It was a weekend of celebration for Marsh United, as both their first team and reserves were crowned champions of their respective divisions. The first team continued their unbeaten run in Division Two with a dominant 3-0 victory over Wigan Rovers, while the reserves sealed the Division Three title with a composed 2-0 win at Walmer Bridge Reserves. With both sides still in contention for additional silverware, Marsh United’s season could yet get even better.
Elsewhere, AFC Ainsdale Reserves delivered a statement performance, with Matthew Howard stealing the headlines after netting four goals in their emphatic 5-1 win over Shevington Reserves. In the Premiership, Standish St Wilfrids produced a ruthless display, putting six past Preston Wanderers, while Eccleston & Heskin’s first-half blitz ensured a 3-0 victory at Shevington. Across the divisions, key battles were fought, and promotion races continued to heat up as teams approached the final stretch of the season.
PREMIERSHIP
Broughton Amateurs AFC 2-0 Tarleton Corinthians
Broughton Amateurs AFC secured a solid 2-0 victory over Tarleton Corinthians, with Liam Bell delivering a superb brace to seal the win. A composed performance saw Broughton dictate the game and claim all three points.
Burscough Dynamo 1-3 Highgrove
Burscough Dynamo found themselves outclassed by Highgrove in a 3-1 defeat. Bradley Fanning managed to get on the scoresheet for the hosts, but Highgrove took control through Bradley Diamond’s 25th-minute opener before Joe Martin’s well-taken goals in the 40th and 45th minutes wrapped up a deserved win.
Preston Wanderers 0-6 Standish St Wilfrids
Preston Wanderers endured a torrid afternoon as Standish St Wilfrids ran riot with a commanding 6-0 triumph. Johan Du Toit and Ross Ellison got things started before Samir Sobeih bagged a brace. Jay Bramwell came off the bench to add two more in a ruthless display from the visitors.
Shevington 0-3 Eccleston & Heskin
Shevington suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to Eccleston & Heskin, who showed their quality in a dominant first-half display. Jordan Aird broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, finishing off a well-worked move to put the visitors ahead. Shevington struggled to respond, and Eccleston & Heskin doubled their lead in the 35th minute through Scott Snape, who found the net with a clinical strike.
Before Shevington could regroup, Aird struck again just three minutes before the break to seal the win for Eccleston & Heskin. Despite some improved possession in the second half, the hosts couldn’t break down a resolute defensive display from the visitors, who comfortably saw out the match.
DIVISION ONE
Astley FC 2-0 Leyland RAFA
Astley FC left it late to claim a 2-0 victory over Leyland RAFA in a match that was goalless at the break. The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute when Charles Young capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire his side into the lead. The visitors struggled to mount a response as Astley grew in confidence.
Substitute Adam Lord then put the result beyond doubt in the 71st minute, slotting home after some intricate build-up play. Leyland RAFA fought hard but failed to trouble the Astley backline, allowing the home side to see out the win with relative comfort.
Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves 1-3 Appley Bridge
Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves started brightly, taking an early lead in the 9th minute through Tomas Wright, and they held that advantage into half-time. However, Appley Bridge came out firing in the second half, equalizing through Liam Hilton in the 52nd minute.
The momentum had swung, and Appley Bridge took full control as Daniel Atkins struck in the 77th minute to put them ahead. Hilton then wrapped up the victory with his second goal of the match in the 82nd minute, securing a 3-1 comeback win for the visitors.
Standish St Wilfrids Reserves 2-0 Sir Tom Finney
Standish St Wilfrids Reserves secured a routine 2-0 victory over Sir Tom Finney, controlling the game from start to finish. Alexander Favell opened the scoring just before the break, slotting home in the 44th minute to give his side a deserved lead.
Favell doubled his tally in the 51st minute, ensuring Standish St Wilfrids Reserves maintained their grip on the game. Sir Tom Finney struggled to find a response as the home side managed the remainder of the match effectively to seal all three points.
DIVISION TWO
Marsh United 3-0 Wigan Rovers
Marsh United continue their dominance, easing past Wigan Rovers with goals from Jamie Coulton, Daniel Smith, and Fynlay Robert Wren. With one game remaining, they’ve already wrapped up the Division Two title. The big question now is: can they finish the season unbeaten?
Middleton & Overton Sports FC 1-0 Astley FC Reserves
Middleton & Overton Sports FC edged out Astley FC Reserves with a narrow 1-0 victory, thanks to an early goal from Jack Burba. The striker found the net in the 9th minute, latching onto a well-placed pass to slot home the winner.
Despite Astley FC Reserves’ best efforts, they were unable to break through a disciplined Middleton & Overton defense. The hosts held firm to secure all three points in a closely contested encounter.
DIVISION THREE
AFC Ainsdale Reserves 5-1 Shevington Reserves
AFC Ainsdale Reserves put on a second-half masterclass to claim a 5-1 victory over Shevington Reserves. The visitors took an early lead in the 20th minute through Ben Lyons, but their advantage was short-lived as Matthew Howard equalized in the 38th minute, sending the teams into the break level at 1-1.
The second half was all about Howard, who completed his hat-trick in stunning fashion with goals in the 51st, 60th, and 67th minutes, leaving Shevington Reserves shell-shocked. As the visitors struggled to regroup, Ciaran Smith added a fifth in the 76th minute to round off a dominant performance by AFC Ainsdale Reserves.
Walmer Bridge Reserves 0-2 Marsh United Reserves
Marsh United Reserves rounded off their season with a win, sealing their place as Division Three champions. Jack Benson and Ethan Markland grabbed the goals, confirming their dominance as they now turn their attention to the Lancastrian Brigade Cup.
LIVERPOOL FA INTERMEDIARY JUNIOR CUP
Bickerstaffe 1-2 Cheshire Lines
Bickerstaffe suffered heartbreak in the semi-finals, losing 2-1 to Cheshire Lines despite leading at halftime. Will Lamb had given them the lead, and they even missed a penalty before the break. However, their opponents turned the game around in the second half to deny them a place in the final. Despite the disappointment, this was an improvement on last year’s campaign, where they exited a round earlier.