Matchday 5: Preview

Fri 16th August 2024 | Match Previews | By Ben Wilkinson

No fewer than NINE of our clubs are in FA Cup action this weekend; and we are guaranteed at least one club in the First Qualifying Round as Glossop North End host West Didsbury & Chorlton at The Asgard Engineering Stadium. Glossop won 3-1 away at Litherland REMYCA to reach this stage of the competition while West scored a late winner to beat Burscough 3-2 at home. Bury's reward for beating former Counties side Congleton Town in the last round is a trip to another familiar face in Avro. Avro took 4 points off the Shakers on their way to promotion in 2023 so the Gigg Lane outfit will be hoping to atone for those results at the Vestacare Stadium on Saturday.

Barnoldswick Town host Northwich Victoria of the Midland League as they look to reach the First Qualifying Round for the second successive season, having beaten Brighouse Town in a replay to get this far. There's another Town v Northwich fixture at the Recycling Lives Ground as Longridge Town welcome 1874 Northwich, with the Ridge looking to emulate their fantastic run to the Third Qualifying Round back in 2020/21. South Liverpool's first FA Cup campaign as a reformed club continues when Witton Albion visit Jericho Lane and finally, Pilkington play in only their second ever FA Cup, and have already got further than they did last time! They are away at Whitchurch Alport. There are two games on Sunday; Charnock Richard are away at Hallam at 2pm with AFC Liverpool kicking off an hour later at Campion.

There are seven Premier Division games taking place on Saturday, featuring those teams who are not involved in this stage of the FA Cup. Two of the four teams tied on 10 points at the top of the table are in action; with Chadderton travelling to Irlam and Ramsbottom United at home to Burscough. Basement club Colne visit Cheadle Town hoping to put the 8-0 drubbing that they suffered midweek well and truly behind them while two fellow early strugglers Squires Gate and Abbey Hey face off at Gate's Brian Addison Stadium, with both teams there still looking for their first win of the season. FC Isle of Man go to Litherland REMYCA after scoring 4 away at FC St Helens last time out and still coming away empty handed. Rounding out the Premier Division action this weekend is FC St Helens v Lower Breck and Prestwich Heys v Stockport Town.

There's a full schedule in both First Division's this weekend as Step 6 clubs no longer enter the FA Cup. The highlight of the weekend in the First Division North is surely 2nd vs 1st at The Handmark Engineering Stadium as 2nd placed Holker Old Boys welcome leaders Nelson. Nelson's 100% start came to an end during the week (read more about that in Monday's 'Around the Grounds'!) while Holker remain unbeaten but have drawn two of their six games to leave them just a point off the pace. There's a repeat of last season's Edward Case Cup final as Euxton Villa visit Bacup Borough. Euxton are unbeaten in four while Bacup have lost their last two. Curiously, the bottom two in the division also go head-to-head at The Community Stadium in Burscough when Skelmersdale United host Route One Rovers. Skem got their first point of the season during the week while Route One have won 1 and lost 5 of their first six games. The two teams directly above this pair are also up against each other as Garstang make the journey over to West Yorkshire to take on Steeton. A couple of early relegation six-pointers there maybe! Droylsden hope to follow up on their impressive win against Nelson with another three points against AFC Blackpool while Maghull aim to continue their impressive return to the NWCFL against a Daisy Hill side who are struggling for consistency. Other fixtures on Saturday include Darwen v Atherton LR, Maine Road v Ashton Town and Thornton Cleveleys v Ashton Athletic.

In the First Division South, the league's last remaining 100% team in Alsager Town will be going for 7 out of 7 away at Stockport Georgians, who themselves are yet to find a win this campaign. Runcorn Town are the only club across our three divisions still without a point to their name and they have a home game against Wolverhampton Sporting Community, who themselves have only accrued three points from their six games thus far. Winsford United host Foley Meir at the Barton Stadium, with the visitors looking to turn their impressive goalscoring into some more points on the board - they have scored 14 in six games but find themselves with only seven points, while Winsford have scored one fewer but are in the top 5 in the table with 13 points. Funny old game is football! There are three other sides all on 13 points at this stage; New Mills have a trip to Market Drayton Town, Cammell Laird 1907 are at home to Cheadle Heath Nomads while Stafford Town host struggling Shawbury United. 6th play 7th as The Giant Stadium plays host to Allscott Heath v Sandbach United while Barnton v Abbey Hulton United and Eccleshall v Ashville completes Saturday's schedule.