Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 24
Thu 9th January 2025 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. December’s Clubs of the Month
With a new year, comes new reasons to celebrate the teams in the NWCFL, and that goes double for this past December if your team is one of Lower Breck, Darwen, or Cheadle Heath Nomads. In case you’ve not pieced it together, these three teams are our Clubs of the Month from their respective divisions!
Breck kept up their play-off push in the Prem, winning one from one (thanks, Mother Nature) in the league, as well as two from two in cup competitions; Darwen FC managed nine points from nine in league action in December, only conceding one goal in the process; and Nomads in the South did just as well as their First Division North counterparts, winning three out of three in the league last month.
2. It’s been a while, how’s the Prem title race looking?
This is the first one of these lists since before the Christmas period, and there have been significant developments in the Premier Division title race between then and now. Before the holidays. Current league leaders Ramsbottom United have stumbled slightly in their recent four games, drawing two, to Abbey Hey and closest challengers Bury, respectively, but they’ve held onto top spot because Bury were unable to take advantage.
As mentioned, the Shakers were unable to defeat Rammy when the two teams met on Boxing Day, and, despite a derby day victory over bottom side Prestwich Heys two days later, they shot themselves in the foot away at West Disbury and Chorlton last weekend, losing 4-0 where a win would have seen them leapfrog Rammy into the driving seat. It looks as though it will be these two teams going tooth and nail for the rest of the campaign, so we will have to wait and see which way the pendulum swings.
3. Premier Division play-off pursuits
Even more wide open than the title race is the one for the Premier Division play-off places. Chadderton, who were comfortable before Christmas, have lost three on the bounce in all competitions since then, including to fellow hopefuls West Didsbury and Chorlton most recently. Elsewhere, 4th placed Lower Breck have won their last seven in all competitions.
Sitting just outside of the top five, Padiham’s current winning run is six games long, despite being chopped up by postponements; Irlam are unbeaten since November 23rd; FC St Helens are still in the mix despite having lost four of their last six in the league; and the same applies to FC Isle of Man despite losing four of their last five. The kicker here is that between all SEVEN of these mentioned teams, there are 10 points, with some sides – Padiham especially – having more games left to play than others. Grab. Your. Popcorn.
4. New year, new(ish) manager, same ol’ Nelson
This went unreported on for weeks throughout December, and for that, we can only apologise – First Division North league leaders Nelson changed their manager in the first week of December, to the surprise of many. Previous assistant gaffer Gerry Harrison was bumped up to the helm as Nelson continued their charge towards the title.
Despite the change, the feeling at the club seems to remain the same. From three league games since Harrison’s appointment, Nelson have won 6-0 against Garstang, 4-0 against Route One Rovers, and, most recently, 5-0 against Maghull. They currently remain above second placed Atherton LR by just a point, but if this string of results continues long into 2025, the title race will stay in their hands.
5. New year, New Mills!
Of the eight games that were scheduled in the First Division South this past weekend, four were postponed. Of the four that went ahead, there was one that came across as more of an upset than the rest. Market Drayton Town’s thrilling 4-3 win over Wolves Sporting came close, but New Mills were the story.
On their travels to league leaders Stafford Town, who could’ve extended their gap at the top of the table to four points after Winsford United’s game was postponed by winning, New Mills went straight for the jugular. Within 32 minutes, New Mills were 3-0 up, and Stafford could only respond once, just before the break. A great 3-1 win for the visitors.
Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 24
Thu 9th January 2025 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. December’s Clubs of the Month
With a new year, comes new reasons to celebrate the teams in the NWCFL, and that goes double for this past December if your team is one of Lower Breck, Darwen, or Cheadle Heath Nomads. In case you’ve not pieced it together, these three teams are our Clubs of the Month from their respective divisions!
Breck kept up their play-off push in the Prem, winning one from one (thanks, Mother Nature) in the league, as well as two from two in cup competitions; Darwen FC managed nine points from nine in league action in December, only conceding one goal in the process; and Nomads in the South did just as well as their First Division North counterparts, winning three out of three in the league last month.
2. It’s been a while, how’s the Prem title race looking?
This is the first one of these lists since before the Christmas period, and there have been significant developments in the Premier Division title race between then and now. Before the holidays. Current league leaders Ramsbottom United have stumbled slightly in their recent four games, drawing two, to Abbey Hey and closest challengers Bury, respectively, but they’ve held onto top spot because Bury were unable to take advantage.
As mentioned, the Shakers were unable to defeat Rammy when the two teams met on Boxing Day, and, despite a derby day victory over bottom side Prestwich Heys two days later, they shot themselves in the foot away at West Disbury and Chorlton last weekend, losing 4-0 where a win would have seen them leapfrog Rammy into the driving seat. It looks as though it will be these two teams going tooth and nail for the rest of the campaign, so we will have to wait and see which way the pendulum swings.
3. Premier Division play-off pursuits
Even more wide open than the title race is the one for the Premier Division play-off places. Chadderton, who were comfortable before Christmas, have lost three on the bounce in all competitions since then, including to fellow hopefuls West Didsbury and Chorlton most recently. Elsewhere, 4th placed Lower Breck have won their last seven in all competitions.
Sitting just outside of the top five, Padiham’s current winning run is six games long, despite being chopped up by postponements; Irlam are unbeaten since November 23rd; FC St Helens are still in the mix despite having lost four of their last six in the league; and the same applies to FC Isle of Man despite losing four of their last five. The kicker here is that between all SEVEN of these mentioned teams, there are 10 points, with some sides – Padiham especially – having more games left to play than others. Grab. Your. Popcorn.
4. New year, new(ish) manager, same ol’ Nelson
This went unreported on for weeks throughout December, and for that, we can only apologise – First Division North league leaders Nelson changed their manager in the first week of December, to the surprise of many. Previous assistant gaffer Gerry Harrison was bumped up to the helm as Nelson continued their charge towards the title.
Despite the change, the feeling at the club seems to remain the same. From three league games since Harrison’s appointment, Nelson have won 6-0 against Garstang, 4-0 against Route One Rovers, and, most recently, 5-0 against Maghull. They currently remain above second placed Atherton LR by just a point, but if this string of results continues long into 2025, the title race will stay in their hands.
5. New year, New Mills!
Of the eight games that were scheduled in the First Division South this past weekend, four were postponed. Of the four that went ahead, there was one that came across as more of an upset than the rest. Market Drayton Town’s thrilling 4-3 win over Wolves Sporting came close, but New Mills were the story.
On their travels to league leaders Stafford Town, who could’ve extended their gap at the top of the table to four points after Winsford United’s game was postponed by winning, New Mills went straight for the jugular. Within 32 minutes, New Mills were 3-0 up, and Stafford could only respond once, just before the break. A great 3-1 win for the visitors.
