A FEW more games were played in the St Helens Combination at the weekend, but the fixture situation is still very critical.

It now seems inevitable, that if there is no season extension, then a new fixture format will have to be designed to finalise the various championships.

In the Star Premiership, Nutgrove defeated Rainford North End 3-0 with goals from Jeff Highton (2) and Brian Langshaw, while Shoe proved far too strong for Eccleston United with a 4-0 home win at the only parks pitches playable, Parr Stocks. Their goals came from from Steph Kenny with two -- one a magnificently-curved 20 yard free-kick, which shows that you don't have to earn £35,000 per week to be able to do that! -- and others from John Grady and Malcolm Saunders.

In the only game in Division One Rifle won 6-1 away to Broad Oak with goals from Mark Neild (2), Jamie Thistlewaite, Darren Derbyshire, Steve Oakes and Mark Tole.

Bull and Dog's journey to Parr Stocks proved fruitful with a no-nonsense 6-0 win over a never-say-die Ramford Rangers outfit with Graham Birch (2), Andrew Mitchell (2), Alan Rolls and Ian Tonge the scorers.

Pilkingtons A came good at Ruskin, Chris Bickerstaffe, Andy Smith, Barrie Devlin and Martin Foster scoring in a 4-1 win over Bold Miners.

Two out of the three second round Hospital Cup ties managed to get off the ground. Goals by Paul Oakes and Derek Laughton for Gerard Arms were not quite good enough to prevent a 2-3 home defeat by Sidac Social who now entertain Shoe FC in the third round on December 30. Also going through to visit Bull and Dog are Penlake, who demolished the once-powerful Carr Mill 7-0 with goals by Mark Carrigg (2), Kevin McNabbe (2), Chris Marsh, Mike Baker and Craig Bridge.

The only game scheduled this Saturday, December 23 is the Under-18s Lancs FA Inter League game between the Combination and Bolton Boys Federation. The venue is Ruskin Drive, kick-off 1.30pm.

Only one game was scheduled to get underway on Sunday in the Sunday Division. This resulted in a 3-0 home win for East Sutton Labour against the Deaf Sports and Social Club side.

All Hatton Travel Cup ties and the rest of the league programme were called off. There will be no Sunday fixtures for the next two weeks, with games resuming on January 7.

RESULTS

Saturday

Star Premier Division: Nutgrove 3 Rainford North End 0, Shoe 4 Eccleston United 0 .

Division One: Broad Oak 1 Rifle 6.

Division Two: Ramford Rangers 0 Bull and Dog 6, Pilkington A 4 Bold Miners 1.

Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup 2nd round: Gerrard Arms 2 Sidac Social 3, Penlake Juniors 7 Carr Mill 0.

Sunday

Sunday Division: East Sutton Labour 3 Deaf Sports and Social FC 0.

FIXTURES

Saturday, December 23

Lancashire FC u/18s Inter League 1st round at Ruskin Drive, kick-off 1.30pm: St Helens Combination v Bolton Boys Federation.