RED Star Rainford's exciting Tom Worrall Cup runcame to an end in an incident packed final when they went down 1-2 to Eccleston United.

Eccleston as they proved what a good St Helens Combination club and team they are by playing some attractive and exciting football.

The Red Star side, by comparison, displayed guts and tenacity befitting a much higher position in the league.

In the opening quarter, both defences had to be alert as the quick moving attacks from both teams spelled danger. And the Rainford side took the lead with George Lee firing in an unstoppable cross-shot.

Two minutes later, however, Dean Jordan's direct free-kick, from just outside the penalty area, got a deflection and deceiving keeper Burke, found the opposite corner to give Eccleston the equaliser.

From then on it was a game of excellent defending and missed chances at both ends.

The goal that decided the issue came in the 55th minute when Eccleston's Gary Leech thundered in a devastating 25 yarder.

League President Bert Rawsthorne presented the trophy and medals to both teams.

Apart from the Sunday League's 'Hatton Travel Cup' final, postponed from the other week, this game was the final Combination game of the season. The Premier Division and Division one, two and three have all been decided and trophies and medals have been presented.

The Tom Gordon Memorial Cup, plus the Keith Harrison trophy and Sunday League referee's awards of course, are presented at the AGM in July. The Hatton Travel Cup final, however, is scheduled to take place this next Sunday May 23. Kick off 11am at Ruskin Drive.

The Combinations league positions are now finalised.

St Helens Star Premier Division: Champions Child FC, runners up The Anchor

Division One: Champions Child Reserves, runners up Penlake Juniors

Division Two: Champions Sportsmans Athletic, runners up Hall Street Union

Division Three: Champions Gerard Arms Reserves, runners up Billinge Reserves.

Hospital Cup: Winners Child FC, losing finalists Rainford North End

D H Griffiths Cup: Winners The Anchor, losing finalists Rifle FC

Tom Worrall Cup: Winners Eccleston United, losing finalists Red Star (Rainford)

Rainford Potteries Cup: Winners Child Reserves, losing finalists Billinge Reserves

Sunday Premier Division: Champions Ex Services (Rainhill), runners up Oddfellows

Sunday Division One: Champions Brownedge, runners up Penlake.

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