OLD ENEMIES Nue Ave squared up against Houlihan's in what was the battle of the day in Division One. With old scores to settle, both sides went hammer and tongs at it.

Nue Ave eventually sealed the points with Ian Knowles, Glen Norman and Steve Cotgrave all on the score sheet in a 4-3 win, with Alan Sheridan and Steve Walsh replying.

"We lost the battle, but the war ain't over yet!" said Houlihan's manager Paul Brookes.

Top side Seven Stiles just can't stop winning - or at least no-one can stop them! - taking the sails out of Clipper. They thrashed them 8-1, with Ian Dobb scoring four goals, assisted by Mally Evans, John Dowling, Philip Kearney and Steve Thompson.

Hot on their heels are second placed Abbotsford, who brushed aside Old Bank 4-2 with Gavin Evans, 2, Rob Jones and Barry Elliot on target. Craig Savelle and Alan Smart replied.

Top guns Parkfield BA smashed seven past Ashville in the first leg of the Roberts Moore Nicholas Jones Cup. Ashville have a mountain to climb in the second leg. Steve Smith, 2, Dave Roberts, 2, Grant Hughes, Mike Williams and Danny Mooney were on target.

Elsewhere in the Cup, Third Division league leaders The Joey's gained an epic win over second division Wirral Health, winning 4-1 and going into the second leg with an advantage. Scorers: Chris Ingram, Bob Little, Graham Davies and Dave Lidgate.

FC Beehive remain top of Division Two after an excellent victory over FC Cleveland and now remain a point clear. There were hat-tricks for Gary Bateman, Lee Warrington and Jed Carden.

Delta remain in second spot after a slender 3-2 victory over dark horses Overchurch Hotel. Rob Cline, Doug Darrouch and Dave Darrouch did the damage.

Division One club Clipper FC are looking to recruit new players. Contact Graham Mitchell on 678-7334.

RESULTS:

Saturday, December 6:-

Roberts Moore Nicholas Jones Cup (Qualifying 2nd Round, 1st leg) - Arrowe Pk 3, F2 1; Ashville 0, Parkfield BA 7; The Clarence 6, The Grange 1; Hoylake Ford 1, Great Eastern 7; Royal Liver 7, Chemdal 1; Seven Stiles Yth 1, Cheshire Yeoman 4; Tarin 7, Parkfield BA Res 3; Wirral Health 1, The Joeys 4.

Division One - Clipper 1, Seven Stiles 8; Nue Ave 4, Houlihan's PR 3; Old Bank 2, Abbotsford 4.

Division Two - Admiral 3, Unitor 1; FC Beehive 6, FC Cleveland 1; Delta 3, Overchurch Hotel 2; Old Rockferrians 0, Blackhorse Beer Engine 2.

Division Three - FC Willows 1, North Star 4.

FIXTURES:

Saturday, December 13:-

Wirral Junior Cup (Quarter-finals) - Abbotsford v Nue Ave; FC Beehive v Old Bank; C/Cross v Bronze Social; FC Willows v Seven Stiles.

Division One - Arrowe Pk v R/WAy Tavern; Clipper v Ashville; Royal Liver v Houlihan's PR; Tarin v Parkfield BA.

Division Two - Blackhorse Beer Engine v Overchurch Hotel; The Clarence v Delta; FC Cleveland v Admiral; The Coach v Wirral Health; The Grange v Old Rockferrians; Unitor v Chemdal.

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