Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 11
Thu 15th 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. Wembley is still a possibility
Despite Trafford’s defeat in the FA Cup last week meaning that there are no more NWCFL sides left in the competition, there’s still the prospect of a Wembley bow for the remaining nine teams from the league in the Isuzu FA Vase.
A handful of first round matches took place this past Saturday, with all of Prestwich Heys, FC St Helens, Holker Old Boys, Maghull, AFC Bridgnorth, Burscough, Woolton, Atherton LR and Thornton Cleveleys coming away with a victory – the final two teams on that list even braved a penalty shootout to get their names in the hat for the Second Round.
2. AFC Liverpool are on the board
It has taken 12 games, but last season’s Macron Cup winners AFC Liverpool have finally picked up their first point of the league season this past Saturday. They have now halved the deficit between themselves and the rest of the division, with Abbey Hey, directly above them. Currently sitting on two points.
The end of their winless streak came on home soil, just to make it even sweeter, and it came via a 93rd minute equaliser from Christopher Happi-Fankam in a 3-3 comeback draw against high-flying Trafford. Is this finally a platform for Jack Edwards men to build the rest of their season upon?
3. A four-midable Kuda performance
Barnoldswick Town piled more misery onto second-bottom Abbey hey on Saturday, putting them to the sword in a 5-2 victory at the Silentnight Stadium. Looking purely at the numbers, the absence of Kuda Chingwaro from Barlick’s starting XI would’ve seen Abbey Hey pick up maximum points.
Instead, the hosts’ number 11 was at the centre of nearly everything positive that was put together by Barnoldswick whenever they went on the attack. He bagged all but one of their five on the day, and stands out from the weekend’s other hat-trick heroes with his four-goal haul.
4. Five stars all around in the North in midweek
Tuesday evening brought a healthy serving of NWCFL action, and if you were fortunate enough to watch a game from the First Division North that night, odds are your ticket was worth the money.
Flixton’s and Colne’s goalless draw to one side, every other match from the North saw one team score at least five goals. Halewood Apollo were the victors in a 5-2 away game against AFC Knowsley; Fulwood Amateurs took down Ashton Athletic on home soil by the same scoreline; and Steeton went one better, winning by four in a 5-1 dressing down of bottom side Uppermill – don’t blink, or you’ll miss something.
5. Bilston Town one blip from perfection
Much has been made already this season of First Division South debutants AFC Bridgnorth, who had maintained the longest unbeaten run in the NWCFL from the start of the league season until mid-to-late September. One of the teams they defeated early on in that run were fellow newcomers Bilston Town, who have since picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and have not looked back.
Dave King’s side won at home yesterday and on Saturday to extend their winning streak to six games in all competitions, and their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions. This blazing run of form has meant that the club are now second in the division, behind only Sandbach United, who they will go on the road to face this coming weekend – a win would send them top!
Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 11
Thu 15th 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. Wembley is still a possibility
Despite Trafford’s defeat in the FA Cup last week meaning that there are no more NWCFL sides left in the competition, there’s still the prospect of a Wembley bow for the remaining nine teams from the league in the Isuzu FA Vase.
A handful of first round matches took place this past Saturday, with all of Prestwich Heys, FC St Helens, Holker Old Boys, Maghull, AFC Bridgnorth, Burscough, Woolton, Atherton LR and Thornton Cleveleys coming away with a victory – the final two teams on that list even braved a penalty shootout to get their names in the hat for the Second Round.
2. AFC Liverpool are on the board
It has taken 12 games, but last season’s Macron Cup winners AFC Liverpool have finally picked up their first point of the league season this past Saturday. They have now halved the deficit between themselves and the rest of the division, with Abbey Hey, directly above them. Currently sitting on two points.
The end of their winless streak came on home soil, just to make it even sweeter, and it came via a 93rd minute equaliser from Christopher Happi-Fankam in a 3-3 comeback draw against high-flying Trafford. Is this finally a platform for Jack Edwards men to build the rest of their season upon?
3. A four-midable Kuda performance
Barnoldswick Town piled more misery onto second-bottom Abbey hey on Saturday, putting them to the sword in a 5-2 victory at the Silentnight Stadium. Looking purely at the numbers, the absence of Kuda Chingwaro from Barlick’s starting XI would’ve seen Abbey Hey pick up maximum points.
Instead, the hosts’ number 11 was at the centre of nearly everything positive that was put together by Barnoldswick whenever they went on the attack. He bagged all but one of their five on the day, and stands out from the weekend’s other hat-trick heroes with his four-goal haul.
4. Five stars all around in the North in midweek
Tuesday evening brought a healthy serving of NWCFL action, and if you were fortunate enough to watch a game from the First Division North that night, odds are your ticket was worth the money.
Flixton’s and Colne’s goalless draw to one side, every other match from the North saw one team score at least five goals. Halewood Apollo were the victors in a 5-2 away game against AFC Knowsley; Fulwood Amateurs took down Ashton Athletic on home soil by the same scoreline; and Steeton went one better, winning by four in a 5-1 dressing down of bottom side Uppermill – don’t blink, or you’ll miss something.
5. Bilston Town one blip from perfection
Much has been made already this season of First Division South debutants AFC Bridgnorth, who had maintained the longest unbeaten run in the NWCFL from the start of the league season until mid-to-late September. One of the teams they defeated early on in that run were fellow newcomers Bilston Town, who have since picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and have not looked back.
Dave King’s side won at home yesterday and on Saturday to extend their winning streak to six games in all competitions, and their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions. This blazing run of form has meant that the club are now second in the division, behind only Sandbach United, who they will go on the road to face this coming weekend – a win would send them top!
