The eagle-eyed amongst you will recognise large parts of this section from last weekend as it was a complete washout for our clubs in the FA Vase and all bar one will give it another go on Saturday; South Liverpool's rearranged tie was played during the week and they went down 2-0 to Albion Sports to see their run come to an end. There will definitely be one NWCFL club in the Fourth Round though, 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. Town suffered at the hands of Charnock Richard's late late show in that competition during the week and will be looking to put that right at the first opportunity.
 
The remaining three 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 49 points from their 21 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 12th in that division, having finished 12th in their first ever season at Step 6 in 2023/24. 

 

 

Seven of the eight Third Round fixtures kick off this week as clubs vie for a place in the last eight of the league's flagship cup competition. The Friday night slot is quite busy this time round with three fixtures; firstly we'll look at a tasty clash at Adie Moran Park where Prestwich Heys welcome Ramsbottom United. The two clubs couldn't have had much different league campaigns this year as a whopping 48 points separate the two Premier Division sides; Prestwich prop up the table while Rammy have occupied top spot for much of the season, having recently been overhauled by Chadderton after their win on Wednesday night. It's an all First Division South clash at the Creative Hut Stadium where 13th-placed Barnton host 9th-placed Market Drayton Town. MDT won both league fixtures this season and will fancy themselves to make that 3 from 3 and reach the quarter finals. Lower Breck welcome Nelson to the Anfield Sports Community Centre in the other Friday night fixture, 8pm kick off over in L6.

 

The fun doesn't end there as three more cup ties take place at 3pm on Saturday. Euxton Villa travel to Avro's Whitebank Stadium to face Premier Division leaders Chadderton with both clubs in fine form. Villa have won six of their last seven while Chaddy have gone one better and made it a clean sweep. The two sides last met in the First Division North play-off semi final in April 2023, where an 89th minute goal from Chadderton's Malachi Clarke took the game to a shootout that Chaddy eventually won 9-8! It's a quick turnaround for Charnock Richard who only qualified for this stage during the week, they travel to the Butchers' Arms for a tricky clash against Droylsden. The Bloods are sitting pretty in 3rd place and have won their last three games without conceding a goal - they've hit the back of the net five times during those games with George Kattah netting all of them! Maghull and Ashton Athletic go toe-to-toe for the second game in succession, the hosts won the league game by the odd goal in three two weeks ago and will be hoping for the same again.

 

Just one more Macron Cup fixture this week and it's a tasty one on Tuesday night. Glossop North End became the 4th Premier Division side to fall at the hands of Winsford United this season as the Blues put them to the sword 4-0 during the week to book their place in round three, where they take on Stafford Town who won by a much narrower margin, relying on penalties to edge past Allscott Heath. These two are embroiled in a battle at the top of the First Division South, being a full ten points clear of nearest challengers Alsager Town. Winsford won the league game 3-2 in November however Stafford hold a slender two point advantage over the Blues. League position goes out the window in cup competitions but I'm sure both teams will be eyeing up a victory here as a psychological boost in the title race too.

 

 

Bury can leapfrog their way to the Premier Division summit on Saturday afternoon if they pick up three points at home to Abbey Hey. The Shakers played the last of their many games in hand on Tuesday evening but couldn't make it count as Irlam held them to a 1-1 draw at Silver Street. With the top two in Macron Cup action though it's their chance to put the points on the board and Dave McNabb's side will be eager to make a statement in their push for the title. FC St Helens, still in their debut season at Step 5, have the opportunity to regain a playoff spot (at least for a few hours until FC IOM play) - Burscough standing in their way at the Community Stadium. 'The FC' have stuttered recently after a very impressive start and have a 2-2-2 record from their last six while the Linnets, although improved upon last season, currently sit down in 16th position.

 

AFC Liverpool currently sit on the fringes of the playoffs after a very Jekyll-and-Hyde season so far, having drawn just one of their 25 league games to date. Their opposition on Saturday is a Barnoldswick Town side that are three places (and two points) behind them in 12th. Barlick edge the H2H between these two 11-7 from the 22 played but it was the 'Non-League Reds' that triumphed last season, winning both fixtures comfortably. Kick off at the Silentnight Stadium is the usual 3pm.

 

 

A smattering of fixtures in both First Divisions this Saturday as clubs try to catch up with games in hand. In the North division, 5th-placed Holker Old Boys are the highest placed club in action and they host basement club Skelmersdale United, who became the final NWCFL club to register a win this campaign when they scored a last-gasp winner away at Maine Road last time out. The Blueboys languish no fewer than 13 points from safety with a shade over half of the season gone but they may fancy their chances at The Handmark Engineering Stadium against Holker as the hosts look to have gone off the boil in recent weeks. 

 

Looking South, 3rd-placed Alsager Town can reduce the gap to the two sides above them when they travel to basement boys Shawbury United, although they would need to win their first game in seven attempts to make a noticeable dent in the deficit. Runcorn Town have lifted themselves out of the bottom three with a remarkable upturn in form, winning their last five league games, and they head east to Church Lane to face off against New Mills with every intention of extending that winning run against a Millers side in polar opposite form, having lost their last five in all competitions - scoring just two goals in the process.

 

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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