It's a full schedule in the Premier Division this Saturday, alongside numerous games in both First Divisions and a sprinkling of fixtures during the week too. Here's what the next seven days in the NWCFL have in store for us...
SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY
Eleven Prem games kick off at 3pm, with FC Isle of Man's home game against AFC Liverpool in their usual 6pm slot over in Douglas. Lower Breck's thumping 5-0 victory over Pilkington on Thursday night, including four from Blackburn Rovers academy product Sam Burns, will give the Anfield side a load of confidence heading into their crunch clash against another of Burns' former clubs in Bury. Currently the 'Shakers' are just one place and three points above Breck as the promotion race hurtles towards the business end of the season, and a win for either side could prove to be crucial. It was tomorrow's visitors that inflicted the Gigg Lane club's first league defeat of the season, winning by the odd goal in seven at their Anfield Sports and Community Centre home back in November.
In a match with repercussions at both ends of the table, 22nd-placed Squires Gate welcome league leaders Ramsbottom United to the Brian Addison Stadium. Gate are now only one point above the drop zone after some positive results for the two clubs below them but face a tough task against a Rammy side who have set the pace for large chunks of the season, however they have now gone three away games without tasting victory. Both sides in the relegation zone are at home tomorrow; Colne are up against FC St Helens while Prestwich Heys face Litherland REMYCA. Colne look to have turned a corner of late and 10 of their 21 points this term have been picked up in their last five games while their visitors have lost their last three to see themselves slip to 8th in the table after a very impressive start to life at Step 5. Heys looked doomed just five weeks ago as the points gap between them and safety climbed into double figures, however three wins in their last six has closed that gap to just four points as it stands, and with 14 games left there are sure to be plenty more twists and turns in the fight to stay up.
The majority of sides in the First Division North are in action as six fixtures kick off at 3pm. Atherton LR are still fighting on three fronts this season after their fantastic late winner against Hallam in the FA Vase last weekend, and they travel to Brantingham Road to take on Maine Road while sat in the runners-up spot in the table, four points behind leaders Nelson but with four games in hand, Saturday's game being one of them as the Admirals have a week off. There's a huge game in the play-off race at the Jim Fowler Memorial Fields where Euxton Villa host Droylsden. This will be the 'Bloods' first competitive action of the calendar year and their first of five successive away games as they look to mount a late push for the title. Villa currently occupy the final play-off spot but certainly won't see their four point cushion over 6th placed AFC Blackpool as comfortable with 10 games left to play.
Two of the bottom three face off at the Marley Stadium in a big game in the relegation fight as Skelmersdale United make the trip to go up against Route One Rovers. Skem have had a torrid time this season after two successive relegations and have accumulated just five points so far. Route One occupy the third and final relegation spot but sit nine points adrift of 4th-bottom Thornton Cleveleys.
16 of the 18 sides take to the pitch in the First Division South, with the game at the Barton Stadium surely taking all of the pre-match headlines as the runaway top two go head-to-head in a game that could well decide where the league title heads to in April. Stafford won the last game betwen the pair 3-1 in the Macron Cup in December while Winsford picked up all three points with a 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture. The two clubs can't be separated by points heading into this game; the visitors sitting in pole position courtesy of their superior goal difference, however they have played (and lost) a game more.
Elsewhere, Alsager Town host Sandbach United in a local derby that may also have big implications in the play-off picture. The 'Bullets' are just one point clear of 6th-placed Abbey Hulton United, who have three games in hand, while visitors 'Bach are seven points better off and may still harbour hopes of a title charge with a good run; they have won their last three league fixtures while the hosts haven't won in their last three. Form goes out the window on derby day though and both teams will be well up for the battle. Big games are the order of the day in the South as Runcorn Town host Barnton at the Viridor Community Stadium in a pivotal game in the relegation battle. Runcorn were propping up the table for the early stages of the season but turned a corner in the autumn and now sit in 14th and have a six-match unbeaten run under their belt. Visitors Barnton on the other hand haven't won a league game since September (against Runcorn Town!) and have slipped down into 15th - both sides are outside of the relegation zone on goal difference alone so a victory at the Viridor would be vital to either side's hopes of survival.
THE WEEK AHEAD...
Once again there are fixtures every night next week, starting with Stockport Town's home game against Irlam on Monday evening. There's Macron Cup action at Inglewhite Road on Tuesday where Longridge Town and Padiham replay their Second Round tie after the original fixture was abandoned at half time. The winner of that one will host AFC Blackpool in the Third Round, and the winner of that will travel to AFC Blackpool in the Quarter Finals. That isn't the only cup game this week as Cheadle Town visit 1874 Northwich of the Midlands League Premier Division in the Second Round of the Cheshire Senior Cup. Cheadle have already dispatched of one Northwich side this season, beating 1874's rivals Victoria by five goals to nil, while 1874 came from behind to beat Runcorn Town 3-1 to reach this stage.
Charnock Richard host Colne in the Premier Division's only Tuesday night clash; Litherland REYMCA v Abbey Hey on Wednesday and Lower Breck v West Didsbury & Chorlton on Thursday complete the midweek calendar.
