Macron Cup First Round Review
Thu 3rd October 2024 | Macron Cup | By Ben Wilkinson
The 2024/25 Macron Cup kicked off in earnest this week, with no fewer than 48 clubs due to take to the pitch during the week in the First Round. Five clubs (Barnoldswick Town, Charnock Richard, Ashton Athletic, Bury and Chadderton) were fortunate enough to receive a bye straight to the Second Round when the draw took place at the League AGM in June, while FC Isle of Man elected not to enter this year's competition. There were also three First Round fixtures scheduled for later in the month.
This year's competition began with a bang on Monday night with 13 goals scored across the two games. AFC Blackpool got the better of Route One Rovers over in Yorkshire, triumphing 3-1 at the Marley Stadium. The lion's share of the goals were scored at Stockport Sports Village however with Stockport Town winning by the odd goal in NINE at home to Maine Road. Aaron Dwyer's first half hat-trick put Town well in control at the interval before Jean-Jacques Kirongozi scored a treble of his own for the away side in just 11 minutes late on to set up a grandstand finish.
Three games fell foul of the weather on Tuesday, with one more abandoned at half time due to floodlight failure. There was no shortage of goals amongst the ties that did go ahead though, with the big winners of the night being Droylsden, who comfortably saw off local rivals Abbey Hey 4-0 in front of a crowd of 507 at the Butchers' Arms. Also scoring four were Burscough, although they didn't keep a clean sheet as they sent Daisy Hill crashing out of the cup, winning 4-1 at the Community Stadium.
Thornton Cleveleys took an early lead against Premier Division side Colne but a Muhammad Ahmed hat-trick ensured the visitors safe passage into the next round as they won 4-2. Foley Meir also came from behind at Wolverhampton SC's Pride Park but a Thomas Wakefield brace turned the tie on its head before late goals from Jake Lloyd and Archie Ellams confirmed Foley's place in the hat. A Liverpool derby went the way of hosts AFC as three first half goals were enough to get the better of visitors South.
Four fixtures went the full distance and were settled by penalty shootouts. A late Luke Walsh equaliser gave Abbey Hulton United hope against Glossop North End but GNE edged the shootout 4-3 to progress into Round 2. Prestwich Heys and Irlam traded blows at Adie Moran Park with the score finishing 2-2 after 90 minutes but again the home side prevailed after spot kicks, this time 4-2. Longridge Town and Ramsbottom United also emerged victorious after shootouts against Holker Old Boys and West Didsbury & Chorlton respectively.
There were five more matches on Wednesday to complete the week's Macron Cup action, with result of the round surely going to Padiham as they hit Garstang for TEN at The Riverside. The Storks had a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break but really turned on the style after the interval; Joel Brownhill scored a hat-trick, including two goals in as many minutes, as the Premier Division side put the 'Stang to the sword.
Elsewhere, there was a cupset at the Ground Up Solutions Stadium as Stockport Georgians held on to defeat Cheadle Town 2-1 while Lower Breck left it late to get the better of Pilkington, Connor Millington's 93rd minute winner securing their place in the next round. Barnton required penalties to come out on top at home to Runcorn Town while Cammell Laird 1907 did the same away at Eccleshall.
Full First Round Results can be found below:
Monday 30th September 2024
Route One Rovers 1-3 AFC Blackpool
Stockport Town 5-4 Maine Road
Tuesday 1st October 2024
AFC Liverpool 3-0 South Liverpool
Ashton Town P-P Atherton LR (Postponed due to Waterlogged Pitch)
Burscough 4-1 Daisy Hill
Droylsden 4-0 Abbey Hey
Euxton Villa A-A Bacup Borough (Abandoned at half time due to floodlight failure. Score was 1-1)
FC St Helens P-P Litherland REMYCA (Postponed due to Waterlogged Pitch)
Glossop North End 2-2 Abbey Hulton United (Glossop North End won 4-3 on penalties)
Longridge Town 1-1 Holker Old Boys (Longridge Town won 4-3 on penalties)
Market Drayton Town 2-1 Alsager Town
New Mills 1-2 Cheadle Heath Nomads
Prestwich Heys 2-2 Irlam (Prestwich Heys won 4-2 on penalties)
Shawbury United P-P Allscott Heath (Postponed due to Waterlogged Pitch)
Stafford Town 3-0 Ashville
Thornton Cleveleys 2-4 Colne
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-2 Ramsbottom United (Ramsbottom United won 5-3 on penalties)
Winsford United 2-0 Sandbach United
Wolverhampton Sporting Community 1-4 Foley Meir
Wednesday 2nd October 2024
Barnton 1-1 Runcorn Town (Barnton won 5-3 on penalties)
Cheadle Town 1-2 Stockport Georgians
Eccleshall 1-1 Cammell Laird 1907 (Cammell Laird 1907 won 5-4 on penalties)
Garstang 1-10 (ten) Padiham
Pilkington 1-2 Lower Breck
Remaining First Round Fixtures:
Tuesday 8th October 2024
FC St Helens v Litherland REMYCA (7.45pm)
Skelmersdale United v Maghull (7.45pm)
Saturday 12th October 2024
Ashton Town v Atherton LR (3pm)
Tuesday 15th October 2024
Euxton Villa v Bacup Borough (7.45pm)
Squires Gate v Steeton (7.45pm)
Wednesday 16th October 2024
Darwen v Nelson (7.45pm)
Tuesday 22nd October 2024
Shawbury United v Allscott Heath (7.45pm)
Macron Cup First Round Review
Thu 3rd October 2024 | Macron Cup
By Ben Wilkinson
The 2024/25 Macron Cup kicked off in earnest this week, with no fewer than 48 clubs due to take to the pitch during the week in the First Round. Five clubs (Barnoldswick Town, Charnock Richard, Ashton Athletic, Bury and Chadderton) were fortunate enough to receive a bye straight to the Second Round when the draw took place at the League AGM in June, while FC Isle of Man elected not to enter this year's competition. There were also three First Round fixtures scheduled for later in the month.
This year's competition began with a bang on Monday night with 13 goals scored across the two games. AFC Blackpool got the better of Route One Rovers over in Yorkshire, triumphing 3-1 at the Marley Stadium. The lion's share of the goals were scored at Stockport Sports Village however with Stockport Town winning by the odd goal in NINE at home to Maine Road. Aaron Dwyer's first half hat-trick put Town well in control at the interval before Jean-Jacques Kirongozi scored a treble of his own for the away side in just 11 minutes late on to set up a grandstand finish.
Three games fell foul of the weather on Tuesday, with one more abandoned at half time due to floodlight failure. There was no shortage of goals amongst the ties that did go ahead though, with the big winners of the night being Droylsden, who comfortably saw off local rivals Abbey Hey 4-0 in front of a crowd of 507 at the Butchers' Arms. Also scoring four were Burscough, although they didn't keep a clean sheet as they sent Daisy Hill crashing out of the cup, winning 4-1 at the Community Stadium.
Thornton Cleveleys took an early lead against Premier Division side Colne but a Muhammad Ahmed hat-trick ensured the visitors safe passage into the next round as they won 4-2. Foley Meir also came from behind at Wolverhampton SC's Pride Park but a Thomas Wakefield brace turned the tie on its head before late goals from Jake Lloyd and Archie Ellams confirmed Foley's place in the hat. A Liverpool derby went the way of hosts AFC as three first half goals were enough to get the better of visitors South.
Four fixtures went the full distance and were settled by penalty shootouts. A late Luke Walsh equaliser gave Abbey Hulton United hope against Glossop North End but GNE edged the shootout 4-3 to progress into Round 2. Prestwich Heys and Irlam traded blows at Adie Moran Park with the score finishing 2-2 after 90 minutes but again the home side prevailed after spot kicks, this time 4-2. Longridge Town and Ramsbottom United also emerged victorious after shootouts against Holker Old Boys and West Didsbury & Chorlton respectively.
There were five more matches on Wednesday to complete the week's Macron Cup action, with result of the round surely going to Padiham as they hit Garstang for TEN at The Riverside. The Storks had a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break but really turned on the style after the interval; Joel Brownhill scored a hat-trick, including two goals in as many minutes, as the Premier Division side put the 'Stang to the sword.
Elsewhere, there was a cupset at the Ground Up Solutions Stadium as Stockport Georgians held on to defeat Cheadle Town 2-1 while Lower Breck left it late to get the better of Pilkington, Connor Millington's 93rd minute winner securing their place in the next round. Barnton required penalties to come out on top at home to Runcorn Town while Cammell Laird 1907 did the same away at Eccleshall.
Full First Round Results can be found below:
Monday 30th September 2024
Route One Rovers 1-3 AFC Blackpool
Stockport Town 5-4 Maine Road
Tuesday 1st October 2024
AFC Liverpool 3-0 South Liverpool
Ashton Town P-P Atherton LR (Postponed due to Waterlogged Pitch)
Burscough 4-1 Daisy Hill
Droylsden 4-0 Abbey Hey
Euxton Villa A-A Bacup Borough (Abandoned at half time due to floodlight failure. Score was 1-1)
FC St Helens P-P Litherland REMYCA (Postponed due to Waterlogged Pitch)
Glossop North End 2-2 Abbey Hulton United (Glossop North End won 4-3 on penalties)
Longridge Town 1-1 Holker Old Boys (Longridge Town won 4-3 on penalties)
Market Drayton Town 2-1 Alsager Town
New Mills 1-2 Cheadle Heath Nomads
Prestwich Heys 2-2 Irlam (Prestwich Heys won 4-2 on penalties)
Shawbury United P-P Allscott Heath (Postponed due to Waterlogged Pitch)
Stafford Town 3-0 Ashville
Thornton Cleveleys 2-4 Colne
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-2 Ramsbottom United (Ramsbottom United won 5-3 on penalties)
Winsford United 2-0 Sandbach United
Wolverhampton Sporting Community 1-4 Foley Meir
Wednesday 2nd October 2024
Barnton 1-1 Runcorn Town (Barnton won 5-3 on penalties)
Cheadle Town 1-2 Stockport Georgians
Eccleshall 1-1 Cammell Laird 1907 (Cammell Laird 1907 won 5-4 on penalties)
Garstang 1-10 (ten) Padiham
Pilkington 1-2 Lower Breck
Remaining First Round Fixtures:
Tuesday 8th October 2024
FC St Helens v Litherland REMYCA (7.45pm)
Skelmersdale United v Maghull (7.45pm)
Saturday 12th October 2024
Ashton Town v Atherton LR (3pm)
Tuesday 15th October 2024
Euxton Villa v Bacup Borough (7.45pm)
Squires Gate v Steeton (7.45pm)
Wednesday 16th October 2024
Darwen v Nelson (7.45pm)
Tuesday 22nd October 2024
Shawbury United v Allscott Heath (7.45pm)
