Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 2
Thu 8th August 2024 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. English football's oldest competition
A mere week into the new league season and we're already being interrupted by cup competitions! I suppose we can make an exception for this one, since the FA Cup is the grandest of them all on these fair isles.
The weekend saw 21 teams from the NWCFL competing in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, and five of those teams made it into the Preliminary Round with few issues - Bury, Charnock Richard, Glossop North End, Longridge Town, and West Didsbury and Chorlton. On top of that, another 4 teams (Barnoldswick Town, Padiham, Pilkington and South Liverpool) were able to force a replay. Speaking of which...
2. A clean sweep in Wednesday's replays
Yesterday, there were 3 NWCFL teams going up against 3 non-NWCFL teams in replay ties from the FA Cup Extra Preliminary round. All of Barnoldswick Town, Pilkington and South Liverpool were in action, and all of Barnoldswick Town, Pilkington and South Liverpool won.
Barlick made it as tense as they could, drawing 2-2 with Brighouse Town and progressing on penalties by 5 conversions to 3; Pilks overcame last season’s champions Wythenshawe FC in a 3-1 home win; and South pitched a shutout against Handsworth and scored 2 of their own to make the hat for the next round.
3. Bacup still perfect
It has been a dream start for Brent Peters and his Bacup Borough team. They've featured 4 times in the league so far this season, and their results read as follows: 5-0 W vs Ashton Athletic; 2-0 W vs Route One Rovers; 2-0 W vs Daisy Hill; and a 4-0 W vs Maine Road.
As the mathematicians amongst you will have figured out, that's 13 league goals scored this season, and not a single one conceded. Who will be the first team to finally crack the Bacup wall?
4. 4-rnton Cleveleys
It's been a goal-heavy fortnight for Terry Green and his Thornton Cleveleys side. The FY5 team have begun to settle into proceedings in the First Division North, winning two on the bounce in the last 7 days after losing their first two.
A weird quirk of these two victories is that both of them have come with Cleveleys scoring 4 goals in the games. Firstly, they made light work of Route One Rovers on home soil at the weekend, winning 4-1, and then fought tooth and nail with Darwen FC for all 3 points in midweek, escaping with a 4-3 win. Maybe one more than three is their magic number.
5. Catch Alsager if you can
I've already made much of Bacup's spotless record thus far in the First Division North, but it turns out that they have near-perfect compatriots in the South. Alsager Town are 4 games into the new league season, just like everyone else in the division, but unlike everyone else, Alsager are yet to drop points.
Since falling behind to Winsford United on the opening day of the season, Town are yet to concede a goal. They've managed to keep clean sheets against all of New Mills, Allscott heath and Barnton, all with increasing margins of victory - 2-0, 3-0 and 4-0. On Saturday, they play host to Stafford Town, who will be very hopeful that this pattern doesn’t continue at pace.
Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 2
Thu 8th August 2024 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. English football's oldest competition
A mere week into the new league season and we're already being interrupted by cup competitions! I suppose we can make an exception for this one, since the FA Cup is the grandest of them all on these fair isles.
The weekend saw 21 teams from the NWCFL competing in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, and five of those teams made it into the Preliminary Round with few issues - Bury, Charnock Richard, Glossop North End, Longridge Town, and West Didsbury and Chorlton. On top of that, another 4 teams (Barnoldswick Town, Padiham, Pilkington and South Liverpool) were able to force a replay. Speaking of which...
2. A clean sweep in Wednesday's replays
Yesterday, there were 3 NWCFL teams going up against 3 non-NWCFL teams in replay ties from the FA Cup Extra Preliminary round. All of Barnoldswick Town, Pilkington and South Liverpool were in action, and all of Barnoldswick Town, Pilkington and South Liverpool won.
Barlick made it as tense as they could, drawing 2-2 with Brighouse Town and progressing on penalties by 5 conversions to 3; Pilks overcame last season’s champions Wythenshawe FC in a 3-1 home win; and South pitched a shutout against Handsworth and scored 2 of their own to make the hat for the next round.
3. Bacup still perfect
It has been a dream start for Brent Peters and his Bacup Borough team. They've featured 4 times in the league so far this season, and their results read as follows: 5-0 W vs Ashton Athletic; 2-0 W vs Route One Rovers; 2-0 W vs Daisy Hill; and a 4-0 W vs Maine Road.
As the mathematicians amongst you will have figured out, that's 13 league goals scored this season, and not a single one conceded. Who will be the first team to finally crack the Bacup wall?
4. 4-rnton Cleveleys
It's been a goal-heavy fortnight for Terry Green and his Thornton Cleveleys side. The FY5 team have begun to settle into proceedings in the First Division North, winning two on the bounce in the last 7 days after losing their first two.
A weird quirk of these two victories is that both of them have come with Cleveleys scoring 4 goals in the games. Firstly, they made light work of Route One Rovers on home soil at the weekend, winning 4-1, and then fought tooth and nail with Darwen FC for all 3 points in midweek, escaping with a 4-3 win. Maybe one more than three is their magic number.
5. Catch Alsager if you can
I've already made much of Bacup's spotless record thus far in the First Division North, but it turns out that they have near-perfect compatriots in the South. Alsager Town are 4 games into the new league season, just like everyone else in the division, but unlike everyone else, Alsager are yet to drop points.
Since falling behind to Winsford United on the opening day of the season, Town are yet to concede a goal. They've managed to keep clean sheets against all of New Mills, Allscott heath and Barnton, all with increasing margins of victory - 2-0, 3-0 and 4-0. On Saturday, they play host to Stafford Town, who will be very hopeful that this pattern doesn’t continue at pace.
