Matchday 6: Review

Tue 27th August 2024 | Match Reviews | By Jay Cooper

Another weekend, another round of games coming from all 3 divisions of the NWCFL, and the Isuzu FA Vase. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last couple of days have had to offer.

It’s a two for one special from the past weekend, with bank holiday Monday bringing even more games to the table – aren’t you lucky?

From the weekend:

Isuzu FA Vase:

• Stafford Town built on a dominant 7-2 win from last weekend by putting four past Bilston Town. They went behind in the 2^nd minute but equalised four minutes later in a match that they went on to win 4-1.
• Barnton went one better for their away day, scoring five on their visit to Bottesford Town. Lee Turkington bagged two for himself on a very enjoyable day for the Barnton management and travelling fans.
• Despite being pegged back to 2-2 after being 2-0 up in their game against Chelmsley Town, Allscott Heath gritted their teeth and snatched a 3-2 win thanks to a late goal by Louis Irvine.
• Chadderton were involved in the weekend’s biggest goal-fest with their visit to Eccleshill United. Both Tyler Berry and Matthew Barlow grabbed a brace as they thumped their hosts 7-3.
• New Mills retained their place in the FA Vase for 2024/25 by the slightest of margins, needing penalties to overcome Golcar United away from home. The game finished 2-2, but the shootout finished 6-5 to New Mills.
• Ashton Town also needed spot kicks to overcome their opponents on Saturday. Despite conceding a late equaliser against Horbury Town, they gutted through the shootout, winning 5-4 after the game itself had ended 2-2.
• First Division South side Winsford United came off much better from an all-NWCFL clash against Premier Division side Litherland REMYCA. Goals from Robinson, Woolley, Pope and Vargas ensured a 4-0 win for Dean Jones and Dom Johnson’s side.

Other scores:

Friday:

• AFC Liverpool 3-1 Northwich Victoria
• Euxton Villa 2-1 Squires Gate

Saturday:

• Alsager Town 2-2 Heather St Johns
  
  • Heather St Johns won 3-1 on penalties
• Ashton Athletic 2-1 Stockport Georgians
• Barton Town 1-2 Stockport Town
• Burscough 2-1 Droylsden
• Cammell Laird 1907 1-4 Armthorpe Welfare
• Dearne and District 0-1 Darwen FC
• FC St Helens 2-1 Cheadle Heath Nomads
• Glasshoughton Welfare 1-3 Cheadle Town
• Longridge Town 2-3 Whitley Bay
• Maghull 1-3 Bury
• Market Drayton Town 1-0 Studley
• Northallerton Town 1-2 Route One Rovers
• Parkgate 0-2 Sandbach United
• Runcorn Town 1-3 Handsworth
• Thackley 1-3 Colne
• Thornaby 1-2 Padiham
• Worcester Raiders 1-0 Eccleshall

Sunday:

• Selby Town 1-0 Skelmersdale United
• Worsbrough Bridge Athletic 3-2 Prestwich Heys

Premier Division:

• Abbey Hey kept a clean sheet at home in a battle of last season’s play-off winners against South Liverpool, with Jamal Crawford and Jordan Barnett both getting goals in a 2-0 victory.
• Barnoldswick Town were singing from the same hymn sheet as Abbey Hey during their match against Pilkington. Andrew Hill and Brandon Barski were scorers in a 2-0 win for Barlick.
• Charnock Richard took the lead within two minutes of the match when they faced FC Isle of Man at the weekend. Thomas Walker added to Luke Power’s opener in a 2-1 win for Ryan Donnellan’s side.
• A game that somehow saw two goals scored in the same minute was the Prem clash between Glossop North End and Irlam on Saturday. It was Glossop’s first of the game, and Irlam’s last, as the latter ran out 4-1 winners.
• Ramsbottom United built on their excellent start to the 2024/25 season with a 3-1 defeat of Lower Breck. Harvey Hayhurst got the ball rolling on four minutes, and Rammy established daylight with two further second half goals.

First Division North:

• Atherton LR edged a tricky win over newly promoted side Thornton Cleveleys. Thomas Romano’s goal in the 69^th minute was enough for all three points in a 1-0 win.
• Another side that ground out a 1-0 win on Saturday was Holker Old Boys, with Tyler Wood’s goal in added time at the end of the game being enough for the visitors to come away from Daisy Hill with maximum points.
• The clean sheets keep on coming, with Maine Road also scoring a goal in added time at the end of their match against Garstang. Kaine Williams and Alex Panter were on the scoresheet in this 2-0 win.
• Nelson had a day to remember against fellow early pacesetters Bacup Borough. Charlie Frost was the man of the hour at Little Wembley, scoring four of his team’s goals in a 5-1 victory.
• Steeton and AFC Blackpool contested one of the more interesting matches in the league from the weekend on paper. The Chevrons went 2-0 up in the opening quarter hour but needed a 90^th minute Josh Coe penalty to save a 3-3 draw in the end.

First Division South:

• In a battle of two new sides in the First Division South, Foley Meir came off far better against Wolves Sporting. Thomas Wakefield was unstoppable for the hosts as he bagged every goal of the game in a 4-0 win for Foley.
• Shawbury United’s tough start to the new season continued when they hosted Ashville on Saturday. Mark Madden bagged two penalties for the visitors in a 3-1 win.

From Monday:

Premier Division:

• Irlam were unable to capitalise on their 4-1 weekend win when they travelled to AFC Liverpool on bank holiday Monday. Elliott Taylor scored twice as the hosts won 3-0.
• The ending of Burscough’s game against Padiham was insane! Burscough thought they’d stolen the points with a 95^th minute Jack McConville goal to make it 2-1, before Padiham’s Tyler James snatched an equaliser in the 97^th minute to see the visitors come away with a 2-2 draw.
• Another side that needed to play right to the whistle for a point was West Didsbury and Chorlton. Substitute Ben Wharton bagged a 95^th minute equaliser to make it 2-2 against Litherland REMYCA.

Other Scores:

• Abbey Hey 1-2 Barnoldswick Town
• Bury 3-0 Cheadle Town
• Glossop North End 0-2 Charnock Richard
• Longridge Town 1-2 Chadderton
• Lower Breck 3-0 Squires Gate
• Pilkington 1-1 Colne
• Stockport Town 2-1 FC Isle of Man

First Division North:

• In the first Ashton derby of the new season, hosts Ashton Athletic were victorious over Ashton Town. Nathan Beca, Josh High and Deklan Hill were all on hand to score in a 3-0 win for Jay Foulds’ team.
• Euxton Villa looked exactly like the goal-hungry side they’ve proven to be in their two seasons in the NWCFL, sending Darwen FC back where they came from having beaten them 5-1. Jacob Hancock scored a brace.
• Holker Old Boys looked a little more convincing in their Monday game than they did in their Saturday one. Two late goals from Jamie Hodgson and Luke Davey ensured a 3-0 win for Kevin Watkin and David Round’s side against Maghull.

Other scores:

• Bacup Borough 0-2 Atherton LR
• Daisy Hill 1-1 Droylsden
• Garstang 0-1 Nelson
• Route One Rovers 1-1 Maine Road
• Thornton Cleveleys 0-1 Steeton

First Division South:

• Market Drayton Town were struggling for goals throughout the second half of last season, but there was no shortage of those when Alsager Town came to visit on Monday. In fact, the visitors needed a 93^rd minute Harry Short goal to save a 4-4 draw from the jaws of defeat.
• There was a match between the two teams who have had the rockiest starts in this division on Monday, with Runcorn Town playing host to Shawbury United. A golden opportunity for both teams to get their first win was grabbed with both hands by Shawbury, who won 3-1 away from home.
• Wolves Sporting were sailing into half time of their bank holiday battle with Sandbach United at 2-0 up, but whatever Declan Sawn said in the dressing room worked, because United dragged the game back to 2-2 in the second half and came away with a point.

Other scores:

• Ashville 1-2 Stafford Town
• Cammell Laird 1907 0-1 New Mills
• Cheadle Heath Nomads 2-1 Abbey Hulton United
• Eccleshall 1-0 Winsford United
• Foley Meir 1-0 Barnton
• Stockport Georgians 1-1 Allscott Heath