THE EDWARD CASE CUP SEMI-FINALS
Four will become two this weekend as the First Division knockouts reach the semi-final stage, and it will be a new name on the trophy whatever happens as none of the four clubs have won the competition before! Atherton LR make the long journey north for the second time in as many weeks, looking to avenge the 3-1 defeat to Holker Old Boys that they suffered last time out in the league. These two are no strangers to each other, with 27 previous meetings dating back to 1998. The side playing at home has won each of the last six and Holker hold a heavy H2H advantage; 16 wins to LR's seven, with four draws.
The other semi-final is an all-South division clash with Stafford Town welcoming Ashville to Evans Park. Town's hopes of an impressive quadruple were dashed after a penalty shootout defeat to Chasetown in the Staffordshire Senior Cup during the week, but the club are still fighting on three fronts and have already beaten this weekend's opponents three times this season, with victories in the league bookending a Macron Cup First Round triumph. Villa go into this tie in mixed form, chalking up two wins, a draw and two defeats since their quarter-final success over Euxton Villa, and they still have every chance of qualifying for the play-offs.
PREMIER DIVISION
The title race is hotting up in the Prem once again this season; Lower Breck's thumping 6-0 win over rivals South Liverpool on Thursday night cut Bury's lead at the top to six points, with Breck still holding one more game in hand to be played this week. The first of Breck's clashes over the next few days is another derby, this time a visit to the Marine Travel Arena to take on AFC Liverpool.
The 'Non-League Reds' languish in mid-table, with play-offs a near mathematical impossibility and no relegation concerns; but while their position may be secure, they have a big role to play in who goes up and down, with 5th-placed West Didsbury & Chorlton and 22nd-placed Colne still to visit the MTA and a trip to 21st-placed South Liverpool to round out the season. Back to this weekend's clash and Breck would certainly be considered favourites to pick up a seventh consecutive win, having won their last six by an aggregate score of 25-5! They also won the return fixture back in October, goals from Lewis Buckley and Elliot Hughes securing a 2-1 win in front of a crowd of 336.
The destination of the title is still firmly within Bury's control, of course, with the 'Shakers' laser-focused on getting the job done without any reliance on other results. The Gigg Laners could make it ten wins on the spin if they get the better of FC St Helens this week, with the travelling faithful sure to pack out the SMS Pro Soccer Park for their first (and they will hope only!) visit to the ground. Bury's goals this season, all 115 of them, come from all over the pitch - their last 10 goals have been scored by nine different players - and new signings Djavan Pedro and Rustam Stepans have both broken through the twenty goal barrier in white and blue over the course of the season.
Onto the play-off race and its 5th vs 4th at the Step Places Stadium where West Didsbury & Chorlton host Padiham. West won by the odd goal in seven at Cheadle Town last week to keep a grip on the final play-off place while the 'Storks' played out a stalemate with Litherland REMYCA before bowing out of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy midweek with a 1-0 defeat at Bacup Borough. With the league title out of reach for both sides, the aim will be to confirm a play-off spot as soon as possible and a win for either would go a long way to sealing that status, while a defeat would see them looking over their shoulders at the chasing pair of Irlam and Chadderton.
FC Isle of Man have a home double-header this weekend and they could have a major say in how the bottom of the table looks by Sunday evening. First up for the 'Ravens' is the visit of Pilkington to The Bowl, with kick off in that one at 3pm on Saturday. Less than 24 hours later, Prestwich Heys take to the pitch in Douglas for an 11am kick off on Sunday morning in a rearranged clash after the original fixture fell foul to the weather back in December. With Heys currently propping up the table and Pilkington just five points clear of the drop, events on the Island could define the relegation battle.
During the week, Lower Breck made the trek east to play Colne at the Reds' Haffners Stadium, the hosts still battling for every point in the relegation dogfight while Breck look to keep the pressure on Bury, and depending on Saturday's results they could move level on points with the 'Shakers' with a victory in East Lancashire. Also on Tuesday evening is a home game for Padiham, Burscough the latest visitors to the Ruby Civil Arena; Michael Morrison's men have won their last two on home soil and a third successive home maximum could put them in touching distance of 3rd-placed Ramsbottom United.
FIRST DIVISION NORTH & SOUTH & COUNTY CUPS
The Edward Case Cup takes centre-stage in our Step 6 divisions this week but that doesn't mean there's nothing in the way of league action as some previously postponed match-ups are penned in for this week. First Division South leaders Winsford United could move nine points clear at the summit later this evening with a win over struggling Shawbury United at their Barton Stadium. The 'Blues' let a two-goal lead slip at home to Eccleshall last time out two weeks ago as a 95th minute goal from Jacob Vernon meant the spoils were shared; they will want to get back to winning ways and visitors Shawbury have won just five league games all season, albeit one of those was last weekend as they defeated Barnton by one goal to nil.
There are just three First Division North fixtures over the week with just one of those on Saturday afternoon; Daisy Hill and AFC Blackpool going head-to-head at the New Sirs in a mid-table affair. Maine Road host play-off contenders Holker Old Boys on Monday evening before 2nd-placed Atherton LR travel to Steeton 24 hours later.
It's a big one for Longridge Town on Tuesday as they host Southport in the second semi-final of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy. Southport, known as the 'Sandgrounders', are currently 17th in the National League North (Step 2) and have beaten Nelson and Bamber Bridge to get this far while the 'Ridge' have got the better of Clitheroe and Lancaster City, both away from home. A place in the final against Bacup Borough awaits the victors and we wish Longridge the best of luck for this tie.
