Week 31: Preview
Fri 20th February 2026 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
League action retakes centre stage in the NWCFL! Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Friday:
First Division South:
Just one Friday game on the table this time around, between two sides with just two points between them in the league. New Mills will welcome Ashville to Church Lane knowing victory will take them above not just their visitors, but also ahead of sixth placed Stafford Town, even if only briefly.
Saturday:
Premier Division:
A nearly full helping of Premier Division action to come on Saturday.
League leaders Wythenshawe will have to wait to have the chance to extend their advantage at the top of the tree, as they will be on the road (or should that be water) to face FC Isle of Man in the day’s late kick-off.
Third placed Padiham stopped the rot in midweek, right in time to square off with sixth placed Irlam this coming Saturday, whose recent form has seen them cut the gap between themselves and their hosts this weekend in the table to just three points. The Storks’ victims last time out, Charnock Richard, will tend to their wounds with an away trip to third-bottom Abbey Hey.
Completing the play-off picture right now are best-of-the-rest Ramsbottom United, who will also be on the road this weekend to square off with West Didsbury & Chorlton, who are riding extra high after last weekend’s Isuzu FA Vase Fifth Round victory.
With West having not played a league game for a week and a half, their fourth placed spot has been usurped by Chadderton, who won 7-1 in midweek, and can further stake their claim to a place in the top five by beating Burscough away this weekend.
Amazingly, Chaddy weren’t the only Prem side to score seven on Tuesday away from home. Prestwich Heys managed that same feat at the Community Ground, and they will be keen to extend their unbeaten run to four games this weekend with their hosting of Stockport Town.
Heys’ opponents from midweek, second-bottom City of Liverpool, will be hoping to put up more of a fight when they go on the road to face 18th placed Euxton Villa on Saturday. Longridge Town, the other side to have shipped seven a few days ago, will also be hoping to right the ship on Saturday with a home fixture against 16th placed AFC Liverpool.
Atherton LR have quietly snuck to within two points of the play-off positions in their first season at the top table after winning the First Division North in 2024/25. They’ll have to win away from home at the SMS Pro Soccer Park against ninth placed FC St Helens to preserve that momentum.
Four places and five points separate two more opponents situated in the lower half of the table on Saturday, as 21st placed Pilkington aim to snap a 10-game winless run at 17th placed Cheadle Town. Elsewhere, Barnoldswick Town, on a six-game winless run of their own, will be determined to course correct when they travel to 14th placed South Liverpool.
First Division North:
NEW LEADERS ALERT! We have new league leaders in the First Division North. MSB Woolton have surrendered the would-be crown to Droylsden after the Bloods’ victory on Wednesday night, but they can regain it this weekend by overcoming 10th placed Ashton Town away from home in the absence of a league game for the new table toppers.
For the first time in forever, only one game can influence the top of the tree in the North. The next-best placed side after the top two are Squires Gate, in third, can move within a point of first place with victory on Saturday away at bottom side Garstang. Just one point behind Gate are Darwen FC, who are also away this weekend, battling relegation zone occupiers Maine Road.
Bacup Borough are holding onto their spot in the play-off picture for now, and they can keep their destiny in their own hands with maximum points on the road against 12th placed Steeton. They have a variety of close challengers to their position, however, including sixth placed Maghull. They are a point shy of the top five, and will welcome second-bottom Ashton Athletic on Saturday, who are looking for their third straight win.
Fulwood Amateurs and Thornton Cleveleys are also within spitting distance of the play-off picture, and both sides have the on-paper benefit of a home fixture to come this weekend. The Ammies will play host to Nelson, who are coming off a 10-1 midweek victory in the Macron Cup; and Cleveleys will welcome seaside rivals AFC Blackpool to Gamble Road.
Fourth-bottom Colne are unbeaten in three ahead of this weekend’s meeting with 11th placed Holker Old Boys, and they have the opportunity to extend the points difference between themselves and the relegation zone beyond just three.
First Division South:
Match postponements have been table-topping Runcorn Town’s kryptonite this winter. They have won each of their last six games, but their lead in the league standings has been marginalised to just a point as of the time of writing. Barring anything unforeseen, they can continue their momentum should they take maximum points away from fifth placed Sandbach United on Saturday.
Breathing down their necks are Eccleshall, who have played two more games than Runcorn, but still remain a threat. They are also away from home on Saturday against a fellow contender for promotion – fourth placed Telford Town. Completing the top five are Stockport Georgians, in third, who are the highest-placed team in the division to host a game this weekend, welcoming Foley Meir to Cromley Road.
With a victory and a Sandbach defeat on Saturday, Stafford Town will reclaim a place in the play-off spots on goal difference alone, but to do that, they’ll need to see off ninth placed Barnton in their own back yard.
There’s a mid-table battle coming your way this weekend from the OWS Engineering Limited Stadium, where 13th placed Cammell Laird 1907 will welcome 10th placed Cheadle Heath Nomads, who are seeking their third straight win.
Towards the foot of the division, the reduction in the number of teams from 19 to 18 has seen the league’s lowest scorers, Shawbury United, condemned to second bottom, for now. With victory this weekend away at Wolves Casuals, just three places above them right now, they can reduce the gap between themselves and safety to mere goal difference.
Haughmond have inherited the division’s would-be wooden spoon after the admin changes to the division, but they can rectify that by bettering Shawbury’s result this weekend when they welcome 12th placed Allscott Heath to Sundorne Sports Village.
Week 31: Preview
Fri 20th February 2026 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
League action retakes centre stage in the NWCFL! Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Friday:
First Division South:
Just one Friday game on the table this time around, between two sides with just two points between them in the league. New Mills will welcome Ashville to Church Lane knowing victory will take them above not just their visitors, but also ahead of sixth placed Stafford Town, even if only briefly.
Saturday:
Premier Division:
A nearly full helping of Premier Division action to come on Saturday.
League leaders Wythenshawe will have to wait to have the chance to extend their advantage at the top of the tree, as they will be on the road (or should that be water) to face FC Isle of Man in the day’s late kick-off.
Third placed Padiham stopped the rot in midweek, right in time to square off with sixth placed Irlam this coming Saturday, whose recent form has seen them cut the gap between themselves and their hosts this weekend in the table to just three points. The Storks’ victims last time out, Charnock Richard, will tend to their wounds with an away trip to third-bottom Abbey Hey.
Completing the play-off picture right now are best-of-the-rest Ramsbottom United, who will also be on the road this weekend to square off with West Didsbury & Chorlton, who are riding extra high after last weekend’s Isuzu FA Vase Fifth Round victory.
With West having not played a league game for a week and a half, their fourth placed spot has been usurped by Chadderton, who won 7-1 in midweek, and can further stake their claim to a place in the top five by beating Burscough away this weekend.
Amazingly, Chaddy weren’t the only Prem side to score seven on Tuesday away from home. Prestwich Heys managed that same feat at the Community Ground, and they will be keen to extend their unbeaten run to four games this weekend with their hosting of Stockport Town.
Heys’ opponents from midweek, second-bottom City of Liverpool, will be hoping to put up more of a fight when they go on the road to face 18th placed Euxton Villa on Saturday. Longridge Town, the other side to have shipped seven a few days ago, will also be hoping to right the ship on Saturday with a home fixture against 16th placed AFC Liverpool.
Atherton LR have quietly snuck to within two points of the play-off positions in their first season at the top table after winning the First Division North in 2024/25. They’ll have to win away from home at the SMS Pro Soccer Park against ninth placed FC St Helens to preserve that momentum.
Four places and five points separate two more opponents situated in the lower half of the table on Saturday, as 21st placed Pilkington aim to snap a 10-game winless run at 17th placed Cheadle Town. Elsewhere, Barnoldswick Town, on a six-game winless run of their own, will be determined to course correct when they travel to 14th placed South Liverpool.
First Division North:
NEW LEADERS ALERT! We have new league leaders in the First Division North. MSB Woolton have surrendered the would-be crown to Droylsden after the Bloods’ victory on Wednesday night, but they can regain it this weekend by overcoming 10th placed Ashton Town away from home in the absence of a league game for the new table toppers.
For the first time in forever, only one game can influence the top of the tree in the North. The next-best placed side after the top two are Squires Gate, in third, can move within a point of first place with victory on Saturday away at bottom side Garstang. Just one point behind Gate are Darwen FC, who are also away this weekend, battling relegation zone occupiers Maine Road.
Bacup Borough are holding onto their spot in the play-off picture for now, and they can keep their destiny in their own hands with maximum points on the road against 12th placed Steeton. They have a variety of close challengers to their position, however, including sixth placed Maghull. They are a point shy of the top five, and will welcome second-bottom Ashton Athletic on Saturday, who are looking for their third straight win.
Fulwood Amateurs and Thornton Cleveleys are also within spitting distance of the play-off picture, and both sides have the on-paper benefit of a home fixture to come this weekend. The Ammies will play host to Nelson, who are coming off a 10-1 midweek victory in the Macron Cup; and Cleveleys will welcome seaside rivals AFC Blackpool to Gamble Road.
Fourth-bottom Colne are unbeaten in three ahead of this weekend’s meeting with 11th placed Holker Old Boys, and they have the opportunity to extend the points difference between themselves and the relegation zone beyond just three.
First Division South:
Match postponements have been table-topping Runcorn Town’s kryptonite this winter. They have won each of their last six games, but their lead in the league standings has been marginalised to just a point as of the time of writing. Barring anything unforeseen, they can continue their momentum should they take maximum points away from fifth placed Sandbach United on Saturday.
Breathing down their necks are Eccleshall, who have played two more games than Runcorn, but still remain a threat. They are also away from home on Saturday against a fellow contender for promotion – fourth placed Telford Town. Completing the top five are Stockport Georgians, in third, who are the highest-placed team in the division to host a game this weekend, welcoming Foley Meir to Cromley Road.
With a victory and a Sandbach defeat on Saturday, Stafford Town will reclaim a place in the play-off spots on goal difference alone, but to do that, they’ll need to see off ninth placed Barnton in their own back yard.
There’s a mid-table battle coming your way this weekend from the OWS Engineering Limited Stadium, where 13th placed Cammell Laird 1907 will welcome 10th placed Cheadle Heath Nomads, who are seeking their third straight win.
Towards the foot of the division, the reduction in the number of teams from 19 to 18 has seen the league’s lowest scorers, Shawbury United, condemned to second bottom, for now. With victory this weekend away at Wolves Casuals, just three places above them right now, they can reduce the gap between themselves and safety to mere goal difference.
Haughmond have inherited the division’s would-be wooden spoon after the admin changes to the division, but they can rectify that by bettering Shawbury’s result this weekend when they welcome 12th placed Allscott Heath to Sundorne Sports Village.
