TWO of the LCFA Intermediate Cup ties involving St Helens Combination clubs, Broad Oak and Eccleston United, were called off because of the fuel crisis on Saturday.

And in the remaining ties, Prescot Leisure Reserves were eliminated 2-1 at Hill Athletic; Nogs Head went out by the solitary goal 0-1 at home to Hillfoot Hey OB; and Penlake, perhaps our strongest entrant, just failed 3-2 at the strong Tapes for Industry outfit.

At League level, Shoe FC lost their first game in a 4-2 defeat at College St Helens for whom, Woodcroft (2), Holmes and Dillon found the target. Junction's youngster, Craig Billinge again showed his early sharpshooting by grabbing both goals in their 2-3 defeat at Old Congs Haydock whose goals came via Darren Evans, Gary Arnold and Justin Fairhurst.

Lawrence, Stirrup and Mackay hit the goals for Rainford North End in a narrow 3-2 home win over Sidac Social. Billinge had to fight all the way for a 2-1 away win at the youthful East Sutton Labour side, but Gerard Arms were held 1-1 at home by Nutgrove who have to thank defender Brian Langshaw for their goal.

In Division One Steph Oaks and Mark Neil goals helped Rifle to earn a 2-2 draw against Clock Face Miners Welfare. In another stalemate, this time 4-4, Ward (2) and Morgan (2) goals gave Hammer a point at home against Gerard Arms Reserve. Jamie Taggert scored Hardshaw Argyles goal in a 1-4 home defeat by Travellers Rest.

Grosvenor Park (Edge 2, Canie and Heskyn) outgunned North End Reserves 4-2 at Widnes, but, Bull and Dog (Ian Tonge, Alan Rolls and Adrian Mitchell) ran out of steam and went under 3-4 at home to Pilkingtons A.

The Sunday Division, now well under way, seems to be in the grip of the Young Bleak Hill Rovers side, their third win on the trot being a 3-0 win over Bobbies Lane, Bold Miners overwhelmed Cowley Hill Park 9-2, while the Deaf Sports and Social FC just held out to beat Ex Services United 3-2.

Young Combination players, Matty Innes and David Oakes (both Bleak Hill Rovers) and John Harper (Hardshaw Argyle) were in the LCFA Youth side that were held 1-1 at the County Ground by Durham FA in the Northern Counties Youth Championship.

Another young member of the Combination's last year under 18s and CFA side, Mark Evans is reportedly now doing very well down at West Brom Albion, where he is thought very highly of. RESULTS

St Helens Star Premier Division: College St Helens 4 Shoe FC 2, Gerard Arms 1 Nutgrove 1, Rainford North End 3 Sidac Social 2, Old Congs (Haydock) 3 Junction FC 2, East Sutton Labour 1 Billinge FC 2.

Division One: Rifle FC 2 Clock Face Miners 2, Hammer FC 4 Gerard Arms Reserves 4, Hardshaw Argyle 1 Travellers Rest 4.

Division Two: Grosvenor Park 4 Rainford North End Reserves 2, Bull and Dog 3 Pilkington A 4, Bowling Green 1 Bold Miners 2, United Churches (Rainhill) 2 Carr Mill Reserves 2, Cowley Hill Park Reserves 16 Ramford Rangers 0, Clock Face Miners Reserves 5 Leach Lane 5.

LCFA Intermediate Cup Round One: Hill Athletic 2 Prescot Leisure Reserves 1, Nogs Head 0 Hillfoot Hey OB 1, Tapes For Industry 3 Penlake 2.

Sunday Division: Bleak Hill Rovers 3 Bobbies Lane 0, Bold Miners 9 Cowley Hill Park 2, Deaf Sports and Social 3 Ex Services United 2, Sutton Heath Panthers 3 Owens Corning 4.

LCFA Sunday Intermediate Cup Round One: Belfry 0 York 3, Lynstrom 2 Rose and Crown 7. FIXTURES

St Helens Star Premier Division: Shoe FC v College St Helens (P Russell), Sidac Social v Carr Mill (H Ireland), Billinge v Rainford North End (D Forber), Nutgrove v East Sutton (W Carlton), Junction v Gerard Arms (M Hallwood).

Division One: Clock Face v Earlestown (E Eccles), Sportsmans v Rifle FC (R Deakin), Gerard Reserves v Cowley Hill Park (R McClintock), Carborundum v Hammer (H Nulty).

Division Two: Bold Miners v Owls Nest (M Cammack).

Hospital Cup Round One, kick off 2.15pm: United Churches v Grosvenor Park (B Teebay), Leach Lane v Hardshaw Argyle (C Hale).

Rainford Potteries Cup First Round kick off 2.30pm:

Billinge Reserves v Rainford North End Reserves (C Tunstall), Cowley Hill Reserves v Carr Mill Reserves (D Harding).

LCFA Intermediate Cup Round One: Broad Oak v De La Salle, Eccleston United v Warbreck Reserves.

Sunday Division: Bleak Hill Rovers v Rose and Crown (D Forber), Bobbies Lane v Owens Corning (D Harding), Deaf Sports and Social v East Sutton Labour (T Gorman), Ex Services United v York (K Birch), Penlake v Cowley Hill Park (M Hallwood), Sutton Heath Panthers v Bold Miners (I Millar).