ISUZU FA VASE
A whopping 21 NWCFL reached the First Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Vase following victories over the weekend. This brings the total still left in the competition to 27 with four given a exemptions to the First Round Proper and two to the Second Round Proper by virtue of their success in the competition last season.
The game of the round for many was the first one on Friday evening as Chadderton beat Retford United 8-4. Lewis-Simon Byrne opened the scoring within the first 90 seconds before Retford levelled on 16 minutes. Chadderton then went 3-1 up before Retford pulled another back and it was 4-2 at the break. Two minutes into the second half, it was 4-3 before Byrne completed his hat-trick four minutes later. Retford reduced it to 5-4 before three goals in the last 10 minutes sealed the win.
Onto Saturday and there were eight all-NWCFL ties. Result of the day was perhaps from First Division North side Daisy Hill who beat Premier Division Lower Breck 1-0, Ryan Lockett with the only goal just after the hour. Another North side beating Premier Division came at Crilly Park where Benjamin Hampson put Cheadle Town ahead in first half stoppage time. However three goals in the second half by Atherton LR saw them through to the next round.
They will be joined by fellow North side Euxton Villa who overcame fellow league side Bacup Borough 2-0, whilst Winsford United won the battle in the only South v North game, Elliott Coleman scoring twice in a 3-1 win at Maine Road. Market Drayton Town are also through from the First Division South after a 1-0 away win at Shawbury United, whilst three first half goals were enough for Bury to overcome Burscough 3-0. Stockport Town beat FC St Helens 2-1, with the final all-NWCFL game seeing William Procter score a brace for Barnoldswick Town in their 3-1 win over Steeton.
In games against outside opponents, Allscott Heath pulled off a superb 4-1 away win at our reigning First Division South Champions Brocton, now playing in the Midland League. Abbey Hey also scored four, the first three coming from the prolific Saul Henderson in a 4-3 win over Penistone Church. New Mills had a traumatic trip across to Goole AFC, but will have enjoyed the journey back after a 3-1 win where Harry Dean scored twice.
Barmiest game of the day was at Midland League side Coton Green where Foley Meir twice led only for Coton to level. The home side then went ahead before Foley levelled, then with 20 minutes remaining Foley went back ahead 4-3. Coton equalised in the last minute from a long throw, however Foley won 4-3 on penalties. There were four other shoot outs, with Abbey Hulton United winning 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at home to Worcester Raiders.
Another fine result came from Sandbach United with Ben Greenop scoring twice in a 2-2 draw at Frickley Athletic, Sandbach winning 5-4 on penalties. It finished 1-1 between Sutton United and Stafford Town, the home side levelling with three minutes to go before winning 5-3 on penalties, whilst Holker Old Boys lost 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw at Crook Town.
It was a good day for those playing NCEL sides, with AFC Liverpool having a great win on the road by beating Selby Town 3-1 and Darwen winning by the same scoreline at home to Maltby Main. Colne put their league worries behind them with a 2-1 win over Knaresborough Town, whilst two sides won 1-0, Ashton Town beating Armthorpe Welfare at home and Glossop North End winning at Retford.
The NCEL did taste victory in three of the eleven games between our sides. Joel Ward scored twice for Staveley Miners Welfare in their 3-2 win at Pilkington, with Wombwell Town beating Ashton Athletic 3-0 where Edward Agnew scored twice. Wakefield AFC beat Barnton 2-1.
Padiham won 2-1 away at Northern League side Penrith, whilst Louis Calvert took home the match ball for Ryton & Crawcrook Albion in their 5-2 win over Garstang.
EDWARD CASE CUP
There was one game that took place in the Edward Case Cup at the weekend, where any latecomers lost out. Maghull scored twice in the opening nine minutes against Thornton Cleveleys before Dominic Ritchie pulled one back. Jacob Till then added two before the half hour mark had arrived to make it 4-1, with Ritchie grabbing his second with 15 minutes to go. However a stoppage time goal for Maghull saw them through with a 5-2 win.
PREMIER DIVISION
There were five Premier Division games that took place with 20 goals scored in those games. Irlam went 3-0 ahead at Squires Gate with Declan Daniels grabbing two, before the home side pulled two back at the start of the second half. Irlam held on for the win though. Another 3-2 came at Litherland REMYCA, who took the lead against Longridge Town only for the visitors to turn things around by the 35th minute with Liam Atkinson scoring twice. With 15 minutes to go, REMYCA were level, and they sealed the win with their third goal in stoppage time.
A crowd of over 850 watched West Didsbury & Chorlton secure a 2-1 win over FC Isle of Man, with Billy Matthews scoring the winner for West with four minutes remaining. The same scoreline came at Ramsbottom United, Luke and Scott Sephton getting the goals for them in a victory over Prestwich Heys.
The final game saw Charnock Richard and South Liverpool play out a 2-2 draw. Charnock went ahead on the half hour with Owen Hough levelling for South just before the hour. Charnock regained the lead before another from Hough secured a point for South, that coming three minutes into stoppage time.
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
There were just two games in the First Division North and both were won late. Nelson led AFC Blackpool before the visitors equalised, with Max Cane hitting the winner for the Admirals three minutes into stoppage time. Skelmersdale United took an early lead against Droylsden, who levelled just before the half hour and then secured all three points with a goal two minutes from time.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
There were four games in the First Division South, with remarkably three of them finishing 3-2. The only one that didn't saw Cheadle Heath Nomads secure a comfortable 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Sporting Community, Alex May scoring twice. Alsager Town led three times against Stockport Georgians, Lucas Berry levelling twice for the visitors who could not quite find a third equaliser after Keiron Frost's 87th minute goal.
A resurgent Runcorn Town took the lead at Eccleshall before the home side levelled from the spot just before the half hour. Two second half goals then put Runcorn 3-1 ahead with Liam Hallam's stoppage time goal proving a consolation. There was something of a turnaround in the Wirral Derby where Cammell Laird 1907 led 2-0 at half time against Ashville. However three unanswered second half goals gave Ashville the win, Thomas Hewlett scoring two of them with the last coming six minutes from time.
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