Week 28: Preview
Fri 30th January 2026 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
It’s Edward Case Cup time, for the first time in 2026! Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Friday:
Edward Case Cup, quarter-final:
Just one game to discuss going into tonight – under the lights, First Division South side Barnton will play host to First Division North side Darwen FC at the Creative Hut Stadium, with a place in the final four up for grabs.
Saturday:
Edward Case Cup, quarter-final:
There’s another North/South battle to take place in this competition at 3pm on Saturday, as Maghull will meet Stockport Georgians at the DT Hughes Community Stadium – one of three games that will take place at that time in the ECC.
The others will see an all-First Division North clash between fifth placed Nelson and 16th placed Maine Road; as well as an all-First Division South coming together between fifth placed Sandbach United and league leaders Runcorn Town.
Premier Division:
A full house of Premier Division fixtures to come this weekend!
For the first real time this season, Padiham look slightly off the pace in the Prem title race, having lost their last two. They are still second, but table-topping Wythenshawe FC have established a sizeable eight-point advantage over the chasing pack, despite their own defeat last time out. Both title chasers are in action this weekend, with the Storks hosting Atherton LR, and the Ammies welcoming Prestwich Heys.
Regardless of results this weekend, third-placed Ramsbottom United will retain their spot in the play-off places. That said, their league position may very well change, as Steve Wilkes’ side go over the pond to FC Isle of Man in the day’s late kick-off. The two sides right behind them in the top five, Burscough and West Didsbury & Chorlton, will meet one another at the former’s Community Ground, both hoping for a Rammy slip-up at the Bowl.
Right outside of the play-off places, Irlam and FC St Helens, who’ve both occasionally breached the top five at various points throughout the season, are tied for points right now on 54. Both teams’ most recent league matches were against bottom side Litherland REMYCA, with Irlam winning, and FC only managing a draw. This weekend, Irlam host second-bottom City of Liverpool; FC will welcome 15th placed Charnock Richard; and REMY will go on the road to 21st placed Barnoldswick Town.
The only side keeping Barlick from touching the dotted line above the drop zone right now are Abbey Hey, who have a mere two-point gap of their own on the relegation places. After five straight defeats, they’ll be campaigning to course correct when they go on the road to Euxton Villa.
Stockport Town are on cloud nine right now after their most recent match in the league – a 2-0 defeat of league leaders Wythenshawe. They’ll take that momentum on the road this weekend to go toe to toe with Longridge Town.
South Liverpool have dropped out of the top half of the table in recent weeks, but one win and positive results elsewhere could resolve that. This weekend, they will take on 17th placed Cheadle Town away from home, and they’ll be hoping for defeats for all of Longridge, Prestwich AND Glossop North End, who will be on their own travels to meet AFC Liverpool on Saturday.
There are just two sides between Chadderton and the play-off places, and whilst a victory this weekend wouldn’t see them jump right into the top five regardless of results elsewhere, it would be a step in the right direction. For their hosts on Saturday, Pilkington, there are just two sides separating THEM from the drop zone – a negative result wouldn’t condemn them, but a positive result is always welcome.
First Division North:
The title picture in the North remains arguably the most competitive in the country, with just three points separating top from seventh at the time of writing. Leaders Thornton Cleveleys are not in league action this weekend, which opens the door for both Squires Gate and Bacup Borough, who are playing on Saturday, to usurp them. Second-placed Gate will host their fellow relegated side from the Prem last season in Colne; and sixth-placed Bacup will be on the road to meet 10th placed Fulwood Amateurs.
Two more teams who can take top spot with the right results this weekend are third-placed Droylsden and fourth-placed MSB Woolton – these two teams will face one another in a real promotion battle six-pointer at the latter’s Jericho Lane.
The teams in 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th place in the table will all meet one another in some combination this weekend. AFC Blackpool, who currently lead this collection of sides, will travel to Steeton, who can leapfrog them in the table with maximum points; and Daisy Hill, currently last in this collection of sides, have the chance to close the gap on the rest as they welcome Holker Old Boys.
Finally, in a game that could truly shape the relegation picture in the division this season of either side are able to win and capitalise on that momentum in further matches, second-bottom Garstang will host bottom side Ashton Athletic, with just a point keeping one side above the other before kick-off on Saturday.
First Division South:
With runaway leaders Runcorn Town in Edward Case Cup action this weekend, the opportunity is there for the chasing pack to close the gap without reply on Saturday. Second-placed Eccleshall are a whopping 12 points behind the table toppers, but they can reduce that total this weekend on the road against 13th placed Cammell Laird 1907. Third-placed Telford Town are just a point further behind, but they have a similar chance at gap-cutting as they meet ninth-placed Ashville on home soil.
There are three sides currently on 41 points – only one of them is playing this weekend, and it’s the team with the best goal difference of the three. Stafford Town, currently fourth place, have the chance to separate themselves from the dotted line between fifth and sixth with a victory over 14th placed Wolves Casuals on the road.
There are another three teams on 36 points with only one side in league action this Saturday, and that’s New Mills. They can create separation between themselves and Barnton and Ashville, both in ECC action this weekend, when they face 11th placed Allcott Heath.
The three teams inside the relegation zone as of right now are all taking to the field this weekend. Third-bottom Alsager Town are in the best place to escape the drop zone right now, sitting just two points behind their visitors this weekend, Shawbury United. Three points worse off than Town are Haughmond, who are also at home on Saturday to meet Cheadle Heath Nomads.
Finally, in the division’s ultimate long-name derby, fifth-bottom Market Drayton Town will welcome the division’s wooden spoons at time of writing, Wolverhampton Sporting Community.
Week 28: Preview
Fri 30th January 2026 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
It’s Edward Case Cup time, for the first time in 2026! Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Friday:
Edward Case Cup, quarter-final:
Just one game to discuss going into tonight – under the lights, First Division South side Barnton will play host to First Division North side Darwen FC at the Creative Hut Stadium, with a place in the final four up for grabs.
Saturday:
Edward Case Cup, quarter-final:
There’s another North/South battle to take place in this competition at 3pm on Saturday, as Maghull will meet Stockport Georgians at the DT Hughes Community Stadium – one of three games that will take place at that time in the ECC.
The others will see an all-First Division North clash between fifth placed Nelson and 16th placed Maine Road; as well as an all-First Division South coming together between fifth placed Sandbach United and league leaders Runcorn Town.
Premier Division:
A full house of Premier Division fixtures to come this weekend!
For the first real time this season, Padiham look slightly off the pace in the Prem title race, having lost their last two. They are still second, but table-topping Wythenshawe FC have established a sizeable eight-point advantage over the chasing pack, despite their own defeat last time out. Both title chasers are in action this weekend, with the Storks hosting Atherton LR, and the Ammies welcoming Prestwich Heys.
Regardless of results this weekend, third-placed Ramsbottom United will retain their spot in the play-off places. That said, their league position may very well change, as Steve Wilkes’ side go over the pond to FC Isle of Man in the day’s late kick-off. The two sides right behind them in the top five, Burscough and West Didsbury & Chorlton, will meet one another at the former’s Community Ground, both hoping for a Rammy slip-up at the Bowl.
Right outside of the play-off places, Irlam and FC St Helens, who’ve both occasionally breached the top five at various points throughout the season, are tied for points right now on 54. Both teams’ most recent league matches were against bottom side Litherland REMYCA, with Irlam winning, and FC only managing a draw. This weekend, Irlam host second-bottom City of Liverpool; FC will welcome 15th placed Charnock Richard; and REMY will go on the road to 21st placed Barnoldswick Town.
The only side keeping Barlick from touching the dotted line above the drop zone right now are Abbey Hey, who have a mere two-point gap of their own on the relegation places. After five straight defeats, they’ll be campaigning to course correct when they go on the road to Euxton Villa.
Stockport Town are on cloud nine right now after their most recent match in the league – a 2-0 defeat of league leaders Wythenshawe. They’ll take that momentum on the road this weekend to go toe to toe with Longridge Town.
South Liverpool have dropped out of the top half of the table in recent weeks, but one win and positive results elsewhere could resolve that. This weekend, they will take on 17th placed Cheadle Town away from home, and they’ll be hoping for defeats for all of Longridge, Prestwich AND Glossop North End, who will be on their own travels to meet AFC Liverpool on Saturday.
There are just two sides between Chadderton and the play-off places, and whilst a victory this weekend wouldn’t see them jump right into the top five regardless of results elsewhere, it would be a step in the right direction. For their hosts on Saturday, Pilkington, there are just two sides separating THEM from the drop zone – a negative result wouldn’t condemn them, but a positive result is always welcome.
First Division North:
The title picture in the North remains arguably the most competitive in the country, with just three points separating top from seventh at the time of writing. Leaders Thornton Cleveleys are not in league action this weekend, which opens the door for both Squires Gate and Bacup Borough, who are playing on Saturday, to usurp them. Second-placed Gate will host their fellow relegated side from the Prem last season in Colne; and sixth-placed Bacup will be on the road to meet 10th placed Fulwood Amateurs.
Two more teams who can take top spot with the right results this weekend are third-placed Droylsden and fourth-placed MSB Woolton – these two teams will face one another in a real promotion battle six-pointer at the latter’s Jericho Lane.
The teams in 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th place in the table will all meet one another in some combination this weekend. AFC Blackpool, who currently lead this collection of sides, will travel to Steeton, who can leapfrog them in the table with maximum points; and Daisy Hill, currently last in this collection of sides, have the chance to close the gap on the rest as they welcome Holker Old Boys.
Finally, in a game that could truly shape the relegation picture in the division this season of either side are able to win and capitalise on that momentum in further matches, second-bottom Garstang will host bottom side Ashton Athletic, with just a point keeping one side above the other before kick-off on Saturday.
First Division South:
With runaway leaders Runcorn Town in Edward Case Cup action this weekend, the opportunity is there for the chasing pack to close the gap without reply on Saturday. Second-placed Eccleshall are a whopping 12 points behind the table toppers, but they can reduce that total this weekend on the road against 13th placed Cammell Laird 1907. Third-placed Telford Town are just a point further behind, but they have a similar chance at gap-cutting as they meet ninth-placed Ashville on home soil.
There are three sides currently on 41 points – only one of them is playing this weekend, and it’s the team with the best goal difference of the three. Stafford Town, currently fourth place, have the chance to separate themselves from the dotted line between fifth and sixth with a victory over 14th placed Wolves Casuals on the road.
There are another three teams on 36 points with only one side in league action this Saturday, and that’s New Mills. They can create separation between themselves and Barnton and Ashville, both in ECC action this weekend, when they face 11th placed Allcott Heath.
The three teams inside the relegation zone as of right now are all taking to the field this weekend. Third-bottom Alsager Town are in the best place to escape the drop zone right now, sitting just two points behind their visitors this weekend, Shawbury United. Three points worse off than Town are Haughmond, who are also at home on Saturday to meet Cheadle Heath Nomads.
Finally, in the division’s ultimate long-name derby, fifth-bottom Market Drayton Town will welcome the division’s wooden spoons at time of writing, Wolverhampton Sporting Community.
