Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 10
Thu 8th October 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 last FA Cup domino falls
It has been a valiant effort, but unfortunately, Trafford were beaten on Tuesday in their Third Qualifying Round replay away from home against higher-division Atherton Collieries. With that, there are no NWCFL teams left in English football’s oldest competition for the 2026/27 campaign.
Tom Baker’s team got further than any other side from the NWCFL, knocking off Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, Runcorn Linnets, Bamber Bridge and Heaton Stannington before falling at the feat of their NPL Division One West opponents in midweek – don’t cry because it’s over, and all that.
2. The Edward Case Cup proper returns
Since the weekend, there have been several matches in the Edward Case Cup first round proper, nearly two months removed from the preliminary fixtures held in early August. There have already been some headline-grabbing results in the early stages of this year’s competition, including…
Flixton proving their mettle in an all-First Division North clash on home soil against Darwen, which they won 5-3; First Division South promotion chasers Thornton Cleveleys laying down the gauntlet in a 5-1 away drubbing of newly promoted Uppermill; and Barnton surprising the life out of First Division South play-off hopefuls Eccleshall with a 6-0 write-off.
3. Linnets with the longest loss-less streak
It is a pretty great time to be a regular watcher of Burscough right now. Following their 3-2 victory over Glossop North End on Saturday, they are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, and have only dropped points once during that stretch of games – and even then, it was a game that took place halfway across the Irish Sea, at the Bowl, home of play-off candidates FC Isle of Man.
Their weekend victory takes them to the top of the form table in the Premier Division and also sees them reclaim second place outright in the table from Droylsden, who were beaten in Saturday’s battle of the top two by Nelson. The Linnets are not letting go in the early stages of this title race.
4. Mechanics struggling with homesickness
Only one side is keeping AFC Blackpool from propping up the First Division North, and that is winless Uppermill, on goal difference alone. The seaside outfit have had a tough go of things in the league from their opening 12 games, and nowhere is this better exemplified than in their away record in 2026/27.
In two-thirds of their league games so far, they’ve been the visiting side, and they are yet to earn a point on the road as we move into October. Their match this past weekend was another away from the Mechanics Ground, and another that saw them return home empty-handed, having been beaten 4-0 by Ashton Town. With any luck this is a run that will end this coming Saturday, as they face their fellow members of the bottom-two club on away soil.
5. Second season success for Wolves Casuals?
Last season was very much a transitional one for Wolverhampton Casuals. Their lateral move to the NWCFL took some time to adjust to, but the team from Brinsford Stadium found their feet as the season got older, and eventually finished a relatively comfortable, certainly stable, 14th in the league, and nine points ahead of the drop zone.
This season, going by their opening 10 games, they have much higher aspirations. Between Saturday and Monday, they won twice in 48 hours, knocking off Wednesfield Community in the league to stabilise themselves in the silver medal spot in the table, and following that with progression in the Edward Case Cup by seeing off Cheadle Heath Nomads. This could be a season to remember for Wolves Casuals.
Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 10
Thu 8th October 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 last FA Cup domino falls
It has been a valiant effort, but unfortunately, Trafford were beaten on Tuesday in their Third Qualifying Round replay away from home against higher-division Atherton Collieries. With that, there are no NWCFL teams left in English football’s oldest competition for the 2026/27 campaign.
Tom Baker’s team got further than any other side from the NWCFL, knocking off Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, Runcorn Linnets, Bamber Bridge and Heaton Stannington before falling at the feat of their NPL Division One West opponents in midweek – don’t cry because it’s over, and all that.
2. The Edward Case Cup proper returns
Since the weekend, there have been several matches in the Edward Case Cup first round proper, nearly two months removed from the preliminary fixtures held in early August. There have already been some headline-grabbing results in the early stages of this year’s competition, including…
Flixton proving their mettle in an all-First Division North clash on home soil against Darwen, which they won 5-3; First Division South promotion chasers Thornton Cleveleys laying down the gauntlet in a 5-1 away drubbing of newly promoted Uppermill; and Barnton surprising the life out of First Division South play-off hopefuls Eccleshall with a 6-0 write-off.
3. Linnets with the longest loss-less streak
It is a pretty great time to be a regular watcher of Burscough right now. Following their 3-2 victory over Glossop North End on Saturday, they are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, and have only dropped points once during that stretch of games – and even then, it was a game that took place halfway across the Irish Sea, at the Bowl, home of play-off candidates FC Isle of Man.
Their weekend victory takes them to the top of the form table in the Premier Division and also sees them reclaim second place outright in the table from Droylsden, who were beaten in Saturday’s battle of the top two by Nelson. The Linnets are not letting go in the early stages of this title race.
4. Mechanics struggling with homesickness
Only one side is keeping AFC Blackpool from propping up the First Division North, and that is winless Uppermill, on goal difference alone. The seaside outfit have had a tough go of things in the league from their opening 12 games, and nowhere is this better exemplified than in their away record in 2026/27.
In two-thirds of their league games so far, they’ve been the visiting side, and they are yet to earn a point on the road as we move into October. Their match this past weekend was another away from the Mechanics Ground, and another that saw them return home empty-handed, having been beaten 4-0 by Ashton Town. With any luck this is a run that will end this coming Saturday, as they face their fellow members of the bottom-two club on away soil.
5. Second season success for Wolves Casuals?
Last season was very much a transitional one for Wolverhampton Casuals. Their lateral move to the NWCFL took some time to adjust to, but the team from Brinsford Stadium found their feet as the season got older, and eventually finished a relatively comfortable, certainly stable, 14th in the league, and nine points ahead of the drop zone.
This season, going by their opening 10 games, they have much higher aspirations. Between Saturday and Monday, they won twice in 48 hours, knocking off Wednesfield Community in the league to stabilise themselves in the silver medal spot in the table, and following that with progression in the Edward Case Cup by seeing off Cheadle Heath Nomads. This could be a season to remember for Wolves Casuals.
