IN the first St Helens Combination programme of the New Year only one fixture did not get off the ground on Saturday, the Clock Face Miners Welfare versus Prescot Leisure Reserves game in Division One.

The Division One matches that were played included a clear-cut 3-0 home win for Billinge Reserves over Gerard Arms Reserves, while Jason Fairhurst and Gary Jackson found the net for Nogs Head, but Carborundum triumped 4-2 with goals from Paul Bulman (2), Mark Roby and John Mayor. And Hardshaw Argyle slammed a plucky Cowley Hill Park outfit 10-1 with goals by Jamie Taggart (4), Neil Connolly (2), Liam McGurke (2), Ant Jaundrill and Paul Smith.

In the Star Premier Division, an own goal decided the titan struggle between a now sadly-depleted Carr Mill outfit, and rivals Gerard Arms in the latter's favour, while Keith Barker was in great form, hitting all four goals for Old Congs (Haydock) in their 4-3 home win over Nutgrove. Leading 1-0 for 89 minutes by a Dean Jordan goal, Eccleston United had their legs whipped from beneath them as Billinge equalised with a last-gasp penalty.

Grosvenor Park, at last, had a game in Division Two and came good straight away with a 4-1 beating of Clock Face Miners Welfare Reserves, but Owls Nest went under 0-5 at home to Rainford North End Reserves, Marshall, Giglio, Dunlop, Hodkinson and Foster finding the net for Rainford. Mark Daverin and Les Ravenscroft were on target for Bowling Green, but they were held 2-2 at home by Leach Lane. In another tough tussle, Bold Miners held Cowley Hill Park Reserves 4-4, Ian Murphy and a Dave Smith hat-trick providing the goals for Cowley Hill. Ramford Rangers, at the foot of the Combination, but still fielding full team cards that puts to shame some of the more senior clubs, put up their usual 'never-say-die' performance but could not prevent a 11-0 away defeat at Pilkington for whom A. Mackay (2), Darren Smith (2), Cottington (2), Hand (2), Martin Foster (2) and Andy Smith were on the mark.

In the belated Hospital Cup second round ties, Carl Ward grabbed both Hammer goals in a hard tussle at home to East Sutton Labour, Mark Welding replying in the 2-1 result. Sportsmans, thanks to goals by Martin Leigh and Neil Wright, had their work cut out before defeating Travellers Rest 2-0.

In Round Three ties, Dillon (2), Furlong (2) and Walsh scored for College St Helens in a 5-2 elimination of Rifle, Steve Taylor and Darren Derbyshire replying. Earlestown, now a much improved outfit, were too strong for Junction, winning 6-3 in a reversed fixture at Earlestown. Also reversed was the Bull and Dog-Penlake tie which resulted in a 4-1 win for Penlake with goals via Kev McNabb (2), Steve Abbott and a James Jones gem. Ian Tonge hit the Bull and Dog goal.

In a tough game, reversed to Parr Stocks, Sidac Social went in at half-time leading by an Andy Eaton goal, but in the second period, they were gradually worn down and goals from Steve Kenny and John Grady saw Shoe through 2-1.

The Lancashire FA under 18 Inter League semi-final game between St Helens Combination and Wigan Amateur League has been finalised for Friday evening January 19 at Robin Park, Wigan kick-off 8pm. The squad will be notified individually regarding travelling arrangements and selection.

In Sunday Division games, York had a 3-1 home win over Ex Services United, with goals from Chris Pate, Andy Innelli and Paul Maloney. Deaf Sports and Social FC were no match for Penlake, who came away with a 7-0 win. Bold Miners and Sutton Heath Panthers battled out a 4-4 stalemate and a 10-man Owens Corning side whipped Bobbies Lane 4-1. RESULTS

Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup 2nd round: Hammer 2 East Sutton Labour 1, Sportsmans Athletic 2 Travellers Rest 0.

3rd round: Rifle FC 2 College of St Helens 5, Earlestown 6 Junction 3, Penlake Juniors 4 Bull & Dog 1, Shoe FC 2 Sidac Social 1.

Star Premier Division: Carr Mill 0 Gerard Arms 1, Old Congs (Hay) 4 Nutgrove 3, Eccleston 1 Billinge 1.

Division One: Billinge Res 3 Gerard Arms Res 0, Nogs Head 2 Carborundum 4, Hardshaw Argyle 10 Cowley Hill Park 1.

Division Two: Grosvenor Park 4 Clock Face Res 1, Bowling Green 2 Leach Lane 2, Pilkington A 11 Ramford Rangers 0, Owls Nest 0 Rainford NE Res 5, Cowley Hill Res 4 Bold Miners 4.

Sunday Division: Bold Miners 4 Sutton Heath Panthers 4, Penlake 7 Deaf Sports and Social 0, Owens Corning 4 Bobbies Lane 1, York 3 Ex Services U 1.

Saturday, January 13

Star Premier Division: Gerard Arms v Penlake (G. O'Brien), Junction v College St Helens (M. Cammack), Nutgrove v Eccleston United (S. Halligan), Sidac Social v Old Congs (C. Tunstall), Billinge v Shoe (J. Goodwin), East Sutton v Carr Mill (M. Graham).

Division One: Gerard Arms Reserves v Clock Face (M. Hallwood), Earlestown v Carborundum, Travellers Rest v Broad Oak (P. Russell), Prescot Leisure Reserves v Cowley Hill Park (G. Parsonage), Hardshaw Argyle v Nogs Head (P. Parr).

Division Two: Grosvenor Park v Bowling Green (W. Carlton), Cowley Hill Reserves v Owls Nest (K. Quinn), Clock Face Reserves v Bull and Dog (D. Harding), Ramford Rangers v Rainford North End Reserves (L. Smith), Leach Lane v Bold Miners (N. Hanmer).

Northern Cup: Hammer v Quarry Bank OB (R. Deakin), Cambridge v Rifle.

Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup 3rd round: Sportsmans Athletic v Rainford North End.

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