SOUTH Liverpool were crowned League Division One champions on Saturday with two games to spare, after a first-half hat-trick from Alex Woodcock sparked a 5-1 victory over Chester Nomads.

Second half efforts from Cameron Dalton and Elliot Burnett confirmed the result as South capped an excellent season in style. Ed Moss bagged the visitors' consolation.

Nearest rivals, Cammell Laird 1907 Resrves, saw their last chance hit the buffers, after goals from John Hedges and Ollie Cooke anchored Mallaby to a 2-0 decision.

In midweek, the cracks were evident in Lairds' challenge after they went down 2-0 to West Kirby.

At the other end of the table, Southport Trinity's bid to avoid the drop was bolstered, thanks to a 7-1 rout of Capenhurst Villa.

Declan Gregson and Josh Spencer bagged doubles with Tommy Hughes, Ryan Dobhey and Adam Phillips also on target.

Back-to-back wins over Gateacre Village and Willaston were enough for Heswall to rubber-stamp their return to the top flight after finishing runners up in Division Two.

Greg Drummond, Tommy Carroll and Chris Tolley found the net in the 3-0 eclipse of local rivals, Willaston.

Newly-crowned champions Rainhill Town were inebted to an effort from Dave Monteith and an own goal for Saturday's 2-1 decision over West Krby Res.

Sam Gifford plundered all five goals as Prescot Cable Res. pulled off a fine 5-2 win at Richmond MAGS.

Mark Madden obliged with both goals as Maghull Res. overcame Vauxhall Motors Res. 2-0 and John Pomfret followed suit with a smart double as Ashville Res. beat Hale Res. 3-1.

The battle for promotion from Division Three is still undecided, with any one of four clubs still in with a chance of lifting the title.

Current leaders Kirkby Town Railway slipped up in midweek after they lost 3-1 to Ford Motors and then dropped another two points after they drew 1-1 with fourth-placed Neston Nomads.

Second-placed Bootle Res. kept up the pressure, after goals from Daniel O'Connor, Dan Smales and Josh Holden heped them to a 3-1 result over Chester Nomads Res.

Youth Division champions South Liverpool Youth can add to their tally and complete a hat trick of silverware as they're due to meet Maghull Youth in the Liverpool CFA Youth Cup final and then against West Kirby Youth in the Youth Plate final.