Week 18: Preview
Fri 21st November 2025 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
The second round of the Macron Cup will be a fixture of the weekend, and there's plenty of league action to bring to your attention, too! Let's see who is facing whom this weekend...
Friday:
Macron Cup, 3rd Round:
After last week’s Edward Case Cup outings, there’s more NWCFL cup action to bring to you this weekend, as the league’s premier competition returns. There’s a Preston derby to bring to you on Friday night from the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground, where Euxton Villa will meet Charnock Richard; as well as an all-First Division North affair between MSB Woolton and Thornton Cleveleys.
Saturday:
Macron Cup, 3rd Round:
The cup fixtures continue at pace on Saturday, with three of the five fixtures being contested between sides who know each other very well, being from the same division. Representing the Prem, Cheadle Town will welcome Chadderton to the Ground Up Solutions Stadium; and in what would be a massive six-pointer if it were a league game, two promotion hunters will go toe to toe for a different prize – a place in the fourth round – when Ramsbottom United host West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Elsewhere, two title hopefuls from the First Division South will meet at the DRM Aggregate Arena, as Telford Town accommodate Runcorn Town.
There are two inter-divisional clashes that also warrant a mention. Premier Division Burscough will play hosts to First Division North AFC Blackpool; and Nelson, also from the North, will be on the road to square off with First Division South outfit Sandbach United.
Premier Division:
Despite all the cup competition going on this weekend, there are plenty of league matches to bring to your attention on Saturday, too. In the day’s early kick-off, Longridge Town will welcome FC Isle of Man to Inglewhite Road, which will set the stage for an afternoon of interesting action.
Padiham will be back on the pitch in the Prem this coming Saturday for an away trip to Pilkington, hoping to narrow the gap between themselves and the top two, with Rammy and West facing one another in the Macron Cup.
Also in the promotion picture are Wythenshawe, who will welcome third-bottom City of Liverpool to the Avensure Community Stadium this weekend: a defeat for either team wouldn’t see them drop below their respective dotted lines in the table. Meanwhile, FC St Helens have crept into the top five over the course of the last week, and they will hope to stay there with a positive result against Barnoldswick Town on the road this weekend.
Having not featured in the league since the first of the month, Irlam will hope to regain some momentum in their own promotion push on Saturday, but an away trip to Jericho Lane to battle South Liverpool, just one point behind them and with play-off ambitions of their own, may prove to be quite the challenge.
Prestwich Heys are currently two points behind their visitors this weekend in Glossop North End, which means maximum points would see them leapfrog their opponents in the table. Glossop are hoping to make it six wins in seven, but even if they manage that, Heys will still have a whopping five games in hand on their opponents.
Finally, there’s a potential banana skin coming this weekend for two mid-table sides. Atherton LR haven’t played since the eight of the month and have lost seven of their last eight matches, which means second-bottom Abbey Hey might fancy their chances on Saturday to snap their own losing run of four straight matches when they host Rovers. Elsewhere, bottom side Litherland REMYCA now have a losing streak of 21 matches to their name, and the latest side stepping up to them and hoping that they won’t be the victims of an underdog victory are 11th placed Stockport Town.
First Division North:
It’s business as usual for 10 teams in the First Division North, with all of the top three going for glory on Saturday. Leaders Maghull will meet third-placed Darwen FC in a tantalising top of the table clash. Second-placed Ashton Town will be waiting in the wings to capitalise on the chance that neither team walks away with maximum points – they’re in action too, against one of the division’s form teams, in Fulwood Amateurs.
Towards the foot of the division, bottom side Garstang will host Colne, who are a good four places above the relegation zone, but there is a mere two points between the away side and the bottom three. At the same time, Maine Road, now sitting cautiously just outside of the drop zone via goal difference, have the chance to go level on points with their visitors Daisy Hill, who are currently 11th place in the table.
Finally, Bacup Borough, who have quietly stated their case for promotion in recent weeks and crept into the top five, will hope to stay there when they welcome struggling Squires Gate – who snapped a four-game losing streak last time out – to the Brian Boys West View Stadium.
First Division South:
There are six matches on offer from the First Division South to bring to your attention this weekend, with the standout fixture surely being a clash of play-off hopefuls at the Creative Hut Stadium. Fourth-placed Barnton will welcome second-placed Eccleshall.
Towards the middle of the table, there’s action coming on Saturday from Church Lane, where eight-placed New Mills will play hosts to Foley Meir just below them in the table, with just a point separating the two sides before this clash. Also in mid-table right now are Ashville, and they will hope to regain momentum after two straight losses against current relegation zone occupiers Shawbury United.
Just one point separates Alsager Town and Cheadle Heath Nomads as the two sides go head to head on Saturday, with the top side in the relegation places just three and four points respectively behind these battling teams.
The bottom two teams in the division are also in action on Saturday. Wolves Sporting avoided defeat for only the second time in 15 games last time out against Telford, and will hope to build on that and close the gap on the rest of the league when they face Market Drayton Town. And finally, second-bottom Haughmond, who have lost their last four, battling Cammell Laird 1907, with the visitors to Sundorne Sports Village sitting outside of the drop zone by just a point.
Week 18: Preview
Fri 21st November 2025 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
The second round of the Macron Cup will be a fixture of the weekend, and there's plenty of league action to bring to your attention, too! Let's see who is facing whom this weekend...
Friday:
Macron Cup, 3rd Round:
After last week’s Edward Case Cup outings, there’s more NWCFL cup action to bring to you this weekend, as the league’s premier competition returns. There’s a Preston derby to bring to you on Friday night from the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground, where Euxton Villa will meet Charnock Richard; as well as an all-First Division North affair between MSB Woolton and Thornton Cleveleys.
Saturday:
Macron Cup, 3rd Round:
The cup fixtures continue at pace on Saturday, with three of the five fixtures being contested between sides who know each other very well, being from the same division. Representing the Prem, Cheadle Town will welcome Chadderton to the Ground Up Solutions Stadium; and in what would be a massive six-pointer if it were a league game, two promotion hunters will go toe to toe for a different prize – a place in the fourth round – when Ramsbottom United host West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Elsewhere, two title hopefuls from the First Division South will meet at the DRM Aggregate Arena, as Telford Town accommodate Runcorn Town.
There are two inter-divisional clashes that also warrant a mention. Premier Division Burscough will play hosts to First Division North AFC Blackpool; and Nelson, also from the North, will be on the road to square off with First Division South outfit Sandbach United.
Premier Division:
Despite all the cup competition going on this weekend, there are plenty of league matches to bring to your attention on Saturday, too. In the day’s early kick-off, Longridge Town will welcome FC Isle of Man to Inglewhite Road, which will set the stage for an afternoon of interesting action.
Padiham will be back on the pitch in the Prem this coming Saturday for an away trip to Pilkington, hoping to narrow the gap between themselves and the top two, with Rammy and West facing one another in the Macron Cup.
Also in the promotion picture are Wythenshawe, who will welcome third-bottom City of Liverpool to the Avensure Community Stadium this weekend: a defeat for either team wouldn’t see them drop below their respective dotted lines in the table. Meanwhile, FC St Helens have crept into the top five over the course of the last week, and they will hope to stay there with a positive result against Barnoldswick Town on the road this weekend.
Having not featured in the league since the first of the month, Irlam will hope to regain some momentum in their own promotion push on Saturday, but an away trip to Jericho Lane to battle South Liverpool, just one point behind them and with play-off ambitions of their own, may prove to be quite the challenge.
Prestwich Heys are currently two points behind their visitors this weekend in Glossop North End, which means maximum points would see them leapfrog their opponents in the table. Glossop are hoping to make it six wins in seven, but even if they manage that, Heys will still have a whopping five games in hand on their opponents.
Finally, there’s a potential banana skin coming this weekend for two mid-table sides. Atherton LR haven’t played since the eight of the month and have lost seven of their last eight matches, which means second-bottom Abbey Hey might fancy their chances on Saturday to snap their own losing run of four straight matches when they host Rovers. Elsewhere, bottom side Litherland REMYCA now have a losing streak of 21 matches to their name, and the latest side stepping up to them and hoping that they won’t be the victims of an underdog victory are 11th placed Stockport Town.
First Division North:
It’s business as usual for 10 teams in the First Division North, with all of the top three going for glory on Saturday. Leaders Maghull will meet third-placed Darwen FC in a tantalising top of the table clash. Second-placed Ashton Town will be waiting in the wings to capitalise on the chance that neither team walks away with maximum points – they’re in action too, against one of the division’s form teams, in Fulwood Amateurs.
Towards the foot of the division, bottom side Garstang will host Colne, who are a good four places above the relegation zone, but there is a mere two points between the away side and the bottom three. At the same time, Maine Road, now sitting cautiously just outside of the drop zone via goal difference, have the chance to go level on points with their visitors Daisy Hill, who are currently 11th place in the table.
Finally, Bacup Borough, who have quietly stated their case for promotion in recent weeks and crept into the top five, will hope to stay there when they welcome struggling Squires Gate – who snapped a four-game losing streak last time out – to the Brian Boys West View Stadium.
First Division South:
There are six matches on offer from the First Division South to bring to your attention this weekend, with the standout fixture surely being a clash of play-off hopefuls at the Creative Hut Stadium. Fourth-placed Barnton will welcome second-placed Eccleshall.
Towards the middle of the table, there’s action coming on Saturday from Church Lane, where eight-placed New Mills will play hosts to Foley Meir just below them in the table, with just a point separating the two sides before this clash. Also in mid-table right now are Ashville, and they will hope to regain momentum after two straight losses against current relegation zone occupiers Shawbury United.
Just one point separates Alsager Town and Cheadle Heath Nomads as the two sides go head to head on Saturday, with the top side in the relegation places just three and four points respectively behind these battling teams.
The bottom two teams in the division are also in action on Saturday. Wolves Sporting avoided defeat for only the second time in 15 games last time out against Telford, and will hope to build on that and close the gap on the rest of the league when they face Market Drayton Town. And finally, second-bottom Haughmond, who have lost their last four, battling Cammell Laird 1907, with the visitors to Sundorne Sports Village sitting outside of the drop zone by just a point.
