Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 1
Wed 31st July 2024 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
Guess who's back? For the third season running, we'd like to bring to you our Five Things We Learned Last week article series!
The opening weekend of the 2024/25 campaign is in the history books, so let's have a closer look at what went down.
1. A few obligatory "firsts"
With a new season comes a parade of new stats, and some of those are academic. The first goal, the first assist, the first yellow and red cards, etc. From a weekend that saw 30 league games take place, I'd hope to high heaven that there'd be at least one goal. Thankfully, it only took 4 minutes for AFC Liverpool to lead Colne away from home on Friday night in a game that they would go onto win. Well done, Caleb Jones.
However, going the complete opposite way, one thing that no team really wants to be a part of is a goalless draw. But that was the fate that befell both newly promoted South Liverpool and Premier Division veterans Charnock Richard in their Saturday clash. It was the only 0-0 of an otherwise goal-laden afternoon.
2. Dean Ing was thrive-Ing!
There were several strikers who bagged a brace for themselves on the opening weekend of the season, but there is only one man who managed to go one better and take home the match ball from his team's first outing of 2024/25. That man is Squires Gate's Dean Ing, who was on hand to score 3 of Gate's 4 in a thrilling draw with Bury FC.
After cancelling out the Shakers' early lead with a 10th minute equaliser, Ing would score twice more in the second half to drag his side back from being 4-2 down to being on par with their visitors, and that's how the game would end. A fantastic performance to give Squires Gate something to bite down on for the season.
3. Barlick bouncing back from a battering
Squires Gate's Ing-assisted draw being snatched from the jaws of defeat was arguably not even the most impressive of the opening day in the NWCFL Premier Division. That distinction should probably be bestowed upon Barnoldswick Town, who were 3-0 down at home against Lower Breck with just over 10 minutes remaining on Saturday.
And then, the tables turned at the Silentnight Stadium. Gareth Hill grabbed what seemed like a consolation goal at the time, but Andrew Hill capitalised on this newfound momentum that Barlick had obtained with a wonderful goal 4 minutes later. Then, in the 2nd minute of injury time, there was Gareth Hill again to prove that the game is never truly over until it's over in the NWCFL, no matter the time of the season.
4. So far, so perfect for Bacup Borough
Over the course of the last two seasons before this one, Bacup Borough have won the Edward Case Cup twice in a row. In the same vein, they've started this new season as one of the few teams at the time of writing to have played two matches in the league, but they've won and pitched a shutout twice in a row.
They began the new season with a demolition of Ashton Athletic, beating their visitors 5-0 at the Brian Boys West View Stadium; a game that featured Toby Wright scoring twice. Then, on Monday night, they travelled east to Route One Rovers, and Toby Wright scored twice AGAIN as Borough came away with a 2-0 victory. It's still very early days, but we may well be looking at our team to beat for the season.
5. Maghull already climbing mountains
There were more fightbacks to marvel at across the divisions in the NWCFL at the weekend, with new boys in the First Division North Maghull also raising eyebrows in their win against Darwen FC.
Being one man down within the opening 10 minutes of their return to the NWCFL, and being 2 goals down by the half time whistle, it looked for the briefest moment like the new kids were a little out of their depth. But, as the saying goes, football is a game of two halves. Goals from Brannigan, Halligan and McDonald in the second 45 were enough to see Joe Burns and his players come away with maximum points on the opening day.
Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 1
Wed 31st July 2024 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
Guess who's back? For the third season running, we'd like to bring to you our Five Things We Learned Last week article series!
The opening weekend of the 2024/25 campaign is in the history books, so let's have a closer look at what went down.
1. A few obligatory "firsts"
With a new season comes a parade of new stats, and some of those are academic. The first goal, the first assist, the first yellow and red cards, etc. From a weekend that saw 30 league games take place, I'd hope to high heaven that there'd be at least one goal. Thankfully, it only took 4 minutes for AFC Liverpool to lead Colne away from home on Friday night in a game that they would go onto win. Well done, Caleb Jones.
However, going the complete opposite way, one thing that no team really wants to be a part of is a goalless draw. But that was the fate that befell both newly promoted South Liverpool and Premier Division veterans Charnock Richard in their Saturday clash. It was the only 0-0 of an otherwise goal-laden afternoon.
2. Dean Ing was thrive-Ing!
There were several strikers who bagged a brace for themselves on the opening weekend of the season, but there is only one man who managed to go one better and take home the match ball from his team's first outing of 2024/25. That man is Squires Gate's Dean Ing, who was on hand to score 3 of Gate's 4 in a thrilling draw with Bury FC.
After cancelling out the Shakers' early lead with a 10th minute equaliser, Ing would score twice more in the second half to drag his side back from being 4-2 down to being on par with their visitors, and that's how the game would end. A fantastic performance to give Squires Gate something to bite down on for the season.
3. Barlick bouncing back from a battering
Squires Gate's Ing-assisted draw being snatched from the jaws of defeat was arguably not even the most impressive of the opening day in the NWCFL Premier Division. That distinction should probably be bestowed upon Barnoldswick Town, who were 3-0 down at home against Lower Breck with just over 10 minutes remaining on Saturday.
And then, the tables turned at the Silentnight Stadium. Gareth Hill grabbed what seemed like a consolation goal at the time, but Andrew Hill capitalised on this newfound momentum that Barlick had obtained with a wonderful goal 4 minutes later. Then, in the 2nd minute of injury time, there was Gareth Hill again to prove that the game is never truly over until it's over in the NWCFL, no matter the time of the season.
4. So far, so perfect for Bacup Borough
Over the course of the last two seasons before this one, Bacup Borough have won the Edward Case Cup twice in a row. In the same vein, they've started this new season as one of the few teams at the time of writing to have played two matches in the league, but they've won and pitched a shutout twice in a row.
They began the new season with a demolition of Ashton Athletic, beating their visitors 5-0 at the Brian Boys West View Stadium; a game that featured Toby Wright scoring twice. Then, on Monday night, they travelled east to Route One Rovers, and Toby Wright scored twice AGAIN as Borough came away with a 2-0 victory. It's still very early days, but we may well be looking at our team to beat for the season.
5. Maghull already climbing mountains
There were more fightbacks to marvel at across the divisions in the NWCFL at the weekend, with new boys in the First Division North Maghull also raising eyebrows in their win against Darwen FC.
Being one man down within the opening 10 minutes of their return to the NWCFL, and being 2 goals down by the half time whistle, it looked for the briefest moment like the new kids were a little out of their depth. But, as the saying goes, football is a game of two halves. Goals from Brannigan, Halligan and McDonald in the second 45 were enough to see Joe Burns and his players come away with maximum points on the opening day.
