Quotes from the Weekend: Matchweek 24
Wed 8th January 2025 | Manager Reactions | By Jay Cooper
With a good amount of NWCFL teams in action across this past weekend, there was plenty of scope to speak to club managers for their opinions on what their teams produced in their 90 minutes.
Premier Division:
Luke Denson, of Litherland REMYCA (Litherland REMYCA 4-1 FC St Helens)
“We’re happy to start the year with three points against a very good FC St Helens team. We stuck to the game plan and took our chances when they came, and also limited our opponents to very few chances.
“I was particularly delighted for James Hammill for getting another hat-trick and continuing his great goal-scoring form!”
Ryan Hutchinson, of Prestwich Heys (Prestwich Heys 3-0 Squires Gate)
“Over the last month or so, even though results haven’t been going our way, our performances have been there, so Saturday wasn’t a real shock to me – we got a deserved win!
“The squad is starting the settle down now after the bad 8/10 weeks we’ve had since I took charge.
“The players are starting to really lock in, in terms of what we want them to do, but we won’t be getting carried away. There’s still so much work to be done and we’ll all continue to give it our all right until the end of the season.”
Paul Marshall, of West Didsbury and Chorlton (West Didsbury and Chorlton 4-0 Bury)
“It was a great performance on Saturday. A well-earned result from my lads. To a man, we were outstanding on the day and the score reflected that.
“You don't often get days where everything seemed to work, and I am so happy that it did. Hopefully we can continue this run we are on in our coming games in the New Year.”
First Division North:
Matty Atherton, of Euxton Villa (Euxton Villa 3-2 Holker Old Boys)
“It was an excellent win at the weekend which put us back on track after a poor showing over the Christmas period. Holker Old Boys are up there in the table for a reason and I stand by the fact that they were probably one of the best sides we’ve faced so far this season when we played at their place in August. However, in the first half, we really started with a purpose and were probably unlucky to be only two goals up at half time.
“In the second half, Holker really showed what they are made of and came back at us relentlessly, and it looked like we would have to settle for just a point. But the lads show great, great character and grit to get a late winner and allow us to look forward to the last 11 games of the season.
“We know it’s going to be a tight run in to secure our third successive season in the playoff places, with teams like Darwen, Maine Road and Ashton Athletic all pushing hard, but if we can perform like we did today I think we will have enough to be in the mix come the end of the season.”
John Salanki, of AFC Blackpool (AFC Blackpool 5-0 Route One Rovers)
"I'm very proud of this group.The lads showed class throughout the whole game against Route One. We never lost our focus and energy, and that's something I talk about all the time to the lads.
"Of course, it was a great day for the club, to win 5-0. Now, we look to the future."
First Division South:
Dan Dawson, of market Drayton Town (Market Drayton Town 4-3 Wolves Sporting)
“After controlling the first 45 minutes and leading 2-0, it was disappointing that we let Wolves Sporting back into the game. They took a hold of momentum to get back level not once, but twice.
“The really encouraging aspect of our game was our resilience and belief that we could, and would, win the game! Three points is all that mattered in the end, and it was great to see Jack Finney start the new year with a hat-trick! I thought that was fully deserved - he’s been excellent for us!”
Quotes from the Weekend: Matchweek 24
Wed 8th January 2025 | Manager Reactions
By Jay Cooper
With a good amount of NWCFL teams in action across this past weekend, there was plenty of scope to speak to club managers for their opinions on what their teams produced in their 90 minutes.
Premier Division:
Luke Denson, of Litherland REMYCA (Litherland REMYCA 4-1 FC St Helens)
“We’re happy to start the year with three points against a very good FC St Helens team. We stuck to the game plan and took our chances when they came, and also limited our opponents to very few chances.
“I was particularly delighted for James Hammill for getting another hat-trick and continuing his great goal-scoring form!”
Ryan Hutchinson, of Prestwich Heys (Prestwich Heys 3-0 Squires Gate)
“Over the last month or so, even though results haven’t been going our way, our performances have been there, so Saturday wasn’t a real shock to me – we got a deserved win!
“The squad is starting the settle down now after the bad 8/10 weeks we’ve had since I took charge.
“The players are starting to really lock in, in terms of what we want them to do, but we won’t be getting carried away. There’s still so much work to be done and we’ll all continue to give it our all right until the end of the season.”
Paul Marshall, of West Didsbury and Chorlton (West Didsbury and Chorlton 4-0 Bury)
“It was a great performance on Saturday. A well-earned result from my lads. To a man, we were outstanding on the day and the score reflected that.
“You don't often get days where everything seemed to work, and I am so happy that it did. Hopefully we can continue this run we are on in our coming games in the New Year.”
First Division North:
Matty Atherton, of Euxton Villa (Euxton Villa 3-2 Holker Old Boys)
“It was an excellent win at the weekend which put us back on track after a poor showing over the Christmas period. Holker Old Boys are up there in the table for a reason and I stand by the fact that they were probably one of the best sides we’ve faced so far this season when we played at their place in August. However, in the first half, we really started with a purpose and were probably unlucky to be only two goals up at half time.
“In the second half, Holker really showed what they are made of and came back at us relentlessly, and it looked like we would have to settle for just a point. But the lads show great, great character and grit to get a late winner and allow us to look forward to the last 11 games of the season.
“We know it’s going to be a tight run in to secure our third successive season in the playoff places, with teams like Darwen, Maine Road and Ashton Athletic all pushing hard, but if we can perform like we did today I think we will have enough to be in the mix come the end of the season.”
John Salanki, of AFC Blackpool (AFC Blackpool 5-0 Route One Rovers)
"I'm very proud of this group.The lads showed class throughout the whole game against Route One. We never lost our focus and energy, and that's something I talk about all the time to the lads.
"Of course, it was a great day for the club, to win 5-0. Now, we look to the future."
First Division South:
Dan Dawson, of market Drayton Town (Market Drayton Town 4-3 Wolves Sporting)
“After controlling the first 45 minutes and leading 2-0, it was disappointing that we let Wolves Sporting back into the game. They took a hold of momentum to get back level not once, but twice.
“The really encouraging aspect of our game was our resilience and belief that we could, and would, win the game! Three points is all that mattered in the end, and it was great to see Jack Finney start the new year with a hat-trick! I thought that was fully deserved - he’s been excellent for us!”
