Week 30: Preview
Fri 13th February 2026 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
It’s still FA Vase time… kind of! One Prem team takes the spotlight as they compete in a rearranged cup game from last weekend. Elsewhere, with the Macron Cup quarter finals upon us, let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Friday:
Premier Division:
Just one game to bring to your attention from under the lights this coming Friday night, but it’s a tasty one. Just three points and the dotted line of the drop zone separate third-bottom Abbey Hey and second-bottom City of Liverpool, who will do battle at the latter’s Community Ground to kick-off the weekend.
Saturday:
Isuzu FA Vase, fifth round:
Let’s try again, shall we?
After West Didsbury & Chorlton had their anticipated clash with Midlands League side Winsford United called off last weekend due to a waterlogged pitch at the Step Places Stadium, with any luck, this Saturday will be the one where West can cement their place in the next round of the Vase.
Macron Cup, quarter finals:
There are three games to bring to you from the Macron Cup this weekend.
With West preoccupied with the Vase, the only game between two sides who don’t share a division will see First Division North outfit Nelson host First Division South play-off candidates Telford Town.
Both of the other games taking place on Saturday will see two Prem sides face off against one another: AFC Liverpool will welcome Euxton Villa to the Berry Street Garage Stadium; and Burscough will meet Cheadle Town at their Community Ground, just 19 hours after Friday’s league game at the same venue.
Premier Division:
A shorter list of Prem games to make mention of this weekend.
League leaders Wythenshawe have completely run away with proceedings since the turn of the year, amassing a 12-point lead at the top of the table which could stretch to 15 with victory at home against Atherton LR this weekend.
With second-placed Ramsbottom United not scheduled for action this weekend, newly third-placed Irlam are the next highest-ranked team to play league football on Saturday – they will welcome 10th placed Stockport Town to Silver Street in a Greater Manchester derby.
With West and Burscough in cup competitions on Saturday, and with Atherton facing the league leaders, there might be no better a chance for eighth-placed Chadderton to close the gap between themselves and the top five to just a point – their obstacle this weekend: bottom side Litherland REMYCA.
Just one point, AND the midway point in the table comes between 12th placed Longridge Town and 13th placed Prestwich Heys, with the two sides set to meet this Saturday at Inglewhite Road. There’s a similar story to be told for Barnoldswick Town this weekend, who play host to FC Isle of Man knowing maximum points would see them overtake their visitors in the league.
Pilkington became just the second team in the league to concede 100 goals this season last time out, and they are on a winless streak of eight games. They have a chance to break that spell on Saturday when they host 15th place Charnock Richard, who have won just one of their last six.
First Division North:
As usual, there remains just three points between sixth place and top of the tree in the First Division North – the following matches WILL influence the active title race:
- League leaders MSB Woolton, on 38 points, will host fellow first timers in the NWCFL Fulwood Amateurs, currently ninth, hoping to retain their spot.
- Second placed Droylsden, after punching their ticket into the next round of the Vase last week, will hope to capitalise on that result with an away win over Steeton, 12th.
- Bacup Borough, third and level on points with the Bloods, will hope to leapfrog both sides above them with victory this weekend over second-bottom Ashton Athletic on home soil.
- Fourth placed Squires Gate, two points shy of top spot, will welcome 10th placed Ashton Town to the Skiddle Community Stadium this Saturday.
- With Thornton Cleveleys M.I.A. due to their Macron Cup clash with West Didsbury & Chorlton being postponed, Darwen FC can take their place in the top five with maximum points against 13th placed Daisy Hill this weekend.
The following matched DO NOT influence the active title race, but who’s to say – they could well do by this time next week:
- Bottom club Garstang will hope to pass that moniker back to Ashton Athletic this weekend as they look to win for the first time in five games against 14th placed AFC Blackpool.
- Maghull are currently not the staple of the title picture that they have been at points this season, but remain just five points behind top spot, in seventh. This weekend, they welcome Holker Old Boys, in 10th, to the DT Hughes Community Stadium.
- There’s a relegation battle six-pointer to bring to your attention this weekend, emanating from Brantingham Road, where Maine Road, currently inside the drop zone, will meet Colne, who have just a three-point cushion on their hosts in the table right now.
First Division South:
In an interesting turn, the gap at the top of the table in the First Division South has been cut to just four points – just two weeks ago, that was a 12-point margin. Both of the top two teams are in action this Saturday, as leaders Runcorn Town go on the road to 12th placed Allscott Heath; and second placed Eccleshall host eighth placed New Mills.
There’s also just three points between the three teams stretching from fourth to sixth position in the battle for the play-offs, all of whom will also take to the field this weekend. In a mouth-watering clash, Stockport Georgians, fourth, will travel to Evans Park to face Stafford Town, sixth, with an active position in the top five up for grabs.
One team hoping that neither side will win the above game is fifth placed Sandbach United, who will have no concerns over being leapfrogged in the league by their hosts this weekend – 10th placed Cheadle Heath Nomads.
Following the withdrawal from the league of Wolverhampton Sporting Community, the gap between 15th and bottom of the league had suddenly shrunk to just five points. Three teams of the four in that group will play this weekend, with two facing off against each other when 15th placed Alsager Town welcome 16th placed Wolves Casuals to Wood Park.
Just three points behind Alsager, currently occupying a spot inside the drop zone, are Shawbury United, but they have a golden opportunity to change that fact this weekend as they host 11th placed Foley Meir.
Only slightly further up the league are Market Drayton Town and Cammell Laird 1907 – both have 22 points to their name as of now, but the latter eclipse the former in the table on goal difference. That is very much subject to change as the two sides face off at MDT’s Greenfields Sports Ground.
Finally, there’s an opportunity for seventh placed Ashville to keep hope of a play-off surge alive when they welcome ninth-placed Barnton to the Ray Parker Stadium on Saturday. The gap between themselves and the top five is currently just four points, and results this weekend could really open the door for Sam Vicker’s side to pounce.
Week 30: Preview
Fri 13th February 2026 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
It’s still FA Vase time… kind of! One Prem team takes the spotlight as they compete in a rearranged cup game from last weekend. Elsewhere, with the Macron Cup quarter finals upon us, let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Friday:
Premier Division:
Just one game to bring to your attention from under the lights this coming Friday night, but it’s a tasty one. Just three points and the dotted line of the drop zone separate third-bottom Abbey Hey and second-bottom City of Liverpool, who will do battle at the latter’s Community Ground to kick-off the weekend.
Saturday:
Isuzu FA Vase, fifth round:
Let’s try again, shall we?
After West Didsbury & Chorlton had their anticipated clash with Midlands League side Winsford United called off last weekend due to a waterlogged pitch at the Step Places Stadium, with any luck, this Saturday will be the one where West can cement their place in the next round of the Vase.
Macron Cup, quarter finals:
There are three games to bring to you from the Macron Cup this weekend.
With West preoccupied with the Vase, the only game between two sides who don’t share a division will see First Division North outfit Nelson host First Division South play-off candidates Telford Town.
Both of the other games taking place on Saturday will see two Prem sides face off against one another: AFC Liverpool will welcome Euxton Villa to the Berry Street Garage Stadium; and Burscough will meet Cheadle Town at their Community Ground, just 19 hours after Friday’s league game at the same venue.
Premier Division:
A shorter list of Prem games to make mention of this weekend.
League leaders Wythenshawe have completely run away with proceedings since the turn of the year, amassing a 12-point lead at the top of the table which could stretch to 15 with victory at home against Atherton LR this weekend.
With second-placed Ramsbottom United not scheduled for action this weekend, newly third-placed Irlam are the next highest-ranked team to play league football on Saturday – they will welcome 10th placed Stockport Town to Silver Street in a Greater Manchester derby.
With West and Burscough in cup competitions on Saturday, and with Atherton facing the league leaders, there might be no better a chance for eighth-placed Chadderton to close the gap between themselves and the top five to just a point – their obstacle this weekend: bottom side Litherland REMYCA.
Just one point, AND the midway point in the table comes between 12th placed Longridge Town and 13th placed Prestwich Heys, with the two sides set to meet this Saturday at Inglewhite Road. There’s a similar story to be told for Barnoldswick Town this weekend, who play host to FC Isle of Man knowing maximum points would see them overtake their visitors in the league.
Pilkington became just the second team in the league to concede 100 goals this season last time out, and they are on a winless streak of eight games. They have a chance to break that spell on Saturday when they host 15th place Charnock Richard, who have won just one of their last six.
First Division North:
As usual, there remains just three points between sixth place and top of the tree in the First Division North – the following matches WILL influence the active title race:
- League leaders MSB Woolton, on 38 points, will host fellow first timers in the NWCFL Fulwood Amateurs, currently ninth, hoping to retain their spot.
- Second placed Droylsden, after punching their ticket into the next round of the Vase last week, will hope to capitalise on that result with an away win over Steeton, 12th.
- Bacup Borough, third and level on points with the Bloods, will hope to leapfrog both sides above them with victory this weekend over second-bottom Ashton Athletic on home soil.
- Fourth placed Squires Gate, two points shy of top spot, will welcome 10th placed Ashton Town to the Skiddle Community Stadium this Saturday.
- With Thornton Cleveleys M.I.A. due to their Macron Cup clash with West Didsbury & Chorlton being postponed, Darwen FC can take their place in the top five with maximum points against 13th placed Daisy Hill this weekend.
The following matched DO NOT influence the active title race, but who’s to say – they could well do by this time next week:
- Bottom club Garstang will hope to pass that moniker back to Ashton Athletic this weekend as they look to win for the first time in five games against 14th placed AFC Blackpool.
- Maghull are currently not the staple of the title picture that they have been at points this season, but remain just five points behind top spot, in seventh. This weekend, they welcome Holker Old Boys, in 10th, to the DT Hughes Community Stadium.
- There’s a relegation battle six-pointer to bring to your attention this weekend, emanating from Brantingham Road, where Maine Road, currently inside the drop zone, will meet Colne, who have just a three-point cushion on their hosts in the table right now.
First Division South:
In an interesting turn, the gap at the top of the table in the First Division South has been cut to just four points – just two weeks ago, that was a 12-point margin. Both of the top two teams are in action this Saturday, as leaders Runcorn Town go on the road to 12th placed Allscott Heath; and second placed Eccleshall host eighth placed New Mills.
There’s also just three points between the three teams stretching from fourth to sixth position in the battle for the play-offs, all of whom will also take to the field this weekend. In a mouth-watering clash, Stockport Georgians, fourth, will travel to Evans Park to face Stafford Town, sixth, with an active position in the top five up for grabs.
One team hoping that neither side will win the above game is fifth placed Sandbach United, who will have no concerns over being leapfrogged in the league by their hosts this weekend – 10th placed Cheadle Heath Nomads.
Following the withdrawal from the league of Wolverhampton Sporting Community, the gap between 15th and bottom of the league had suddenly shrunk to just five points. Three teams of the four in that group will play this weekend, with two facing off against each other when 15th placed Alsager Town welcome 16th placed Wolves Casuals to Wood Park.
Just three points behind Alsager, currently occupying a spot inside the drop zone, are Shawbury United, but they have a golden opportunity to change that fact this weekend as they host 11th placed Foley Meir.
Only slightly further up the league are Market Drayton Town and Cammell Laird 1907 – both have 22 points to their name as of now, but the latter eclipse the former in the table on goal difference. That is very much subject to change as the two sides face off at MDT’s Greenfields Sports Ground.
Finally, there’s an opportunity for seventh placed Ashville to keep hope of a play-off surge alive when they welcome ninth-placed Barnton to the Ray Parker Stadium on Saturday. The gap between themselves and the top five is currently just four points, and results this weekend could really open the door for Sam Vicker’s side to pounce.
