Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 30
Thu 20th February 2025 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. The cup semi-finals are official
I feel like I’ve been saying the cup draw results in my sleep with how many mentions I’ve made this week about who will face whom in the semi-finals of both the Macron and Edward Case Cup. But, once more with feeling…
In the Macron Cup, AFC Blackpool will host Stafford Town, and Charnock Richard will face off with Barnton for a shot at the final, with the matches pencilled in for April 5th, subject to change. In the ECC, Stafford Town (again) will welcome Ashville, and Holker Old Boys will square off against Atherton LR, with both games scheduled for March 15th. In this competition, we are guaranteed a First Division North VS First Division South Final.
2. Upset City in the Macron
Building further on who will face whom in the semi-finals of the NWCFL’s premier cup competition, the quarter-finals brought with them a swathe of upsets, from a league standings position anyway. Firstly, on Friday, Barnton, who’ve struggled this season in the First Division South, shocked Premier Division promotion hunters Lower Breck with a last minute 3-2 winner.
Then, on Saturday, both Stafford Town and AFC Blackpool upset the odds in their matches against Premier Division opposition. Staffs arguably claimed the bigger scalp, knocking off title-chasing Ramsbottom United in the 95th minute to win 2-1; but AFC’s win was maybe even more dramatic, losing a 4-1 lead to Chadderton to eventually win 4-3 on penalties after a 4-4 draw at Chaddy’s temporary home of the Vestacare Stadium.
3. South hit for six
It was a dismal Saturday afternoon for South Liverpool, as they played host to Abbey Hey, who were led on this day by assistant gaffer Paul Phillips. Not that it mattered, as Abbey Hey still brought their A-game, scoring five without reply in the first 80 minutes, and eventually winning 6-1 away from home.
South have now lost their last five matches in all competitions, and three of the other bottom five clubs around them all picked up points last weekend. Prestwich Heys and Pilkington’s draw has allowed the latter to leapfrog South in the table, and they are now just four points above the dotted line. They’ll want to turn this run around ASAP.
4. Skem win again!
For only the second time in the league this season, Skelmersdale United have picked up maximum points. Their first success came all the way back on the last day of November, when they beat Maine Road 2-1 away from home. History repeated itself on Saturday, and this time it was on home(ish) soil for Skem.
With second-bottom Garstang visiting the Community Ground, Skem had the opportunity to slow down their closest compatriots, who have designs on their own great escape. They managed to do just that, winning 2-1. Tommy Lawson promised afterwards that his club would “scratch and claw to the end and hopefully surprise a few along the way” – that’s one surprise achieved, and there may well be more to come.
5. Winsford pulling away in the South
It’s been a tight title fight in the First Division for 90% of the season so far, with Stafford Town and Winsford United going tooth and nail for the chance to take home not just the league trophy, but also a step up to Step 5 of the non-league system. In recent weeks, however, the divide between these sides has finally started to grow, and it’s growing in Winsford’s favour.
Stafford’s case is not helped by the fact that they are still in two separate cup semi-finals under the NWCFL banner, and they now have two games in hand on United at the top of the table. But two games won’t earn Town nine points, which is the current gap between first and second. In fact, the gap between second and third, Sandbach United, has now shrunk to just a point. It’ll be interesting to see if Staffs can keep fighting on all fronts to maintain their title push.
Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 30
Thu 20th February 2025 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. The cup semi-finals are official
I feel like I’ve been saying the cup draw results in my sleep with how many mentions I’ve made this week about who will face whom in the semi-finals of both the Macron and Edward Case Cup. But, once more with feeling…
In the Macron Cup, AFC Blackpool will host Stafford Town, and Charnock Richard will face off with Barnton for a shot at the final, with the matches pencilled in for April 5th, subject to change. In the ECC, Stafford Town (again) will welcome Ashville, and Holker Old Boys will square off against Atherton LR, with both games scheduled for March 15th. In this competition, we are guaranteed a First Division North VS First Division South Final.
2. Upset City in the Macron
Building further on who will face whom in the semi-finals of the NWCFL’s premier cup competition, the quarter-finals brought with them a swathe of upsets, from a league standings position anyway. Firstly, on Friday, Barnton, who’ve struggled this season in the First Division South, shocked Premier Division promotion hunters Lower Breck with a last minute 3-2 winner.
Then, on Saturday, both Stafford Town and AFC Blackpool upset the odds in their matches against Premier Division opposition. Staffs arguably claimed the bigger scalp, knocking off title-chasing Ramsbottom United in the 95th minute to win 2-1; but AFC’s win was maybe even more dramatic, losing a 4-1 lead to Chadderton to eventually win 4-3 on penalties after a 4-4 draw at Chaddy’s temporary home of the Vestacare Stadium.
3. South hit for six
It was a dismal Saturday afternoon for South Liverpool, as they played host to Abbey Hey, who were led on this day by assistant gaffer Paul Phillips. Not that it mattered, as Abbey Hey still brought their A-game, scoring five without reply in the first 80 minutes, and eventually winning 6-1 away from home.
South have now lost their last five matches in all competitions, and three of the other bottom five clubs around them all picked up points last weekend. Prestwich Heys and Pilkington’s draw has allowed the latter to leapfrog South in the table, and they are now just four points above the dotted line. They’ll want to turn this run around ASAP.
4. Skem win again!
For only the second time in the league this season, Skelmersdale United have picked up maximum points. Their first success came all the way back on the last day of November, when they beat Maine Road 2-1 away from home. History repeated itself on Saturday, and this time it was on home(ish) soil for Skem.
With second-bottom Garstang visiting the Community Ground, Skem had the opportunity to slow down their closest compatriots, who have designs on their own great escape. They managed to do just that, winning 2-1. Tommy Lawson promised afterwards that his club would “scratch and claw to the end and hopefully surprise a few along the way” – that’s one surprise achieved, and there may well be more to come.
5. Winsford pulling away in the South
It’s been a tight title fight in the First Division for 90% of the season so far, with Stafford Town and Winsford United going tooth and nail for the chance to take home not just the league trophy, but also a step up to Step 5 of the non-league system. In recent weeks, however, the divide between these sides has finally started to grow, and it’s growing in Winsford’s favour.
Stafford’s case is not helped by the fact that they are still in two separate cup semi-finals under the NWCFL banner, and they now have two games in hand on United at the top of the table. But two games won’t earn Town nine points, which is the current gap between first and second. In fact, the gap between second and third, Sandbach United, has now shrunk to just a point. It’ll be interesting to see if Staffs can keep fighting on all fronts to maintain their title push.
