NORTH WEST COUNTIES LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP
FIRST ROUND
AFC Darwen secured progress in the League Challenge Cup with a 3-0 victory over Leek CSOB in a twice postponed First Round tie. Lee Turner put the home side ahead after 19 minutes with Keil Lonsdale doubling the lead three minutes before half time. Turner's second of the game three minutes into the second half secured victory and an away tie against Holker Old Boys in the Second Round.

SECOND ROUND
Three Division One teams pulled off wins against Premier Division teams in the League Challenge Cup on an afternoon that saw every tie played settled on the day.

Cheadle Town overcame Silsden in their first clash since 2005 with a 3-2 victory at Park Lane. Matthew German put Cheadle ahead after 10 minutes as his corner ended up in the back of the net with Ben Brooks doubling the lead 16 minutes later from Luke Pearson's through ball. Michael Garrod pulled one back for Silsden after 34 minutes as he headed in a free kick, but two minutes later Arron Carroll restored Cheadle's two goal lead from the spot after Ben Brooks was fouled in the box.

Silsden wasted a great chance to pull one back with 20 minutes to go when Stephen Piggott saved Garrod's penalty, and despite making it 3-2 three minutes later when Kevin Ryan scrambled the ball home from close range, they could not find an equaliser.

Abbey Hey's great start to the season continued with a 3-1 victory over Colne. Johnathon Hardy opened the scoring after 19 minutes with Jason Hart equalising after 38 minutes, the strikers eighth goal in his last three games. On the stroke of half time Hardy put Abbey back in front with his 10th goal of the season before Martin Pilkington's 16th goal of the season secured the win with two minutes to go.

West Didsbury & Chorlton are the third Division One side into the Last 16 after a 3-1 home win over Norton United. Lee Malkin put the home side ahead after 20 minutes with Kieran Bell equalising for Norton six minutes before the break. With 20 minutes remaining Lewis Schofield put West back in front, with leading scorer Tommy Walsh securing their first victory over a Premier Division side with seven minutes to go.

The remaining Division One side in the competition are Formby, who progressed with a 6-1 win against Rochdale Town in a game switched to Altcar Road. League leading goalscorer Jason Carey opened the scoring after just four minutes with Connor Smith adding a second on 25 minutes. Three minutes later Carey scored his second of the game with Scott Highton pulling one back after 36 minutes. Franny Smith made it 4-1 on the hour, with Carey completing his hat-trick with his 25th goal of the season after 71 minutes. Franny Smith's second of the game rounded off the scoring with two minutes remaining.

Comeback of the day went to AFC Liverpool, who recovered from 2-0 down to win 4-2 against Wigan Robin Park in the 1.00pm kick off at Robin Park Arena. Richard Livingstone put the home side ahead after just five minutes as he headed in James Edgar’s cross, and nine minutes later Phil Howard doubled the lead from Ryan Small's square ball.

Seven minutes into the second half Francis Barry's volley from Ryan Wignall's cross reduced the arrears and the same player equalised after 65 minutes when he headed into an empty net after Jay Foulds could only tip Steve Corris’ header onto the bar. The Reds took the lead for the first time five minutes later when John Lawless converted Wignall’s cross, with Lawless hitting the winner from Ian Rowlands pass with 15 minutes remaining.

Cup holders Bacup Borough recorded their biggest victory of the season with a 5-1 win at Ashton Athletic. Kingsley Williams put Bacup ahead after 35 minutes after Paul Nelson created an opening for him, and just a minute later Haydn Paul to double the lead. It got better for the visiting side three minutes before the break when Daniel Cocks was brought down in the box, the Captain getting up to convert the resulting spot-kick.

With 13 minutes remaining Steve Maden scored his second goal in as many games from another Nelson delivery, with Matthew Bryan scoring his first goal for Bacup five minutes later to make it 5-0. Mike Downing scored a consolation goal for Ashton three minutes from time with a low drive.

Another recording their biggest win of the season was Maine Road, who put Tuesday's FA Vase exit behind them as they progressed with a 5-0 victory at Stone Dominoes. Matthew Warburton made it nine successive games he has scored as he headed the opener from Tom Bailey's corner after 12 minutes, with Tom Bentham doubling the lead after 34 minutes from another Bailey assist. Bentham made it three within two minutes of the second half starting from Matt Strumiskyj's pass, and he completed his hat-trick just before the hour with Bailey claiming his third assist of the game. Warburton added the fifth after 72 minutes from a free kick.

Premier Division leaders Congleton Town had to do things the hard way with a 3-2 victory over extra time at home to Atherton LR. It was visitors LR who took the lead on the half hour through Andy Griffiths, with Tim Drohan equalising four minutes before the break. Two minutes into the second half Richard Bailey fired the Bears ahead only for Andy Olsen to equalise just after the hour. No further goals materialised resulting in extra time, with Mike Koral's 10th goal of the season six minutes from time winning the game for the home side.

Two of Congleton's main title challengers Padiham and Bootle also progressed with little trouble. Kenny Taylor put Padiham ahead against Daisy Hill after 28 minutes with Joe Garvin securing victory with a goal three minutes from time. Meanwhile on Merseyside Jamie Hay opened the scoring for Bootle against fellow title hopefuls Runcorn Town after 21 minutes when he headed in a corner, with two quickfire second half goals securing the win. Kevin Black's latched onto a loose ball to score in the 71st minute, with Neil Prince doubling the lead less than a minute later after he capilalised on a mistake by Runcorn's defence.

Having no such problems were the other Runcorn side, with Runcorn Linnets becoming the first side to win at Stockport Sports this season with a 2-1 win at after extra time. Domaine Rouse put Stockport ahead from the spot after 11 minutes after Nick Niagorian was fouled in the box, with Michael Simpson equalising for the Linnets just after the half hour. As corner fell to him 35 yards out, the midfielder firing an unstoppable shot over the defence and into the corner of the goal. The remaining hour failed to find another goal, with Tommy Turner's sixth goal of the season five minutes into the extra period - a clever finish from six yards out - putting Linnets ahead. The home side had a chance to equalise in the last seconds of the game after Jamie Street was fouled in the box, but Richie Mottram pulled off a great save from Rouse's second spot kick of the game.

Also securing an extra time win was Barnoldswick Town, who came from two goals behind to see off Glossop North End. Mark Battersby put Glossop ahead after nine minutes as he capitalised on a defensive error, with Nathan Bond doubling the lead after 31 minutes as he headed in a corner at the far post. Barlick's comeback started just after the hour when Liam Blades followed up a shot to convert from close range. Blades was also involved in the 80th minute equaliser, his low cross turned in by Mark Chapman from a couple of yards out.

Extra time was needed with Barlick going ahead for the first time with just five minutes remaining. Mark Threlfall played in Paul Fildes who waited for the keeper to commit himself before hitting a low shot past him. Glossop had to push forward, and got caught with virtually the last kick of the match when Threlfall curled a shot from just outside the penalty area that went in via the foot of the post.

The two Blackpool teams had contrasting away days with both involved in 3-0 scorelines, AFC Blackpool returning with a win at St Helens Town with Squires Gate bowing out at Alsager Town. After a goalless first half at Edge Green Lane, AFC went ahead after 49 minutes when Ben Waddington finished from Ciaran Donnelly's through ball. After 67 minutes they doubled the lead when Shane Hull headed home. In stoppage time, Hull scored a third goal from a rebound after James Walker's shot was saved.

Alsager left it even later to see off Squires Gate at the LAW Training Stadium. The opening goal did not arrive until ten minutes from time when James Marrow put Alsager ahead. With a minute to go Sam Aspinwall scored his 10th goal of the season, with leading scorer Leigh Skellern giving the game a one sided look with the third in stoppage time.

The final game of the day saw Winsford United progress after a 2-0 victory at home to Chadderton. Lee Duckworth opened the scoring a minute before the break when a corner caused havoc in the box with Duckworth poking the ball into the net. Three minutes into the second half Callum Gardner doubled the lead when he headed Paul Pearson's cross into the net following a bursting run down the left. Chadderton's best chance to get back into the game came on the hour when Matthew Russell saw his spot kick saved by Ian Harrison.

DIVISION ONE
The result of the day in Division One saw Eccleshall claim their first league victory of the season with an emphatic 4-0 victory at Nelson, their 50th away win since joining the league. Tom Wakefield, who recently re-signed for the club after a spell at Alsager Town, opened the scoring after 13 minutes before doubling the lead five minutes into the second half. Just after the hour he claimed his third of the afternoon with Dan Jones rounding off the scoring ten minutes from time.

Despite the win they remain bottom of the league after Holker Old Boys claimed their second successive league win with a 3-0 victory over Northwich Villa. Mike Kewley opened the scoring after 28 minutes when he turned in Gareth Smith's free kick. Ten minutes into the second half Guy Heffernan doubled the lead from the spot after Nathan Reid was brought down in the box. The third goal took until stoppage time to arrive with Glenn Capstick scoring with his first touch as he headed in Reid's cross.

Oldham Boro claimed their second successive victory with a 1-0 win over Ashton Town. The only goal of the game came after 28 minutes when Jordan Dainty got his head to a cross from the right with his header looping into the net for his first goal of the season. The only other game of the day saw Irlam and Atherton Collieries grind out a goalless draw.

RESERVE DIVISION
Padiham closed the gap on leaders New Mills to two points with a 3-2 win at Silsden, the Storks having a game in hand on the Millers. Glossop North End failed to do likewise though as they went down 1-0 at home to Wigan Robin Park.

The only other game of the day saw Runcorn Linnets claim their first home victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Ashton Town, the result moving them up to 10th.