Five things we learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 10
Thu 3rd October 2024 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. Bury the team to beat in the FA Cup
It's a point that has already been made once this week, and will be made again in greater detail before the week is over, but Bury FC are the true flag-flyers in the FA Cup for the NWCFL this season.
After knocking off Congleton Town, Maghull, Garforth Town and Blyth Spartans, they were given their toughest test yet last Saturday - an away trip to local rivals Radcliffe. Lo and behold, a 90th minute Bryan Ly penalty gave the Shakers a deserved 3-2 win, and they'll now face Harborough Town in the final step before the First Round Proper.
2. 10/10 performance from Padiham in the Macron Cup
In the second of three entries regarding cup competitions, the Macron Cup made it's first proper appearance of the new season this past Tuesday. Thornton Cleveleys had previously beaten Maghull in a qualifier of sorts, but this was the first collection of fixtures with the majority of NWCFL sides in action.
Chief among those sides were Premier Division Padiham, who unequivocally stole the spotlight with their away trip to First Division North outfit Garstang. In a game that gave the hosts very little to cheer about, Michael Morrison's team won 10-1 (yes, TEN), with Joel Brownhill taking home the match ball for his efforts.
Credit must also go to Stockport Town and Maine Road, whose late-goal-laden thriller on Monday came close to eclipsing the Padiham result. Town VS Road finished 5-4 to the former.
3. Nelson ATE in the LCC
Rounding out our collection of cup highlights from the past seven days is First Division North promotion hopefuls Nelson. They played host to Premier Division regulars Squires Gate in a game that might encourage you to favour the latter based on placements in the English Football Pyramid.
Apparently, Nelson were never given that particular script, and they absolutely hammered their visitors. Both Max Cane and Jude Entwistle scored hat-tricks as Arron Ripley's team won 8-1 (yes, EIGHT).
4. Too early to call it a survival scrap?
The Premier Division currently has no out-and-out number one contender for the title - Ramsbottom United are top, but all of Chadderton, Lower Breck and Bury are within touching distance with games in hand. At the bottom of the table though, after this past weekend, things look a little more predictable right now.
It's still only just gotten to October, so that statement is subject to change, but both Pilkington and South Liverpool won in crucial games this weekend, and both Prestwich Heys and Colne lost, leaving the latter two teams 3 points adrift at in the relegation places. Perhaps even more frighteningly, Heys have played one league game more than those other sides.
5. A goal-mad Saturday in the South
Let's finish by looking at a few more mad matches from the weekend, shall we? It's not like there aren't many to choose from, and most of them came from the First Division South. Perhaps the most notable scoreline came from Allscott Heath, who lost their home clash with Ashville 7-4!
Elsewhere, Barnton snatched a last-gasp winner in a 5-4 back-and-forth blitz against Runcorn Town; Stafford Town's promotion hopes were given a serious boost by their 5-0 battering of Cammell Laird 1907; and, in a match that would probably be considered a relegation 6-pointer if it happened in February or March, Stockport Georgians took 3 points home from Wolves Sporting, winning 6-1.
Five things we learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 10
Thu 3rd October 2024 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. Bury the team to beat in the FA Cup
It's a point that has already been made once this week, and will be made again in greater detail before the week is over, but Bury FC are the true flag-flyers in the FA Cup for the NWCFL this season.
After knocking off Congleton Town, Maghull, Garforth Town and Blyth Spartans, they were given their toughest test yet last Saturday - an away trip to local rivals Radcliffe. Lo and behold, a 90th minute Bryan Ly penalty gave the Shakers a deserved 3-2 win, and they'll now face Harborough Town in the final step before the First Round Proper.
2. 10/10 performance from Padiham in the Macron Cup
In the second of three entries regarding cup competitions, the Macron Cup made it's first proper appearance of the new season this past Tuesday. Thornton Cleveleys had previously beaten Maghull in a qualifier of sorts, but this was the first collection of fixtures with the majority of NWCFL sides in action.
Chief among those sides were Premier Division Padiham, who unequivocally stole the spotlight with their away trip to First Division North outfit Garstang. In a game that gave the hosts very little to cheer about, Michael Morrison's team won 10-1 (yes, TEN), with Joel Brownhill taking home the match ball for his efforts.
Credit must also go to Stockport Town and Maine Road, whose late-goal-laden thriller on Monday came close to eclipsing the Padiham result. Town VS Road finished 5-4 to the former.
3. Nelson ATE in the LCC
Rounding out our collection of cup highlights from the past seven days is First Division North promotion hopefuls Nelson. They played host to Premier Division regulars Squires Gate in a game that might encourage you to favour the latter based on placements in the English Football Pyramid.
Apparently, Nelson were never given that particular script, and they absolutely hammered their visitors. Both Max Cane and Jude Entwistle scored hat-tricks as Arron Ripley's team won 8-1 (yes, EIGHT).
4. Too early to call it a survival scrap?
The Premier Division currently has no out-and-out number one contender for the title - Ramsbottom United are top, but all of Chadderton, Lower Breck and Bury are within touching distance with games in hand. At the bottom of the table though, after this past weekend, things look a little more predictable right now.
It's still only just gotten to October, so that statement is subject to change, but both Pilkington and South Liverpool won in crucial games this weekend, and both Prestwich Heys and Colne lost, leaving the latter two teams 3 points adrift at in the relegation places. Perhaps even more frighteningly, Heys have played one league game more than those other sides.
5. A goal-mad Saturday in the South
Let's finish by looking at a few more mad matches from the weekend, shall we? It's not like there aren't many to choose from, and most of them came from the First Division South. Perhaps the most notable scoreline came from Allscott Heath, who lost their home clash with Ashville 7-4!
Elsewhere, Barnton snatched a last-gasp winner in a 5-4 back-and-forth blitz against Runcorn Town; Stafford Town's promotion hopes were given a serious boost by their 5-0 battering of Cammell Laird 1907; and, in a match that would probably be considered a relegation 6-pointer if it happened in February or March, Stockport Georgians took 3 points home from Wolves Sporting, winning 6-1.
