NWCFL First Division North
| AFC Blackpool | 2-0 | Ashton Town |
AFC Blackpool manager Martin Baird, "Just want to credit the ground staff for the pitch was in great condition for this time of the year especially with the weather we have had. In terms of the game it was always going to be a tough game as I thought Ashton was a good side but credit to the lads I don’t think we let them get going we restricted them to a few pleasing chances.
"More pleasing we had a few missing but still kept a clean sheet and put a deserved three points performance in. Shows how much we know as managers when your left-back is taking a free kick in the 88th minute on the right-hand side and you're wanting him to get back into position but he curls it into the top left corner and I think to myself they don’t need me I just need to shut up.
"We set out a target in late June to where we wanted to be without shouting from the rooftops and all the lads brought into that and have achieved that outcome. Now we will sit down and set out our next targets which we don’t have any input it’s purely on the lads say. But first and foremost we need to dust ourselves down and get ready for two tough games against Garstang and Nelson over the next week."
| AFC Liverpool | 4-1 | Chadderton |
Chadderton manager David Fish," Another disappointing result. We played reasonably well against a very strong and in-form AFC Liverpool team. Their movement was very good and the countered very quickly as shown in the first goal which came 10 seconds after they'd made a block in their 6-yard box.
"It was pleasing that we tested their keeper much more than we have in recent games and could easily have gone in level. The second half we lost shape and discipline and they opened us up several times and could have scored more than four. We also could easily have scored more and an 8-4 as the league saw at Barnoldswick.
"We have four huge games over the next couple of weeks and I've set a target for the players which if we achieve will see us back in mid-table."
| Bacup Borough | 3-3 | Daisy Hill |
Bacup Borough Manager Brent Peters, "Despite the fact we had to come from a goal down to then take a 3-1 lead with only a quarter of the game left, it was disappointing to have drawn the game from a two-goal cushion situation. This was down to bad defending when I talk about bad defending it is not pointing the finger at our defenders as such, more talking about the team out of possession's defending.
"All we had to do was to put a block of five in front of our back four, nullify any space, in this our strikers have to take responsibility by dropping on the ends of our midfield, the fact this did not happen Daisy Hill exploited this by working the gaps which were enough to get them back on level terms. It was a great shame really because the boys had worked hard throughout the game, but when players don't listen, this or more to the point strikers shirking their defensive responsibilities.
"We finished last ten minutes with ten men following a Ryan Sidall late challenge resulting in a second yellow card, both I and Dave Felgate say time and again, the boy's commitment and enthusiasm are second to none, but he must learn it is not always the case to go and win the ball. This was one of those situations given also he was on a yellow card from previous, but this apart Siddal, along with his midfield counterparts of milo and Hewitt, was a massive improvement on our previous game.
"The icing on the cake was the outstanding quality finish to give us a three-one lead, our regret being Ryan's quality finish was not good enough to see us over the line as that goal was that special, it deserved to secure us the three points. We had a penalty claim turned down almost at the end, when their keeper told me after the game it was a stonewall penalty, then the fact it was not given makes me even more perplexed.
"Credit to Daisy Hill by their fightback and credit to our boys for coming from a goal down, just a pity we did not manage the game better to secure the win."
| St Helens Town | 2-2 | Atherton LR |
St Helens Town manager David Platt, "Today was a big game for us having lost the last two- we needed to stop that negative momentum. In the first twenty-five minutes, we off the pace and LR were impressive in their quick use of the ball.
"After that, we got a foothold in the game and grew in confidence finishing the half strongly. The first half finished 0-0 with the most notable contributions coming from the two keepers, ours making two saves he had no right making and LR's saving two one on one situations.
"Second half we started strong and took control of the game for the most part. The second half had fewer chances, with the best for us coming to Conor Barton who beat the keeper with a lob that drifted wide and when given time on the edge of the box fired wide.
"In the 68th minute, the newly introduced Cyril showed his pace and cut through our defence to finish a one on one chance he made himself.
"Town pushed on and threatened during a 10-minute sin bin for LR but couldn't breakthrough. Back to 11 men and Atherton scored against the run of play in the 87th minute and it looked all over. Until 90+1 when a hopeful ball from Jesse Robinson found Giddy Varela who cut inside and set up Hal McHugh on the edge of the box to rifle home.
"A frantic last few minutes then saw Neil weaver play in Obua Mugalula who held off the defender to chip the advancing keeper with the outside of his boot. 2-2 with the last kick of the game and on go Christmas!"
| Steeton | 1-3 | Prestwich Heys |
Steeton manager Roy Mason, "We were poor today - a shadow of the team we've been of late and we got what we deserved. Prestwich Heys showed more desire and wanted to win the game more than we did. Our decision making was poor in all areas & we need to now shake ourselves down & prepare for Nelson on Boxing Day."
NWCFL First Division South
| Barnton | 0-2 | Ellesmere Rangers |
Ellesmere Rangers manager Connor Courtney, "It is a hard place to come, they made it hard for us, but we needed a reaction after last week and that's what we got. New signing Kev Renshaw scoring two, one of them being a penalty.
"We could have been a few more up but the keeper made some good saves. The second half turned into a battle and we defended well to keep the clean sheet.
"Kev could have got his hat trick but missed a penalty. We will let him off as he won us the game! Onto Sandbach now Boxing Day. "
| Stockport Town | 2-1 | West Didsbury & Chorlton |
Stockport Town manager Adam Jones," Absolutely made up this evening, we deserved the 3 points today. We showed 1st half we can play some really good football, we had a game plan to press high and our 2nd goal came from exactly that, winning the ball high up the pitch and punishing them. 2nd half we showed we can manage games better and we were never really threatened. West Didsbury is a good team and again we showed we can compete with the teams at the top.Merry Christmas. "
| Wythenshawe Amateurs | 0-2 | Eccleshall |
Eccleshall manager Kyle Adams," It's always nice to go into Christmas with a win, especially over a side like Amateurs. They're in a bit of a false position so to come away from there with the three points is fantastic.
"We weren't brilliant in the first half but we stuck at it and improved a bit in the second 45. It was a pretty even game still but we've managed to get a couple of quick goals when we created the chances. Louis and the back four stood firm and were superb all afternoon.
"To go away to Vauxhall and Amateurs within a few days and come away with four points and two clean sheets is a credit to this group of players and the character and belief they've got. They can enjoy their Christmas now and look forward to what is a big, big game at Stone on Boxing Day."
The main photograph was taken from Steeton's 3-1 defeat to Prestwich Heys, as taken by John Chapman.
