Gameweek 35: Preview
Fri 21st March 2025 | Match Previews | By Ben Wilkinson
There's still all to play for in all three divisions of the NWCFL as we enter the final month of the regular season. With five matchweeks left, nothing has been decided in any of the three divisions. Here's what's in store over the next week, including Non-League Day on Saturday...
PREMIER DIVISION
There's a full fixture list on Saturday in the Prem, with 10 fixtures kicking off at 3pm. The title race is now well and truly on after Lower Breck moved within three points of Bury with a 3-1 win away at Colne on Tuesday night - making it 16 wins from their last 17 league games for the Anfield outfit! Up next for Breck is a tricky trip to Stockport Sports Village to take on Stockport Town; who happen to be the only side to have left the Anfield Sports Community Centre with three points this season. Town have taken to life at Step 5 like a duck to water and sit comfortably in 9th place, never troubling the relegation places but any play-off aspirations are purely mathematical at this stage. It has now been 28 games since Breck failed to score, thanks to the goalscoring prowess of Sam Burns and Jesse Dowling, who have been pivotal in their title charge this term.
Three points (and seven goals) further up the ladder are Bury, and the 'Shakers' are also playing away from home this weekend, with Pilkington being their next opponents. Bury have won four of their five fixtures to date against the side from St Helens; a 2-2 away draw back in October 2021 being the only blot on the record, back when the club were known as Bury AFC. The Gigg Lane club made it 10 successive league wins last week against Pilks' rivals FC St Helens - a goal from Cam Fogerty just before half time proving to be the difference at the SMS Pro Soccer Park.
At the other end of the table, there's a huge relegation six-pointer at the Haffners Stadium where Colne welcome bottom club Prestwich Heys. The East Lancashire side are just three points ahead of their visitors heading into this clash, and just two points clear of Squires Gate, who occupy the other relegation position. Heys have two tough home games remaining (against Ramsbottom United and Irlam) so may have to seek points on the road if they are to remain at this level next season. It was all the way back in August when the two met in the reverse fixture, Dylan Fitzgerald putting Prestwich in front at Adie Moran Park before a Kyle Preece penalty five minutes later claimed a point for Colne.
Squires Gate travel to play-off contenders Padiham looking to make it two wins in a row for just the third time this season. Gate had a torrid time over the winter and their 3-2 victory at FC Isle of Man last season was their first maximum since the end of October - a run that saw them slip to the bottom of the standings prior to last weekend. The 'Storks' ended a short dip in form with a comfortable 3-1 win over Burscough at the Ruby Civil Arena during the week; that win that saw them move 10 points clear of Irlam in 6th and makes their play-off spot fairly secure with just five games to go. Any faint hopes of automatic promotion for Michael Morrison's charges may have been extinguished but they will be aiming to finish the regular season in fine form and be the 'ones to watch' in the play-offs.
Another plum tie this weekend comes from BL0 where Ramsbottom United host fellow promotion hopefuls West Didsbury & Chorlton at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. With the title looking out of reach for Rammy after a blip in form last month, Steve Wilkes will be looking to rally his side to finish the season strongly and aim for as good an end to the season as possible and a home play-off semi final at minimum. West have a four-point cushion over nearest challengers Irlam but may be conscious that the Silver Street side have an (on paper!) easier run-in, so they have little scope to rest on their laurels and coast to the end of the season.
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The top five could be rubber stamped this weekend as Holker Old Boys and Euxton Villa bid to join the three sides above them in securing a play-off place at a minimum. Holker host Ashton Town while Euxton are also on home soil - the Villa welcome Lancashire Challenge Trophy finalists Bacup Borough to the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground. If Darwen drop points at home to leaders Nelson then the door opens for the pair to seal the deal with victories of their own. Euxton and Bacup are certainly no strangers to each other, the latest meeting being the sixth in the past 12 months; Euxton's wins in the league, FA Vase and Macron Cup were bookended by wins for Brent Peters' men in last season's Edward Case Cup Final and a 3-0 win in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy en route to the final this term.
The title is back in Nelson's hands going into the final straight and they return to action after a three-week break with the El Hotpot derby against rivals Darwen. The 'Salmoners' recovered after a tricky start and Leighton Mills has them sat in 6th place, but with 11 points between them and 5th, a play-off berth looks unlikely. Gerry Harrison has steered the 'Admirals' to the top of the table just one season after the club were reprieved from possible relegation to the West Lancashire League and the club have won all six of their games this calendar year, helped by the goals of Charlie Frost who now has 34 goals to his name in all competitions this campaign.
Hot on their heels though are Atherton LR, four points off the pace but with a game in hand over the leaders. Next up for them is a home fixture against already-relegated Skelmersdale United, with three points crucial in their title charge. A late winner from Harvey Sample saw LR progress to the final of the Edward Case Cup last weekend and they followed that up with a 2-1 win away at Steeton during the week, a result that kept their 100% record against sides from Yorkshire intact this season! Skem lost 6-4 against Squires Gate of the Premier Division in a friendly last weekend and may take confidence from that performance into the run-in; while they are unable to escape the bottom three, every point could prove valuable when the FA determine any reprieves from relegation at the end of the season.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
Winsford United make the trip to Shropshire to lock horns with Market Drayton Town at the Greenfields Sports Ground, with the 'Blues' sitting pretty at the top of the table and look on course to secure promotion back to Step 5 two seasons after taking voluntary relegation. MDT have struggled for any consistency results-wise this term and are 11th in the table - eight points off the play-offs, but with just five games to go even the most optimistic supporter may be resigned to another season of Step 6 football. The side have won 6-2 and 4-1 in their last three games though so may be building the most unlikely of play-off charges...
It couldn't be much tighter in the relegation battle in this division, and the bottom two face off at Pride Park where Wolverhampton SC could leapfrog Shawbury United with three points. Wolves' run without a win now stands at 10 games, stretching back to a 2-0 home triumph over Allscott Heath on 16th November! It has been a full four weeks since the most southerly side in the division last played a competitive fixture so the players will be well up for the run-in, although with three of the current top seven still to play, the odds are stacked against them.
Allscott Heath are two points from safety in their debut season in the NWCFL, the 'Monners' seemingly unable to build on a 2nd place finish in the Midland League Division One last time out - although they do have a cup final to look forward to in May. It's their last home game of the season this weekend with Stafford Town making the journey to TF6; Town won the reverse fixture by a staggering nine goals to nil in October before knocking Allscott out of the Macron Cup on penalties at the Second Round stage a month later. They would secure at least a play-off place with points this weekend but the Evans Park outfit will still have sights on overhauling Winsford for the title and automatic promotion.
Gameweek 35: Preview
Fri 21st March 2025 | Match Previews
By Ben Wilkinson
There's still all to play for in all three divisions of the NWCFL as we enter the final month of the regular season. With five matchweeks left, nothing has been decided in any of the three divisions. Here's what's in store over the next week, including Non-League Day on Saturday...
PREMIER DIVISION
There's a full fixture list on Saturday in the Prem, with 10 fixtures kicking off at 3pm. The title race is now well and truly on after Lower Breck moved within three points of Bury with a 3-1 win away at Colne on Tuesday night - making it 16 wins from their last 17 league games for the Anfield outfit! Up next for Breck is a tricky trip to Stockport Sports Village to take on Stockport Town; who happen to be the only side to have left the Anfield Sports Community Centre with three points this season. Town have taken to life at Step 5 like a duck to water and sit comfortably in 9th place, never troubling the relegation places but any play-off aspirations are purely mathematical at this stage. It has now been 28 games since Breck failed to score, thanks to the goalscoring prowess of Sam Burns and Jesse Dowling, who have been pivotal in their title charge this term.
Three points (and seven goals) further up the ladder are Bury, and the 'Shakers' are also playing away from home this weekend, with Pilkington being their next opponents. Bury have won four of their five fixtures to date against the side from St Helens; a 2-2 away draw back in October 2021 being the only blot on the record, back when the club were known as Bury AFC. The Gigg Lane club made it 10 successive league wins last week against Pilks' rivals FC St Helens - a goal from Cam Fogerty just before half time proving to be the difference at the SMS Pro Soccer Park.
At the other end of the table, there's a huge relegation six-pointer at the Haffners Stadium where Colne welcome bottom club Prestwich Heys. The East Lancashire side are just three points ahead of their visitors heading into this clash, and just two points clear of Squires Gate, who occupy the other relegation position. Heys have two tough home games remaining (against Ramsbottom United and Irlam) so may have to seek points on the road if they are to remain at this level next season. It was all the way back in August when the two met in the reverse fixture, Dylan Fitzgerald putting Prestwich in front at Adie Moran Park before a Kyle Preece penalty five minutes later claimed a point for Colne.
Squires Gate travel to play-off contenders Padiham looking to make it two wins in a row for just the third time this season. Gate had a torrid time over the winter and their 3-2 victory at FC Isle of Man last season was their first maximum since the end of October - a run that saw them slip to the bottom of the standings prior to last weekend. The 'Storks' ended a short dip in form with a comfortable 3-1 win over Burscough at the Ruby Civil Arena during the week; that win that saw them move 10 points clear of Irlam in 6th and makes their play-off spot fairly secure with just five games to go. Any faint hopes of automatic promotion for Michael Morrison's charges may have been extinguished but they will be aiming to finish the regular season in fine form and be the 'ones to watch' in the play-offs.
Another plum tie this weekend comes from BL0 where Ramsbottom United host fellow promotion hopefuls West Didsbury & Chorlton at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. With the title looking out of reach for Rammy after a blip in form last month, Steve Wilkes will be looking to rally his side to finish the season strongly and aim for as good an end to the season as possible and a home play-off semi final at minimum. West have a four-point cushion over nearest challengers Irlam but may be conscious that the Silver Street side have an (on paper!) easier run-in, so they have little scope to rest on their laurels and coast to the end of the season.
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The top five could be rubber stamped this weekend as Holker Old Boys and Euxton Villa bid to join the three sides above them in securing a play-off place at a minimum. Holker host Ashton Town while Euxton are also on home soil - the Villa welcome Lancashire Challenge Trophy finalists Bacup Borough to the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground. If Darwen drop points at home to leaders Nelson then the door opens for the pair to seal the deal with victories of their own. Euxton and Bacup are certainly no strangers to each other, the latest meeting being the sixth in the past 12 months; Euxton's wins in the league, FA Vase and Macron Cup were bookended by wins for Brent Peters' men in last season's Edward Case Cup Final and a 3-0 win in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy en route to the final this term.
The title is back in Nelson's hands going into the final straight and they return to action after a three-week break with the El Hotpot derby against rivals Darwen. The 'Salmoners' recovered after a tricky start and Leighton Mills has them sat in 6th place, but with 11 points between them and 5th, a play-off berth looks unlikely. Gerry Harrison has steered the 'Admirals' to the top of the table just one season after the club were reprieved from possible relegation to the West Lancashire League and the club have won all six of their games this calendar year, helped by the goals of Charlie Frost who now has 34 goals to his name in all competitions this campaign.
Hot on their heels though are Atherton LR, four points off the pace but with a game in hand over the leaders. Next up for them is a home fixture against already-relegated Skelmersdale United, with three points crucial in their title charge. A late winner from Harvey Sample saw LR progress to the final of the Edward Case Cup last weekend and they followed that up with a 2-1 win away at Steeton during the week, a result that kept their 100% record against sides from Yorkshire intact this season! Skem lost 6-4 against Squires Gate of the Premier Division in a friendly last weekend and may take confidence from that performance into the run-in; while they are unable to escape the bottom three, every point could prove valuable when the FA determine any reprieves from relegation at the end of the season.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
Winsford United make the trip to Shropshire to lock horns with Market Drayton Town at the Greenfields Sports Ground, with the 'Blues' sitting pretty at the top of the table and look on course to secure promotion back to Step 5 two seasons after taking voluntary relegation. MDT have struggled for any consistency results-wise this term and are 11th in the table - eight points off the play-offs, but with just five games to go even the most optimistic supporter may be resigned to another season of Step 6 football. The side have won 6-2 and 4-1 in their last three games though so may be building the most unlikely of play-off charges...
It couldn't be much tighter in the relegation battle in this division, and the bottom two face off at Pride Park where Wolverhampton SC could leapfrog Shawbury United with three points. Wolves' run without a win now stands at 10 games, stretching back to a 2-0 home triumph over Allscott Heath on 16th November! It has been a full four weeks since the most southerly side in the division last played a competitive fixture so the players will be well up for the run-in, although with three of the current top seven still to play, the odds are stacked against them.
Allscott Heath are two points from safety in their debut season in the NWCFL, the 'Monners' seemingly unable to build on a 2nd place finish in the Midland League Division One last time out - although they do have a cup final to look forward to in May. It's their last home game of the season this weekend with Stafford Town making the journey to TF6; Town won the reverse fixture by a staggering nine goals to nil in October before knocking Allscott out of the Macron Cup on penalties at the Second Round stage a month later. They would secure at least a play-off place with points this weekend but the Evans Park outfit will still have sights on overhauling Winsford for the title and automatic promotion.
