Week 38: Preview
Fri 10th April 2026 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
There’s a few final, and a LOT of penultimate league games to come across all three divisions of the NWCFL over the next few days. Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Premier Division:
It’s a full schedule of Prem action coming your way on Saturday, beginning, unusually, at 2pm. Travelling over to the mainland are fifth bottom FC Isle of Man, far from relegation danger by this stage, to visit Mossie Park and take on 12th placed Charnock Richard.
As of 3pm, the rest of the action commences for the day, and it could be a decisive day in the title race. A win for top of the table Wythenshawe away at relegation-threatened Pilkington, and anything shy of maximum points for second placed Ramsbottom United, who will host mid-table South Liverpool, will confirm the Ammies as Premier Division champions for the second time in three years, and see them cross the 100-point threshold.
Anything aside from a defeat for third placed Atherton LR will officially confirm their place in the play-offs for the 2025/26 season, but that may be harder to achieve than it seems on paper, given that they are on the road to second-bottom Litherland REMYCA, who are fresh off two wins in their last three against the top two in the league, and can still perform the great escape.
It will also be possible for both of fourth placed Chadderton, who will be on the road to meet eight placed FC St Helens; and fifth placed Padiham, also away to 18th placed Cheadle Town; to secure their spots in the play-off spots. However, that outcome would be subject to results elsewhere.
Specifically, the results that come out of the fixtures involving sixth placed Irlam, who will welcome mid-table Burscough to Silver Street; and seventh placed Prestwich Heys – on a run of 10 straight wins and with games in hand on everyone above them – in their matchup at the Step Places Stadium against Macron Cup finalists West Didsbury & Chorlton. Both Irlam and Heys can still make the top five, but they need to win what games they have left, and hope that the teams above them don’t match their results.
AFC Liverpool are red hot right now, having won their last seven and made the Macron Cup final, and can keep their strong finish to the season going as they travel to 10th placed Stockport Town.
There’s also a cup final soon for 14th placed Glossop North End, who have an away clash with already relegated City of Liverpool on the agenda this weekend, and one more league game to boot before they face Ilkeston Town in the Derbyshire Cup Final.
A win for Barnoldswick Town this weekend would take them within a point of their visitors to the Silentnight Stadium on Saturday in 17th placed Euxton Villa. There’s also a battle of pride taking place at Inglewhite Road, as 16th placed Longridge Town will welcome now-officially-safe Abbey Hey, in 21st place.
First Division North:
Just four games on the cards from the North this weekend.
The headline story comes from Little Wembley, where Nelson, top of the tree, can win the league in the absence of a game for second placed Droylsden. Their opponents? Already relegated Ashton Athletic, who may still be able to save themselves with a potential reprieve, but beyond that, only have the prospect of upsetting the apple cart to fight for.
A mere point would also be enough for MSB Woolton to confirm their position inside the play-offs in their first ever NWCFL campaign. Their opponents? AFC Blackpool, away from home, with the Mechanics already safe in 14th in the division.
There’s one more team with plenty riding on this weekend’s games, and this comes from the foot of the division. Colne, fresh off two games without defeat, can confirm their safety in the league on Saturday with maximum points at home to Holker Old Boys, and would condemn Garstang to the drop zone in the process.
Game-in-hand holders Bacup Borough, currently 11th in the division, still have the potential for a strong, top-half finish to this season, which will begin with their Saturday hosting of bottom side Maine Road.
First Division South:
It’s a quieter weekend in the South, too, with five games to come on Saturday.
It’s a season finale, and a trophy collecting afternoon for champions Runcorn Town, who play their final league game of the 2025/26 campaign against bottom side Haughmond on home soil this weekend. Not that they’re finished yet – they have just the three cup finals to come this month!
It’s also a season finale this weekend for third-bottom Market Drayton Town, who can confirm their own safety with maximum points against 13th placed Foley Meir at Greenfields Sports Ground.
Should they fall to defeat, they will have to hope for a home victory at the OWS Engineering LTD Stadium, where Cammell Laird 1907, fresh off two straight wins over Easter Weekend, will welcome second-bottom Alsager Town. Anything other than a win for the visitors will see them officially relegated.
Telford Town, currently 8th, have two games left of their maiden NWCFL campaign, which they can end very strongly, but have a harsh task on their hands this weekend. They will welcome second-placed Eccleshall to the DRM Aggregate Arena.
Just a point separates Allscott Heath and Wolves Casuals, with these two teams set to meet at the Giant Stadium for their respective season finales. Whoever wins will finish above the other in the table in the 2025/26 season.
Week 38: Preview
Fri 10th April 2026 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
There’s a few final, and a LOT of penultimate league games to come across all three divisions of the NWCFL over the next few days. Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Premier Division:
It’s a full schedule of Prem action coming your way on Saturday, beginning, unusually, at 2pm. Travelling over to the mainland are fifth bottom FC Isle of Man, far from relegation danger by this stage, to visit Mossie Park and take on 12th placed Charnock Richard.
As of 3pm, the rest of the action commences for the day, and it could be a decisive day in the title race. A win for top of the table Wythenshawe away at relegation-threatened Pilkington, and anything shy of maximum points for second placed Ramsbottom United, who will host mid-table South Liverpool, will confirm the Ammies as Premier Division champions for the second time in three years, and see them cross the 100-point threshold.
Anything aside from a defeat for third placed Atherton LR will officially confirm their place in the play-offs for the 2025/26 season, but that may be harder to achieve than it seems on paper, given that they are on the road to second-bottom Litherland REMYCA, who are fresh off two wins in their last three against the top two in the league, and can still perform the great escape.
It will also be possible for both of fourth placed Chadderton, who will be on the road to meet eight placed FC St Helens; and fifth placed Padiham, also away to 18th placed Cheadle Town; to secure their spots in the play-off spots. However, that outcome would be subject to results elsewhere.
Specifically, the results that come out of the fixtures involving sixth placed Irlam, who will welcome mid-table Burscough to Silver Street; and seventh placed Prestwich Heys – on a run of 10 straight wins and with games in hand on everyone above them – in their matchup at the Step Places Stadium against Macron Cup finalists West Didsbury & Chorlton. Both Irlam and Heys can still make the top five, but they need to win what games they have left, and hope that the teams above them don’t match their results.
AFC Liverpool are red hot right now, having won their last seven and made the Macron Cup final, and can keep their strong finish to the season going as they travel to 10th placed Stockport Town.
There’s also a cup final soon for 14th placed Glossop North End, who have an away clash with already relegated City of Liverpool on the agenda this weekend, and one more league game to boot before they face Ilkeston Town in the Derbyshire Cup Final.
A win for Barnoldswick Town this weekend would take them within a point of their visitors to the Silentnight Stadium on Saturday in 17th placed Euxton Villa. There’s also a battle of pride taking place at Inglewhite Road, as 16th placed Longridge Town will welcome now-officially-safe Abbey Hey, in 21st place.
First Division North:
Just four games on the cards from the North this weekend.
The headline story comes from Little Wembley, where Nelson, top of the tree, can win the league in the absence of a game for second placed Droylsden. Their opponents? Already relegated Ashton Athletic, who may still be able to save themselves with a potential reprieve, but beyond that, only have the prospect of upsetting the apple cart to fight for.
A mere point would also be enough for MSB Woolton to confirm their position inside the play-offs in their first ever NWCFL campaign. Their opponents? AFC Blackpool, away from home, with the Mechanics already safe in 14th in the division.
There’s one more team with plenty riding on this weekend’s games, and this comes from the foot of the division. Colne, fresh off two games without defeat, can confirm their safety in the league on Saturday with maximum points at home to Holker Old Boys, and would condemn Garstang to the drop zone in the process.
Game-in-hand holders Bacup Borough, currently 11th in the division, still have the potential for a strong, top-half finish to this season, which will begin with their Saturday hosting of bottom side Maine Road.
First Division South:
It’s a quieter weekend in the South, too, with five games to come on Saturday.
It’s a season finale, and a trophy collecting afternoon for champions Runcorn Town, who play their final league game of the 2025/26 campaign against bottom side Haughmond on home soil this weekend. Not that they’re finished yet – they have just the three cup finals to come this month!
It’s also a season finale this weekend for third-bottom Market Drayton Town, who can confirm their own safety with maximum points against 13th placed Foley Meir at Greenfields Sports Ground.
Should they fall to defeat, they will have to hope for a home victory at the OWS Engineering LTD Stadium, where Cammell Laird 1907, fresh off two straight wins over Easter Weekend, will welcome second-bottom Alsager Town. Anything other than a win for the visitors will see them officially relegated.
Telford Town, currently 8th, have two games left of their maiden NWCFL campaign, which they can end very strongly, but have a harsh task on their hands this weekend. They will welcome second-placed Eccleshall to the DRM Aggregate Arena.
Just a point separates Allscott Heath and Wolves Casuals, with these two teams set to meet at the Giant Stadium for their respective season finales. Whoever wins will finish above the other in the table in the 2025/26 season.
