The long, long season in the Premier Division draws to a close this weekend and the play-offs in both First Divisions get going. Here's the lowdown of the next seven days:
PREMIER DIVISION
Once again, the title race has gone to the 46th and final game of the season! Just a two-horse race this time though, and it's advantage Bury as the 'Shakers' need just one more point to win the title and end their five-year stay in the NWCFL (three of those as Bury AFC). The League attendance record of 6,023 looks certain to be broken as over 7,500 tickets have been sold for their Gigg Lane clash against Burscough; simply phenomenal support! Dave McNabb has masterminded his side's way to 106 points so far this term but he still has work to do as Lower Breck are still within range - they travel to Cheadle Town tomorrow looking to do what they can to snatch the title and bring the trophy back to L6.
Bury have now won a club-record 14 league games in a row and haven't so much as conceded a goal in the last eight of those, the last time the ball hit the back of Mitch Allen's net was all the way back in February! They come up against a Burscough side that have quietly been getting on with things recently; while they sit 10th in the table and have nothing to play for but pride, they have won eight of their last nine games and so arrive into BL9 bang in-form and looking to cause a monumental upset.
Challengers Lower Breck have embarked on a staggering run of form of their own, manager Gary Moore has led his side to 13 successive league wins to keep the pressure on the 'Shakers' at the top of the table, including a 6-0 win over Barnoldswick Town last weekend to close the goal difference deficit to just five - although fewer goals scored means that a six-goal swing is needed to leapfrog Bury. Sam Burns bagged a brace in that one, fresh from being presented with his Player of the Month award for March as he continues to terrorise defences on a regular basis.
Away from the title race and Colne's place at Step 5 is hanging by a thread. A 2-0 loss away at AFC Liverpool last time out combined with Prestwich Heys' win over Irlam means that the 'Reds' are three points from safety and need a 13-goal swing in order to remain at this level next season. Their opposition for game 46 comes in the form of Abbey Hey, who have taken to life in the Premier Division like a duck to water following promotion last season and sit 13th in the table, with late goals being a crucial factor for Simon Heaton's squad. Prestwich Heys travel to Longridge Town with their task at hand crystal-clear: do not lose. Safety would complete a remarkable turnaround for Heys, who were nine points adrift at the turn of the year and had won just three of their first 28 league games. In fact, had the league started on January 1st, Heys would sit 9th!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH/SOUTH PLAY-OFFS
By 5.30pm on Saturday we should be one step closer to knowing who will be joining Atherton LR and Winsford United at Step 5 next season. The play-offs follow the standard format used at Steps 3-6 of the National League System; 2nd hosts 5th and 3rd hosts 4th in a one-legged semi-final, with the highest-ranked club hosting the final.
In the North division play-offs, Nelson welcome Euxton Villa to the Daisy Arena while Holker Old Boys make the trip to Droylsden. Nelson and Euxton shared the spoils in their regular season fixtures as both sides won their home games 2-0 back in the autumn and the 'Admirals' earned home advantage in the play-offs after finishing 2nd, picking up 70 points from their 34 games, five more than their opponents. However, they did stutter home in the end and lost three of their last six while Matt Atherton's 'Villa' won their last two games to finish the season strongly and stave off the threat of Darwen taking their place.
Droylsden have been a formidable force at the Butchers Arms this season and have tasted league defeat on home soil just once since their transfer to this division last summer. It was only three weeks ago that they faced off against Holker Old Boys in league action, the 'Bloods' raced into a two-goal lead through talisman George Kattah and then Liam Moran before late goals from Farryl Foster and Luke Ellis snatched a draw for the visiting 'Stags' to take a point back up to Cumbria. The two met at Holker's Handmark Engineering Stadium way back in August and it was a rare bad day at the office for the away side that day; Tom Dawson's brace helped the hosts to a 4-0 win against the ten men of Droylsden. Holker arrive into this clash as the side more in form, the managerial duo of Kevin Watkin and David Round have overseen a six-match unbeaten run, including three straight victories to cap off a great league season as the 'Stags' aim to return to the top flight of the NWCFL for the first time since 1999!
Heading South, it's a local derby in the first semi as Abbey Hulton United host Eccleshall for a place in the final. Both sides recorded their highest-ever league finish in 2024/25 and embark on their first play-off campaigns as a result. Abbey come into this in blistering form as they have won five in a row to clinch the runners-up spot - conceding just one goal across those games too. Eccleshall aren't too far further down the form table as they have won four of their last six to fight off competiton from Cheadle Heath Nomads and Ashville for that final play-off spot. it is actually Eccleshall who hold the upper hand in the H2H this season, winning 3-0 in their home game back in August through a Liam Hallam hat-trick before two goals deep into stoppage time saw them win 3-1 at tomorrow's venue, Drayton Beaumont Park.
The fourth semi-final comes from Stafford Town's Evans Park, where Sandbach United will visit for the second time in as many weekends. This is Sandbach's fifth play-off campaign, after semi-final defeats in 2017, 2018 and 2024 and a final defeat in 2023. The 'Ramblers' finished two points behind their hosts and make the trip south after drawing 1-1 last weekend - a victory would have seen them leapfrog Stafford into third place. The other league fixture between the pair was way back on the opening day in July and also finished all square, Eshan Greer cancelling out a Ben Greenop opener for the 'Bach. Stafford were in the title race for a long, long time before a run of just one win in their last six league games saw them slip away from eventual champions Winsford and finish in third position. That takes nothing away from what has been a fantastic season for Adam Wall's side, who have not one but two cup finals to look forward to in the coming weeks alongside competing for promotion.
CUP FINALS
There is also the small matter of three cup finals over the next week. First up is the Champions Cup, held between the winners of both First Divisions in a one-off match at the club who had the best record over the season. That honour goes to the champions of the South division, Winsford United, who amassed a huge 86 points during a historic season at the Barton Stadium. Visiting the Barton Stadium this weekend are Atherton LR, who won the North division and picked up 78 points under the stewardship of Dave Jones. This will be the first meeting between the two sides since a League Cup First Round tie way back in October 2016 when four goals in the final 22 minutes of the game saw then-Premier Division Winsford run riot over LR and win 4-0.
Easter Monday sees the final of the Edward Case Cup take place at SMS Pro Soccer Park, home of FC St Helens. Finalists this year are Atherton LR and Stafford Town, who are both aiming to pick up 'doubles' this term. LR are of course halfway there already after winning the First Division North, while Stafford Town have the Macron Cup final to look forward to in a couple of weeks time. The Crilly Park outfit began their cup run with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Steeton in the First Round before getting the better of Route One Rovers at the Marley Stadium in the next round, winning 2-1 through goals from Harvey Sample and Joe Bacon. Onto the Quarter Final and a 4-0 demolition of Cheadle Heath Nomads set up a Semi-Final tie away at Holker Old Boys and a slice of cup magic as veteran Dave Moore bagged an equaliser before a 90th minute corner from Harvey Sample found its way into the back of the net to book their place in the final.
Stafford Town got going with a 3-0 home win over Wolverhampton Sporting Community before a 9-8 penalty shootout win at Stockport Georgians in the Second Round after neither side could break the deadlock in 90 minutes. The Quarter Final was one for the ages as Maine Road were beaten 7-4 at Evans Park, Matthew Hearsey and Patryk Mazurkiewicz both scoring twice as the goals rained down in Staffordshire. The Semi-Final was far more routine and Town secured their spot in the final with a 3-0 win at home to Ashville, featuring another brace from Mazurkiewicz.
Last but by no means least, Route One Rovers face former NWCFL side Golcar United in the final of the West Riding County Cup, to be played at the West Riding FA HQ in Woodlesford. Route One have had a poor league season and finished in a relegation position but have the chance to pick up some silverware should they get the better of Step 5 opposition next week. We wish Route One Rovers good luck as they aim to be the second NWCFL side to win a county cup this term.
All fixtures can be found on the fixtures page here: NWCFL Fixtures, with any recent changes to fixtures recorded here: Fixture Changes
| Gameweek 39: Preview |
| Gameweek 38: Preview |
| Gameweek 37: Preview |
| Gameweek 36: Preview |
