PILKINGTONS A team rose to the occasion to progress into the Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup semi-finals.

Their mixture of young talent and experienced former Mid-Cheshire league stalwarts, outlasted Combination Premiership title chasers, Billinge FC, through extra-time and then a penalty shoot-out to qualify to meet another top premier side, College St Helens in the semis this Saturday at Grange Park.

In league action Penlake Juniors whipped Eccleston United 3-0 at Ecclesfield, thanks to a Mark Carrigg hat-trick. College, however, were made to fight all the way before Eddie Furlong's goal decided the match against Haydock outfit Old Congs. Ronnie Cooke was the toast of Carr Mill Hotel on Saturday, his goal deciding the needle game at Parr Stocks and edging out title-chasing Shoe FC.

In Division One, Clock Face Miners Welfare consolidated their place at the summit as John Roby hit four with Mick Wilson grabbing the other in a 5-0 thumping of Nogs Head. The expected tough game to decide chasing places did not materialise as Rifle dominated Earlestown, with Mark Neild, Steve Oakes, Darren Derbyshire and Mick Broderick scoring in a 4-1 win.

A 5-0 away win for Cowley Hill Park Reserves at Rainford North End Reserves prevented Bull and Dog from leap-frogging above them to the top of Division Two, Brian Rolls (2), Ian Tonge and Graham Birch scoring in a 4-2 home win over Bold Miners.

In Sunday Division games, Bleak Hill Rovers just managed the points in a 2-0 win at Bobbies Lane, while Neil Hoghton hit a hat-trick and older brother Paul scored two as East Sutton Labour whipped Bold Miners 5-0 at Parr Stocks.

The Open Age Group One Inter League match between St Helens and Leigh District League was called off last Thursday at the last minute. No date for the game has yet been received.

This Thursday, David Oakes and Matty Innes (Bleak Hill Rovers) plus York's David McNabb will be engaged in the Liverpool CFA's Youth game versus Lancashire FA at the County Ground, Walton.

And on Sunday, March 4 at Ruskin Drive, kick-off 2pm the Combination's under-18 squad will face West Derby SFL in the semi-final of the Liverpool C FA under-18 Inter League Championship. Already in the final of the equivalent Lancashire FA competition, where they face South Lancs Counties, St Helens will be going all out to make it through to a well-earned double.

The squad for Sunday, asked to meet at Ruskin Drive at 1pm, is: Ian Nicholson, Andy Smith (Pilkingtons), Jon Harper, Mich Haw, Neil Arkwright, Gary Bennett (Hardshaw Argyle), Matty Innes, David Oakes, Martin Bromiley (Bleak Hill Rovers), Danny Eaton (Sidac Social), Mark Gavin (Clock Face Miners Welfare), Keiron Hynes (Carr Mill), Tom Walsh, Graham Billinge (Junction), David McNabb, David Gormally (York FC). All players are asked to report to manager Joe Paladino at 1pm. RESULTS

Saturday, February 14

Star Premier Division: Eccleston United 0 Penlake Juniors 3, Shoe FC 0 Carr Mill 1, Sidac Social 0 East Sutton Labour 1, Nutgrove 7 Junction 2, College of St Helens 1 Old Congs (Haydock) 0.

Division One: Clock Face Miners 5 Nogs Head 0, Prescot Leisure Reserves 4 Hammer 4, Sportsmans 2 Billinge Reserves 0, Rifle 4 Earlestown 1, Gerard Arms Reserves 0 Carborundum 2, Broad Oak 0 Hardshaw Argyle 2, Travellers Rest 5 Cowley Hill Park 2.

Division Two: Bowling Green 4 Owls Nest 0, Rainford North End Reserves 0 Cowley Hill Park Reserves 5, Ramford Rangers 0 Leach Lane 6, Bull and Dog 4 Bold Miners 2.

Hospital Cup 3rd round: Billinge 1 Pilkington A 1 (aet) Pilkington won 4-3 on penalties. .

Sunday Division: Bobbies Lane 0 Bleak Hill Rovers 2, East Sutton Labour 5 Bold Miners 0, Ex Services United 2 Penlake 4, Sutton Heath Panthers 0 York 4.

FIXTURES

Saturday, March 3

Hospital Cup semi-final, kick-off 2.15pm: College St Helens v Pilks A (D. Deluce), Earlestown v Shoe (G. O'Brien). Both semi-finals at KGV, Grange Park.

Rainford Potteries Cup semi-final, kick-off 2.15pm: Cowley Hill Reserves v Billinge Reserves (G. Barker).

Premier Division: Old Congs (Haydock) v Rainford North End (K. Taylor), Junction v Sidac Social (H. Ireland), Penlake v Gerard Arms (W. Carlton), Eccleston United v East Sutton (G. Parsonage).

Division One: Carborundum v Travellers Rest (K. Shields), Prescot Leisure Reserves v Hardshaw Argyle (C. Hale), Broad Oak v Nogs Head (D. Pilkington), Sportsmans v Hammer (H. Nulty), Clock Face v Rifle (B. Dixon).

Division Two: Owls Nest v Bull and Dog (C. Tunstall), Bold Miners v Bowling Green (D. Allen), Rainford North End Reserves v Grosvenor Park (P. Parr), Leach Lane v Clock Face Reserves (B. Teebay).

Sunday March 4

Liverpool CFA Under 18 Inter League, at Ruskin Drive, kick off 2pm: St Helens Combination v West Derby JFL.

Sunday Division: Penlake v York, Rose and Crown v East Sutton Labour, Deaf Sports and Social v Owens Corning, Sutton Heath Panthers v Bobbies Lane, Ex Services United v Bleak Hill Rovers.