WEST Cheshire League club Poulton Victoria suffered heartbreak in the defence of their Carlsberg Pub Cup title, when they lost at home 1-2 to Chester side Centurion, who scored their winner in the dying seconds. Ian Doran curled home a superb free-kick for Vics, who nevetheless bounced back in their defence of the Cheshire Amateur Cup with a 6-2 demolition of Bromborough Pool.

Tim Foreman fired a hat-trick, Simon Lewis scored twice and skipper Paul Lacy also netted. Vics hope to reach Wembley again this season in the FA Vase and face Kidsgrove on Saturday in the third round at home.

Elsewhere in the prestigious Cheshire Amateur Cup, there were mixed fortunes for West Cheshire League representatives.

Newton veteran player-manager Steve Craven scored twice in a 2-1 success at AFC Zeneca. A second goal for Andy Robinson in the 85th minute, coupled with a superb display by man of the match Andy Robinson in the Ashville goal, ensured a hard fought and somewhat fortunate victory for Ashville over Barnton.

Capenhurst ran out 3-1 winners in a match which saw two Malpas players dismissed in the second period.

Heswall were convincingly beaten 4-1 by Lynotype and a below par performance by Cammell Laird saw them lose 2-1 to Knutsford.

A Tim Bilbert strike gave New Brighton another chance following their 1-1 draw with Alsager. Vauxhall Motors had a hard struggle, but ran out 3-2 winners against a big and physical Billington side.

In Division One, the only fixture saw Blacon Youth Club gain a 3-1 victory over Mersey Royal, with Dale Edwards, 2, and Paul Finch on target.

Division Two saw Ashville Reserves run rampant at Bromborough Pool 9-0, with John Stanhope scoring four and Jamie O'Hara two. Jason Broadbent, Kevin Murray and Dave Bennet were also on target.

Capenhurst, with Robbie Shepherd, 2, and Neil Walmsley on target, had a fine 3-1 victory at Castrol Social, while a John McGratten goal gave Vauxhall Reserves a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Mersey Royal Reserves.

Despite Heswall Reserves taking the lead through Keith Dury, Shell Reserves took all three points with goals from Mark Breen, 2, and a John Reynolds penalty.

RESULTS:

Wednesday, December 3:-

Carlsberg Pub Cup - Poulton Victoria 1, Centurion 2.

Saturday, December 6:-

Division One - Blacon Youth Club 3, Mersey Royal 1.

Cheshire Amateur Cup (3rd Round) - AFC Zeneca 1, Newton 2; Alsager 1, New Brighton 1; Barnton 1, Ashville 2; Bromborough Pool 2, Poulton Victoria 6; Cammell Laird 1, Kuntsford 2; Disley Amateurs 1, Upton AA 0; General Chemicals 2, Dunkinfield Town 0; Linotype 4, Heswall 1; Malpas 1, Capenhurst 3; Mond Rangers 3, Lymm MSA 1; Shell 2, Christleton 3; Vauxhall 3, Bollington 2; Woodley Sports 4, West Kirby 0.

Lancashire Cup (4th Round) - Merseyside Police 1, Manweb 1.

Division Two - Ashville Reserves 9, Bromborough Pool Reserves 0; Castrol Social 1, Capenhurst Reserves 3; Christleton Reserves 1, Stork Reserves 4; Heswall Reserves 1, Shell Reserves 3; Mersey Royal Reserves 1, Vauxhall Reserves 1; Poulton Victoria Reserves 2, Manor Athletic 1.

FIXTURES:

Saturday, December 13:-

FA Vase (3rd Round, kick-off 3pm) - Poulton Victoria v Kidsgrove.

Division One - Mersey Royal v Newton; Mond Rangers v Christleton.

Wirral Senior Cup (1st Round) - Ashville v Cammell Laird; Moreton v Capenhurst; Shell v Bromborough Pool; Vauxhall v Stork.

Chester Senior Cup (2nd Round) - Chester Celtic v Blacon Youth Club; Upton AA v Hoole Rangers/Tilston.

Cheshire Cup (3rd Round Replay, kick-off 1.45pm) - New Brighton v Alsager.

Lancashire Cup (4th Round Replay, kick-off 1.30pm) - Merseyside Police v Manweb.

Runcorn Senior Cup (kick-off 1.45pm) - Runcorn Town Reserves v General Chemicals.

Division Two - Bromborough Pool v Poulton Victoria Reserves; Cammell Laird Reserves v Manor Athletic; Capenhurst Reserves v Christleton Reserves; Heswall Reserves v Willaston; Shell Reserves v Ashville Reserves; Stork Reserves v Vauxhall Reserves; West Kirby v Castrol Social.

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