Another weekend, another round of games from all 3 divisions of the NWCFL. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
Premier Division
Friday:
Chadderton just love a Friday night under the lights, and last weekend was no different. Burscough were the visitors to Chaddy’s temporary home of Avro FC’s Whitebank Stadium, but the “home” advantage would play into Chaddy’s favour in the end, because a last-gasp Ethan Sutcliffe goal on their part allowed for a 2-1 win
Saturday:
Oumar Camara spearheaded title chasing Ramsbottom United’s defeat of AFC Liverpool this past Saturday, scoring twice to help Steve Wilkes side win 3-0 and keep up the pressure on new-ish league leaders Bury.
Barnoldswick Town were forced to come from a goal behind in their hosting of Litherland REMYCA. Will Proctor and Oliver Roberts both bagged after the hour mark to allow Steve Pickup’s side to overturn their deficit and win 2-1.
Paul Marshall’s West Didsbury and Chorlton were involved in the Premier Division’s game of the weekend in Week 28, and they might have repeated this feat on Saturday. James Moore, Curtis Jones (not the Liverpool one), Jordan Lazenbury and an Andrew Briggs brace all helped West to a 5-2 away win at Charnock Richard.
The FC Isle of Man fans who made the journey to the mainland this weekend had to wait to the 91st minute for the journey to feel vindicated. Stephen Whitley bagged twice, either side of a Lee Rick penalty for Glossop North End, to secure all three points for the Ravens in a 2-1 away victory.
Like Barnoldswick, Longridge Town also had to overcome a one-goal disadvantage on home soil on Saturday. Abbey Hey took a swift lead at Inglewhite Road, but two second half returns for Town, including a penalty by Morgan Homson-Smith, ensured a 2-1 win for Lee Ashcroft’s side.
Everything happened in the first half of Padiham’s hosting of Irlam. The away side had secured a 2-0 lead before the 40-minute mark, which is exactly when they were undone by a bit of misfortune – an own goal. Still, they held on through a goalless second half to see out a 2-1 win.
Squires Gate came into the weekend as the division’s new bottom side, but they put up quite the fight on their travels to Stockport Town. They led at half time, but were pegged back by two Tobias Green goals in the second half. James Hughes scored late for Gate to force a 2-2 draw.
Other scores:
Cheadle Town 2-0 South Liverpool
Lower Breck 1-0 Colne
Pilkington 0-1 FC St Helens
Prestwich Heys 0-2 Bury
First Division North
If there was any reason for any spectators to miss the time between the 70th and 80th minutes of Ashton Town’s hosting of Droylsden, they would have likely regretted it. The scoreline had ballooned from a 1-0 Town lead into a 2-2 battle, which is how the game would eventually end.
AFC Blackpool kept up their pressure on the play-off occupying sides with their comeback victory away at Bacup Borough. Bobby Carter and Luke Hepple both scored in a 2-1 win, to keep the point difference between themselves and 5th place to just one.
Second-bottom Garstang have found league wins hard to come by, but you’d never have known that from their result last Saturday. Liam Clegg was on hand to score two of three second-half goals at the Riverside as they overcame Steeton 3-0.
Maine Road’s play-off push has taken a serious kicking in recent weeks, and this was not helped on Saturday on their travels to Maghull. Darren Brannigan and Jacob Till’s goals created a mountain too high for Road to climb in the final 35 minutes, and Maghull held on to a 2-1 win.
Route One Rovers could not have asked for a better start to their hosting of Daisy Hill, scoring within the first 10 seconds of the game. They could, however, have wished for a more favourable subsequent 89 minutes, as they went on to eventually lose this match 3-2.
Atherton LR’s championship push continued as they travelled to Thornton Cleveleys. There were two own goals in this match – one for each team – but Lewis Adams had already scored before those two OG’s, and Rovers held on for a 2-1 victory.
Other scores:
Holker Old Boys 1-1 Darwen FC
First Division South
If you want goals, the South had them in spades this past Saturday! Let’s begin with a six-pointer from right outside the relegation zone, where Allscott Heath hosted Barnton. The away side continued their new manager bounce, beating Heath 4-2 thanks to strikes by McKean, Frempong, Jones and Edwards.
Not quite as hectic but still offering four strikes was the meeting between Cheadle Heath Nomads and Cammell Laird 1907 at the former’s Ideal Building Systems Stadium. Joel Whalley was on hand to score twice for the visitors, as they came away with a 3-1 victory.
Here’s your main event – Foley Meir VS Runcorn Town. This game looked like it was over just after the quarter hour mark, as Town had raced into a three-goal advantage, but Foley fought back to 3-2 just before the break. In the second half, it was a similar story. Meir bagged first to equalise, but then Runcorn scored another three unanswered, all by Thomas Ruffer. In the end, the visitors won 6-3.
Another team that had a three-goal advantage to their name, although they didn’t get into that position as fast Runcorn on the day, were Sandbach United. On their travels to New Mills. All of Ben Greenop, Kieran O’Connell and Joseph Bevan had scored before the break. Mills won the second half with Ben McNamara scoring the only goal, but they lost the game as a whole 3-1 in the end.
Finally, we have one more seven-goal goodie bag to mention, although it’s not one that Wolves Sporting will have fond memories of. They made the round trip to Winsford United on Saturday, but Winsford were apparently in no welcoming mood, pummelling their visitors 7-0, with three different men scoring braces.
Other scores:
Shawbury United 1-1 Stafford Town
Stockport Georgians 0-2 Abbey Hulton United
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| Gameweek 29: Review |
| Gameweek 28: Review |
| Gameweek 27: Review |
