St Helens Combination THE clash of the St Helens Comboination's Premiership leaders lived up to all expectations with Shoe FC and Billinge eventually sharing the spoils in a terrific game at Parr Stocks.

Shoe twice took the lead only for Billinge to draw level to keep the two outfits neck and neck.

The recently-returned Paul Piert -- a fractured leg victim last year -- gave Shoe an early lead, but Mike Pilkington levelled with a grand effort. A pinpoint corner from Steve Kenny allowed Gary Benyon to steal in at the far post with a terrific header to again put Shoe in front, but the wily and tireless Rob Stroud thudded home a great header for Billinge's second equaliser.

Penlake and College St Helens, also still in with a chance, both had good wins. Penlake slammed East Sutton Labour 8-1 with goals from Kevin McNabb (3), Neil Whittle (2), Mark Carrigg, Paul Inman and a John Sinnott penalty. College meanwhile came from behind to snatch a last-gasp 2-1 win over Gerard Arms (Mike Clancy) with the credit for both goals going to Tom Brogan.

Derek Pilling scored the game's only goal as Sidac Social edged home at Old Congs (Haydock) and John Ogden was again on target twice, along with Philip Highton, to give Nutgrove a 3-2 win at Carr Mill (Gary Ball 2). Gavin Scott (3), Andy Lamb, Paul Styles, Dean Jordan and Trever Roberts scored for Eccleston United as they humbled Junction 7-1.

In Division One Clock Face Miners Welfare (P. Eccleston 2 and L. Hollinghurst) beat Carborundum 3-0, while Hardshaw Argyle went down 3-2 at Billinge Reserves (D. Johnson 2, B.Kenyon). Sportsmans just edged out Gerard Arms Reserves, 4-3 at home and Rifle's Paul Smith hit a last-gasp winner, to add to a Mark Neild effort, as they beat Hammer 2-1. Cowley Hill Park went down 4-3 to Nogs Head. The losers' goals came from Steve Bannister, Gary Boardman and Jamie Foster, with Peter Jackson, Aidie Burton, Matty Haddock and Alex McDougall on target for Nogs Head. Struggling Broad Oak, despite player a shortage, managed to beat Prescot Leisure Reserves 2-0 at Parr Stocks.

In Division Two Bull and Dog gave North End Reserves a hard time with goals from Barry Rolls (4), Ian Tonge, Gary Birch, Ste Bennett and Paul Molyneux giving them an 8-0 home win. Goals by Glover and Gavin gave Clock Face Miners Reserves a narrow 2-1 away win at Bowling Green who missed a penalty before Andy McCallum's lone reply. Pilkingtons A team's youngsters excelled themselves, David Cottington (2), Darren Smith, Neil Conway and Joe Hand (2) scoring in a 6-2 home win over Leach Lane. Tony Edge and Nick Duff were the target men in Grosvenor Park's 2-1 top-of-the-table win over Cowley Hill Park Reserves. Ramford Rangers' young outfit, still awaiting their first points, were leading 3-0 at Owls Nest but ran out of steam and finally went under 5-4.

In a Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup 4th round tie, Alan Boyle's penalty for Rainford North End could not prevent a 2-1 defeat by Earlestown, who now face Premier Division Shoe FC in the semi-final. This weekend, Billinge face Pilkingtons A team to decide who faces College St Helens in the other semi-final, both due to be played on March 3 on neutral grounds.

In Sunday Division matches, Penlake completely overwhelmed Bobbies Lane to go into double figures and St Helens Panthers fully deserved their 3-1 win over Ex Services United. In a Rainhill derby Rose and Crown just had the edge beating York 4-3, but Bold Miners could not take advantage of home-ground as Owens Corning beat them 4-7.

Tonight (Thursday, February 22) the Open Age Inter-League side are scheduled to visit Atherton Colls FC ground to contest a North West Alliance Inter League Group One game against Leigh and District Football League. The squad will leave Birchley Street at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm kick-off. And on Tuesday February 27 they are due to visit Victoria Park, Warrington to face Warrington and District Amateur League in the same competition, kick-off, 7.45pm. RESULTS

Star Premier Division: Eccleston United 7 Junction 1, Penlake 8 East Sutton 1, Old Congs 0 Sidac Social 1, Carr Mill 2 Nutgrove 3, College St Helens 2 Gerard Arms 1, Shoe 2 Billinge 2.

Division One: Clock Face 3 Carborundum 0, Billinge Reserves 3 Hardshaw Argyle 2, Sportsmans 4 Gerard Arms Reserves 3, Rifle 2 Hammer 1, Nogs Head 4 Cowley Hill Park 3, Broad Oak 2 Prescot Leisure Reserves 0.

Division Two: Bowling Green 1 Clock Face Reserves 2, Pilkington A 6 Leach Lane 2 , Grosvenor Park 2 Cowley Hill Reserves 1, Owls Nest 5 Ramford Rangers 4, Bull and Dog 8 Rainford North End Reserves 0

Hospital Cup 4th round: Rainford North End 1 Earlestown 2.

Sunday Division: Bold Miners 4 Owens Corning 7, Penlake 10 Bobbies Lane 0, Rose and Crown 4 York 3, Sutton Heath Panthers 3 Ex Services United 1.

FIXTURES

Thursday, February 22

North West Inter League Alliance, Group One at Atherton Colls, kick off 7.45pm: Leigh and District League v St Helens Combination.

Saturday, February 14

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

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

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

Hospital Cup 3rd Round, kick-off 2.15pm: Billinge v Pilkington A.

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

Tuesday, February 27

North West Inter League Alliance Group One at Victoria Park, Warrington, kick-off 7.45pm: Warrington and District v St Helens Combination.