THE last two weekends have seen Division One leaders Higher Folds if not quite struggling, then certainly not coasting, in cup ties against lower graded opposition.

A 4-0 win over Fir Tree Rangers the previous week, in which three of those goals came in the last 25 minutes, was followed last Saturday by Division Two outfit Courts B making life difficult for the favourites in the Davenport Cup round one before going down to a 3-1 defeat.

Steve Connor put Folds in front on six minutes only for Phil Rothwell to level on 18. The reigning Division One champions then had to sweat a little before two goals from Mick Blakeley on 56 and 69 minutes sealed a place in round two.

Folds always that ability to come good late on, but having not romped to the expected high score victory over Courts B it does raise the interest level that little higher for tomorrow's Carl Brown Memorial Trophy round one meeting with Courts A team.

Back to last weekend and the cup clash between Church Inn and Royal Oak needed extra time to sort out a winner. The two finished 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes, Gary Nugent and Mark Spencer scoring for the home side and Paul Bostock and Ralph Eastham for the visitors. The tie was settled in Oak's favour with a strike from Paul Gibbons eight minutes into over time for a 3-2 win. Jason Shacklady (2), Jason Hardman, Chris Mulcahy and Mark Broli saw Britannia to a 5-3 win at Astley Villa, Andy Lomas (2) and Andy Stevenson scoring for the losers. Leigh Sportsmen had little difficulty in a 7-0 away win at Division Two side Mechanics Arms, Neil Thompson (2), John Pilkington, Greg Drake, Shane Brennan, Jason Caldwell and Mark Kent leading the dismantling job. As expected, Fir Tree Rangers go through after goals from Phil Buxton, Damien Lowe, Graham Rigby and Roger Bond earned a 4-0 away at Asda Golborne.

Two second round ties were played with a 38th minute Paul Banks goal clinching a 1-0 home win over Division Two outfit Horns Inn. In the Atherton derby, goals from Ryan Shaw (2), Jonathan Woods and Steve Harris saw C&N to a 4-1 away win at Hag Fold WMC after Stuart McPike had given the home team an 18th minute lead.

On the league front, Division One side Moonraker were 6-3 winners away to Union Arms. The home side led 2-0 at the break through Jason Huyton and Barry Lowe but the second half was, other than a 60th minute second goal for Lowe, all one way traffic with goals from Lee Morris, Wayne Pitchford, Steve Anderton, Scott Mulcrow, Danny Brookes and Lee Sellers. In Division Two an Albert Griffiths goal five minutes from time earned Sir Charles Napier a 1-0 away win at Howe Bridge Mills and two from Stuart Molyneux and one from Dave Grayson gave Three Crowns B a 3-0 home win over Sailors and Soldiers.