BILLINGE FC and Shoe FC still lead the way at the top of the St Helens Combination Star Premier Division with College St Helens and Penlake, perhaps the only clubs capable of catching them, depending on trouble-free team selections for the six or seven games they are behind.

In Premiership games at the weekend, Rob Dillon hit the all-important goal that gave College a1-0 home win over Penlake. Gerard Arms, at present just behind the leaders, had to battle all the way for a 5-4 success at Sidac Social, Mark Clancy and Danny White both grabbing a couple, with Derek Laughton hitting the other for Gerard. Paul Eaton, Carl Pilling and Kev Statter replied for Sidac.

Carr Mill came unstuck 1-2 at Eccleston, whose goals came from Dean Jordan and Steve Menalry. BNtgrove's two victories have now lifted them away from the foot of the table, the 3-0 home win over Old Congs being quite convincing.

Paul Piert marked his return from injury with a goal n Shoe FC's 5-0 thumping of Rainford North End, others coming from Mal Saunders, Steve Kenny, Paul Hopwood and Mark Wellans. Robbie Stroud scored five goals in Billinge's 7-0 trouncing of out-of-form Junction with Mike Pilkington and Dave Johnson also finding the net.

In Division One, Clock Face Miners Welfare still sit on top following their 2-0 home win (John Roby, Mike Wilson) over Billinge Reserves. Although both Phil Jackson and Aidie Burton were on target for Nogs Head, they went under 2-5 at Rifle with Paul Smith (3) and Mick Broderick (2), sharing the goals. Sportsmans Athletic just held out as Steve Dearden, Paul Norman and Paul Wood goals gave them a 3-2 advantage over Hardshaw Argyle. Prescot Leisure Reserves, with goals from John Ellis, Steve Booth and Peter Dooley, were too hot for Carborundum with a 3-1 home win. But despite an Andy Travis goal, Travellers Rest went down 1-4 at home to Hammer.

Struggling Broad Oak at last found form in a 3-0 home win over Cowley Hill Park, while Earlestown, having their best run for a long while, also won 3-0 away at Gerard Arms Reserves to keep them in the honours hunt.

The Division Two top spot is still occupied by Cowley Hill Park Reserves, but hot on their heels are the unbeaten Grosvenor Park outfit whose 6-3 away win at Bold Miners (J. Ody, N. Ody and R. Thorpe) keeps them in touch with games in hand. Bull and Dog, with goals by Ian Tonge, Steve Featherstone, Paul Molyneux and Brian Rolls (2) had a 5-2 win against Bowling Green. Ramford Rangers put up a battling show despite losing 0-3 to Clock Face Miners Reserves, and Leach Lane had something to celebrate thumping Owls Nest, 6-1 at home, Steve Campion hitting four goals and others being added by Mark Jones and John Trollope.

The Sunday Division also had a full programme with Bleak Hill Rovers (Matty Innes, Martin Bromley, Andy Creaghan and Rich Gallaghar) holding on for a 5-4 win over Owens Corning. Bold Miners gained full points with a 4-2 win at Bobbies Lane FC, but York went under 0-1 at home to leaders East Sutton Labour. Penlake's Anthony Winrow, Paul Inman and Darren Challinor were on target in a 3-1 win over Sutton Heath Panthers.

The Open Age Inter League game at Warrington was called off by the referee. The game has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, February 6, again at Warrington, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Under 18s Lancashire FA semi-final will take place on Friday, February 2, kick-off 8pm, at Robin Park. Coach leaves Birchley Street at 6.30pm.

Meanwhile, last Saturday, four of the Combination under 18s lads, Matty Innes and Dave Oakes (Bleak Hill Rovers), Dave McNabb from York (Sunday) and Danny Leyland (Pilkingtons) made great impressions in a convincing 3-1 away win for the Liverpool County FA Youth side over Cumberland FA at Egremont. Matty Innes grabbed two of the goals. RESULTS

Star Premier Division: College St Helens 1 Penlake 0, Eccleston United 2 Carr Mill 1, Nutgrove 3 Old Congs 0, Shoe 5 Rainford North End 0, Billinge 7 Junction 0, Sidac Social 4 Gerard Arms 5.

Division One: Clock Face 2 Billinge Reserves 0, Rifle 5 Nogs Head 2, Sportsmans 3 Hardshaw Argyle 2, Prescot Leisure Reserves 3 Carborundum 1, Travellers Rest 1 Hammer 4, Broad Oak 3 Cowley Hill Park 0, Gerard Arms Reserves 0 Earlestown 3.

Division Two: Bowling Green 2 Bull and Dog 5, Bold Miners 3 Grosvenor Park 6, Ramford Rangers 0 Clock Face Reserves 3, Leach Lane 6 Owls Nest 1.

Sunday Division: Bleak Hill Rovers 5 Owens Corning 4, Bobbies Lane 2 Bold Miners 4, Penlake 3 Sutton Heath Panthers 1, York 0 East Sutton Labour 1.

FIXTURES

Friday February 2.

Lancashire FA Under 18 Inter League semi final at Robin Park, Wigan, kick-off 8pm: Wigan Amateur League v St Helens Combination.

Saturday,February 3

Star Premier Division: Gerard Arms v East Sutton (K. Shields), Junction v Rainford North End (B. Dixon), Nutgrove v Carr Mill (W. Carlton), Billinge v Sidac Social (D. Deluce).

Division One: Nogs Head v Cowley Hill Park (B. Teebay), Sportsmans v Earlestown (H. Ireland), Carborundum v Hardshaw Argyle (M. Cammack), Travellers Rest v Rifle (G, Barker), Broad Oak v Clock Face (N. Hanmer), Gerard Arms Reserves v Billinge Reserves (G. O'Brien).

Division Two: Rainford North End Reserves v Bull and Dog (L. Eaton), Leach Lane v Grosvenor Park (R. Deakin), Ramford Rangers v Bowling Green (G. Parsonage), Cowley Hill Reserves v Clock Face Reserves (C. Hale).

Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup (kick off 2pm).

Third round: Pilkington A v Hammer.

Fourth round: Penlake Juniors v Shoe, Bold Miners v College St Helens.

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

Tuesday, February 6

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