Week 7: Summary

Sun 7th September 2025 | Match Reviews | By Martin Fallon

Weekend 7 n the NWCFL saw us back to league action only with a full programme in all three divisions.

Premier Division 

Padiham continued their perfect start in the Premier Division with their 2-1 win at Padiham being their seventh straight victory. Bradley Knox put them ahead in the 26th minute with Moses Yoak levelliing in the 69th minute. However Jay Hart restored the lead six minutes later with the Storks seeing out the game to lead the way in the league.

They are two points clear of Ramsbottom United who comfortably beat AFC Liverpool 4-1. Maine Walder opened the scoring six minutes before the break with Harvey Hayhurst adding another in first half stoppage time. Jacob Holland-Wilkinson then scored in the very first minute of the second half with Hayhurst getting his second on 79 minutes. Elliot Taylor scored a consolation in stoppage time.

Irlam are third but they needed an injury time winner to see off Prestwich Heys. Declan Daniels headed home the opener in the very first minute with Heys levelling through Connor Martin with 20 minutes to go. However John Johnston kept his cool two minutes into stoppage time to slot home the winner.

Burscough are in fine form and romped to their biggest win of the season as they beat FC Isle of Man 5-0. All the goals came in the second half through Christian Mukoko, William Lawson, Matthew Hamilton, Callum Laird and Stephen Rigby. And Stockport Town complete the early play off places with a 1-0 win over Litherland REMYCA, Keane Barugh scoring after just six minutes.

Elsewhere Jordan Darr scored a hat-trick as Charnock Richard ran out 4-2 winners over City of Liverpool. Aaron Dwyer scored twice for Wythenshawe as they beat Barnoldswick Town 3-0. 

Despite winning Club of the Month, Chadderton slumped to a 2-1 home defeat by Longridge Town with Jack Anderton scoring a late winner. There were also fine away wins for Atherton LR, who scored twice in stoppage time to win 3-1 at Cheadle Town, and Pilkington, with Ben Duckworth scoring twice in a 4-0 win at Glossop North End. West Didsbury & Chorlton also won on the road, 1-0 at South Liverpool.

First Division North

Droylsden are the new leaders in the First Division North after a 2-1 win over Colne. An Own Goal on 14 minutes and a Nellson Van second half an hour later put them in control, and despite Miles Storey pulling one back on the hour, the Bloods secured their fifth win in seven games.

Maghull drop to second after a 5-2 loss at Thornton Cleveleys. Darren Brannigan put Maghull ahead with Archie Lang levelling before Luke Noble took over. He scored twice to put Thornton in control before Sam Smith made it 3-2 just after the hour mark. Another two from Noble put the game out of reach of the visitors. 

Ashton Town beat Squires Gate 3-1 with Alexandre Santos scoring twice. Christopher Lomax added a third before Scott Harries scored a consolation in stoppage time. AFC Blackpool beat Maine Road 2-0, both their goals coming in the first half from James Hughes and Jacob Gregory. 

Nelson won in the battle of the new managers, with Max Cane scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win at Daisy Hill. And Tom Dawson scored both goals as Holker Old Boys beat Ashton Athletic 2-0.

There were draws in the remaining three games. Garstand led MSB Woolton 2-0 with Andrew Murphy scoring twice, with the visitors coming back with two late goals from Joe Harvey and Daniel Ventre to draw 2-2. Fulwood Amateurs scored six minutes into stoppage time through Spencer Lucas to draw 1-1 at Darwen, Josh Abbott scoring their goal.

And Bacup Borough played their first home game of the season as they celebrated the opening of their new clubhouse with a 1-1 draw with Steeton. Mccauley Smith put the visitors ahead before Kyle Siddle levelled on the hour.

First Division South 

It was something of a weird day in the First Division South with none of the top seven in the league at kick off winning their games.

Leaders Telford Town drew 1-1 at Cammell Laird 1907, Alex Hughes with a goal inside three minutes that was cancelled out by a Ben Wood penalty just a minute later. Runcorn Town had to twice come from behind to draw 2-2 at home to fourth place New Mills. Jalanil Blake scored early on with Connor Spiers quickly levelling. Maysan Benarbia restored the lead on the hour with Jamie Apperley again levelling.

Patryk Mazurkiewicz scored his first goal of the season to put Stafford Town ahead at Sandbach United, with Jake Pollard and Alex Bennett turning the game around to a 2-1 win to Sandbach. And fifth place Stockport Georgians lost 2-1 at home to Shawbury United, Brendon Price and Eric Mensah putting them two ahead before Harry Lynn pulled one back with ten minutes remaining.

Eccleshall raced into a 3-0 lead over Barnton within half an hour, Aiden Braxton-Lloyd, Nicky Parker and Ben Marshall scoring for them before Joel Hind pulled one back to make it 3-1. Jonathan Letford scored twice in a minute at the end of the first half to give Wolverhampton Casuals a 2-0 win over Foley Meir.

Jack Finney put Market Drayton Town ahead at Cheadle Heath Nomads with Edson Cata levelling on 17 minutes. Isaac Shaw and Daniel Holdcroft then made it 3-1 at the break, and despite Cata adding another, they could not force an equaliser.

There was a 3-3 draw though, that coming at Alscott Heath against Alsager Town. Two goals in the opening six minutes from Steven Hole and Benjamin Summers put Heath in control, however second half goals from Luke Nicholls, Daniel Guiver and Alfie Carmichael turned the game around. The home side had Ben Davies to thank for the point, his leveller coming three minutes into stoppage time.

The final game saw Ethan Pickford score twice to put Haughmond in control over Ashville, however the visitors forced a point with second half goals from Shaun Farrall and Joseph Dulson.

A full round up of the weekend games will be posted on Monday.

Photo from Russell Cox via X from the Eccleshall v Barnton game.