Gameweek 21: Review

Tue 17th December 2024 | Match Reviews | By Jay Cooper

Another weekend, another round of games from all 3 divisions of the NWCFL, as well as the Isuzu FA Vase AND the Macron Cup. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last couple of days have had to offer.

Isuzu FA Vase:

• With five teams representing the NWCFL left in the FA Vase before Saturday, Abbey Hulton United wasted little time putting their foot down as flag-flyers for the league in this competition. For different players got on the scoresheet for Jon Beaumont's side as they smashed Droitwich Spa 4-2 to advance.
• Another team to make it into the fourth round were Atherton LR, though not nearly as comfotably as AHU. Atherton faced fellow NWCFL side Ashton Town at home and battled to a 1-1 draw, before a 7-6 victory in the shooutout.
• Finally, we had West Didsbury and Chorlton, the only Premier Division side left in the competition - and they showed why they're still a force to be recokned with at this stage of the Vase. Jordan Lazenbury was on fire, notching three of his teams five as they blew Silsden away to win 5-1.

Other results:

• Winsford United 1-2 Sutton United (Birmingham)

Macron Cup:

Friday:

• David Ablewhite did his level best to drag Market Drayton Town into the Fourth Round of the Macron, scoring two against hosts Barnton, but it was eventually for nought as Barnton scored three of their own to win 3-2 and score a place in the hat.
• It was a meeting of the top and bottom of the Premier Division at Prestwich Heys' Adie Moran Park on Friday night, as Ramsbottom United came to town. And the result almost certainly went the way most people would have expected, although fewer people would have thought Rammy would be 5-0 up by half time, and go on to see out the win by that same scoreline.
• Nelson were also subject to five goal concessions in the Macron Cup last Friday, facing off with Premier Division play-off chasers Lower Breck. Nelson bagged a goal of their own, but the result was academic by that point, with the game eventually ending 5-1 to Breck.

Saturday:

• In another exhibition of NWCFL Premier Division status proving, Chaddertin hosted First Division North outfit Euxton Villa at the weekend, and showed exactly why they're challenging towards the top of their league. Lewis-Simon Byrne and Matty Crothers both bagged braces in a 5-2 win for Chaddy.
• And, like West's Lazenbury in the Vase, there was a hat-trick hero at the centre of the clash between Droylsden and visiting Charnock Richard. Nathan Nickeas was the man of the hour for Ryan Donnellan's side as they ran out 5-1 winners to get in the hat for Round Four.
• Finally, in a very first-half heavy game at the DT Hughes Community Stadium, there was another brace scorer. Harrison Worden, of hosts Maghull, scored twice as his team bagged four in the first half to see off Ashton Athletic 4-1.

Premier Division:

• There were some matches in the league this past weekend, and perhaps the most headline-grabbing, as usual, came from Gigg Lane. Hosts Bury were a goal to the good against Abbey Hey woth seconds to spare, but Moses Yoak popped up for the visitors in the 97th minute to secure a point for his side in a 3-3 draw.
• When South Liverpool scored in the 82nd minute of their visit to irlam to rduce their dficit to 3-1, they might have hoped for a miraculous comeback, but those dreams were extinghuished fairly quickly by two firther goals from Daniels and Johnston of irlam to seal a 5-1 commanding win for the hosts.
• In a match that meant plenty towards the foot of the division, Glossop North End travelled to in-form Pilkington hoping to climb firther away from the dreaded dotted line. They did exactly that, scoring all three of their goals for the day in the first half in a 3-1 victory.

Other scores:

• Barnoldswick Town 1-1 AFC Liverpool
• Burscough 1-0 FC St Helens
• Cheadle Town 1-1 Litherland REMYCA
• Colne 1-1 Longridge Town
• FC Isle of Man 1-2 Stockport Town

First Division North:

• After scoring with six minutes to go on their travels to Bacup Borough, Route One Rovers must have thought were in the clear with all three points in the bag. But, in the 93rd minute, up stepped Brady Boardman, who'd already scored once, to do so again and save a point for the hosts to draw 2-2.
• After Skelmersdale United FINALLY got their first league win of the 2024/25 season two weeks ago, it was an unfortunate return to regularly scheduled programming for Tommy Lawson and his players. They were put to the sword by Holker Old Boys in a 4-0 win for the hosts.

Other scores:

• Garstang 0-2 Darwen FC
• Steeton 1-1 Daisy Hill

First Division South:

• In a momentous game for Foley Meir, they went 2-0 down to visitors Ashville on Saturday after just 16 minutes. That two-goal deifict didn't last long, with a William Tams penalty coming a minute after Ashville's second, and a second half showing to remmeber saw Foley turn the tables completely to eventually win 3-2.
• In our last hat-trick of the weekend, Sandbach United's Joseph Bevan was at the centre f their dominant victory over Allscott Heath. He scored two before the break, and a thrid after the interval, and after a Jake Pollard score compounder, to see his side win 4-0.
• Shawbury United fans would have been well within their rights to write off their Saturday game against Alsager Town on home soil after finding themselves 3-0 down after just nine minutes. They did score two goals of their own in the last 20 minutes of the match, but the game was far beyond them by that time, finishing 5-2 to the visitors.
• Wolves Sporting were yet another team from this weekend stung by a late goal. When Zaki Kamali equalised from the spot against Cheadle heath Nomads with less than 10 to go at Pride Park, you'd have to imagine they'd have settled for the point. But it wasn't to be, as Nomads' Alex May scored four minutes later to help his side to a 3-2 win.

Other scores:

• Eccleshall P-P Cammell Laird 1907
• New Mills 0-0 Runcorn Town