Gameweek 39: Review

Mon 21st April 2025 | Match Reviews | By Jay Cooper

Another weekend, another round of games from all 3 divisions of the NWCFL, includong the final round of league fixtures in the Premier Division, AND the play-off semi-finals in the First Divisions North and South. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.

Premier Division

Friday:

In the last Friday night match under the lights of the 2024/25 season, Chadderton played host to Litherland REMYCA, and got the weekend off to a hot start. Six different players scored in this match, with four of those players wearing Chaddy colours, as the home side managed a 4-2 victory to give their fans something to enjoy on the final day.

Saturday:

Bury have done it! It has been a war with Lower Breck during the run-in, but they have finally officially claimed the NWCFL Premier Division crown for 2024/25 – and they did so in style. Tyler James scored a hat-trick for the Shakers as they dismantled Burscough 4-0 to win the title.

Already-relegated Squires Gate showed fight on the final day, even after their 24th-placed finish was confirmed last week. Away at Charnock Richard on Saturday, they held onto a lead until the 89^th minute, but they ultimately conceded to Nathan Nickeas near the end and settled for a 2-2 draw.

Lower Breck knew that, to win the title on Saturday, they’d need to win, hope Bury lost, and that they’d need to make up six goals of GD to boot. They held up their end of the bargain, beating Cheadle Town 4-1 away from home, but the Shakers win meant that Breck will have to settle for second in the table, with 106 points to their name.

Colne were technically not relegated going into the final day, but they would’ve needed a win, a Prestwich Heys defeat, and a 13-goal swing to survive. They gave it a go, winning 2-1 against Abbey Hey at home thanks to a late Jack Holt goal, but that couldn’t stop them finishing the season in the bottom two.

Over 1,000 fans were in attendance for FC Isle of Man’s curtain closer for the 2024/25 season, against play-off side West Didsbury and Chorlton. In the second half both Victor Abadaki and Jordan Lazenbury scored to seal a 2-0 win for West and give them as much momentum as possible for the play-offs.

Neither Glossop North End nor Pilkington had much to fight for on the final day, ever since the latter’s safety was assured last week. Still, that didn’t stop GNE tearing it up and giving the fans a good watch on the final day. They hammered their visitors 4-0, with Keaton Mulvey bagging a brace.

Similarly, Irlam’s fire for the season was extinguished last week as they became mathematically unable to make the play-off places, and that showed in a sense on the final day as they hosted FC St Helens. Mike Smith’s away side came out swinging in the second half of this match to win 3-0 and finish their campaign on a high.

Longridge Town have conceded over 100 league goals this season, and they hadn’t scored in their last seven games as they welcomed in-form Prestwich Heys to Inglewhite Road. Thanks in part to a tour de force performance by their goalkeeper Kier Barry, Town not only kept a clean sheet, but broke their scoring duck to win 1-0.

Ramsbottom United’s title charge may have died out towards the end of the season, but they will have the play-offs to look forward to, now that the regular season is over. They finished the campaign by hosting Barnoldswick Town, and the honours were shared on the day, as Oscar Radcliffe’s goal was cancelled out by Brandon Barski for Barlick, to see the game end 1-1.

There was some late drama at Jericho Lane as Liverpool’s South and AFC battled it out for pride on the final day. The scoreline was delicately poised at 1-1 going into added time, but Adam Moorcroft struck in the 92^nd minute to seal a 2-1 win for AFC Liverpool, ending their season with maximum points.

Padiham looked every bit the play-off team that they are in the first half of their final day showdown with Stockport Town. They’d raced into a 2-0 lead away from home, but Paul Turnbull’s home side fought back in the second period to snatch a point and see the game end 2-2.

First Division Champions Cup

It was bragging rights time on Saturday, as the First Division South league winners Winsford United took First Division North league winners Atherton LR at the former’s Barton Stadium. Home advantage didn’t end up being enough for Winsford, as Rovers pulled out a gutsy performance to win 3-2 and confirm themselves as double champions for the season – and they’ve still got the Edward Case Cup to compete for!

First Division North play-offs

Hoping to join Atherton LR in promotion were both Droylsden, who finished 3^rd, and Holker Old Boys, who finished 4^th. Holker got the ball rolling in this semi-final showdown through Joe Amison just after half an hour, but Droylsden equalised after an hour thanks to Harry Shipton. In the end, penalties were needed, and the Bloods’ nerve was greater. They won 4-2 to set up a play-off final with…

…Euxton Villa! As the lowest-seeded side in the play-offs, they were on their travels on Saturday, so second-placed Nelson, who had run Atherton LR close for the title all season. Villa went step for step with their hosts and the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. After what I’m sure felt like the longest shootout ever for both sets of fans, Villa eventually won 10-9 to book their spot in the play-off final.

First Division South play-offs

In stark contrast to their First Division North counterparts, Abbey Hulton United made very straightforward work of their play-off semi-final hosting of Eccleshall. Five different players got their names on the scoresheet for AHU as they stormed into the play-off final, where they will face…

…Stafford Town! And this match was not one for the feint hearted! Hosting Sandbach United, the score was 3-2 to Staffs heading into the final 10 minutes, when the drama really intensified. Staffs lead was extended by Max van der Laan, then reduced by a Kieran Nolan penalty for Sandbach, then extended again by Jayden Hunter in added time, before an instant reply by Joe Bevan for Sandbach set up a very nervy ending. When the final whistle blew, the score was 5-4 in favour of Stafford, who now have the play-off and Edward Case Cup finals to look forward to in the next seven days.