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
With just five weeks until the end of the NWCFL Premier Division season, its Bury in control as they registered their 10th successive league win with a narrow 1-0 at FC St Helens. Cameron Fogerty got the only goal of the game just before half time, in front of a record ground attendance at SMS Pro Soccer Park of 1,100.
Hot on their heels though are Lower Breck who made it 15 wins from their last 16 league games with a 2-0 win at AFC Liverpool. It was a tough game for Breck, who had to wait until the 70th minute to go ahead through Tom Croughan, with Lewis Buckley added a second with two minutes remaining. Breck guaranteed themselves at least a play-off place with that win.
Ramsbottom United can still make 100 points in the league, and they won 3-1 at home to Litherland REMYCA. It was REMY who took the lead through a James Hammill penalty on 13 minutes, with Thomas Hoyle and Harvey Hayhurst tuening the game around by half time. Harvey Whyte sealed the win just before the hour mark.
Padiham and West Didsbury & Chorlton occupy the final two play-off spots at present, and they played each other on Saturday. Like the league table, there was little to separate the two teams in a 1-1 draw in South Manchester, with Lewis Ayres putting Padiham ahead just before half time and Harvey Roberts levelling in the second half. That game saw a day-high crowd of 1,320.
A further five teams can still make the play-off's, with Irlam dropping points after being held to a goalless draw at home to Longridge Town. Chadderton and Stockport Town were without a game, with FC St Helens staying in 8th after their loss. The other side is FC Isle of Man, who drew both of their double header games this weekend on the island.
On Saturday, Pilkington took the lead three times before being pegged back to a 3-3 draw in the day's highest scoring encounter. Adam Lawrence put the St Helens based side ahead with Alex Maitland, but Pilks went in at half time ahead thanks to Freddy Garbutt's goal. Sean Doyle levelled just after the hour before Ryan Beigan put Pilks ahead again on 74 minutes. Doyle's second with five minutes remaining ensured a draw. On Sunday, bottom placed Prestwich Heys drew 2-2, and they took the lead in that game through Lee Grimshaw. Doyle levelled before Takura Sambizi restored the lead, only for Maitland to equalise six minutes into stoppage time.
That point moves Prestwich to within a point of Squires Gate who were without a game. They are three points from safety, a position Colne occupy after a 2-0 loss at Burscough. They held out until five minutes into the second half when Kian Bell opened the scoring, with Stephen Rigby adding another with 16 minutes to play.
South Liverpool still need points, but their hopes of avoiding the drop were boosted with a fine 2-0 win at home to Glossop North End. Dominic Cain opened the scoring with five minutes of the first half to play, with Declan Gallagher adding another just before the hour.
The earliest goal of the day came from Jordan Darr who put Charnock Richard ahead after just two minutes at Cheadle Town. Nathan Nickeas added a second with his 30th goal of the season midway through the second half, with Harrison Bickerton's goal with five to play merely a consolation.
The final game saw Barnoldswick Town twice throw away the lead at home to Abbey Hey. William Procter and Finley Stanyer both scored inside 11 minutes with Oliver Roberts restoring Barlick's lead in first half stoppage time. Saul Henderson equalised though for Abbey with two minutes to go.
First Division North
There was just one game in the First Divsion North with Daisy Hill and AFC Blackpool sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Finlay Stafford scord for the Cutters after just nine minutes, with Luke Hepple levelling for the Mechanics midway through the second half.
First Division South
Winsford United kicked off the weekend games on Friday night with a 1-0 win over Shawbury United. Matthew Birchall opened the scoring for the Blues just before the half hour, before a floodlight failure put pay to proceedings five minutes later. A 20-minute delay saw things get back to normal, but Shawbury couldn't find a leveller to aid their survival hopes.
Cammell Laird 1907 moved to within five points of the play-off places in the First Division South after a 2-1 win at home to Barnton. Joel Whalley and Charlie Holland goals in the first half put them in control, and despite George Edwards pulling one back eleven minutes into the second half, they couldn't force a leveller.
Foley Meir are just one place outside the drop zone in the South but they took the lead against Stockport Georgians thanks to a Lucas Baker goal on the half hour mark. William Wareing levelled for Georgians on 54 minutes with Finley Rorke securing a comeback win seven minutes later. That result sees Georgians climb two places to 10th.
Edward Case Cup Semi Finals
Stafford Town cruised into the Final of the Edward Case Cup after a comfortable 3-0 win over Ashville on Saturday. Leading goalscorer Matthew Hearsey put them ahead on 27 minutes with his 35th goal of the season, before Patryk Mazurkiewicz doubled the lead from the spot in first half stoppage time. Another from Mazurkiewicz, his 29th goal of the season himself, secured the win with 20 minutes remaining.
The other Semi Final saw Holker Old Boys take on Atherton LR. With both sides in the play-off spots in the First Division North, a tense affair was expected, with the opening goal not coming until the 74th minute with Atherton LR putting into their own net to give Holker the lead. LR levelled four minutes later through David Moore, and with the clock hitting the 90 minute mark, LR won it with Harvey Sample scoring.
| Gameweek 35: Review |
| Gameweek 34: Review |
| Gameweek 33: Review |
| Gameweek 32: Review |
