Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 28
Thu 6th February 2025 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. Wembley will have to wait
All eyes were on Atherton LR for Saturday’s Isuzu FA Vase clash with Bourne Town. Atherton went into the match as the last remaining NWCFL side in the nationwide competition and knew that hosting Bourne would be no easy feat.
That was made clear by their 2-0 half time deficit, but Dave Jones’ men roared back to 2-2 to force penalties. In the shootout, Rovers were finally undone, losing 6-5. A valiant effort from Atherton to make the 5th round, but it looks as though any Wembley dreams for any NWCFL sides will have to wait until next year.
2. The ECC semi-finalists are decided
Atherton LR would go on to lick their Cup wounds on their travels to Cheadle Heath Nomads in midweek. In the Edward Case Cup, they put four past their hosts without reply to confirm themselves as one of the sides in the last four.
Joining them will be Holker Old Boys, who overcame Abbey Hulton United 3-1 away from home on Saturday; Ashville, who squeezed past Euxton Villa on penalties after Saturday’s 2-2 draw; and Stafford Town, who defeated Maine Road in the match of the weekend, winning 7-4.
3. Never write off West
In a close second to the Stafford/Road goal-fest as match of the weekend, Colne’s hosting of West Didsbury and Chorlton must have been a phenomenal game to watch for the neutral. Colne, fully devoted to their ongoing great escape from the drop zone, stormed into a 3-0 lead and must’ve felt good value for their seemingly inevitable three points.
That was how things were at the break, but whatever Paul Marshall said to his West players over the interval clearly had the intended effect. Andrew Briggs and Victor Abadaki both put the home side on edge by scoring and dragging the game back to 3-2, before Abadaki bagged a second five minutes from time to snatch a draw. AND THEN, James Moore scored a fantastic goal of his own to ensure that all three points went to West in a 4-3 comeback win. Play to the whistle, as they say!
4. “Seven Cup Finals” left for Nelson
That’s manager Gerry Harrison’s own words that he said to me when I spoke to him earlier this week. Currently hanging on to top spot in the First Division North by a thread, with second place Atherton LR breathing down their necks with games in hand – more games now, after this past weekend – it really is do or die for Nelson in the coming weeks.
In the time left for Nelson between now and the end of the season, have a guess which team they’ve still got to play twice? If you said Atherton LR, then well done! If they’re able to bag six points from six available against their title rivals, it would put a serious dent in any Rovers momentum. Two weeks until the first of these two encounters – take your seats, everyone.
5. New manager bounce for Barnton
Only two weeks ago in this list, I mentioned that then-relegation zone occupiers Barnton were on the hunt for a new gaffer following the departure of Danny Moss. It looks as though they’ve found their man… or should that be men?
Lewis Wood and Craig Humphries have jointly assumed the helm at the Creative Hut Stadium, and they were thrust into a relegation six-pointer on Saturday as their first test. They passed with flying colours, with the Chester Juve beating fellow strugglers Wolves Sporting 2-1. They’ll want this to be a springboard for the club to get away from danger before April.
Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 28
Thu 6th February 2025 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. Wembley will have to wait
All eyes were on Atherton LR for Saturday’s Isuzu FA Vase clash with Bourne Town. Atherton went into the match as the last remaining NWCFL side in the nationwide competition and knew that hosting Bourne would be no easy feat.
That was made clear by their 2-0 half time deficit, but Dave Jones’ men roared back to 2-2 to force penalties. In the shootout, Rovers were finally undone, losing 6-5. A valiant effort from Atherton to make the 5th round, but it looks as though any Wembley dreams for any NWCFL sides will have to wait until next year.
2. The ECC semi-finalists are decided
Atherton LR would go on to lick their Cup wounds on their travels to Cheadle Heath Nomads in midweek. In the Edward Case Cup, they put four past their hosts without reply to confirm themselves as one of the sides in the last four.
Joining them will be Holker Old Boys, who overcame Abbey Hulton United 3-1 away from home on Saturday; Ashville, who squeezed past Euxton Villa on penalties after Saturday’s 2-2 draw; and Stafford Town, who defeated Maine Road in the match of the weekend, winning 7-4.
3. Never write off West
In a close second to the Stafford/Road goal-fest as match of the weekend, Colne’s hosting of West Didsbury and Chorlton must have been a phenomenal game to watch for the neutral. Colne, fully devoted to their ongoing great escape from the drop zone, stormed into a 3-0 lead and must’ve felt good value for their seemingly inevitable three points.
That was how things were at the break, but whatever Paul Marshall said to his West players over the interval clearly had the intended effect. Andrew Briggs and Victor Abadaki both put the home side on edge by scoring and dragging the game back to 3-2, before Abadaki bagged a second five minutes from time to snatch a draw. AND THEN, James Moore scored a fantastic goal of his own to ensure that all three points went to West in a 4-3 comeback win. Play to the whistle, as they say!
4. “Seven Cup Finals” left for Nelson
That’s manager Gerry Harrison’s own words that he said to me when I spoke to him earlier this week. Currently hanging on to top spot in the First Division North by a thread, with second place Atherton LR breathing down their necks with games in hand – more games now, after this past weekend – it really is do or die for Nelson in the coming weeks.
In the time left for Nelson between now and the end of the season, have a guess which team they’ve still got to play twice? If you said Atherton LR, then well done! If they’re able to bag six points from six available against their title rivals, it would put a serious dent in any Rovers momentum. Two weeks until the first of these two encounters – take your seats, everyone.
5. New manager bounce for Barnton
Only two weeks ago in this list, I mentioned that then-relegation zone occupiers Barnton were on the hunt for a new gaffer following the departure of Danny Moss. It looks as though they’ve found their man… or should that be men?
Lewis Wood and Craig Humphries have jointly assumed the helm at the Creative Hut Stadium, and they were thrust into a relegation six-pointer on Saturday as their first test. They passed with flying colours, with the Chester Juve beating fellow strugglers Wolves Sporting 2-1. They’ll want this to be a springboard for the club to get away from danger before April.
