil Hudson, Jamie Holmes, Alan Cairns and Lee O’Brien all getting on the score sheet.

In Division One, Heswall Windows are challenging Irby for the top spot and it looks like it might go to the wire as both teams won their matches, although Irby have a better goal difference which is keeping them at the top.

Heswall were beating Lions FC 5-1 at half time, Lions fought back in the second half scoring three goals, however Heswall managed to hold them off and took the points after a 6-4 result. Andre Clark scored a hatrick, Martin Trimble bagged a brace and David Swaine added to the scoreline for Heswall.

Paul Seddon (2), Brett Fitzsimmons and Adam Corless were in reply for Lions.

Irby were against Rangers Breaks, who didn’t stand a chance.

Lee Jones (2), Nick Munn, Chris Griffiths, Sean Phillips, Adam Graves, Dave Smith and John Duddy all netted for Irby, keeping them at the top of the table on goal difference.

Parkside were at home to Argyll, and were unable to break down the defence and find the back of the net.

Joe Curran took his chance and slotted home the only goal of the match for Argyll. The Saddle Club are also hoping to finish top of the table this season and continued their quest with a strong display against a depleted Bushell Athletic. Goals from Tom Hodson, Joe Mangan (2), Marc Askew (2) and James Harrison secured the points after a 6-0 result, putting them only one point behind the leaders. Wirral Liberals’ Billy Newman scored, however Royal Sun Alliance had Tom Mangan score four, one of which was a penalty, giving RSA all three points.

The drama in Division Two saw the new division leaders, WCS FC take on the old leaders, AFC Mississippi.

Both teams needed the win, and it was thanks to Simon Tierney and Stu Watson, who scored a hat-trick, that ensured Mississippi walked away with the bragging rights.

Alan Sutton and Dean Talman were both on target for WCS. Bebington Legion racked up another win, making it three in a row.

This time Wavertree Wanderers were the unfortunate opponents after Stu Hardman scored two goals and a penalty. Stu Murphy and Lee Watson were on target for the Wanderers but they were unable to find a third to give them a share of the points.