Another weekend, another round of games from all 3 divisions of the NWCFL, as well as the Macron Cup semi-finals. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
Premier Division
Friday:
Chadderton’s run of matches that have taken places on Friday evenings towards the business end of this season has been inconsistent, but this past Friday was the kind of result that fans have been waiting for. Lowly Pilkington, who are still not technically safe from relegation at this point, were their opponents, and were beaten 4-1 by a relentless Chaddy side.
Saturday:
AFC Liverpool’s penultimate NWCFL league match at their current home, the Marine Travel Arena, was one they’d rather forget. The visitors were West Didsbury and Chorlton, who knew a win would all but seal their place in the play-off places. They turned on the style, smashing their hosts for six in a 6-1 drubbing.
Prestwich Heys needed a win more than most teams in the entire NWCFL this past weekend, and they got it… just! On their travels to Barnoldswick Town, they found themselves 2-0 down with just over 20 minutes to play, but they swung for the fences and stole a 3-2 victory in the 92nd minute.
Bury’s superior goal difference over their closest challengers to the title, Lower Breck, means that, after Saturday, the Shakers are essentially one more win from glory. Tyler James was the man of the hour in this encounter with fellow promotion hunters Padiham, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 win.
The day’s late kick off naturally came from FC Isle of Man’s The Bowl, with Charnock Richard travelling over the waters hoping the end the league season on a high before their Macron Cup final showdown with Stafford Town in just less than a month. A 4-1 win on their travels against the Ravens is certainly a step in the right direction.
All the J’s were on target for FC St Helens on Saturday as they welcomed South Liverpool to the SMS Pro Soccer Park. Joe Barker and James Flight both bagged braces, with Josh Hall putting the gloss on the result with a late goal to seal a 5-0 victory.
Other scores
Friday:
Lower Breck 1-0 Litherland REMYCA
Saturday:
Burscough 2-0 Longridge Town
Colne 0-1 Cheadle Town
Irlam 2-0 Abbey Hey
Ramsbottom United 2-0 Stockport Town
Squires Gate 0-2 Glossop North End
First Division North
After Saturday, Skelmersdale United are now down to their last chance to break the 10-point barrier in this league season. They made the away journey to mid-table Ashton Town in their penultimate match of the season, and were sent home empty handed, losing 5-0, thanks in large part to a Michael Howard hat-trick.
Alongside Skem in the drop zone are Route One Rovers, but their mission to remain in the NWCFL via PPG is one that is looking likelier and likelier with each game they play. Away at Ashton Athletic at the weekend, Umar Ali Zahoor bagged a hat-trick in a 4-1 win for R1R.
Atherton LR are CHAMPIONS of the First Division North. Their title victory was sealed in emphatic fashion on Saturday as they welcomed Bacup Borough to Crilly Park. Both Cal Hunter and Thomas Romano scored braces in a 6-0 demolition of Boro, and Rovers were awarded the league trophy afterwards.
It was a day for the relegation candidates to prove themselves worthy of a reprieve in the First Division North on Saturday, it would seem. For second-bottom Garstang, hosting mid-table AFC Blackpool, there was a 5-0 win in store, thanks in part to braces by Dan Squires and Cole Exley.
The one-sided results don't stop! Holker Old Boys were also beneficiaries of a goal-heavy result this past Saturday as they welcomed Thornton Cleveleys. Farryl Foster scored twice to help secure a 5-0 victory for Kevin Watkin and David Round's side.
Nelson have been a key part of this season in the First Division North, and they did their best to keep their title hopes alive on Saturday as they hosted Daisy Hill. Max Cane scored three of his team’s goals in a 5-1 hammering of Daisy Hill, but it would prove to be too little to late, given the Atherton result.
Darwen FC were another side hoping that they would win and that the team above them would lose on Saturday to keep their own promotion hopes alive. They held up their end of the bargain, beating Steeton 3-0 away from home, but Euxton Villa’s simultaneous win over Maghull meant that Darwen’s play-off ambitions will have to be carried over into next season.
Other scores
Maghull 1-2 Euxton Villa
Maine Road 2-0 Droylsden
First Division South
Barnton are officially safe in the First Division South after Saturday. Alsager Town hosted the Macron Cup semi-finalists on a day that could’ve decided the relegation places in its entirety, and goals by Jack McKean and Thomas Stanton were enough to get Barnton over the line with a 2-1 win.
In a similar manner, Eccleshall confirmed their own place in the First Division South play-offs with an away victory on Saturday. Facing Cheadle Heath Nomads, they knew a win would mean a chance at promotion, and they got the job done. Goals from Macauley Taylor and Thomas Messham saw out a 2-1 win for Liam Kelly’s team.
Foley Meir’s penultimate game of the season has seen them drop back into the drop zone. Abbey Hulton United were coming into this one off a 6-0 victory a week ago, and they showed a similar level of mercilessness to Foley. United won 5-1 at the Trentham Foods Stadium. Allscott Heath’s victory at the same time means that Foley head into the final day knowing that their fate may not be in their own hands.
In the most mid-table of mid-table clashes in the South on Saturday, 10th took on 11th as Market Drayton Town hosted Cammell Laird 1907. Given how close the two teams are in the league table, there was a bit of a gulfing class on show in the day, as Town put Laird to the sword in a 4-1 win to completely close the points gap between the pair in the league.
Winsford United are CHAMPIONS of the First Division South! We already knew that going into the weekend, but with two matches left to go in the campaign, they can still accentuate their celebrations, and Saturday was a great example of that. They welcomed Ashville to the Barton Stadium and blew their opponents’ fading play-off hopes away in a 4-0 win.
Other scores
New Mills 0-1 Allscott Heath
Sandbach United 1-0 Runcorn Town
Shawbury United 0-1 Stockport Georgians
Wolves Sporting 1-0 Stafford Town
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