First Division North: The Run-In
Mon 24th March 2025 | Match Previews | By Ben Wilkinson
With just three weeks to go until the end of the season, we take a look at what's left to play for in the First Division North...
THE TITLE
While all of the top five can mathematically win the league, realistically it's between the trio of Nelson, Atherton LR & Droylsden. Nelson, steered by Gerry Harrison under the ownership of Chris Price and Stewart Fort, have been mainstays at the top end of the table all season and sit atop the standings currently, with 70 points accumulated from their 31 games to date. Hot on their heels are Atherton LR, the Bolton-based side fell in the play-offs last season and are aiming to go one better this term. Dave Jones has his side just one point off the pace, a 3-0 victory over Skelmersdale United moving them to within touching distance of the 'Admirals'.
Sat four points further back but by no means out of the running are Droylsden; the 'Bloods' were also defeated in the play-offs last spring before being laterally moved into the North division for their second season at this level since returning to the football pyramid after the pandemic. It is their home form that has proved pivotal for the Manchester club, picking up 11 league wins at the Butchers' Arms over the course of the season, with three draws and just the one defeat. With Dave Pace still at the wheel and a sizeable fanbase cheering them on every step of the way, will the 'Bloods', helped by the goals of George Kattah, be able to claw their way to the summit before the final whistle blows?
A cursory glance at the league table could give rise to the notion that Atherton LR will be bringing the trophy to Crilly Park on 12th April - after all, if they win all their remaining games then they will top the table. However, it's never that simple... as LR's and Droylsden's game in hand over Nelson is actually against each other! That mammoth clash in the promotion race is scheduled to take place at Crilly Park on Tuesday 1st April at 7.45pm. Not only that, but LR head to the Daisy Arena to take on Nelson this Saturday, in what is nothing short of a must-win match for both teams.
| |
Nelson (P31, 70pts) |
Atherton LR (P30, 69pts) |
Droylsden (P30, 65pts) |
| Saturday 29th March |
Atherton LR (h) |
Nelson (a) |
Holker Old Boys (h) |
| Tuesday 1st April |
|
Droylsden (h) |
Atherton LR (a) |
| Saturday 5th April |
Daisy Hill (h) |
Bacup Borough (h) |
Maine Road (a) |
| Saturday 12th April |
Holker Old Boys (h) |
AFC Blackpool (a) |
Garstang (h) |
While the title race is almost certainly going to go right down to the wire, the play-off race looks all but sewn up already...
THE PLAY-OFFS
Both Holker Old Boys and Euxton Villa are tied on 58 points from their 30 games apiece this term; Euxton have tasted defeat at the semi-final stage in both of their seasons at this level to date whilst Holker finished two points outside the top five last season and are looking to return to the Premier Division for the first time since the 1998/99 season! The closest the 'Stags' have come to promotion in the meantime was in the 2021/22 season, where the Barrow-based side lost 2-1 at home to Golcar United in the play-off final after finishing 2nd in the regular season.
With a nine point cushion over 6th-placed Darwen (and a 19 and 10 goal difference advantage respectively), the two clubs both only need just four points from their final four games to mathematically secure a play-off place, and they could both achieve that status on home soil on Tuesday 1st April; Holker hosting already-relegated Garstang while Route One Rovers visit Euxton with their own Step 6 status still hanging in the balance.
| |
Holker Old Boys (P30, 58pts) |
Euxton Villa (P30, 58pts) |
Darwen (P30, 49pts) |
| Saturday 29th March |
Droylsden (a) |
Daisy Hill (a) |
Ashton Town (a) |
| Tuesday 1st April |
Garstang (h) |
Route One Rovers (h) |
|
| Wednesday 2nd April |
|
|
Ashton Athletic (h) |
| Saturday 5th April |
Thornton Cleveleys (h) |
Maghull (a) |
Steeton (a) |
| Saturday 12th April |
Nelson (a) |
Ashton Athletic (a) |
Maine Road (h) |
THE RELEGATION BATTLE
Skelmersdale United were consigned to a second successive on-field relegation (and third overall) a few weeks ago, a torrid season has seen them pick up just eight points from their 30 games so far and the 'Blueboys' can finish no higher than 17th place. Garstang joined them in purgatory earlier this month, a 4-0 home reverse to Euxton Villa consigning the 'Stang' to a bottom three finish and a potential return to the West Lancashire League after seven seasons in the NWCFL.
The third and final 'liable to relegation' spot looks set to be heading to the Marley Stadium in any event, with Steeton holding a seven-point advantage over their tenants Route One Rovers. The 'Chevvies', led by stalwart manager Roy Mason, joined the League for the 2018/19 season and finished as high as 7th in the 2022/23 campaign. Mason has now notched up well over 600 games in charge of the West Yorkshire outfit and has three more fixtures remaining to secure their Step 6 status for another year.
Route One are a more recent addition to the Counties, this being just their second season at this level after being promoted from the Yorkshire Amateur League in 2023. The club finished in 8th place last year, just five points off the play-off positions, but have found this season much more of a challenge and Rovers sit on 22 points accumulated so far. If they are to overhaul Steeton and finish outside the bottom three then it may be their away games where they look for success, with 15 of their points having been picked up on the road, although they will find it tough against an Euxton Villa side that have lost just twice at home all season, and Ashton Athletic who have only failed to score on one occasion on home soil. Alongside having a game in hand over their rivals, Route One also find themselves in the West Riding County Cup semi-finals, where they will travel to Campion on Wednesday 9th April. Whether playing twice a week turns out to be a help or a hinderance remains to be seen.
| |
Steeton (P31, 29pts) |
Route One Rovers (P30, 22pts) |
| Saturday 29th March |
Bacup Borough (a) |
Maghull (h) |
| Tuesday 1st April |
|
Euxton Villa (a) |
| Saturday 5th April |
Darwen (h) |
Ashton Athletic (a) |
| Saturday 12th April |
Maghull (a) |
Thornton Cleveleys (h) |
First Division North: The Run-In
Mon 24th March 2025 | Match Previews
By Ben Wilkinson
With just three weeks to go until the end of the season, we take a look at what's left to play for in the First Division North...
THE TITLE
While all of the top five can mathematically win the league, realistically it's between the trio of Nelson, Atherton LR & Droylsden. Nelson, steered by Gerry Harrison under the ownership of Chris Price and Stewart Fort, have been mainstays at the top end of the table all season and sit atop the standings currently, with 70 points accumulated from their 31 games to date. Hot on their heels are Atherton LR, the Bolton-based side fell in the play-offs last season and are aiming to go one better this term. Dave Jones has his side just one point off the pace, a 3-0 victory over Skelmersdale United moving them to within touching distance of the 'Admirals'.
Sat four points further back but by no means out of the running are Droylsden; the 'Bloods' were also defeated in the play-offs last spring before being laterally moved into the North division for their second season at this level since returning to the football pyramid after the pandemic. It is their home form that has proved pivotal for the Manchester club, picking up 11 league wins at the Butchers' Arms over the course of the season, with three draws and just the one defeat. With Dave Pace still at the wheel and a sizeable fanbase cheering them on every step of the way, will the 'Bloods', helped by the goals of George Kattah, be able to claw their way to the summit before the final whistle blows?
A cursory glance at the league table could give rise to the notion that Atherton LR will be bringing the trophy to Crilly Park on 12th April - after all, if they win all their remaining games then they will top the table. However, it's never that simple... as LR's and Droylsden's game in hand over Nelson is actually against each other! That mammoth clash in the promotion race is scheduled to take place at Crilly Park on Tuesday 1st April at 7.45pm. Not only that, but LR head to the Daisy Arena to take on Nelson this Saturday, in what is nothing short of a must-win match for both teams.
| |
Nelson (P31, 70pts) |
Atherton LR (P30, 69pts) |
Droylsden (P30, 65pts) |
| Saturday 29th March |
Atherton LR (h) |
Nelson (a) |
Holker Old Boys (h) |
| Tuesday 1st April |
|
Droylsden (h) |
Atherton LR (a) |
| Saturday 5th April |
Daisy Hill (h) |
Bacup Borough (h) |
Maine Road (a) |
| Saturday 12th April |
Holker Old Boys (h) |
AFC Blackpool (a) |
Garstang (h) |
While the title race is almost certainly going to go right down to the wire, the play-off race looks all but sewn up already...
THE PLAY-OFFS
Both Holker Old Boys and Euxton Villa are tied on 58 points from their 30 games apiece this term; Euxton have tasted defeat at the semi-final stage in both of their seasons at this level to date whilst Holker finished two points outside the top five last season and are looking to return to the Premier Division for the first time since the 1998/99 season! The closest the 'Stags' have come to promotion in the meantime was in the 2021/22 season, where the Barrow-based side lost 2-1 at home to Golcar United in the play-off final after finishing 2nd in the regular season.
With a nine point cushion over 6th-placed Darwen (and a 19 and 10 goal difference advantage respectively), the two clubs both only need just four points from their final four games to mathematically secure a play-off place, and they could both achieve that status on home soil on Tuesday 1st April; Holker hosting already-relegated Garstang while Route One Rovers visit Euxton with their own Step 6 status still hanging in the balance.
| |
Holker Old Boys (P30, 58pts) |
Euxton Villa (P30, 58pts) |
Darwen (P30, 49pts) |
| Saturday 29th March |
Droylsden (a) |
Daisy Hill (a) |
Ashton Town (a) |
| Tuesday 1st April |
Garstang (h) |
Route One Rovers (h) |
|
| Wednesday 2nd April |
|
|
Ashton Athletic (h) |
| Saturday 5th April |
Thornton Cleveleys (h) |
Maghull (a) |
Steeton (a) |
| Saturday 12th April |
Nelson (a) |
Ashton Athletic (a) |
Maine Road (h) |
THE RELEGATION BATTLE
Skelmersdale United were consigned to a second successive on-field relegation (and third overall) a few weeks ago, a torrid season has seen them pick up just eight points from their 30 games so far and the 'Blueboys' can finish no higher than 17th place. Garstang joined them in purgatory earlier this month, a 4-0 home reverse to Euxton Villa consigning the 'Stang' to a bottom three finish and a potential return to the West Lancashire League after seven seasons in the NWCFL.
The third and final 'liable to relegation' spot looks set to be heading to the Marley Stadium in any event, with Steeton holding a seven-point advantage over their tenants Route One Rovers. The 'Chevvies', led by stalwart manager Roy Mason, joined the League for the 2018/19 season and finished as high as 7th in the 2022/23 campaign. Mason has now notched up well over 600 games in charge of the West Yorkshire outfit and has three more fixtures remaining to secure their Step 6 status for another year.
Route One are a more recent addition to the Counties, this being just their second season at this level after being promoted from the Yorkshire Amateur League in 2023. The club finished in 8th place last year, just five points off the play-off positions, but have found this season much more of a challenge and Rovers sit on 22 points accumulated so far. If they are to overhaul Steeton and finish outside the bottom three then it may be their away games where they look for success, with 15 of their points having been picked up on the road, although they will find it tough against an Euxton Villa side that have lost just twice at home all season, and Ashton Athletic who have only failed to score on one occasion on home soil. Alongside having a game in hand over their rivals, Route One also find themselves in the West Riding County Cup semi-finals, where they will travel to Campion on Wednesday 9th April. Whether playing twice a week turns out to be a help or a hinderance remains to be seen.
| |
Steeton (P31, 29pts) |
Route One Rovers (P30, 22pts) |
| Saturday 29th March |
Bacup Borough (a) |
Maghull (h) |
| Tuesday 1st April |
|
Euxton Villa (a) |
| Saturday 5th April |
Darwen (h) |
Ashton Athletic (a) |
| Saturday 12th April |
Maghull (a) |
Thornton Cleveleys (h) |
