Gameweek 12: Preview
Fri 11th October 2024 | Match Previews | By Ben Wilkinson
It's preview time! Loads of league action over the weekend before a midweek that includes games in no fewer than EIGHT different competitions!
FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER
Just one fixture tonight to get the weekend underway as Chadderton host Squires Gate at their temporary Vestacare Stadium home. The Gate have lost their last two away games by a combined score of 13-2 and they come up against a Chaddy side that have only lost 1 in 9 and are looking to go top of the league (at least for the night) with three points.
SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER
The stand-out match of the day on Saturday is Bury's trip south to Harborough Town, with a place in the First Round of the FA Cup at stake. The Shakers have already toppled a staggering five higher-division sides away from home to reach this stage and must conquer one more if they are to become the first Step 5 team to reach the Proper rounds of the FA Cup since our very own Skelmersdale United did so back in the 2020/21 campaign. Just one other cup game on Saturday and it comes in the Macron Cup as Atherton LR make the short trip to play divisional rivals Ashton Town with a trip to Charnock Richard awaiting the victors. The two sides last met in the league in March when LR came out on top 3-0 away from home on their way to a 2nd-placed finish.
Back to league action and there are ten Premier Division fixtures on Saturday. The late kick-off sees Padiham make the journey over to the Isle of Man with a 10-game unbeaten run under their belt. The Ravens started the season brightly but two successive defeats without scoring have seen them slip out of the play-off places heading into the clash against the Storks. The highlight on the mainland is a Liverpool derby at Anfield where Lower Breck host AFC Liverpool, with just one place separating the two clubs. It's a tight turnaround for Lower Breck as they fell 1-0 at home to Stockport Town on Thursday night while AFC won big at home to Burscough 48 hours prior.
At the other end of the table, Pilkington travel to basement club Colne with an aim of putting a bit more breathing space between them and the relegation places. The home side have only won one league game this season and will be looking at this as an opportunity to gain another three points and get their season back on track while Pilks go into this fixture without a win on the road since their first away game back at the end of July. This season's surprise package FC St Helens sit just one point outside the top five in their debut season at this level, having played fewer games than all sides above them. They travel to 2nd-bottom Prestwich Heys who themselves will be looking to take advantage of the clubs immediately around them facing off against each other by picking up maximum points here for the first time at home since April 13th.
There are seven First Division North games taking place, and with neither of the top two in league action, Nelson have a huge chance to keep the pressure on them as they host Route One Rovers. The Admirals tasted defeat on the road for the first time since August last time out at the hands of rivals Bacup Borough while Route One comfortably dispatched Ashton Athletic 3-0 in the Edward Case Cup during the week. Maine Road have a chance to break into the play-off spots if they gain maximum points against 4th-placed Euxton Villa at Brantingham Road, though they will have a tough task ahead as Villa have won all of their last four games.
Skelmersdale United are still looking for their first win of the season and go into their away clash with Ashton Athletic on the back of 10 straight defeats in all competitions, with just four goals scored and 36 conceded. Athletic have won their last five home games and won 3-0 in this fixture the last time it was played back in February 2022, when both sides were in the Premier Division.
A full fixture list in the First Division South completes the weekend's action. The seemingly unstoppable league leaders Stafford Town are at home against Allscott Heath who set out for their second of six successive away fixtures in all competitions. Stafford have now won their nine league games and have won both divisional Club of the Month awards so far this season while Allscott have struggled in their first NWCFL season and currently sit in 12th position. It;s 4th vs 5th at Church Lane where New Mills welcome Ashville with both sides looking to put some breathing space between them and the sides below them as the halfway point of the season looms. New Mills edge the head-to-head record with 3 wins to 2 after completing the double over the Birkenhead based club last season.
Sandbach have struggled to build on two successive top five finishes and they currently lie seven points adrift of the play-off places heading into their trip to bottom club Runcorn Town, who are looking for some improvements on the pitch after a turbulent start to the season. With Runcorn moving over to the South division this season and the two being in different County Cups, this is set to be the first competitive meetings between the two sides.
THE WEEK AHEAD...
There's a huge variety of fixtures coming up as the County Cups really get underway. It's an all-NWCFL affair in the Manchester Premier Cup Preliminary Round on Monday night when Maine Road host Chadderton, with First Round ties scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday as Irlam host Glossop on Tuesday before Bury visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Abbey Hey 24 hours later. In the Edward Case Cup, Daisy Hill welcome Skelmersdale United to The Plumb Factory Stadium on Monday before the rearranged clash between Droyslden and AFC Blackpool takes place on Tuesday after the initial tie was abandoned during the week due to floodlight failure. Ashton Town host Maghull in the other fixture, in a game that has been switched from Maghull's Old Hall Field due to their floodlights not being installed yet.
Most of the remaining Macron Cup ties are also to be played this week. Another game that was curtailed due to floodlight failure earlier this month was Euxton Villa v Bacup Borough, and the familiar faces go head-to-head again at the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground on Tuesday night to replay that one in full. Also on Tuesday is Steeton's trip to Squires Gate while Nelson travel to rivals Darwen on Wednesday evening, with the winners of those two playing each other in the Second Round.
In the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night, Cheadle Heath Nomads travel to former NWCFL side Congleton Town, who now ply their trade in the NPL West after a successful venture into the Midland League last season. There are three games in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, with four of our sides away at non-NWCFL clubs. Just one fixture in the Shropshire FA TJ Vickers Premier Cup as Allscott Heath visit Shifnal Town of the Midland League Premier Division. Rounding out the midweek cup action is Stockport Georgians' home clash against Crewe Alexandra in the Cheshire Senior Cup, with the League Two club likely to send a youthful side to Cromley Road for that one.
There are four Premier Division fixtures in amongst all the knockout action, with two games on each of Tuesday and Wednesday. Table-topping Ramsbottom United host AFC Liverpool on Tuesday hoping to reinforce their position at the summit before AFC's playoff rivals FC St Helens travel to South Liverpool's Jericho Lane on Wednesday.
Gameweek 12: Preview
Fri 11th October 2024 | Match Previews
By Ben Wilkinson
It's preview time! Loads of league action over the weekend before a midweek that includes games in no fewer than EIGHT different competitions!
FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER
Just one fixture tonight to get the weekend underway as Chadderton host Squires Gate at their temporary Vestacare Stadium home. The Gate have lost their last two away games by a combined score of 13-2 and they come up against a Chaddy side that have only lost 1 in 9 and are looking to go top of the league (at least for the night) with three points.
SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER
The stand-out match of the day on Saturday is Bury's trip south to Harborough Town, with a place in the First Round of the FA Cup at stake. The Shakers have already toppled a staggering five higher-division sides away from home to reach this stage and must conquer one more if they are to become the first Step 5 team to reach the Proper rounds of the FA Cup since our very own Skelmersdale United did so back in the 2020/21 campaign. Just one other cup game on Saturday and it comes in the Macron Cup as Atherton LR make the short trip to play divisional rivals Ashton Town with a trip to Charnock Richard awaiting the victors. The two sides last met in the league in March when LR came out on top 3-0 away from home on their way to a 2nd-placed finish.
Back to league action and there are ten Premier Division fixtures on Saturday. The late kick-off sees Padiham make the journey over to the Isle of Man with a 10-game unbeaten run under their belt. The Ravens started the season brightly but two successive defeats without scoring have seen them slip out of the play-off places heading into the clash against the Storks. The highlight on the mainland is a Liverpool derby at Anfield where Lower Breck host AFC Liverpool, with just one place separating the two clubs. It's a tight turnaround for Lower Breck as they fell 1-0 at home to Stockport Town on Thursday night while AFC won big at home to Burscough 48 hours prior.
At the other end of the table, Pilkington travel to basement club Colne with an aim of putting a bit more breathing space between them and the relegation places. The home side have only won one league game this season and will be looking at this as an opportunity to gain another three points and get their season back on track while Pilks go into this fixture without a win on the road since their first away game back at the end of July. This season's surprise package FC St Helens sit just one point outside the top five in their debut season at this level, having played fewer games than all sides above them. They travel to 2nd-bottom Prestwich Heys who themselves will be looking to take advantage of the clubs immediately around them facing off against each other by picking up maximum points here for the first time at home since April 13th.
There are seven First Division North games taking place, and with neither of the top two in league action, Nelson have a huge chance to keep the pressure on them as they host Route One Rovers. The Admirals tasted defeat on the road for the first time since August last time out at the hands of rivals Bacup Borough while Route One comfortably dispatched Ashton Athletic 3-0 in the Edward Case Cup during the week. Maine Road have a chance to break into the play-off spots if they gain maximum points against 4th-placed Euxton Villa at Brantingham Road, though they will have a tough task ahead as Villa have won all of their last four games.
Skelmersdale United are still looking for their first win of the season and go into their away clash with Ashton Athletic on the back of 10 straight defeats in all competitions, with just four goals scored and 36 conceded. Athletic have won their last five home games and won 3-0 in this fixture the last time it was played back in February 2022, when both sides were in the Premier Division.
A full fixture list in the First Division South completes the weekend's action. The seemingly unstoppable league leaders Stafford Town are at home against Allscott Heath who set out for their second of six successive away fixtures in all competitions. Stafford have now won their nine league games and have won both divisional Club of the Month awards so far this season while Allscott have struggled in their first NWCFL season and currently sit in 12th position. It;s 4th vs 5th at Church Lane where New Mills welcome Ashville with both sides looking to put some breathing space between them and the sides below them as the halfway point of the season looms. New Mills edge the head-to-head record with 3 wins to 2 after completing the double over the Birkenhead based club last season.
Sandbach have struggled to build on two successive top five finishes and they currently lie seven points adrift of the play-off places heading into their trip to bottom club Runcorn Town, who are looking for some improvements on the pitch after a turbulent start to the season. With Runcorn moving over to the South division this season and the two being in different County Cups, this is set to be the first competitive meetings between the two sides.
THE WEEK AHEAD...
There's a huge variety of fixtures coming up as the County Cups really get underway. It's an all-NWCFL affair in the Manchester Premier Cup Preliminary Round on Monday night when Maine Road host Chadderton, with First Round ties scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday as Irlam host Glossop on Tuesday before Bury visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Abbey Hey 24 hours later. In the Edward Case Cup, Daisy Hill welcome Skelmersdale United to The Plumb Factory Stadium on Monday before the rearranged clash between Droyslden and AFC Blackpool takes place on Tuesday after the initial tie was abandoned during the week due to floodlight failure. Ashton Town host Maghull in the other fixture, in a game that has been switched from Maghull's Old Hall Field due to their floodlights not being installed yet.
Most of the remaining Macron Cup ties are also to be played this week. Another game that was curtailed due to floodlight failure earlier this month was Euxton Villa v Bacup Borough, and the familiar faces go head-to-head again at the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground on Tuesday night to replay that one in full. Also on Tuesday is Steeton's trip to Squires Gate while Nelson travel to rivals Darwen on Wednesday evening, with the winners of those two playing each other in the Second Round.
In the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night, Cheadle Heath Nomads travel to former NWCFL side Congleton Town, who now ply their trade in the NPL West after a successful venture into the Midland League last season. There are three games in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, with four of our sides away at non-NWCFL clubs. Just one fixture in the Shropshire FA TJ Vickers Premier Cup as Allscott Heath visit Shifnal Town of the Midland League Premier Division. Rounding out the midweek cup action is Stockport Georgians' home clash against Crewe Alexandra in the Cheshire Senior Cup, with the League Two club likely to send a youthful side to Cromley Road for that one.
There are four Premier Division fixtures in amongst all the knockout action, with two games on each of Tuesday and Wednesday. Table-topping Ramsbottom United host AFC Liverpool on Tuesday hoping to reinforce their position at the summit before AFC's playoff rivals FC St Helens travel to South Liverpool's Jericho Lane on Wednesday.
