CHAMPIONSHIP CHARGE (From Warrington Guardian)

CHAMPIONSHIP CHARGE

AS the Warrington Soccer League draws to a climax some of the promotion and relegation issues have been laid to rest.

The Premier Division championship is still a two horse race between Whiston Cross and Crosfields.

Both teams won on Tuesday leaving Whiston ahead on goal difference with a game in hand. Whiston slammed eight past Halton Borough while Crosfields overcame Sidac Social 5-3.

Halton Borough had been on a bit of a revival until losing 2-1 to arch-rivals St. Michaels on Saturday and following up with that heavy loss to Whiston. Despite the defeats, Halton are safe and it is Winwick Utd and Golborne Sports who are relegated. Against St. Michaels, Liam Myler slotted home a dubious Halton penalty but it mattered not as efforts from Andy Conlon and Steve Yeardey secured the points for Saints.

Promoted to the top flight next term will be Owens Corning, who, in their first season in the league, are crowned champions. Joining them will either be Vulcan or Haydock.

St. Albans and Widnes Recreation Club are the two relegated to the second division next season. The crunch game between Runcorn Albion and St. Albans went the way of Albion 1-0 which kept Albion up and sent Saints down.

Runcorn Villa and Irlam Catholic Club have won promotion to Division One but relegation issues in Division Two have still to be settled. Irlam's latest victims were Norlands who they overcame 5-0 thanks to a Martin Ivison brace and others from Paul Chapman, Derek Pike and Stephen Caulfield.

In Division Three, Rainhill Town, Crontonians and Wood Albion are all chasing the title.

Wood Albion got in the frame with a 2-1 win at Rainhill while leaders Crontonians shot themselves in the foot by going down 3-1 at Croft. Carl Sherlock got their consolation effort from the spot while the victorious Croft have to thank Colin McDonald, Neil Shacklady and John Glyn Jones for slotting home.

In the quarter-finals of the Reg Oliver Cup, Whiston Cross demolished Three Crowns 6-1. On target were Darren Hindley, two, Gerald Meaney, Stephen Heslop, Alan Mulchay and Steve Fletcher.

Halton Borough Reserves beat Grappenhall Sports 2-1 thanks to goals from Brendan Coffey and Gary Harkin with Daz Graham replying. Halton are now on line to win the treble having secured Reserve Division One and are finalists in the Rylands Cup.

Halton fourth won 4-0 at the expense of Safeway Reserves. George Hughes started the rout with a couple and Gary Jones and Neil Rowlands also cashed in with one apiece.

Moorfield thirds' 1-0 win against Golborne third came courtesy of a Mick White piledriver.

On Tuesday Irlam Catholic Club lifted the Depot Cup after defeating a lethargic Lockers 3-0. David Pike slotted home a couple with Martin Ivison also finding the target.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.