THE St Helens Combination's under-18 Inter League outfit reached the final of the Lancashire FA Inter League Championship after a hard-fought 5-3 extra time success over Wigan Amateur League at Robin Park.

And they will be looking to make their appearance at Leyland's County ground, a case of fourth time lucky as the previous three final appearances (1994/95/97) all met with defeat.

One of the stars of a fine game was Martin Bromiley of Bleak Hill Rovers. He gave St Helens a 22nd minute lead only for the home side to equalise two minutes later.

After the interval, Wigan put the Combination defence under pressure and by the hour they were 3-1 up courtesy of two further goals (one a penalty).

The Combination lads hit back though with Matty Innes, Bromiley and Graham Billinge taking advantage of brilliant defence work by McNabb and Oakes to run at the shaky Wigan defence and force a penalty from which Mich Haw reduced the arrears. This was followed by a typical Matty Innes strike to take the game into extra-time.

St Helens completely dominated the extra period and Graham Billinge scored in each half to clinch victory. Without singling out too many inviduals, along with Martin Bromiley, mentionmust also go to keeper Ian Nicholson who brought off some magnificent saves to keep the Combination in conetntion early on.

Back on the 'home front', the Hospital Cup 3rd round tie between Pilkington A and Hammer was postponed and will now be played this weekend. In the fourth round ties Steve Pinder and Steph Kenny scored the goals that saw Shoe FC through at the expense of fancied Penlake Juniors, while College St Helens, with goals by Dollin, Furlong (2) and Brogan, had no trouble in eliminating Bold Miners (Holden) 6-1.

In the Premiership, Billinge fill the top spot after a 5-0 home win over Sidac Social, Tom Blackburn (2), Rob Stroud, Mike Pilkington and Paul Farrell scoring. Hard on their heels, though, alongside Shoe, are Gerard Arms, whose senior player Dave Bierne hit all three in their 3-0 win over East Sutton Labour, who are finding the top section a bit too much for their young outfit.

College St Helens, now seven games in hand, may find it rather a tall order to bridge the gap, but, without dropping points it could be done.

Dave Rawsthorne grabbed a hat-trick in North End's 4-1 win at Junction (Peter Kelly), Mark Abbott getting the fourth. Johnny Odgen has certainly lost none of his scoring ability on his return to the Combination, his double, plus others from Jeff Highton (2) and Sean Highton gave Nutgrove a 5-0 success over Carr Mill.

Clock Face Miners Welfare are opening a gap at the top of Division One following their 4-0 away win at Broad Oak. Just behind are Rifle, who had to pull out the stops for a single-goal win at Travellers Rest. Earlestown's gallop came to a halt as Sportsmans (Paul Wood) held them 1-1. Dave Cardwell hit both goals for Carborundum, but, they went down 2-3 to Hardshaw Argyle. Billinge Reserves just had the edge to take the points 2-3 at Gerard Arms Reserves, their scorers being Johnson (2) and Morgan and Bradbury grabbing both the Gerard goals. Ellis (2), Roberts and Glenn Howard got on the sheet for Nogs Head in their 4-0 win over Cowley Hill Park.

In Division Two Grosvenor Park's game at Leach Lane and Bull and Dog's match at Rainford North End Reserves were both postponed. Leaders Cowley Hill Reserves, however, did not take advantage, going down 2-4 at home to Clock Face Miners Welfare Reserves. Bowling Green's 4-0 win at Ramford Rangers gave them their first league win of the season.

In the Sunday Division, the only games played were a 4-0 away win by Bleak Hill Rovers at Penlake and a 12-0 goal spree for Sutton Heath Panthers over Deaf Sports and Social. All the rest were called off by the referee. RESULTS

Lancashire FA under-18 Inter League semi final: Wigan Amateur League 3 St Helens Combination 5 (aet).

Star Premier Division: Gerard Arms 3 East Sutton 0, Junction 1 Rainford North End 4, Nutgrove 5 Carr Mill 0, Billinge 5 Sidac Social 0.

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

Division Two: Ramford Rangers 0 Bowling Green 4, Cowley Hill Reserves 2 Clock Face Reserves 4.

Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup 4th round: Penlake Juniors 0 Shoe 2, Bold Miners 1 College St Helens 6.

Sunday Division: Penlake 0 Bleak Hill Rovers 4, Sutton Heath Panthers 12 Deaf Sports and Social 0.

FIXTURES

Saturday, February 10, kick-off 2.30pm

Star Premier Division: Gerard Arms v Eccleston (H. Ireland), Junction v Shoe (G. O'Brien), Nutgrove v Sidac Social (M. Hallwood), Old Congs v Carr Mill (N. Hanmer), Rainford North End v Penlake (W. Carlton), East Sutton v College St Helens (S. Halligan).

Division One: Nogs Head v Clock Face, Earlestown v Billinge Reserves (M. Graham), Carborundum v Sportsmans (M. Cammack), Cowley Hill Park v Rifle (C. Tunstall), Gerard Arms Reserves v Broad Oak (R. Deakin), Prescot Leisure Reserves v Travellers Rest (G. Parsonage).

Division Two: Clock Face Reserves v Bold Miners (D. Pilkington), Leach Lane v Rainford North Ens Reserves (C. Hale), Owls Nest v Grosvenor Park (L. Smith), Cowley Hill Reserves v Bull and Dog (D. Harding).

Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup 3rd Round, kick-off 2.15pm: Pilkington A v Hammer (J. Goodwin).

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