Gameweek 19: Review

Mon 2nd December 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:

• AFC Liverpool and FC Isle of Man squared off on Saturday in a tricky battle of play-off hopefuls, at the former’s Marine Travel Arena. It took right up until the last whistle, but AFC got the job done, with Caleb Jones scoring in the 98^th minute to seal the 2-1 win.
• Bury redeemed themselves this past weekend after suffering their first league defeat of the season just over a week ago to Lower Breck. They travelled away to Burscough and returned home to Greater Manchester with maximum points following a 4-2 win.
• Like AFC Liverpool, another team who left it late to seal a victory were Chadderton. Chaddy spent Saturday in their travels to Cheadle Town, and it was 1-1 until the 87^th minute, but the visitors eventually pulled away to win 3-1.
• The added time goals don’t stop, and Barnoldswick Town are very grateful for that fact, looking at their away their match against Longridge Town. They took a 2-1 lead right before the end of the first half, and they ended up saving a 3-3 draw in the dying embers of the second.
• Pilkington’s slow climb away from the relegation zone took a huge step in the right direction on Saturday as Abbey Hey visited the PSD Stadium. Both Morgan Davage and Nathan Salisbury scored braces as Pilks came away with a 4-1 victory.
• Prestwich Heys were unable to capitalise on their midweek cup win with the visit of Charnock Richard on Saturday. Ryan Donnellan’s men were too powerful for the Premier Division’s bottom club, and Nathan Nickeas bagged two as they won 4-0 away from home.
• South Liverpool will feel very good about themselves after Saturday, knowing that they can take maximum points from a losing situation. They found themselves 2-1 down to Litherland REMYCA with just over 10 minutes left of the match but turned the game on its head to win 3-2 thanks to goals from Mohamed Abdi and Charlie Glennon.

Other scores:

• FC St Helens 2-0 Colne
• Glossop North End 1-2 Padiham
• Irlam 1-1 Ramsbottom United
• Squires Gate 0-2 Lower Breck
• West Didsbury and Chorlton 2-0 Stockport Town

First Division North:

• Euxton Villa couldn’t have wished for a better start in their hosting of Garstang on Saturday. Dan Singleton put Matty Atherton’s side ahead within the first minute of the match, and Villa capitalised on that momentum to eventually win 5-0.
• It. Finally. Happened. Skelmersdale United won a match in the NWCFL! And they did it in style, with Lucas Boon bagging a 95^th minute winner for Tommy Lawson’s men on their travels to Maine Road. He added to Jack Grimshaw’s earlier goal to complete a turnaround 2-1 victory.
• Nelson closed the gap between themselves and top club Atherton LR to two points with their weekend win over Ashton Town. It was 2-2 for a little while after the second half began, but Nelson eventually pulled away through Williams Hasler-Cregg and Ludlow Foster, winning 4-2.
• Thornton Cleveleys were lightyears ahead of their hosts, Steeton, at the weekend, finding themselves 4-0 up within an hour. They might not be as thrilled with the final 30 minutes of the game where they conceded three, but their Daniel Stoney brace-assisted haul in the early stages were enough for Cleveleys to see out a 4-3 win.

Other scores:

• Atherton LR 0-2 Darwen
• Daisy Hill 2-0 Bacup Borough
• Droylsden 1-0 AFC Blackpool
• Holker Old Boys 0-2 Route One Rovers
• Maghull 2-1 Ashton Athletic

First Division South:

• Runcorn Town escaped the relegation picture for the first time this season, thanks in part to Thomas Ruffer. He struck twice as Town took home all three points from their journey to Abbey Hulton United, winning 4-1.
• Jordan Davies was the man this Saturday for Allscott Heath. Before an hour of their game had passed at home against Stockport Georgians. Despite Georgians getting two goals back towards the end, Allscott had done enough to confirm a 3-2 victory.
• Market Drayton Town won 5-0 just over a week ago in the only game of the NWCFL First Division South that weekend, and this past weekend, they were on the wrong side of such a result. Cammell Laird 1907 reaped the rewards of their fast start, going 3-0 up by half time, and eventually winning 5-0.
• Like Jordan Davies at Allscott Heath, Patryk Mazukiewicz had a day to remember for league leaders Stafford Town. He scored 4 (count ‘em, FOUR) as Stafford hit their hosts, Eccleshall, for six. The match ended 6-2 to the visitors.
• Winsford United once again lived up the first four letters of their name when Barnton came to visit this past weekend. Five different men got their names on the scoresheet as Dean Jones and Dom Johnson’s side picked up a 5-1 victory to keep the pressure on table-topping Stafford Town.

Other scores:

• Ashville 3-0 New Mills
• Cheadle Heath Nomads 2-0 Alsager Town
• Sandbach United 3-1 Wolves Sporting
• Shawbury United 1-1 Foley Meir