St Helens Combination DESPITE the improved weather, there were still only 12 games completed over the weekend.

The Liverpool CFA Under 18 Inter League championship tie was staged at Robin Park, Wigan on Friday evening with the Combination lads visiting South Lancs Counties and what a game it turned out to be.

Both outfits gave a masterful display of good, intelligent, soccer. St Helens took a 20th-minute lead with an intelligently-worked goal by Jon Harper (Hardshaw Argyle) and within five minutes had increased this through Bleak Hill Rovers' Martin Bromilow.

Just two minutes into the second half Graham Billinge (Junction) put St Helens 3-0 up. South Lancs replied with a penalty, but the Combination restored their advantage through Matty Innes with a typical run and score.

However, South Lancs scored twice in 10 minutes to put the pressure on and only dour defending enabled the lads to hold on for a well-deserved 4-3 success to give new manager Joe Paladino a good start to the two County FA campaigns.

RESULTS

Liverpool FA Under 18 Inter-League: South Lancs Counties 3 St Helens Combination 4.

Saturday, December 2

Star Premier Division: Old Congs 2 Shoe FC 5, East Sutton 1 Gerard Arms 3, Penlake 5 Carr Mill 1.

Division One: Prescot Reserves 4 Nogs Head 1, Hardshaw Argyle 6 Carborundum 2.

Division Two: Grosvenor Park 3 Leach Lane 3, Bold Miners 1 Rainford North End Reserves 2, Owls Nest 3 Pilkington 9.

Liverpool CFA Intermediate Cup 3rd round: Bull and Dog 1 Edgehill BC OB 3, De La Salle OB 3 Sportsmans Athletic 3.

Northern Cup Competition 1st round: Rifle 6 Winstanley St Aidans Reserves 2.

Sunday

Sunday Division: Bold Miners 1 Bleak Hill Rovers 3, East Sutton Labour 2 Sutton Heath Panthers 1.

LCFA Sunday Intermediate Cup 3rd round: Phonett 4 Penlake 3.

FIXTURES

Saturday, December 9

Star Premier Division: College St Helens v Nutgrove, Billinge v Old Congs, Shoe FC v Rainford North End.

Division One: Nogs Head v Billinge Reserves, Clock Face v Cowley Hill Park, Rifle v Hardshaw Argyle , Prescot Reserves v Earlestown, Broad Oak v Carborundum.

Division Two: Bull and Dog v Grosvenor Park, Ramford Rangers v Leach Lane, Bowling Green v Cowley Hill Reserves, Pilkington A v Clock Face Reserves.

Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup 2nd round, kick-off 1.30pm: Travellers Rest v Sportsmans Athletic, Gerard Arms v Sidac Social, Hammer v East Sutton Labour, Penlake Juniors v Carr Mill.

Sunday

Liverpool CFA Intermediate Cup 3rd round: Valour v Rose and Crown.

Sunday Division: Bleak Hill Rovers v Ex Services United, Bobbies Lane v York, Deaf Sports and Social v Owens Corning, Penlake v East Sutton Labour.