Latest from the Houlihan's Birkenhead Sunday Football League

Oct 14 2009 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

IN the Houlihan's Birkenhead Sunday Football League, Vauxhall Motors entertained Altrincham at Rivacre Park in the FA Youth Cup second qualifying round.

Tom Byrne got the Motormen firing on all cylinders with a great strike but the away side levelled with less than 15 minutes on the clock.

A now tiring motors had nothing left in the tank, and the Robins took full advantage to nick the tie 2-1.

In the Wirral Premier Cup second round, The Towers sank AFC Mississippi 5-2 thanks to a Craig Smith double and further strikes from Robbie Black, Mike Pickles and Dave Rudge.

Luke Denson and Stu Watterson were in reply for the Zippy’s. Phil Campbell and Clint Evans fired Heygarth into Round Three against New Ferry Wirral Hotel.

The game needed extra time after Lee Yarlett had given the Ferry the lead. Queens Park trounced Westminster 8-0 with doubles coming from Andy Bolton, Mike Burke and James Atherton.

Matty O’Shea and Stephen Atherton were in support. Jamie Kenyon hammered home a hat-trick as he led his Rock Ferry side to a 5-0 win over Lions from the Wallasey League.

Matty Easterbrook, Steve James and Phil Hudson made sure of the Woodchurchs’ passage through to the next round against 80’s Casuals in a 3-1 win. Neston Nomads fired six without reply against fellow Prem side Brow FC.

Hat-tricks were to be had from Dave Forbes and Richie Foulks. Bull Groves from Ellesmere Port threatened to cause an upset against Hoylake Athletic. The anchor men though wouldn’t give in and managed to come through 3-2 winners. Dean Murphy and Wayne Hulse netted as the Argyll won 2-1 versus the Great Float of Wallasey.

Bidston Hotel had Adam Mazier firing in a double as well as strikes from Tony Taylor and Mike Parnell as they tamed the Lions who had captain Craig Parry and Ben Bennett in reply. At 4-1 down the Lions also missed a penalty in what was described as a cracking cup tie. The game of round two had to be Saddle Club versus Grace from Ellesmere Port.Five nil down at half time the Saddle battled back to notch extra time following a Marc Askew hat-trick and a Tom Hodson double. Chris Hawthorne fired home in extra-time to make the score 6-6 and the dreaded penalty shoot-out followed.

The Saddle boys held their nerve to walk away with an impressive 9-8 shoot-out win.

Pollards again failed to find the net as they succumbed to Wirral League table toppers Brombrough FC in the second round of the Wirral Junior Cup. FC Vaults lost out to the Grange by the same score line.

Shafts Youth marched into round three of the Wirral Youth Cup as they defeated Cetco Europe 4-2.

Ellesmere Port lost out to an energetic Princes Villa 7-1, whilst Victoria Laird Colts ran home 3-1 winners against Chester Nomads.

John Skipsey, Mark Hopwood and Leigh Cromson got the goals.

Tommy Curran fired home a sweet right footed effort from all of thirty-yards as his Kings Arms side defeated Bebington Legion 2-0 in the Tony Smith League Cup. Mark Bishop added the second.

Dave McKeown netted two alongside strikes from Leigh Hutton and Steve Riley as they helped Millcroft defeat Primrose 4-0 in the M&A Groundwork Cup.

Punchbowl hammered home three via a Luke Ivory double and a single from Andy Burris but it still wasn’t enough as a strong Neston Athletic (Higgins 2, Mars, Tierney, Pearson) hit five in reply.

In League action Irby Club scored a dramatic late winner against Stirrup Sports and Social in the Premier Division. Danny McGill put the away side ahead but Irby had Lee Jones and Chris Griffiths to thank for netting all three points.

A Carl Cook double had Oak Tree 2-0 up at half time against Bushell Athletic in Division One.

John O’Donnell scored twice to get Bushell’s level and Zach Smith then struck to give the away side the lead.

An equaliser from Charlie Kearns then seemed to give both sides a point until super-sub Danny Wood fired home a winner for Bushell’s. Parkside had the Willows weeping as strikes from Anthony Daniels and Shaun Burgess gave them the lead.

Ben McGwaa and John Paul Lewis got the Saughall Massie lads level and then ex-Parkside player Anthony Clarke danced past three defenders before slotting home for a 3-2 win.

Division Two pacesetters Shore Villa had a Tom Kellock wonder strike to thank as they edged past a battling Beehive 5-3 at the Octel Club.

Adam Lea netted a hat-trick alongside a fine Craig Davies strike.

The men in reply for the Bees were right back Paul Sinnott and a brace from Andy Jones.

GRAEME KEARNEY