Matchday 3: Preview

Sat 3rd August 2024 | Match Previews | By Martin Fallon

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

There are 16 ties in the FA Cup on Saturday involving our sides, with another two being played on Sunday.

AFC Liverpool moved into the Preliminary Round after a 2-1 win over Abbey Hey on Friday night, and we are guaranteed three more sides joining them in the next round due to all-NWCFL clashes.

First is at Longridge Town as they host Cheadle Town. Both of these sides have won one and lost one of their opening games, with Cheadle looking for their first win over Longridge. The only other side to have won one and lost one is Burscough, and they head to Manchester to face a West Didsbury & Chorlton side that have picked up four points so far. Its usually a thriller between these two, with their 9 previous meetings netting 44 goals, just shy of five a game! The final all-NWCFL tie comes at Litherland REMYCA with Glossop North End the visitors. Both sides have failed to pick up wins so far with Glossop losing both their games so far, and they head to Merseyside looking for their first ever win over REMYCA.

Our clubs will play against a number of ex-NWCFL sides this weekend, with nine former member clubs in action against our sides. The most recent are the two Wythenshawe sides who achieved promotion last season to the NPL, and both of them are at home this weekend in the Cup. Our defending Champions Wythenshawe host Pilkington, whilst Wythenshawe Town host Chadderton. Pilks have picked up four points so far, and they will be confident as they were one of a few sides who beat Wythenshawe last season. Chadderton had a great season last time out and they have also started this season with four points, and similar to Pilks they also picked up a win last season over today's opponents. Note that the NPL has not yet started so this is the first game of the season for all NPL sides.

Congleton Town are now a NPL West side, after being laterally moved to the Midland League and winning it at the first attempt. They play host to Bury who were runners up in the league last season and who have scored 9 goals so far in their two matches. The last time these two met it was in the FA Vase, and that ended up going to penalties. Could we see a repeat today? Colne entertain Mossley, who were a NWCFL side until 2004, and Colne go into the game looking to pick things up after two defeats so far this season.

Ramsbottom United host a Stalybridge Celtic side who are in the NPL West these days. They were with us in our formative years before rising up to play in the Conference for many years before falling in recent years. Ramsbottom have started the season well with a win and a draw so far. Prestwich Heys have a tough looking encounter away at Stocksbridge Park Steels from the NPL West. After a good campaign last time out, Prestwich have started slowly with two losses so far, both of those coming by the odd goal. 

Our current Premier Division leaders are FC St Helens, who have started Premier Division life perfectly with two good wins and scoring three in both games. They are one of the Sunday games, and they travel to Emley who were with us in the ill-fated 2019/20 season. After moving back to the NCEL, they achieved promotion to the Premier Division which they won last season to take their place in NPL East.

Plenty of our sides play against former NWCFL teams who are in other Step 5 leagues these days. Padiham are at home to Golcar United, who were with us for three seasons until 2022 when they were laterally moved to the NCEL. This is a first meeting between the two sides, with Padiham in the NPL when Golcar were with us. Padiham have started with a draw and a loss, whilst Golcar sit top of the NCEL Premier Division having won their only league game so far 4-1. Irlam travel to Whitchurch Alport, and will be looking for their first win after two losses so far. Alport play in the Midland Division now, whose season has not yet started. Head to Head record is good for Irlam, with four wins and two draws from six previous meetings.

The two Northwich sides are also Midland League now. 1874 Northwich were relegated from the NPL West last season, and they travel to Stockport Town. Stockport have started in the Premier Division with a win and a draw, and they have won their only previous meeting, a 4-3 win in the Cheshire Senior Cip in 2022. Northwich Vics did poorly last season, and they will look for a better campaign starting with a home game against Squires Gate in the Cup. Gate have yet to win, picking up one draw from their two games. Vics hold the upper hand in the Head to Head with six wins to three, including a 2-1 win at this stage of the FA Cup two seasons ago.

Looking at other opponents, Brighouse Town are in the NPL West now after facing many of our sides over the years as a NCEL side. Brighouse travel to Barnoldswick Town today, Barlick another side who have a win and a draw so far in the league. South Liverpool travel over the Pennines to Sheffield to face Handsworth who play in NCEL Premier. Life has started slowly in the Premier Division for South Liverpool with two goalless draws so far. Handsworth started with a 2-0 away win at Winterton Rangers last weekend.

Charnock Richard also head to Yorkshire to face Penistone Church. Charnock have a win and a draw so far and have not conceded a goal, whilst Penistone lost 4-1 on their opening league game. These two have met before at this stage of the FA Cup, that coming in 2017 when Penistone came from 2-0 down to win 4-3. The final game is on Sunday as Lower Breck travel to the World's Oldest Football Ground to play Hallam. Breck have two draws from their opening two games, with Hallam also drawing their opening game!

FIRST DIVISION NORTH

There are three teams top of the First Division North after winning their opening two games. Bacup are top having scored seven and not conceded yet, and they face Daisy Hill who have a win and a draw so far. Nelson and AFC Blackpool are the other two that have won their opening two games, and at least one of those 100% records will go today as they face each other in Blackpool.

Four other sides are unbeaten after two games with a win and a draw in the first week. Holker Old Boys and Droylsden are two of them, and they face off up in Cumbria. Atherton LR are another, and they host a Garstang side who have won one and lost one. The other is new boys Maghull, who travel to Euxton Villa, with Euxton surprisingly losing both their games so far.

They are one of five teams who lost their opening two games. Thornton Cleveleys and Route One Rovers are in the same boat, and they face off at Gamble Road. Steeton host Ashton Town who lost their opener but won midweek, whilst Skelmersdale United will be looking for their first points against Ashton Athletic, the Wigan side picking up just a draw so far.

Maine Road and Darwen have both won one and lost one so far, and they face each other at Brantingham Road in the days other game.

FIRST DIVISION SOUTH

As in the North, there are three teams top in the First Division South, these being Cheadle Heath Nomads, Alsager Town and Cammell Laird 1907. All three are at home today. Cheadle host Barnton who won on Saturday but lost midweek, with Alsager entertaining an Allscott Heath side that have picked up four points so far. Lairds have won twice on the road, and they host  Winsford United who have also won one and lost one so far.

Sandbach United and Stafford Town are also unbeaten, and they are also both at home. Sandbach host Eccleshall who are the draw experts having drawn both games so far, whilst Stafford face a Stockport Georgians side that have picked up one point so far.

Runcorn Town's lateral move to the South hasn't started well, losing both their games so far, and they travel to a Market Drayton Town that ended a 24 match losing streak midweek with an away win at Wolverhampton Sporting Community. Wolves and Abbey Hulton United are the other two that have lost both so far, and they play each other at Pride Park today.

New Mills have won one and lost one, and they host Shawbury United who drew midweek after losing on the opening day. Likewise Ashville have won one and lost one, and they host a Foley Meir side that picked up their first points in a midweek draw.