REIGNING Division One champions and looking well set to retain their title, Higher Folds did not have things all their own way in a Redwaters Cup round one meeting with Division Two side Fir Tree Rangers.

The visitors, currently second in the table, made the top division title favourites work hard and sweat a bit for their win.

Mick Blakeley scored after 13 minutes for Folds but the second division outfit held firm until 20 minutes into the second half before further goals from Jason Shacklady, Neil Clayton and Steve Ashbrook gave the home side the relief of a 4-0 victory.

Also in the cup, Howe Bridge Mills took the derby honours with a 7-0 thrashing of Sailors and Soldiers. Goals came from Dave and Phil Sizer, Wayne Sankey, Aaron Walker and Paul Molyneux with two. AFC Limelight put six past Astley Villa for one in reply. Nigel Cooper (2), Matt Pollard, Gary Renshaw, Martin Hughes and John Walters jnr put the Tyldesley outfit into the hat for the second round while Martin Lomas bagged the consolation for Villa.

Horns Inn also sealed a place in the next round with a 6-3 victory at Asda Golborne. Tipping led the way with a hat-trick with Jones, Lavery and Duddle getting one apiece. For the losers Wood scored twice and Hurst once.

Albert Griffiths hit four, John Waterworth two, Stuart O'Neill scored in the last minute and a Mechanics Arms defender put through his own net as Sir Charles Napier registered a 7-2 away win. Scoring at the correct end for the losers were Danny Leatherbarrow and Chris O'Neill. One round two tie was played with goals from Dave Wilcox and Steve Hewitt earning Leigh Avenue a 2-0 win at Leigh Sportsmen.

In a Division One league fixture, third placed Three Crowns A and the team just above them, Royal Oak, shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Mark Toothill gave Crowns the lead on five minutes with John France levelling just seven minutes later. Higher Folds now have a four point lead at the top over Oak with a game in hand. Goals from Mark Toker, Dean Lord, Mick Langin, Ryan Shaw (2) and Steve Harris saw Atherton C&N to a 6-0 away win at Atherton Royals.