The two First Divisions come to an end and some Premier Division promotion and relegation spots could be decided too - this is what's happening in the NWCFL this week...
West Didsbury & Chorlton will secure a play-off position under the following conditions:
PREMIER DIVISION
The long-running battle to be crowned NWCFL champions may finally come to an end on Saturday afternoon. The equation is simple: should Lower Breck drop points at home to Barnoldswick Town, Bury would seal the title with a victory over Cheadle Town at Broadhurst Park. That fixture was moved away from Cheadle's usual Park Road home on health and safety grounds given the high number of 'Shakers' fans expected to attend what is arguably their biggest game since reformation in 2020. Ironically, Bury's last home league defeat was on the same ground, a 2-1 defeat to Padiham last April that ultimately saw them slip to 3rd in last season's standings. That's all water under the bridge now though and Dave McNabb's men look a different side this term - with over 150 goals scored in all competitions and 103 points already on the board. A 4-0 win over Padiham at Gigg Lane last weekend, featuring a Tyler James hat-trick against his former club, has put them within touching distance of a second promotion in four seasons.
Friday night sees Rambottom United travel to Avro's Whitebank Stadium to take on Chadderton in their final away game of the regular season. The Rams are assured of at least 3rd place (and a home play-off semi-final) but can still overhaul Lower Breck and climb to second - but will need two wins from two and hope for a couple of unfavourable results for Breck in their promotion push. Following a run of three successive home defeats that saw Steve Wilkes' side tumble out of the title race and the Macron Cup, Rammy have turned a corner and now have six successive wins under their belt - a run that they will be aiming to continue into the play-offs.
The Premier Division trapdoor may close for one side this weekend - Squires Gate are five points adrift of safety at the start of the weekend's play and will be relegated to the First Division North if they fail to pick up maximum points on their travels to Pilkington on Saturday afternoon. Pilks themselves aren't guaranteed safety just yet; a victory for Jack Edwards' Greens would rubber-stamp their Step 5 status for another year. Colne occupy the second and final relegation place, with goal difference the sole difference between them and Prestwich Heys, and the Reds make the trip west to Crosby on Friday evening to take on AFC Liverpool in the latter's final game at their current home of the Marine Travel Arena. The 'Non-League Reds' are upping sticks and will be playing at Bootle from the summer but will want to bow out of the MTA in style and while they currently sit in 9th place, a congested mid-table means that Phil Stafford's side can still finish as low as 15th if they don't finish the season strongly.
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
There's little to be decided in the First Division North on the final day of the season; Atherton LR wrapped the title up last weekend while Euxton Villa bagged themselves the fourth and final play-off spot at the same time and the bottom three was decided some time earlier. Nelson have rubber-stamped second place and look exceedingly likely to host Euxton Villa at the semi-final stage whilst Holker Old Boys will play Droylsden in the other fixture. The 'Bloods' in the hotseat to host that one as they hold a one point advantage over the 'Stags' and therefore just need to equal their result to book a return to the Butchers' Arms next week. Droylsden host already-relegated Garstang whilst Holker make the trip to Nelson's Daisy Arena.
Daisy Hill round out their campaign with a home tie against Ashton Town, with chairman Aaron Hunt taking charge of the Cutters in what is sure to be a well-attended clash at the Plumb Factory Stadium. Daisy have had an upturn in fortune since Hunt's arrival in the boardroom and have lost just twice since the takeover was finalised in mid-February, however it came too late to mount a late play-off bid and the highest the Westhoughton outfit can achive this term is a respectable 9th position.
Skelmersdale United call time on their latest NWCFL stint with a home clash, Bacup Borough being the final visitors to Burscough before the 'Blueboys' take up residence at Marine next season. It has been a season of struggle for Skem, with just eight points totted up and a goal difference of -99! With the wooden spoon already confirmed, they are simply playing for pride and looking to finish their campaign on a high note while visiting Bacup will want to right the wrongs of their 6-0 drubbing last weekend in advance of their Lancashire Challenge Trophy final on Wednesday night.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
A similar story in the South division heading into the final day; Winsford are runaway champions while all four clubs contesting the play-offs have been decided. However, following a third successive reverse for Stafford Town in midweek, home advantage in the play-offs is well up for grabs. Eccleshall have consolidated a club-record 5th place finish, but Stafford, Abbey Hulton United and Sandbach United can all finish between 2nd and 4th. Sandbach start the day in 4th but would clinch 3rd place as a minimum with a win away at Stafford, who start the day in 2nd place, above Abbey Hulton on goal difference. Abbey host 7th-placed Ashville needing to win in order to steal second place and guarantee home advantage throughout the play-offs and have hit form at the right time, winning four in a row and conceding just one goal heading in to this final-day encounter against the side from Birkenhead.
The battle to avoid finishing in the third and final relegation position is now between two clubs - Foley Meir and Allscott Heath. Newly-promoted Foley are the side who currently occupy this slot and they travel to mid-table Cammell Laird 1907 needing at least a point to stand any chance of leapfrogging Allscott, who are also on the road as they make the trip to Eccleshall. The 'Monners' are now unbeaten in their last four outings; three draws being followed up with a 1-0 win away at New Mills last time out to lift them out of the drop zone after spending much of the season near the foot of the table. Steve Rogers' charges now have their fate in their own hands but only a victory at the Stoke Signage Stadium would ensure they don't have to rely on others.
COUNTY CUP FINALS
While attention is all on the League fixtures, there are a couple of clubs in the NWCFL who have important fixtures of their own this week...Irlam are first up as they take on Hyde United of the NPL Premier Division in the final of the Manchester Premier Cup at Broadhurst Park on Tuesday evening. John Main has masterminded his side through four rounds to make it to their first final in this competition, seeing off Wythenshawe, Glossop North End, Ashton United and Chadderton to get this far, whilst Hyde have already got the better of one NWCFL side in this cup this season - a late winner being enough to dump Abbey Hey out at the quarter final stage.
24 hours later and Bacup Borough look to be crowned 'kings of Lancashire' as they meet Southport at the Lancashire FA County Ground in Leyland. Manager Brent Peters has turned his Boro side into cup specialists of late, winning consecutive Edward Case Cups in 2022 and 2023 - reaching the final of the Macron Cup in the first of those seasons. They come up against formidable opponents though, the 'Sandgrounders' have won this competition no fewer than eleven times and play their league football four levels above Bacup.
We wish both Irlam and Bacup the best of luck in their respective county cup finals.
