THE big kick-off in the St Helens Combination produced some fine goal-scoring feats throughout the divisions.

In the St Helens Star Premier Division, Pilkington Reserves earned a hard fought 2-0 home win over a young and talented Penlake outfit, Kev Guy and Dave Bolton grabbing the goals.

Shoe and Carr Mills big names cancelled each other out for long periods but eventually Carr Mill ran out worthy 2-1 away winners.

Old Congs (Haydock), with goals from Justin Fairhurst and Gary Arnold, were just pipped at the post 2-3 by Gerard Arms in a great tussle at Haydock.

Mark Guile and Andy Taylor were on target for Rainford North End in a close 2-1 home win over promoted Child Reserves whose senior side are now contesting the I-Zingari League.

Prescot Leisure Reserves (ex-BICC Reserves) had a 3-0 home success, with goals by Evans, Hanson and Dansfield, over East Sutton Labour but in the battle between further promoted clubs, Haresfinch Social and Carborundum - home side Haresfinch ran out 4-1 winners with goals from Graham Halliwell, Paul Smith (2) and Tony Teeling.

Mike Pilkington, Paul Norman and Martin Leigh scored the goals for Sportsmans Athletic in a 3-3 Division One draw with Sidac Social, while young Karl Adams struck twice, Tony Jones (2) and Jeff Highton (2) as Nutgrove overwhelmed Billinge 7-3 (G Farrell, P Doyle 2).).

In Division Three, Hardshaw Argyle, a mixture of experience and youth made their initial mark in the Combination by outgunning, the very much improved Cowley Hill Park by 5-1. Cowley Hill's penalty being put away by Steve Taggart. Saber Doughty hit a hat-trick to give Trees FC a 3-3 home draw against new side Railway Rangers.

Division Two new club Kendrick's Cross (Brian Neild 2, Darren Lee) put up a great show before going under 3-5 at home to Pilkingtons A team for whom Ian Murray rattled in four of the best.

The Combination's Sunday campaign got under way also, now combining the clubs into the One Division of 13 teams - new club, York FC, providing two teams - York and York Reserves.

Bispham Celtic from Upholland had a great booster win for them - a 5-4 home win over the strong Brown Edge outfit. Penlake just about deserved a 2-0 success at Sutton Heath Panthers, but York Reserves received no favours at Rose and Crown, going under 7-0. The York first team, though had a reasonable 5-1 home win over Racing Rovers. RESULTS

St Helens Star Premier Division: Pilkington Reserves 2 Penlake Juniors 0, Shoe FC 1 Carr Mill FC 2, Old Congs (Haydock) 2 Gerard Arms 3, Rainford North End 2 Child Reserves 1, Prescot Leisure 3 East Sutton Labour 0, Haresfinch Social 4 Carborundum 1.

Division One: Sportsmans FC 3 Sidac Social 3, Nutgrove FC 7 Billinge FC 3, Eccleston United 2 Travellers Rest (Prov) 2, Chestnut Lodge 6 West Bank 2.

Division Two: Earlestown (Wellington) 4 Top Nogs FC 0, Clock Face Reserves 2 Green Dragon FC 1, Billinge Reserves 5 Gerard Arms Reserves 2, Bowling Green FC 3 Broad Oak FC 5, Kendricks Cross 3 Pilkington A 5.

Division Three: Bewsey FC 4 Red Star Rainford 2, Trees FC 3 Railway Rangers 3, East Sutton Reserves 2 Rainford North End Reserves 2, Grosvenor Park 6 Leach Lane FC 3, Hardshaw Argyle 5 Cowley Hill Park 1, Carr Mill Reserves 3 College St Helens 3.

Sunday Division: Bispham Celtic 5 Brown Edge 4, Penlake 2 Sutton Heath Panthers 0, Rose and Crown 7 York Reserves 0, York 5 Racing Rovers 1. FIXTURES

Saturday

St Helens Star Premier Division: Carr Mill FC v Old Congs (R McClintock), Pilkington Reserves v Shoe FC (A Burrows) at Parr Stocks, East Sutton Labour v Haresfinch Social (C Tunstall), Child Reserves v Prescot Leisure (G O'Brien), Gerard Arms v Rainford North End (H Ireland), Penlake Juniors v Carborundum (R Deakin).

Division One: Sidac Social v Nutgrove FC (T Swift), Meek FC v Sportsmans FC (M Cammack), Clock Face Miners v Chestnut Lodge (C Hulme), Billinge FC v Eccleston United (G Barker), Junction FC v West Bank FC (R Murray).

Division Two: Green Dragon FC v Bull and Dog FC (J Porter), Earlstown (Wellington) v Clock Face Reserves (P Russell), Broad Oak FC v Kendricks Cross (E Baines), Gerard Arms Reserves v Bowling Green FC (K Taylor), Top Nogs FC v Pilkington A (K Shields).

Division Three: Railway Rangers v East Sutton Reserves (D Rose), Trees FC v Red Star Rainford (D Allen), Cowley Hill Park v Carr Mill Reserves (H Nulty), Leach Lane FC v Hardshaw Argyle (L Smith), Rainford North End Reserves v Grosvenor Park (E Eccles), Bewsey FC v College St Helens (P Hughes).

Sunday Division: Athletico Nelson v Bispham Celtic (E Johnson), Bleak Hill Rovers v East Sutton Labour (T Gorman), Owens Cornings v Racing Rovers (M Hallwood), Penlake v Victoria (Rainhill) (I Lowe) 2pm, Rose and Crown v Sutton Heath Panthers (D Allen), York v Brown Edge (K Birch).

Liverpool CFA Sunday Intermediate Cup: Ex Services (Rainhill) v Swan Signs FC at King George - Huyton.

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