Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 6
Thu 10th September 2026 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
Another week, another series of matches from the NWCFL. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
1. The two survivors in the FA Cup
Going into the weekend, the NWCFL had three sides left in the Emirates FA Cup at the first qualifying stage, and two of them were drawn to play against each other. Prem outfits South Liverpool and Prestwich Heys were to go toe to toe, and fellow Prem side Trafford went on the road to Bamber Bridge, of the Northern Premier League.
Trafford did their part, slaying their higher-division opponents 3-1 to move to the next round, but nothing could separate South and Heys on Saturday in a 2-2 draw, leading to a Tuesday night replay. After 180 minutes, South finally progressed, winning 2-1 to join Trafford as one of just two NWCFL sides left in English football’s oldest competition.
2. Seventh Heaven for Glossop North End
Building on the fact that they were a feature of last week’s “Five Things We Learned”, Glossop North End have usurped their fellow competitors in the Premier Division promotion race to take top spot over the course of the last seven days.
Lee Wilshaw’s side achieved this feat with maximum points on Saturday, to the tune of a 7-1 away victory against second-bottom Longridge Town. Alex Bowker and Ethan Sutcliffe both bagged braces as North End stormed to victory. Could this be their year to return to the NPL for the first time since 2023?
3. Nelson ruthless on home soil
For only the second time this season, newly promoted Nelson played a home league game on Saturday, in the Premier Division. Their opponents were winless and draw-less AFC Liverpool, and the home team were eager to regain their momentum after being beaten by Trafford in midweek.
They did exactly that, hammering their visitors 6-1 to further cement their early season claim to a play-off place, and they have now scored 11 goals in just two league games when playing at Little Wembley. Woe betides FC Isle of man, who will be their visitors this coming Saturday.
4. Market Drayton Town didn’t hear no bell
Few would’ve blamed any of the 179 fans who were there to support the home side at the Balufab Stadium on Saturday for leaving at the 88th minute, when visiting Cheadle Heath Nomads made it 2-1 against Market Drayton Town in the First Division South’s three-word-name derby.
However, if they had, they would’ve been forced to digest some humble pie when they got home, checked the score, and saw that MDT had turned it around in added time. Goals by Oliver Griffiths and Durell Manhertz in minutes 90 and 90+2 earned three points for David Lloyd’s side. Play to the whistle!
5. They knew he was trouble…
Widnes Town, in the First Division South, played their first home league game of the new campaign at the Marine Travel Arena on Tuesday. Under new-ish boss Gary Taylor-Fletcher, they doubled their points tally for the season by holding New Mills to a 2-2 draw.
The headline, however, surrounds the man who scored their opening goal on the night, and the minute in which he scored it. Town’s number 10, Taylor Swift, rolled beyond the Millers’ keeper to put his side ahead, and did so in the 22nd minute of the match, for good measure. A true Love Story.
Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 6
Thu 10th September 2026 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
Another week, another series of matches from the NWCFL. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
1. The two survivors in the FA Cup
Going into the weekend, the NWCFL had three sides left in the Emirates FA Cup at the first qualifying stage, and two of them were drawn to play against each other. Prem outfits South Liverpool and Prestwich Heys were to go toe to toe, and fellow Prem side Trafford went on the road to Bamber Bridge, of the Northern Premier League.
Trafford did their part, slaying their higher-division opponents 3-1 to move to the next round, but nothing could separate South and Heys on Saturday in a 2-2 draw, leading to a Tuesday night replay. After 180 minutes, South finally progressed, winning 2-1 to join Trafford as one of just two NWCFL sides left in English football’s oldest competition.
2. Seventh Heaven for Glossop North End
Building on the fact that they were a feature of last week’s “Five Things We Learned”, Glossop North End have usurped their fellow competitors in the Premier Division promotion race to take top spot over the course of the last seven days.
Lee Wilshaw’s side achieved this feat with maximum points on Saturday, to the tune of a 7-1 away victory against second-bottom Longridge Town. Alex Bowker and Ethan Sutcliffe both bagged braces as North End stormed to victory. Could this be their year to return to the NPL for the first time since 2023?
3. Nelson ruthless on home soil
For only the second time this season, newly promoted Nelson played a home league game on Saturday, in the Premier Division. Their opponents were winless and draw-less AFC Liverpool, and the home team were eager to regain their momentum after being beaten by Trafford in midweek.
They did exactly that, hammering their visitors 6-1 to further cement their early season claim to a play-off place, and they have now scored 11 goals in just two league games when playing at Little Wembley. Woe betides FC Isle of man, who will be their visitors this coming Saturday.
4. Market Drayton Town didn’t hear no bell
Few would’ve blamed any of the 179 fans who were there to support the home side at the Balufab Stadium on Saturday for leaving at the 88th minute, when visiting Cheadle Heath Nomads made it 2-1 against Market Drayton Town in the First Division South’s three-word-name derby.
However, if they had, they would’ve been forced to digest some humble pie when they got home, checked the score, and saw that MDT had turned it around in added time. Goals by Oliver Griffiths and Durell Manhertz in minutes 90 and 90+2 earned three points for David Lloyd’s side. Play to the whistle!
5. They knew he was trouble…
Widnes Town, in the First Division South, played their first home league game of the new campaign at the Marine Travel Arena on Tuesday. Under new-ish boss Gary Taylor-Fletcher, they doubled their points tally for the season by holding New Mills to a 2-2 draw.
The headline, however, surrounds the man who scored their opening goal on the night, and the minute in which he scored it. Town’s number 10, Taylor Swift, rolled beyond the Millers’ keeper to put his side ahead, and did so in the 22nd minute of the match, for good measure. A true Love Story.
