Gameweek 40: Review

Mon 28th April 2025 | Match Reviews | By Jay Cooper

With all three divisions of the NWCFL having concluded their seasons, the play-offs took centre stage this past weekend. Read all about what happened in the Premier Division play-off semi-finals AND the play-off finals for the First Divisions North and South below!

Premier Division play-offs:

Like last weekend, there were some play-off contests to keep an eye on this past Saturday in the NWCFL, and these ones came from the Premier Division. Firstly, second-placed Lower Breck, who finished the season with 106 points, lest we forget, played host to West Didsbury and Chorlton, who were the side that would eventually round out the top five in the table for 2024/25.

West actually took the lead, against the odds, in this game. Billy Matthews gave the visitors the advantage after 36 minutes, but Breck weren’t to be deterred after all their hard work this season. With 10 minutes remaining, Samuel Burns put the hosts on his back and score twice in four minutes to flip the script and help Breck see out a 2-1 victory to advance to the final

To determine who else would make it to the final, Ramsbottom United, who had led the division for a good length of time throughout this season, were to play host to Padiham, who were also play-off candidates in 2023/24.

With well over 1,000 people in attendance, Padiham scored their first at the optimum time, right before the break, thanks to Daniel Wilkins. The ever-reliable Joel Brownhill added a second with 25 inutes to go, before a Luke Barlow goal for Rammy set up a nervy finish in added time. The Storks held on away from home, winning 2-1 and setting up a date with Lower Breck in the final.

First Division North play-off FINAL:

This is it. The end of the regulation season for the First Division North. And it came down to Droylsden and Euxton Villa for a chance at promotion. Droylsden had beaten Holker Old Boys, and Villa had upset Nelson, both on penalties, to set up this clash.

It would be the visitors that came out ahead, with Alex Colquhoun scoring on the half hour mark, and Raj Uppal doubling their lead six minutes later. In the second half, it was a matter of preserving the advantage for Matty Atherton’s men, and they did the job, shutting Droylsden out and winning 2-0 to earn promotion to Step 5.

First Division South play-off FINAL:

This is also it. The end of the regulation season for the First Division South. And it came down to Abbey Hulton United and Stafford Town for a chance at promotion. It was the two best of the rest going toe to toe, with United having battered Eccleshall in the semi-final, and Stafford winning a war with Sandbach United to get here.

Neither team needed penalties in their respective semi-final, but there was one needed here, as Abbey Hulton twice had a lead cancelled out – firstly Kieran Brown by Jayden Hunter; then Lewis Holdham by Patryk Mazurkiewicz. With the score at 2-2 by the final whistle, spot kicks were required, and Abbey Hulton held their nerve. They won 3-0 in the shootout to confirm their promotion to Step 5.