Another weekend, another round of games from all 3 divisions of the NWCFL, as well as the Macron Cup semi-finals. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
Macron Cup:
The last remaining First Division North team in the Macron Cup, AFC Blackpool, welcomed Stafford Town on Saturday for a chance at the final. Ultimately, it wasn’t to be for John Salanki’s men, as goals from Matthew Hearsey and Jayden Hunter either side of half time helped Staffs to advance to the final with a 2-0 win…
…where they will face Charnock Richard. There was plenty of pressure on Ryan Donnellan’s team to stick to the status quo against underdogs Barnton, but they got the job done thanks to a 69th minute goal by Nathan Nickeas. The match ended 1-0.
Premier Division:
Bury have hit the hundred! On Saturday, the Shakers welcomed bottom club Squires Gate to Gigg Lane knowing a win would take them into 100-point territory for the season, Rustam Stephens scored two and Bryan Ly scored a third to see Dave McNabb’s side record a 3-0 win.
In the day’s late kick-off, Bury’s closest title challengers, Lower Breck, were looking to take maximum points away from FC Isle of Man at The Bowl. They did just that, with four different men getting on the scoresheet in a 4-0 victory, Breck are now just one win from 100 points themselves.
The relegation battle took another turn on Saturday, with Litherland REMYCA playing host to Colne, who were in desperate need of three points after a costly defeat to Prestwich Heys last week. Andy Harrison’s men made good on that need as they came from behind to win 3-1 in Liverpool and make their way out of the bottom two for now.
Prestwich Heys were looking to retain the momentum they’d gathered from the Colne victory but were faced with promotion-hungry Ramsbottom United at the Adie Moran Park on Saturday. Despite a resilient performance, they were undone in the 97th minute by Luke Barlow for Rammy, and the visitors went home with a 2-1 victory.
Stockport Town began the day knowing that three points against FC St Helens on home soil would see them jump to the same points tally for the season as their visitors. That was more than enough motivation for Keane Barugh, scored two of Town’s three in a 3-1 victory for Paul Turnbull’s men.
Other scores
Friday:
AFC Liverpool 2-0 Barnoldswick Town
Saturday:
Abbey Hey 0-2 Padiham
Cheadle Town 0-1 Burscough
Longridge Town 0-2 Pilkington
South Liverpool 0-0 Irlam
West Didsbury and Chorlton 1-0 Chadderton
First Division North:
Euxton Villa had their play-off place in their own hands going into Saturday’s visit to Daisy Hill – a win, and it would be a third straight play-off campaign. They almost got over the line too, winning 2-1 up until minute 93, but a late Kaiden Barlow strike for Daisy Hill ensured a 2-2 draw.
Holker Old Boys were going into their visit to fellow promotion-hunters Droylsden also needing just one more victory to confirm their place in the play-off places. And, like Euxton Villa, they couldn’t quite manage it. In fact, they needed a late Luke Ellis goal to save a 2-2 draw at the Butchers Arms.
Ordinarily, a one-goal game would be filed under “other scores”, but this one was too important to ignore – with three games to go, Atherton LR have leapfrogged Nelson into top spot in the division. The two sides met at Nelson’s Daisy Arena, but a 57th minute strike by Joe Bacon was the deciding factor in Atherton’s favour, who won 1-0.
Second season syndrome has hit Route One Rovers hard this season, and it has now culminated in potential relegation. Rovers’ 3-1 defeat by Maghull on Saturday means that they will be solely reliant on a reprieve from relegation if they are to avoid dropping out of the NWCFL.
Bottom side Skelmersdale United’s season to forget is almost over, and Thornton Cleveleys were the latest side to pick the bones on Saturday. Archie Lang, Jordan Beavers and Liam Sharpe all scored in a 3-0 victory for Cleveleys at Skem’s temporary home of the Community Ground – at least they can look forward to life anew at the Marine Travel Arena next season!
Other scores
Ashton Town 0-2 Darwen FC
Bacup Borough 0-1 Steeton
First Division South:
This weekend’s biggest hitters came from the First Division South, as Abbey Hulton United welcomed Wolves Sporting to Drayton Beaumont Park. Kieran Brown was the biggest individual beneficiary of this rout, scoring twice as AHU battered Wolves 6-0.
Eccleshall have given themselves a boost in their late dash for the play-off places in the South. They hosted Market Drayton Town and were bitten first by Jack Finney, but turned the scoreline on its head thanks in part to a Macauley Taylor brace, eventually winning 3-1 to temporarily take 5th in the table,
Runcorn Town were 2-0 up and cruising in their clash with Foley Meir by the time the referee blew up for the break. However, two late second half strikes by Thomas Wakefield and Aiden Lloyd secured a share of the points for Mark Lawton’s side, with the game ending 2-2.
One. Point. To. Go. Winsford United picked up a vital victory in their push for the title on Saturday away at Stockport Georgians. Jack Woolley got the ball rolling with a penalty, and Oliver Pope and Reece Davies added to proceedings throughout the match to help United secure a 3-0 shutout victory.
Other scores
Ashville 2-1 Alsager Town
New Mills 1-2 Cammell Laird 1907
Shawbury United 0-1 Sandbach United
| Gameweek 36: Review |
| Gameweek 35: Review |
| Gameweek 34: Review |
| Gameweek 33: Review |
