ST HELENS Combination Division One side Child Reserves went out of the Northern Cup Competition at the third round stage on Saturday.

lan Hughes scored both their goals in a 2-3 home defeat by Chester District League outfit Frodsham United.

Chestnut Lodge, however, are still carrying the St Helens flag as their fourth round tie was called off early in the week.

Meanwhile, Child FC's seniors, slipped slightly in their bid to retain the St Helens Star Premiership, a goalless home draw against Pilkington Reserves doing them no favours but all credit to Pilks for a splendid performance.

Rifle still sit on top, but only just, a point ahead of the Anchor, after a 3-0 home beating of East Sutton Labour, Steve Rendell, Gary Bridge and Kev Ratcliffe doing the damage.

Rainford North End warmed up for their Good Friday Hospital Cup date by winning 5-3 at Beeches Reserves through goals by Paul Windle, Chris Mackay and Andy Taylor. The Anchor gave Prescot BICC Reserves no rest at all for 90 minutes and drummed them 8-0 at Wood Lane.

In Division One Penlake were on the receiving end of a convincing double by Carborundum, who followed up their previous beating of the top side by winning 4-3. A great hat-trick from Paul Sinnott and a Chris Orchard strike being responsible.

Junction had the better of a 12 goal thriller at home versus College Street. Goals by Dave Jacks (2), the sprightly Dave Fenney (2), Mike Shone (2), veteran Keith Buck and the ageless Gary Strange giving them an 8-4 win.

Dave Reid, Gary Derbyshire, Paul and Gary Farrell goals gave Billinge a 4-1 home win over Chestnut Lodge.

Clock Face Miners Welfare move into second spot behind Penlake as a result of a 5-0 away win over Haresfinch Social. The first silverware of the season was earned by Sportsmans Athletic who cannot be overtaken at the top of Division Two. They accomplished the championship by thumping Glassblowers 4-1 with goals by Richie Rowlands (2), Neil Wright plus an own goal.

Derek Ellis, Martin Foster and great clubman Paul Rees, scored the goals for Pilkington A team in a narrow win over Earlestown (Griffin). Connor and Johnson (2) scored goals for Agrevo, who gave a splendid account of themselves before going under 3-6 to Clock Face Miners Reserves. West Bank, at last came good, a great performance giving them a 6-2 home win over Bull and Dog, Jason Greylish (3), Gary Robinson, Chris Batty and J J Groghan scoring the goals.

Billinge Reserves are now the favourites to clinch the Division Three title, but, they were made to work hard in beating Red Star (Rainford). 2-0 at Bobbies Lane. North End Reserves equalled their first team score with a 5-3 win over Prescot BICC A team, three from Lee Griffiths, plus two from Mike Parr doing the damage. During the hectic run up to the season's completion, clubs are asked to check more thoroughly with their opponents regarding colours and grounds to save unnecessary cancellations that the Combination can now ill afford.

In the Sunday Divisions at the week-end, East Sutton Labour dealt a blow to Ex Services by beating them 2-1, and Rose and Crown lost heavily 1-5 at home to Owens Corning Ravenhead, both in the Premiership.

In Division One, Brown Edge had no trouble in beating Hammer 5-0 but, Sutton Heath Panthers went down 0-2 at home to Bispham Celtic. Penlake struggled before just edging home 2-1 at home to Athletico Nelson. RESULTS

Star Premier Division: Child FC 0 Pilkington Reserves 0, Rifle FC 3 East Sutton Labour 0, Beeches Reserves 3 Rainford North End 5, Prescot BICC Reserves 0 Anchor FC 8.

Division One: Sidac Social 1 Old Congs 1, Haresfinch Social 0 Clock Face Miners Welfare 5, Junction FC 8 College Street 4, Carborundum 4 Penlake Juniors 3, Billinge 4 Chestnut lodge 1.

Division Two: Agrevo FC 3 Clock Face Reserves 6, Pilkington A 3 Earlestown 2, Sportsmans 4 Glassblowers 1, West Bank 6 Bull and Dog 2.

Division Three: Red Star Rainford 0 Billinge Reserves 2, Prescot BICC A 3 Rainford North End Reserves 5, Bewsey FC 1 East Sutton Labour Reserves 4, Leach Lane 1 Gerard Arms Reserves 6.

Northern Cup Round Three: Child Reserves 2 Frodsham United 3.

Sunday Premier Division: East Sutton Labour 1 Ex Services (Rainhill) 1, Rose and Crown 0 Owens Corning Ravenhead 2.

Division One: Brown Edge 5 Hammer 0, Penlake 2 Athletico Nelson 1, Sutton Heath Panthers 0 Bispham Celtic 2.

Good Friday

Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup Final: Child v Rainford North End at St Helens Town (11.15).

Saturday April 3

Rainford Potteries Cup semi-final: Pilkington A v Child Reserves.

St Helens Star Premier Division: Rifle FC v Beeches Reserves, Prescot BICC Reserves v East Sutton Labour, Rainford North End v Anchor FC.

Division One: College Street v Carborundum, Old Congs (Haydock) v Penlake Juniors.

Division Two: Agrevo v Earlestown (Griffin), West Bank v Nutgrove, Glassblowers v Bull and Dog, Trees v Hall Street Union.

Division Three: Leach Lane v Cowley Hill Park, Rainford Red Star v Grosvenor Park, Gerard Arms Reserves v East Sutton Labour Reserves.

Sunday

Hatton Travel Cup quarter finals: Toll Bar v Owens Corning Ravenhead, Bispham Celtic v Oddfellows, Brown Edge v East Sutton Labour, Ex Services (Rainhill) v Athletico Nelson.

Tuesday April 6 kick off 6.30pm

St Helens Star Premier Division: Child FC v Beeches Reserves, Engine FC v Pilkington Reserves, The Anchor v Prescot BICC Reserves.

Division One: Sidac Social v Carborundum, Child Reserves v Clock Face Miners, Haresfinch Social , Penlake Juniors, College Street v Billinge FC.

Division Two: Agrevo v Glassblowers, West Bank v Earlestown (Griffin), Nutgrove v Hall Street Union, Bull and Dog v Sportsmans Athletic.

Division Three: Rainford North End Reserves v (Rainford) Red Star, Ritherhill v Gerard Arms Reserves, Bewsey Athletic v Leach Lane.

Thursday April 8

St Helens Star Premier Division: Pilkington Reserves v Child FC.

Division Three: (Rainford) Red Star v Prescot BICC A.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.