Gameweek 17: Preview

Fri 15th November 2024 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper

After last week’s cup-centric Saturday, this coming weekend refocuses on NWCFL league action. There is a full list of fixtures from the Premier Division, seven matches from the First Division North, and eight matches from the First Division South to pick from on Saturday, November 16^th.

That said, there is a single Edward Case Cup game coming your way too, and it’s First Division North VS First Division North as Maine Road host Ashton Town. The winners of this clash at Brantingham Road have the unenviable task of travelling away to South-leading Stafford Town in the Quarterfinals of the ECC waiting for them.

Where to start with the Premier Division? Barring anything unforeseen, every single club in the division will be in NWCFL action on Saturday. Looking from the top down, table-topping Ramsbottom United are back home, and they will be playing host to relegation-threatened Pilkington.

Pilks won a six-pointer against Prestwich Heys last time out, but to take three points away from the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium would be a herculean task. Rammy’s closest rivals at the time of writing, Bury, are also at home, and they’re looking to stay unbeaten this season as Longridge Town arrive at Gigg Lane.

To round out the play-offs, Chadderton are on the road against South Liverpool; Lower Breck welcome Glossop North End; and FC Isle of Man feature in the late kick-off, with Burscough crossing the Irish Sea to face off with the Ravens.

Down to the foot of the league, we’ve already mentioned that Pilkington are away at Rammy, and two teams hoping for a league leaders’ victory will be Colne and Prestwich Heys. Colne bagged their first league win of the season last time out away at Stockport Town and will hope to build on that with a home clash against West Didsbury and Chorlton. As for Heys – who are now rooted to the foot of the table – they have a home match of their own against Cheadle Town.

Other games not mentioned in that brief summary include Abbey Hey taking on Stockport Town; Barnoldswick Town hosting Irlam; Charnock Richard welcoming Padiham; a Liverpool derby as Litherland REMYCA will face off against AFC Liverpool; and Squires Gate contending with FC St Helens.

In the First Division North, both of the top two are on their travels this weekend, with Atherton LR, who lead the way in the league as of writing, heading to Garstang. The side from The Riverside are second-bottom as it stands, but are level on points with Route One Rovers, who have a home game of their own against AFC Blackpool. No doubt that Garstang will be hopeful that the Seasiders can lend them a hand in getting out of the drop zone,

Second-placed Nelson are also playing against a side in more bother than they would like to be – bottom club Skelmersdale United, still searching for that first win of the season. If they were to bag that accomplishment this weekend, the gap between first and second in the table could extend to a massive 8 points, with Atherton still having a game in hand on Nelson, Time will tell.

Also in the play-off picture, Holker Old Boys will make a near-four hour round trip to face Bacup Borough, whereas Droylsden need to go nowhere as they welcome Maghull. Maine Road, as previously mentioned, are in Edward Case Cup action, and as a result, could have their play-off spot pilfered by either of Bacup Borough or Euxton Villa, who will battle Thornton Cleveleys at their Gamble Road ground.

Finally, in a very middle-of-the-table matchup, 10^th placed Darwen FC will host 11^th placed Daisy Hill.

Moving parallel to the First Division South, league leaders Stafford Town have an away trip on their hands this weekend, as they will face off with New Mills at the latter’s Church Lane ground. A win for New Mills would be a massive step in the right direction and could potentially see them rise to 4^th in the league, but if all the results of the weekend go Stafford’s way, they’ll have a 5-point lead at the top.

Winsford United remain Stafford’s closest challengers at this stage, but they face a potential banana skin this weekend with a visit to Foley Meir, whose new manager, Mark Lawton, will lead the team out for the first time. That new manager bounce is always worth watching out for, and Winsford will be well aware of that.

Completing the play-off picture are Alsager Town and Ashville, who will play host to Eccleshall and Sandbach United respectively; and Cheadle Heath Nomads, who are on the road on Saturday to take on Abbey Hulton United, who handed Winsford their first loss in 16 games in midweek cup action.

Towards the base of the division, bottom side Runcorn Town will hope to build on last week’s win over fellow strugglers Shawbury United, by winning again at home to Cammell Laird 1907. With Shawbury not in action this weekend, a win for Runcorn would see them leapfrog their relegation battle rivals and get off the foot of the table.

Two other teams in danger of contending with the drop towards the business end of the season, Wolves Sporting and Allscott Heath, will face one another in a six-pointer on Saturday at the former’s Pride Park.

And finally, in a mid-table clash similar to Darwen/Daisy Hill in the North, 11^th placed Barnton will travel to 12^th placed Stockport Georgians.