Gameweek 15: Review

Mon 4th November 2024 | Match Reviews | By Jay Cooper

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

Premier Division:

Friday:

• If Burscough take nothing else away from their defeat on Friday night, their player Stephen Rigby will be able to celebrate a personal victory he attained by bagging a brace. As will Lower Breck’s Tom Croughan, who scored two of the victors’ goals in their 4-2 encounter.

Saturday:

• Cheadle Town could not have asked for a better start to November. Jake Davies’ side had a home match and were contending with Squires Gate for the points. Darren McKnight was on hand to bag a brace as Cheadle swept their opponents aside to win 5-0.
• Abbey Hey might’ve thought they were in for a cruise after travelling to FC Isle of Man for Saturday’s game, especially after leading within two minutes, However, FC got right back on track to score three without reply and seal maximum points in a 3-1 win.
• Padiham’s impressive recent run continued on Saturday with their trip to Irlam. There may have been concerns when they were unable to keep the clean sheet going in to half time, but their 2-1 lead became 3-1 right after the second half begun, and stayed that way to secure the win.
• The match between South Liverpool and Longridge Town at the former’s Jericho Lane didn’t seem to get going until an hour of football had been played. However, when it did get going, South got going quite a bit more than their visitors and came away with a 3-1 victory.
• In what was almost definitely the game of the day from the Premier Division this past Saturday, West Didsbury and Chorlton played host to AFC Liverpool. At half time, this match was only 1-1, and it was only 2-1 to AFC with 10 minutes to go. And then, two goals for both teams in the final stages of the match eventually saw a 4-3 scoreline by the time the full-time whistle went.

Other scores:

Friday:

• FC St Helens 1-0 Chadderton

Saturday:

• Bury 2-0 Pilkington
• Charnock Richard 1-2 Stockport Town
• Colne 1-1 Litherland REMYCA
• Glossop North End 0-0 Ramsbottom United
• Prestwich Heys 0-2 Barnoldswick Town

First Division North:

• Ashton Town had a tricky task on their hands on Saturday, hosting hot-and-cold Bacup Borough, who were coming off the back of two straight wins, including one 7-4 victory. And there would be a team in this match who scored a quartet of goals, and that was Ashton Town. This was enough to see them take all three points in a 4-2 victory.
• It was a breath of fresh air to see Route One Rovers looking like their old goal-happy selves again on Saturday as they made the away trip to Maghull. Anees Younis was on hand to score twice in an eventual 5-3 win for the visitors, with last years’ division top score Zak Khan also getting on the scoresheet.
• Darwen FC must have thought for all the world that they would be taking maximum points home from their visit to Skelmersdale United on Saturday by the time the half time whistle went, with Leighton Mills’ side 4-1 up. Just for good measure, they added a further two in the second half to secure a 6-1 victory.
• By contrast, a team that would have felt much less comfortable despite leading at half time were Droylsden. Only a slender 1-goal advantage kept their heads above their hosts, Steeton, but two further goals in the final 20 minutes put the game to rest at 3-0.

Other scores:

• AFC Blackpool 1-0 Maine Road
• Atherton LR 2-0 Holker Old Boys
• Euxton Villa 1-0 Daisy Hill
• Garstang 1-1 Ashton Athletic
• Nelson 2-1 Thornton Cleveleys

First Division South:

• Cammell Laird 1907 may have had reservations on their journey to Allscott Heath, given that this was Glyn Norman’s first away game as gaffer. However, there needn’t have been any worries, with Norman’s men pitching a shutout and winning 4-0, with James Eaton bagging a brace.
• Sandbach United’s great run of form continued at pace on Saturday in their game at home against Stockport Georgians. Ben Greenop’s brace was the bread for slices Sandbach’s sandwich of goals, as they won 4-1 against their visitors.
• Stafford Town have lost at home, for the first time in the league this season, and all credit must go to Winsford United. Patryk Mazurkiewicz must have thought his two goals were enough to seal the win for the league leaders, but two of Winsford’s own in the final 10 saw Winsford escape with a 3-2 victory.
• Wolves Sporting decided that anything their visitors, Alsager Town, could do, they would do better just after the half hour mark in this clash. A 35^th minute penalty equaliser was cancelled out by a 37^th minute penalty lead reinstation for Wolves Sporting, but a goal in the second half from Keiran Hamm ensured a 2-2 draw.

Other scores:

• Barnton 0-2 Market Drayton Town
• Cheadle Heath Nomads 0-1 Foley Meir
• New Mills 1-2 Abbey Hulton United