THE Combination Open Age side gave an excellent display in the Group One tie of the North West Inter League Alliance at Robin Park.

Playing old adversaries Wigan Amateur League at Wigan, because of the lack of local evening facilities, the Combination went behind after 14 minutes, and in a game made uncomfortable with heavy rain, were never able to make up this one-goal deficit and went down 0-1.

Although without four experienced players in Kelly, Stroud, Gary Benyon and Whitley, the all-round strength of the squad was prominent by the way commitment was 100 per cent.

Best for St Helens was extremely hard to say as everyone excelled but special mention must go to Mike Pilkington (Sportsmans Athletic) and young Craig Bridge, an under-18 squad member last season, who gave an encouraging display on the left. This defeat, however, means that St Helens must win the remaining matches, at Leigh and home against Blackburn, if they expect to reach the semi-final stages.

The league programme at the weekend was virtually a washout as only five league games were played on Saturday.

In the Star Premier, Paul Sinnott rattled in all three goals for Rainford North End in a 3-1 home win over Prescot Leisure Reserves. Carr Mill switched grounds to take on Child Reserves, but it did them no favours, as goals by Alan Hughes (2) and Mark Sutton gave Child a clear 3-0 result.

In Division Two, Billinge Reserves (Chris Woods, 2, Andy Rowe) were held 3-3 at home by Bowling Green who missed two late penalties. Two matches in Division Three completed the Saturday action, Grosvenor Park were thumped 0-4 at home by Hardshaw Argyle, Neil Connolly (2), Marcel Giglio and Danny Holtby doing the damage. Rainford North End reserve side's trip to Warrington was spoiled when they went under 2-0 at Bewsey Athletic.

This weekend Premier Division Carr Mill venture into round two of the LCFA Junior Cup and no fewer than nine other Combination teams are engaged in round two of the LCFA Intermediate Cup, so it will be very interesting to see how the representation fares, with five having home ties.

In the Sunday Division's scheduled games, only two league games survived, these were the Bleak Hill Rovers with Penlake which resulted in a 2-6 away win for Penlake and Victoria Rainhill's 4-3 success over Brownedge. This next Sunday, the LCFA Sunday Intermediate Cup round two ties are due with five Sunday Division Clubs involved.Victoria (Rainhill) 4 Brownedge 3.

FIXTURES

Saturday October 9

Star Premier Division: Haresfinch Social v Rainford North End, East Sutton Labour v Shoe FC.

Division One: Travellers Rest v Junction FC, West Bank v Nutgrove, Clock Face Miners v Sportsmans, Billinge v Sidac Social.

Division Two: Bowling Green v Top Nogs, Kendricks Cross v Billinge Reserves, Pilkington A v Bull and Dog, Gerard Arms Reserves v Earlestown.

Division Three: College St Helens v East Sutton Labour, Cowley Hill Park v Trees FC, Leach Lane v Red Star Rainford, Rainford North End Reserves v Railway Rangers.

LCFA Junior Cup Round Two: BRNECS Reserves v Carr Mill.

LCFA Intermediate Cup Round Two: Bewsey Athletic v NALGO Students, Eccleston United v Rockville (Wall) Reserves, Edge Hill College OB Reserves v Old Congs (Haydock), Grosvenor Park v Aintree Villa A, Meek FC v The Farm, Maggies FC v Child Reserves, Parfetts v Broad Oak, Prescot Leisure Reserves v De La Salle Reserves, Shakespeare United Reserves v Pilkington Reserves.

Sunday Division: Owens Corning v Bleak Hill Rovers, York v East Sutton Labour, Ex Services (Rainhill) v Sutton Heath Panthers.

LCFA Sunday Intermediate Cup Round Two: Opel FC v Rose and Crown, Bispham Celtic v Allys O/40s at Allys, Brownedge v Swan Signs, Penlake v Corry, Racing Rovers v Colon's Charisma Blinds at Colon's.

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