Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 25
Wed 17th January 2024 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. Winter is coming
This is something I only learned yesterday as someone who lives in a home with a PR postcode attached to it, but for residents of places like Kendal, the weather and its effects have been apparent for some time. Well, the rest of us are about to feel a very cold shoulder. Since the weekend, there were 14 games involving NWCFL teams that were expected to be played, but 12 of those have been called off due to a frozen pitch.
The only survivors were AFC Liverpool and Burscough, who are fairly close to one another geographically, but, if the weather continues like it has been, it may only be a matter of time before more postponements hit the NWCFL - just what we need after some horrendously rainy days towards the end of last year!
2. Our Vase swansong
One thing that weekend did bring was the 4th round proper of the Isuzu FA Vase, which saw two NWCFL sides still in the competition. After Congleton Town's heroics in making the semi-finals last campaign, we were hoping for at least one, or both, of Charnock Richard or South Liverpool to make it to the last 16.
Unfortunately, those hopes were put to rest by Emley, who outdid Charnock with a 3-0 home win, but South Liverpool came much, much closer. They took Lincoln United to a penalty shootout at home after a 1-1 draw, but fell just short in the shootout, and exit the competition alongside Charnock. We will have to look ahead to next year.
3. That time of the month
There was certainly reason to celebrate for a handful of clubs and individuals this past week as our monthly awards of Clubs, Players and Goalkeepers of the Month were announced for December. For the clubs, in the First Division North we had South Liverpool netting the prize for going unbeaten, and in the South, it was Stockport Georgians, who managed a 100% win record throughout the month.
For players of the month, we had Bury FC's Declan Daniels in the Premier Division; Bacup Borough's Joseph Fallon in the First Division North; and Stafford Town's Jake Cartwright in the First Division South. For the goalkeepers, we had Wythenshawe Town's Gregory Hall, who's had multiple of these awards now so far this campaign. For the North, we have Mason Walker, also of Bacup Borough; and, in the South, we have Barnton’s Patrick McLoughlin scooping the plaudits. Well done to all our winners!
4. Pilkington feel the pinch
Earlier this week we saw the departure of Pilkington's joint managers, Nick Dunn and Gaz Kenny. Since promotion last season under Stephen Palfrey, Pilks have had a somewhat unremarkable NWCFL Prem campaign. They currently sit 16th in the division, which is not great but certainly not bad, especially given that they have a nice 10-point cushion on bottom side Skelmersdale United.
However, their result this weekend was a damning one if nothing else. They played host to top-10 side Colne and were smashed 7-0 on home soil to cap off a 4-game losing streak that has seen Pilks ship 18 goals without reply against the likes of Lower Brekc, Wythenshawe Town and Prescot Cables in the cup. Maybe a new manager bounce will come in handy for the club.
5. Play to the whistle
It's rule 0 in football - you play until the referee calls a stop to the match for any reason. And, as a result of following this rule there were a good handful of NWCFL who saved themselves valuable points over the last few days. None more recently than Irlam, who bagged an equaliser away at AFC Liverpool in the 90th minute last night.
Back to the weekend, there were 4 more game-changing goals that were scored across all 3 divisions after the 90th minute. Pascal Chimbonda's Skem United sealed a 95th winner away to Ramsbottom United, as did Atherton LR at home against Euxton Villa; and, in the South, both Abbey Hey and Sandbach United managed a draw and a win respectively with goals during added time.
Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 25
Wed 17th January 2024 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. Winter is coming
This is something I only learned yesterday as someone who lives in a home with a PR postcode attached to it, but for residents of places like Kendal, the weather and its effects have been apparent for some time. Well, the rest of us are about to feel a very cold shoulder. Since the weekend, there were 14 games involving NWCFL teams that were expected to be played, but 12 of those have been called off due to a frozen pitch.
The only survivors were AFC Liverpool and Burscough, who are fairly close to one another geographically, but, if the weather continues like it has been, it may only be a matter of time before more postponements hit the NWCFL - just what we need after some horrendously rainy days towards the end of last year!
2. Our Vase swansong
One thing that weekend did bring was the 4th round proper of the Isuzu FA Vase, which saw two NWCFL sides still in the competition. After Congleton Town's heroics in making the semi-finals last campaign, we were hoping for at least one, or both, of Charnock Richard or South Liverpool to make it to the last 16.
Unfortunately, those hopes were put to rest by Emley, who outdid Charnock with a 3-0 home win, but South Liverpool came much, much closer. They took Lincoln United to a penalty shootout at home after a 1-1 draw, but fell just short in the shootout, and exit the competition alongside Charnock. We will have to look ahead to next year.
3. That time of the month
There was certainly reason to celebrate for a handful of clubs and individuals this past week as our monthly awards of Clubs, Players and Goalkeepers of the Month were announced for December. For the clubs, in the First Division North we had South Liverpool netting the prize for going unbeaten, and in the South, it was Stockport Georgians, who managed a 100% win record throughout the month.
For players of the month, we had Bury FC's Declan Daniels in the Premier Division; Bacup Borough's Joseph Fallon in the First Division North; and Stafford Town's Jake Cartwright in the First Division South. For the goalkeepers, we had Wythenshawe Town's Gregory Hall, who's had multiple of these awards now so far this campaign. For the North, we have Mason Walker, also of Bacup Borough; and, in the South, we have Barnton’s Patrick McLoughlin scooping the plaudits. Well done to all our winners!
4. Pilkington feel the pinch
Earlier this week we saw the departure of Pilkington's joint managers, Nick Dunn and Gaz Kenny. Since promotion last season under Stephen Palfrey, Pilks have had a somewhat unremarkable NWCFL Prem campaign. They currently sit 16th in the division, which is not great but certainly not bad, especially given that they have a nice 10-point cushion on bottom side Skelmersdale United.
However, their result this weekend was a damning one if nothing else. They played host to top-10 side Colne and were smashed 7-0 on home soil to cap off a 4-game losing streak that has seen Pilks ship 18 goals without reply against the likes of Lower Brekc, Wythenshawe Town and Prescot Cables in the cup. Maybe a new manager bounce will come in handy for the club.
5. Play to the whistle
It's rule 0 in football - you play until the referee calls a stop to the match for any reason. And, as a result of following this rule there were a good handful of NWCFL who saved themselves valuable points over the last few days. None more recently than Irlam, who bagged an equaliser away at AFC Liverpool in the 90th minute last night.
Back to the weekend, there were 4 more game-changing goals that were scored across all 3 divisions after the 90th minute. Pascal Chimbonda's Skem United sealed a 95th winner away to Ramsbottom United, as did Atherton LR at home against Euxton Villa; and, in the South, both Abbey Hey and Sandbach United managed a draw and a win respectively with goals during added time.
