Finalists for this season's Development Trophy were resolved, and will feature Youth Division sides Poulton Victoria and Mossley Hill Athletic.

In midweek, MSC Express West Cheshire League Division One leaders, Mersey Royal, came from a goal down against Bootle St. Edmunds and salvaged a point via an equaliser from Max Herbert, but Saturday saw the Royal back on song to maintain their nine point lead at the top, after efforts from Kieran Cartwright, Liam Siddorn, Andy Rogers and Lam Owen secured a 4-0 victory over Marine U23's, WRITES ERNIE MCDONALD.

It was a swift return to earth for Marine, who had celebrated a 3-0 result over Marshalls on Wednesday evening , highlighted by a Harrison Denton hat trick, while a goal from Louis O'Brien failed to prevent Vauxhall Motors Res. from capitulating 3-1 at home to replies from Mossley Hill Ath.'s Louis Johnson, Dom Murphy and Paul Pearson.
On Friday evening, Motors suffered a second defeat in three days, when a solitary strike from Brad Shearwood enabled Bootle St. Edmunds to bag maximum spoils, while Newton, eclipsed Maghull 3-0, thanks to efforts from Alex Stranach (2) and Jackson Ellis.

At the weekend, second placed Mossley Hill Ath., savoured a 2-1 result at Aintree Villa with Dom Murphy and Owen Cassidy on target. Aiden Webb netted for Villa while doubles from Brandon Dickinson and Jack Delgado anchored Chester Nomads to a 5-3 decision over Capenhurst Villa, who had Steve Rowlands, Andy Henry and Jamie Easton in reply.
Basement outfit, Ellesmere Port Town, recorded their third win of the season when Ollie Welch and Emmanuel Olaiton found the net in a 2-1 win against Litherland Remyca Res. who hit back through Tom Carney.
Elsewhere, the points were divided after an effort from Rainhill Town's George Sorenson was negated by a reply from Marshall's Jack Ward.

Division Two leaders, Poulton Vics dropped two crucial title points after a Jason Bull double was cancelled out by efforts from West Kirby's Louis Boardman and Tom Davies and that result helped nearest rivals Ashville Res. to make up significant ground, closing the gap to four points with three games in hand. In midweek, the Wallasey challengers won 2-0 at Helsby with Charlie Andrews and Sam Gosage on target, and on Saturday, efforts from Fenton Cavanagh, Derek Taylor, Danny Whitehead and an own goal set up a 4-1 win against South Sefton Borough whose response came courtesy of an own goal.

Top scorers were Marshalls Res., Jude Mante (3) Farid Hatimi (2) and Jacob Cunliffe obliging in a 6-1 rout of Poulton Royal who scored through Tom Lawrence. Third placed Sutton Ath. saw their challenge back pedal further, after they lost 2-0 to efforts from South Liverpool Res.' Cam Dalton and Amir Badhawi. Runcorn Sports' outside chances of promotion were bolstered when goals from Kier Fenlon(2) and Ryan Burnell sealed a 3-1 victory over Mallaby who had Joe Foster on the mark.

Aintree Villa Res. went a point clear at the top of Division Three, but had to settle for a point following a 5-5 stalemate with Capenhurst Villa Res. whose contribution came from Matty Vickers (2) Matty Hickman, Gabe Kwateng and an own goal. In response, Dylan Lawless (2) Dave Pursglove, Steve Andrews and an own goal clinched a point for the visitors.

Despite efforts from Cole Saunders and Nathan Saunders, Hooton's promotion bid stalled after they went down 3-2 at home to replies from South Liverpool 3rds Jack Bryant (2) and Matty Richardson. Third placed Higher Bebington Kelma duly took advantage of Hooton's shortcomings, and upped the ante in the promotion race, after Ben Kierman (4) Andy Noonan, Josh Griffiths and Andy Jennings made the scoresheet in Saturday's 7-2 triumph over Neston Nomads who answered through Joe O'Donnell and Will Sara-Kelly.

Goals from Heswall Res.' Jack Gibson and Sam-Sutton Jeffs were nullified by efforts from Rainhill Town Res.' Josh Johnson and Anthony Sheenan but goals from Ryan Maxwell and Ryan Stanyer counted for nought, after Groves lost 3-2 at home to replies from Runcorn Sports Res.' Ethan Hanson, Luca Tron and Mike Hindley. Cam Clark (2) Jamie Edge, Marco Apollonio, and Scott Evans were Chester Nomads Res.' marksmen in a 5-3 victory at Helsby Res. Adam Harding (2) and Tom Hughes netted for the hosts.

Finalists for this season's Development Trophy were resolved, and will feature Youth Division sides Poulton Vics and Mossley Hill Ath. who eliminated Vauxhall Motors and Ellesmere Port Town Res. respectively.
On the mark for Vics in their 4-3 win were Jamie Fee (2) Matty Barclay and Scott McCready with Dan Schoon, James Starkey and Denny McHugh scoring for the Motormen. Jonathan Liddle netted both of Mossley's goals in their 2-1 victory, John Skipsey scoring the Port's consolation.

Only one fixture took place in the Youth Division, and it was celebration time for Victoria Colts who beat City of Liverpool 3-2, with efforts from Rory Alldis (2) and Charlie Harland. The visitors and Sam Craig and William Harrison on target.