This weekend saw a plethora of league games from the NWCFL end as high-scoring affairs.
There's nowhere better start than towards the top of the tree in the Premier Division, where promotion hopefuls Burscough won 5-2 on away soil this weekend against Longridge Town. Following the win, satisfied gaffer Phil Stafford said: “another three points is all that matters today.
“It was probably our worst first half performance of the season, but we echoed that with our best second half performance. We knew Longridge posed a serious threat going forward and they proved that again today.
“The biggest positive for me and the group is that they never quit - they don’t know when they are beat. That’s a sign of a good side, and once again, all 16 lads in the squad produced a great second half performance.”
They weren’t the biggest winners in the Premier Division this past weekend, however. That distinction goes to Trafford, who put South Liverpool to the sword in a 6-1 win in front of a home crowd on Saturday. After full time, manager Tom Baker told the club media: “I think the three points and the win was the really important thing, after a few games without a win.
“I think it’s good that we’ve scored so many goals towards the end after threatening to for quite a few games, and in general this season.
“How we went in at 2-1 up at half time, I don’t know. We had countless chances in the first half. The goal that we gave away was very sloppy, but, with all due respect to our opponents, we could’ve been four or five up by half time.
“We started a bit like that in the second half, but that third goal gave us confidence, and we looked really clinical within the last 25 to 20 minutes. That’s the way it goes sometimes, but sometimes it doesn’t go like that.
“They [South Liverpool] are a good team – they’re young, energetic, they had quality in certain areas, they were a threat, but the important thing today was getting the three points, and we’ve got that.”
In the First Division North, new boys and former relegation zone occupiers AFC Knowsley have shot out of the bottom three as of this weekend, with an emphatic 4-0 win over Squires Gate. After the whistle, manager David Platt said: “Following a couple of tough games, we needed a reaction against a team who are close to us in the league.
“Whilst Squires Gate were unlucky with an early injury and sending off, we created those situations with quick, direct play, and we got into good positions early.
“I’m made up with the attitude shown by the lads after a tough run, and my only real criticism is that we were a bit wasteful in front of goal - we really should have scored more.
“Credit to Squires Gate, who worked hard and were good on the ball, even when they were a man down.”
To the South, and another side that were the beneficiaries of a big win and clean sheet were Allscott Heath. They put six past Foley Meir without reply at the Peter Ford Stadium in a game that also featured a Ben Davies hat-trick. Following the win, manager Harvinder Singh said: “Our lads were dangerous from the first minute.
“Our top goalscorer, Ben Davies, put the first one in the back of the net within five minutes. From there, we proceeded to play fast, attacking and positive football, and Ben scored his second after 30 minutes, and our skipper, Jacob Welch, added a third on the stroke of half time.
“The second half was more of the same and the lads were tasked with a job to kill the game. Their motivation was clear – to become the top scorers in the league. The Monners delivered just that as we end the weekend by reaching 39 with our goal tally for the season.”
Finally, in what was almost certainly the game of the weekend, Dawley Town emerged victorious from an absolute war away from home against Widnes Town.
The Jockeys came away with maximum points from a 6-5 barnstormer of a game, following which, joint-gaffer Tom White simply said: “What a game for the neutral - not for a manager though!
“I think I felt every emotion possible during those 90 minutes! But we got the job done. That's a massive three points for us, and the lads showed true Dawley spirit and never gave up throughout.
“Hopefully we can kick on now and keep picking up points. Our togetherness is key - UP THE JOCKEYS!”
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