Above: more pictures by Bob Shaw

The weekend brought Cheshire Cup action as our First Team made the short journey to Wallasey to face Ashville in the second round of the battle for the big trophy.

After a pretty even start to the game, with both sides creating some half chances, it was the hosts who went ahead with a sloppy goal from our perspective - and the story was the same on the second goal as we found ourselves 2–0 down. There was consolation thanks to a well taken strike from Joe Ford as Ashville held on to take the victory and a place in the next round.

It's back to league action next week when we welcome Mossley Hill Athletic to Gayton Park in what has all the elements of being a great game, so please come along and support the lads as we look to get back to winning ways.

Our Reserve Team was in league action as we welcomed Aintree Villa Reserves to Gayton Park. Heswall made a blistering start and, within 90 seconds, Conor Egan had stroked the ball home and we were on our way. After 20 minutes, a cross from the right hand side was met by a terrific sweeping finish from Dan O'Halloran with his seventh goal of the season to double our lead.

Skipper Jamie Steele, booked on 30 minutes for a tackle that is best described as late on one of the few veterans in the Villa side, smashed home a fabulous strike from 25 yards to make it 3–0. The armband appears to have done Jamie no end of good, as he's found his scoring boots in recent games and is playing some tremendous football.

Just before half-time, a somewhat fortunate decision from the referee in awarding us a penalty gave Dan O'Halloran the opportunity to double his goals tally for the day - which he duly did with a calm strike to make it 4–0 to the Yellows.

Half-time came and went and the second half was not so eventful, but Conor Egan bagged himself a second goal as we hit five. A quality performance from the boys was only spoiled by a late penalty for Villa after a clumsy foul in the box which was despatched, meaning keeper Finn Collins lost his clean sheet despite some good saves and clean handling throughout.

The Reserves now prepare for next week when they travel up the M53 to face Ellesmere Port Town Reserves.

This season we have welcomed a new team to the club as our Under 17 Youth Team began its journey into youth football in the North West Youth Alliance. After a mixed start results wise, the young team travelled to Chorley in Lancashire on Saturday in what promised to be a tough game.

In a feisty encounter, we started well, going 1–0 up with a goal from Cal Hill, but on the stroke of half-time we were pegged back as the hosts equalised. A tough start to the second half saw us concede two goals and we found ourselves 3–1 down with 20 mins to go. In a great show of character, goals from Reece Darling and Rocco Ceraolo brought us level at 3–3.

As Heswall pushed for the winner, there was heartache instead as Chorley nicked a goal to take the points with a last minute strike.

All the lads taking their first steps into youth football have yet to turn 17. They have shown great maturity and are a hugely talented and ambitious group of players coached well by gaffer Nick Harland and assistant John Naylor. The future is bright for these boys and we look forward to them wearing the yellow shirt for many years to come.

Our two Junior sides, both playing at Under 15 level on a Saturday and Sunday, are performing well and getting some very good results. Managers Lee Hawkins on a Saturday and his Sunday counterpart Andy Bannon are dedicated to developing the players to ensure that, in a few years, they are ready to represent our adult teams and write their own stories as Heswall FC stars.