Gameweek 36: Preview
Fri 28th March 2025 | Match Previews | By Ben Wilkinson
MACRON CUP SEMI-FINALS
The 'road to the Wham' will be complete for two sides this weekend as the Macron Cup semi-finals take place on Saturday afternoon. Just one Premier Division side remains in the competition; Charnock Richard are aiming to pick up some silverware this term amidst a disappointing league campaign. They take on Barnton of the First Division South at Mossie Park with a place in the final at Accrington Stanley's Wham Stadium at stake. The pair have only met twice before; Charnock doing the double over the 'Bianconeri' in the 2017/18 Premier Division season. The 'Cheshire Juve' were relegated at the end of that season and have played in the First Division South ever since. They currently sit 14th in that division, 26 places below Saturday's opponents and embroiled in a battle to retain their place in the NWCFL.
The other semi is an all First Division affair - AFC Blackpool of the North division welcome Stafford Town of the South to the Mechanics Ground. This will be the very first meeting between the 'Mechs' and Town, the Stafford club having only joined the NWCFL in 2021. The Evans Park outfit are having a terrific season to date and have already reached one cup final so far and are still harbouring hopes of winning the league title and promotion to Step 5 for the first time in their history. AFC Blackpool are 9th in the First Division North and the Macron Cup also represents their final hopes of success this term with the top five out of reach for another season.
PREMIER DIVISION
With only Charnock Richard on cup duty, 22 of the 24 Premier Division clubs are in league action this weekend. AFC Liverpool and Barnoldswick Town get the weekend underway on Friday evening at the Marine Travel Arena. This season marks their last at the MTA after an 11-year stint and the club and fans will be hoping to see out their time there with a couple of positive results, with promotion/relegation both impossible at this stage. A huge game in both the title race and relegation battle is at Gigg Lane on Saturday where leaders Bury take on bottom club Squires Gate. The two played out a thrilling 4-4 draw on the opening day of the season but have had hugely contrasting seasons since, the 'Shakers' will break the 100-point barrier with a win while Gate have picked up just 28 points all season and prop up the table with four games to go.
Bury would open up a six-point cushion at the summit if they notch a twelth successive victory as nearest challengers Lower Breck don't play until 6pm, Gary Moore's side being this week's visitors to FC Isle of Man. Breck have also been unstoppable of late, chalking up ten wins in a row with an aggregate score of 32-6 to put themselves in with a shot at the title. Their hosts chances of promotion ended last weekend, the 'Ravens' current seven-game winless run has put pay to any possibility of finishing in the top five with pride being all that's left to play for for Paul Jones' men this season.
In another game with potentially huge ramifications at both ends of the table, Prestwich Heys welcome Ramsbottom United to Adie Moran Park. Heys have picked up some decent results recently, including a 3-1 win last weekend in a six-pointer at Colne, a result that saw them leapfrog the East Lancastrians in the standings on goal difference. Every single point is being fought for down at the bottom but they will come up against tough opponents in Steve Wilkes' 'Rams', who come into this clash on the back of four successive wins and they are ready to pounce on any slip-up from the two sides above them.
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
All eyes are on the Daisy Arena where Nelson and Atherton LR do battle in a pivotal fixture in the title race. The hosting 'Admirals' currently sit atop the table, holding a slender advantage over LR but having played a game more. A victory for Gerry Harrison's charges would put them back in charge of their own destiny while an away win would open the door for Dave Jones' LR to take the crown and return to the Premier Division after a 13-year absence.
Elsewhere two more of the top five go head to head; Droylsden welcoming Holker Old Boys to their Butchers' Arms fortress. The 'Bloods' are still well in with a chance of usurping the pair above them and snatching the title - a huge trip to Crilly Park awaits them on Tuesday evening. Holker need just four more points to seal a play-off place of their own and will want to get that boxed off as soon as possible, but will need to be at their best to leave Greater Manchester with three points - only Daisy Hill have managed such a feat to date this season.
A bottom three finish could be confirmed for Route One Rovers this weekend. They host Maghull at Marley Stadium whilst sitting seven points adrift from safety. An away win for the Merseysiders, combined with Rovers' landlords Steeton emerging victorious away at Bacup Borough, would consign R1 to the relegation zone and therefore reliant on any reprieves to give them a stay of execution after just two seasons at Step 6.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
Winsford United could take a huge step towards confirming promotion back to Step 5. The 'Blues', led by the duo of Dom Johnson and Dean Jones, travel to Cromley Road to take on an in-form Stockport Georgians, a side who aren't entirely out of the play-off race just yet! With 2nd-placed Stafford Town involved in the Macron Cup, Winsford would move eleven points clear at the top should they see off Georgians - with just two more points required to rubber-stamp that coveted top spot.
Wolverhampton Sporting Community visit play-off chasing Abbey Hulton United looking to build on their 2-0 win over Shawbury United a week ago. That win lifted Wolves off the bottom spot, but they still have plenty of work to do to secure their place at this level for next season. Abbey Hulton will provide plenty of resistance however, the side from the Potteries haven't quite confirmed a spot in the play-offs and will be pushing hard to finish the season strongly and potentially claim the right to host a semi-final, and with their last home league defeat coming all the way back in October, home advantage will be a key objective for the Abbey.
Eccleshall are looking to mount their own play-off push and they host local rivals Market Drayton Town at the Stoke Signage Stadium. The 'Eagles' are just a point behind Cheadle Heath Nomads who occupy the final spot in the post-season lottery and have won four of their last six encounters - including a 3-1 win away at Market Drayton less than two months ago.
Gameweek 36: Preview
Fri 28th March 2025 | Match Previews
By Ben Wilkinson
MACRON CUP SEMI-FINALS
The 'road to the Wham' will be complete for two sides this weekend as the Macron Cup semi-finals take place on Saturday afternoon. Just one Premier Division side remains in the competition; Charnock Richard are aiming to pick up some silverware this term amidst a disappointing league campaign. They take on Barnton of the First Division South at Mossie Park with a place in the final at Accrington Stanley's Wham Stadium at stake. The pair have only met twice before; Charnock doing the double over the 'Bianconeri' in the 2017/18 Premier Division season. The 'Cheshire Juve' were relegated at the end of that season and have played in the First Division South ever since. They currently sit 14th in that division, 26 places below Saturday's opponents and embroiled in a battle to retain their place in the NWCFL.
The other semi is an all First Division affair - AFC Blackpool of the North division welcome Stafford Town of the South to the Mechanics Ground. This will be the very first meeting between the 'Mechs' and Town, the Stafford club having only joined the NWCFL in 2021. The Evans Park outfit are having a terrific season to date and have already reached one cup final so far and are still harbouring hopes of winning the league title and promotion to Step 5 for the first time in their history. AFC Blackpool are 9th in the First Division North and the Macron Cup also represents their final hopes of success this term with the top five out of reach for another season.
PREMIER DIVISION
With only Charnock Richard on cup duty, 22 of the 24 Premier Division clubs are in league action this weekend. AFC Liverpool and Barnoldswick Town get the weekend underway on Friday evening at the Marine Travel Arena. This season marks their last at the MTA after an 11-year stint and the club and fans will be hoping to see out their time there with a couple of positive results, with promotion/relegation both impossible at this stage. A huge game in both the title race and relegation battle is at Gigg Lane on Saturday where leaders Bury take on bottom club Squires Gate. The two played out a thrilling 4-4 draw on the opening day of the season but have had hugely contrasting seasons since, the 'Shakers' will break the 100-point barrier with a win while Gate have picked up just 28 points all season and prop up the table with four games to go.
Bury would open up a six-point cushion at the summit if they notch a twelth successive victory as nearest challengers Lower Breck don't play until 6pm, Gary Moore's side being this week's visitors to FC Isle of Man. Breck have also been unstoppable of late, chalking up ten wins in a row with an aggregate score of 32-6 to put themselves in with a shot at the title. Their hosts chances of promotion ended last weekend, the 'Ravens' current seven-game winless run has put pay to any possibility of finishing in the top five with pride being all that's left to play for for Paul Jones' men this season.
In another game with potentially huge ramifications at both ends of the table, Prestwich Heys welcome Ramsbottom United to Adie Moran Park. Heys have picked up some decent results recently, including a 3-1 win last weekend in a six-pointer at Colne, a result that saw them leapfrog the East Lancastrians in the standings on goal difference. Every single point is being fought for down at the bottom but they will come up against tough opponents in Steve Wilkes' 'Rams', who come into this clash on the back of four successive wins and they are ready to pounce on any slip-up from the two sides above them.
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
All eyes are on the Daisy Arena where Nelson and Atherton LR do battle in a pivotal fixture in the title race. The hosting 'Admirals' currently sit atop the table, holding a slender advantage over LR but having played a game more. A victory for Gerry Harrison's charges would put them back in charge of their own destiny while an away win would open the door for Dave Jones' LR to take the crown and return to the Premier Division after a 13-year absence.
Elsewhere two more of the top five go head to head; Droylsden welcoming Holker Old Boys to their Butchers' Arms fortress. The 'Bloods' are still well in with a chance of usurping the pair above them and snatching the title - a huge trip to Crilly Park awaits them on Tuesday evening. Holker need just four more points to seal a play-off place of their own and will want to get that boxed off as soon as possible, but will need to be at their best to leave Greater Manchester with three points - only Daisy Hill have managed such a feat to date this season.
A bottom three finish could be confirmed for Route One Rovers this weekend. They host Maghull at Marley Stadium whilst sitting seven points adrift from safety. An away win for the Merseysiders, combined with Rovers' landlords Steeton emerging victorious away at Bacup Borough, would consign R1 to the relegation zone and therefore reliant on any reprieves to give them a stay of execution after just two seasons at Step 6.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
Winsford United could take a huge step towards confirming promotion back to Step 5. The 'Blues', led by the duo of Dom Johnson and Dean Jones, travel to Cromley Road to take on an in-form Stockport Georgians, a side who aren't entirely out of the play-off race just yet! With 2nd-placed Stafford Town involved in the Macron Cup, Winsford would move eleven points clear at the top should they see off Georgians - with just two more points required to rubber-stamp that coveted top spot.
Wolverhampton Sporting Community visit play-off chasing Abbey Hulton United looking to build on their 2-0 win over Shawbury United a week ago. That win lifted Wolves off the bottom spot, but they still have plenty of work to do to secure their place at this level for next season. Abbey Hulton will provide plenty of resistance however, the side from the Potteries haven't quite confirmed a spot in the play-offs and will be pushing hard to finish the season strongly and potentially claim the right to host a semi-final, and with their last home league defeat coming all the way back in October, home advantage will be a key objective for the Abbey.
Eccleshall are looking to mount their own play-off push and they host local rivals Market Drayton Town at the Stoke Signage Stadium. The 'Eagles' are just a point behind Cheadle Heath Nomads who occupy the final spot in the post-season lottery and have won four of their last six encounters - including a 3-1 win away at Market Drayton less than two months ago.
