MIDWEEK games are now underway as the Combination seeks to reduce the fixture backlog but on Saturday a further three fixtures were lost with the weather cancelling games at Pilkington A and Junction, while Owl's Nest couldn't field a side against Bowling Green.

In the Premiership, Carl Pilling, Alex Stephens, Paul Atherton and Kev Statter scored for Sidac Social in their 4-1 win over East Sutton. Alex McKnight was the toast of Rainford as his double gave North End a 2-0 win over Carr Mill. Mark Clancy was again on target for Gerard Arms, but goals by Rob Stroud and Nick Pilkington gave Billinge a 2-1 away victory. Eccleston United returned to form, Tony Scott, Gary Leech and Sean Rooney strikes giving them a 3-2 success at Penlake Juniors. But College St Helens had their work cut out at Haydock as Old Congs gave them a hell of a game before going down 2-1 to a last-gasp Ed Furlong penalty.

In Division One Earlestown and Rifle, trying to make up leeway on Clock Face MW, shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw, but Hardshaw Arglye eased past Broad Oak 6-1 with goals by Jamie Taggart (3), Dan Holtby (2) and Phil Ashton. Carborundum jjst got the better of Gerard Arms Res 3-2 with goals by Phil Lancaster (2) and Mark Dixon, while Neil Wright grabbed the winner for Sportsmans in their 3-2 win over Billinge Res. Prescot Leisure Res beat Hammer 4-1 but struggling Cowley Hill Park went down down 3-1 to Travellers Rest with John Chadwick scoring the losers' consolation effort.

In Division Two Clock Face dominated their game against Grosvenor Park winning 3-0 with goals by Mark Gavin (2) and Mark Clements. Cowley Hill Park Res took advantage of a decimated Rainford NE Res outfit to boost their goal difference with an 11-1 home win, while a hat-trick by Derek Kirkham helped Bold Miners beat Leach Lane 5-3.

The Sunday Division has been badly hit by the news that both Rose & Crown and the Deaf Sports & Social Club had resigned and would not be fulfilling their league commitments.

In those games that were played at the weekend York secured a 3-1 away win at Bold Miners, Ex-Services went down 7-4 at home to Bleak Hill Rovers, while East Sutton made sure of the championship winning 2-0 at Penlake with goals from Paul and Neil Houghton.

Clubs are reminded that there will NOT be a General League Meeting in April. A management meeting only will take place. Disciplined clubs will be notified of their necessary attendance at this meeting.

The Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup Final between Premiership rivals Shoe FC and College St Helens is scheduled to take place at Prescot Cables FC on Good Friday morning, April 13, kick-off 11.15am.

And the following afternoon, Saturday, April 14, Billinge Res face Gerard Arms Res in the final of the Rainford Potteries Challenge Cup at Bobbies Lane, kick-off 2.15pm. RESULTS

Tuesday, March 27

Star Premier Division: Eccleston U 2 Sidac Social 3, Carr Mill 4 East Sutton 3, Rainford NE 1 Billinge Prov 3, College St Helens 8 Junction 0.

Division One: Clock Face 4 Gerard Arms 0, Travellers Rest 2 Billinge Res 3, Broad Oak 0 Carborundum 2, Prescot Leis Res 2 Earlestown 5, Cowley Hill Park 1 Sportsmans 6.

Saturday, March 31

Star Premier Division: East Sutton 1 Sidac Social 4, Rainford NE 2 Carr Mill 0, Gerard Arms 1 Billinge 2, Penlake 2 Eccleston United 3, Old Congs 1 College St Helens 2.

Division One: Carborundum 3 Gerard Arms Res 2, Hardshaw Argyle 6 Broad Oak 1, Earlestown 3 Rifle 3, Billinge Res 2 Sportsmans 3, Hammer 1 Prescot Leisure Centre 4, Cowley Hill Park 1 Travellers Rest 3.

Division Two: Cowley Hill Res 11 Rainford NE Res 1, Clock Face Res 3 Grosvenor Park 0, Bold Miners 5 Leach Lane 3.

Sunday, April 1

Sunday Division: Bold Miners 1 York 3, Penlake 0 East Sutton Labour 2, Ex-Services U 4 Bleak Hill Rov 7.

FIXTURES

Saturday, April 7

DH Griffiths Cup, semi-final (kick-off 2.15pm): Clock Face v Sidac Social. 2nd round: Earlestown v Shoe FC.

Tom Worrall Cup 3rd round (kick-off 2.15pm): Sportsmans v Cowley Hill Res, Bull & Dog v Grosvenor Park, Travellers Rest v Billinge Res. 2d round: Leach Lane v Hammer

Star Premier Division (kick-off 2.30pm): Billinge v Penlake Juniors, Carr Mill v Eccleston U, Junction v Old Congs, College St Helens v Rainford NE, Nutgrove v. Gerard Arms.

Division One: Carborundum v Nogs Head, Cowley Hill Park v Prescot Res.

Division Two: Bowling Green v Ramford Rngs, Pilkington A v Owls Nest.

Sunday April 8, Sunday Division

Bobbies Lane v Penlake, East Sutton Lab v Owens Corning.

Tuesday, April 10

Star Premier Division (ko 6.30pm): Penlake v Junction, Old Congs v Eccleston, Sidac Social v Rainford NE, Carr Mill v Billinge.

Division One: Carborundum v Clock Face, Sportsmans v Prescot Leis Res, Hardshaw Arg v. Gerard Arms Res, Earlestown v Travellers Rest, Billinge Res v Rifle, Hammer v Nogs Head.

Division Two: Leach Lane v Bowling Green, Clock Face Res v Owls Nest, Bull & Dog v Grosvenor Park, Ramford Rangers v. Pilkington A.