Gameweek 18: Review

Mon 25th November 2024 | Match Reviews | By Jay Cooper

Another weekend, another round of games 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:

• Bottom side Prestwich Heys are still waiting for a new manager bounce, and that wait will continue after Friday's visit to Chadderton. Chaddy, comfortable in the play-off places at the moment, had no problem dispatching Heys to win 3-0.

Saturday:

• Longridge Town had the better of their hosts, Cheadle Town, on Saturday, right up until the brink of half time when Adam Davies equalised. Cheadle took control in the second half and won the match 3-1.
• Burscough picked up a hard-fought three points this weekend, having put tough-to-beat Irlam to the sword on home soil. A sole Kian Bell goal was the difference between the two sides as Burscough won 1-0.
• The streak is over. It took 22 games, but Bury have finally been beaten in the NWCFL in 2024/25. Dave McNabb's side travelled to Lower Breck on Saturday, and the game looked beyond buried when Breck established a 4-1 lead. The Shakers clawed it back to 4-3, but couldn't prevent their first league defeat of the campaign.
• Another side who looked dead and buried at one point in their match on Saturday was FC Isle of Man. The Ravens came to the mainland to square off with struggling Pilkington, and were 3-1 down by half time. However, goals from Charlie Higgins and Stephen Whitley in the second half saw the game end 3-3 and the visitors escape with a point.
• By the time the 88th minute came around, AFC Liverpool must have thought they'd scored a win away at Stockport Town. But a 1-0 lead is often all too easy to see slip away, and two very late strikes by George Omokua saw Stockport turn the game on its head and win 2-1.
• One side in very little danger of their lead slipping away after the 88th minute were league-leading Ramsbottom United. Away at West Didsbury and Chorlton, they did concede once towards the end, but their lead was unassailable by that time, and Steve Wilkes' side won 3-1 in the end.

All other scheduled matches for this past weekend from the NWCFL Premier Division were postponed.

First Division North:

• Euxton Villa's home record has been near-perfect so far this league season, but they faced a challenge to that statistic on Saturday with the visit of high-flying Nelson. Goals from Dan Singleton and Jordan Bentham either side of half time were enough to secure a 2-0 victory for the home team and keep their record strong.

All other scheduled matches for this past weekend from the NWCFL First Division North were postponed.

First Division South:

• Alsager Town's ground maintenance staff were the MVPs of the weekend for their club, with their efforts allowing the match between Alsager and Market Drayton Town to be played. In the end, they might've wished they hadn't, as MDT peppered their hosts to win 5-0, featuring a late brace from David Ablewhite.

All other scheduled matches for this past weekend from the NWCFL First Division South were postponed.