Chester & Wirral Football League - Weekend Round Up

Here's the latest results from the Chester & Wirral Football League...

The second round of the CWFL Life Members Cup dominated the weekend programme and once again the veterans proved that quality, not age, is what really counts.

Birkenhead Vets, unbeaten and sitting at the summit of the CWFL Tarvin Precision Vets Division Two table, maintained their unbeaten record with an eye-catching 5–2 victory over open-age Championship high-flyers Higher Bebington Kelma Reserves. Ricci Loughran stole the headlines with a perfect hat-trick, while Mike New and Craig Griffiths added further gloss. Jake Bernard and Ben Robinson replied for Kelma, but Birkenhead were well worth their place in the next round. They now face holders Mersey Royal Vets on Friday January 9th, 2026, in what promises to be a mouth-watering third-round tie.

Division Four outfit Nags Head Bunbury Vets also did themselves proud in their encounter with Premier Division side Blacon Youth Reserves. Ninety minutes could not separate the sides as the game ended 2-2. Henry Buckley and Alex Moore were on target for Nags Head, with Joe Jones and Caden Allman replying for Blacon. It was the veterans who held their nerve in the shoot-out, edging a dramatic 5–4 penalty win to progress.

Higher Bebington Kelma Vets showed their younger counterparts how it’s done with a commanding 4–0 victory over Frodsham Park JFC. Goals from Mark Jones, Si Tierney, JP Wheadon and Mike McGree sealed an emphatic passage into round three.

West Kirby Vets also booked their place after edging Premier Division Cestrian Alex 3–2. Nick Pickering struck twice, with Neil Davies also on the scoresheet, while Olly Edwards and an own goal accounted for Cestrian’s reply.

Elsewhere, Vineyard Vets and Chester Nomads Vets both enjoyed convincing wins. Vineyard ran riot in an 8–1 success over Great Sutton Vets, Tony Langrell grabbing four goals, Shaun Rooney netting twice and John Elias and Jay Thompson also on target. Ben Reynolds scored a late consolation for Sutton.

Danny Andrews was a hat-trick hero as Chester Nomads Vets swept aside Winsford Vets 4–1, with Tom Cairns also finding the net in another impressive display.

In one of the standout ties on paper, Premier Division Newton Athletic overcame Championship high-flyers Great Sutton Reserves 2–0. Goals from Harvey Andrews and Jack Williams secured Newton’s place in the third round.

Upton JFC Reserves enjoyed a 5–2 win over M.U.C United, with Josh Robinson bagging a brace and further strikes from Max Oldfield and Joe Walsh, alongside an unfortunate own goal. Adam Hagger netted for M.U.C, who also benefited from a defensive mishap with Upton putting into their own net..

Handbridge saw off Sutton Rangers Reserves thanks to a brace from Rob Owen, with Ryan Bradley and Sam Robinson completing the scoring. Danny Lewis grabbed the only response for Sutton.

FC Farndon progressed after a goal-laden 7–5 encounter with Waverton Vets. Sam Davenport led the charge with a hat-trick, Andy Walker added two, while Denver Green and 16-year-old Wyatt Williams — scoring his first open-age goal — sealed a hard-earned victory.

League action was limited to a single fixture in the Olympic Trophies Championship, where Clarence FC closed the gap at the top with a thrilling 4–3 win over Chester Nomads Fourths. Mark McNoon struck a superb hat-trick, Billy Beasley added the fourth, while Nomads replied through a George Cartwright double and a Gianluca Di Vito effort.