The Isuzu FA Vase reaches the Third Round stage with six of our clubs still on the road to Wembley. There will definitely be one NWCFL club in the Fourth Round, and a First Division club at that as Atherton LR and Ashton Town lock horns at Crilly Park. This will be the fourth time the two have met this campaign; both league fixtures finished all square with Ashton Town emerging victorious in a Macron Cup clash.

 

The remaining four NWCFL sides are all at home to clubs from other leagues. Abbey Hulton United welcome Hellenic League Division One runaway leaders Droitwich Spa to Drayton Beaumont Park for an interesting all-Step 6 tie. The Saltmen, as they are known, have played a NWCFL side on one prior occasion, a 2-0 home win against Whitchurch Alport in the First Round of this competition all the way back in October 2019. Further north and to somewhat more familiar opponents; West Didsbury & Chorlton host Silsden for the second time this season after beating them 4-2 in the FA Cup at the back end of August. The Cobbydalers are still at the summit of the Northern Counties East Premier Division having picked up 48 points from their 20 games this term, and are of course no strangers to most in the Counties after their long spell in our system.

 

At the Barton Stadium, high-flyers in the First Division South Winsford United go up against Sutton United of the Midland League Division One. Sutton currently find themselves 13th in that division, having finished 12th in their first ever season at Step 6 in 2023/24. Last but not least, it's a slightly later kick off time of 3.15pm at Jericho Lane for South Liverpool's tie against Albion Sports. The visitors beat Premier Division side Padiham on penalties in the last round after a stunning ten-goal thriller ended all square after 90 minutes and they currently sit just outside the play-off positions in the NCEL Premier Division.

 

Back to the bread and butter of the league and there are eight Premier Division fixtures still set to go ahead as of Friday evening. Bury, fresh off the back of a tough defeat away at Litherland REMYCA in testing conditions during the week, have a great chance to put that defeat behind them with a home game against strugglers Colne. The East Lancashire side have only won one away league game all season and currently sit second-bottom and nine points from safety while the Shakers know they have little room for error if they are to overhaul Ramsbottom United at the summit.

 

Rammy themselves are also at home with Padiham making the short trip to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium hoping to atone for the 4-1 defeat the league leaders inflicted on them in August. Sandwiched between the pair are Chadderton, who are four points off the pace and have a rare Saturday 'home' game against Glossop North End at their usual home-from-home of Avro's Whitebank Stadium. Chaddy had a rough run of form in early November but look to have put that behind them as they head into this game with five successive wins under their belt, including progression in both the Macron and Manchester Premier cups. FC St Helens travel to Barnoldswick Town in the knowledge that a victory there will see them occupy the final play-off spot, deposing FC Isle of Man. There's also a battle down at the bottom end of the table by the seaside when Pilkington come up against Squires Gate. Both have a comfortable gap between themselves and the relegation zone but with plenty of minutes left in the season both will want to impose themselves and take points off a relegation rival.

 

There are seven games in each of the First Divisions, with the FA Vase only affecting a handful of clubs. 2nd-placed in the North are Nelson, who will leapfrog leaders Atherton LR if they secure maximum points at home to Maghull. The Admirals have a new face at the helm for this one as Gerry Harrison steps up as manager after the departure of Arron Ripley late last month. Skelmersdale United finally picked up their first win of the season away at Maine Road last weekend and they will be hoping that victories are like London Buses as 15th-placed Steeton visit Burscough's Community Stadium for their first away league fixture since 5th October. Stafford Town can take advantage of Winsford's involvement in the Vase this weekend and extend their lead at the top of the South table to five points should they get the better of Foley Meir, for the first game of two between this pair this week as a county cup clash follows on Tuesday evening. It's 3rd v 4th at Wood Park as Alsager Town host Sandbach United with both sides looking to try to cement their position in the play-off places, the hosts will also be aiming to turn around a torrid run of form recently that has seen them fall away from the top two. 

 

 

There are ten games involving NWCFL clubs scheduled to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Ashton Town and Charnock Richard will be hoping it's third time lucky for getting their Macron Cup Second Round fixture played, with the tie having switched following two postponements at Mossie Park - a trip to the Butcher's Arms is in store for the winner to play Droylsden in the Third Round. Also in the Macron Cup, Winsford United and Glossop North End play for the right to host Stafford Town in the next stage.

 

There's the above mentioned Staffordshire County Cup clash between Stafford Town and Foley Meir on Tuesday also, with Cheshire and Liverpool county cup action also as Cammell Laird 1907 host Warrington Town while South Liverpool travel east to Warrington Rylands 1906. Cheadle Town and Barnoldswick Town play in a Premier Division fixture on Wednesday evening at the slightly unusual location of Hollyhedge Park, home of last season's Premier Division champions Wythenshawe FC, as Cheadle's Park Road home is undergoing some floodlight upgrades.

 

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All fixtures can be found on the fixtures page here: NWCFL Fixtures, with any recent changes to fixtures recorded here: Fixture Changes