FOR some reason last season's Premiership runners-up and at this moment this year's favourites to lift the title, Shoe have apparently for some reason gone off the boil.

After a 100 per cent start for the first five games they have been beaten for the first time by Carr's Hotel whose three from Lee Tomkins added to a strike from Gary Newnes to give them a 4-0 home win.

Before that Shoe had been held 3-3 at home by Hotel Windle and just scraped home 3-2 to West Park Eccy's.

The Dragon following a 5-0 thumping of Sidac Social (Cunliffe (3) and McCabe) scoring and Carr's Hotel are now hot on their heels with Stars not far behind after a 6-1 demolition of Clock Face Miners, Paul Oakes (3), John Lyon (2) and Matty Innes finding the net. Old Congs with goals from Izzy and Barton were held 2-2 at Haydock by Eccleston United.

Rainford North End slipped up badly by letting Hotel Windle through for a 1-0 away success. York excelled themselves with a goalless stalemate at Dentons Green.

The First Division game of the day was a blockbuster at Wood Lane where the youngsters of the Dragon Reserves had their ego's dented by the wiles and experience of the Barry Hynes controlled Pilkington A team (nice to see old mate, David Ball assisting Barry on the line) who went home with a 2-1 win. Anthony Lyons hitting the Dragon goal in the last quarter.

Dave Chisnall was on target for Roundhouse, but they went under 1-3 to a red hot British Lion.

Sony had five different marksmen in their 5-2 away win at Junction, these being, Walsh, Warburton, Arabi, Knight and Devlin.

Feeney and Jacks replying for Junction.

Despite a Moore goal, Gerard Arms lost 1-2 at home to the improving Globe.

Top scorers in Division Two were Boilermakers, with Stevie Pennington in goal annihilated Cricketers 9-2 on Parr Stocks with the visitors scoring through Ray Honey and Colin Hobin.

Steve Marsh (2), Paul Barlow and Steve Costello found the net for Real Gate, but they shared the points 4-4 with Carborundum.

Next week sees the first round of the 'Polarwear' sponsored Hospital Cup and two fixtures of the Northern Cup competition concerning Combination clubs