Week 34: Review
Mon 16th March 2026 | Match Reviews | By Martin Fallon
Weekend 34 brought our first cup finalists of the season, with key games in all three divisions of the league.
Edward Case Cup Semi Finals
We now know our first cup finalists of the season, with Runcorn Town and Darwen both winning their semi final matches in the Edward Case Cup.
It was First Division North leaders Nelson who faced First Division South leaders Runcorn Town in the first of the semi finals, this kicking off at 2.00pm to ensure the game went ahead after a problem with the floodlights at Little Wembley midweek.
Nelson enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the first half but it was Runcorn who took the lead four minutes into the second half when Connor Spiers got clear of the defence and slotted home at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved. And it was Matty Vickers wrapped up the win for Runcorn with 11 minutes remaining, the substitute put clean through before a cool finish.
The other semi final was also a North v South affair, as Darwen hosted Stockport Georgians. Both sit in play-off postitions at present and it was a close game as many anticipated. There was just one goal that separated the teams, with Abdullah Zaffah getting away on the right with just a minute of normal time remaining and crossing low to the back post where Nick Hepple tapped home.
Details for the Final should be released this week.
Premier Division
With leaders Wythenshawe seeing their game postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, attention turned to the play-off positions in the Premier Division this weekend.
Ramsbottom United were in second place coming into the games and they closed the gap at the top by three points after a 2-1 victory at FC St Helens. Jacob Holland-Wilkinson put them ahead midway through the first half with Richard Baker adding a second just before the break. The hosts made it a tense finale as Ethan Jones converted from the spot on 82 minutes, but Rammy held on for the win.
Chadderton knew the Rammy result when they kicked off as they were visiting FC Isle of Man, and they replicated the scoreline of Rammy with a 2-1 win on the island. Chaddy opened the scoring through who else but Lewis-Simon Byrne on nine minutes, and he also doubled the lead on 69 minutes. Sam Gelling pulled one back with 14 minutes remaining, but that proved merely a consolation for the hosts.
Fourth placed Irlam should have been playing Wythenshawe so sat this matchday out, giving Padiham the chance to move ahead of them. Fenton Davies put them ahead after 11 minutes at Euxton Villa, and they looked good for all three points for the majority of the match. However Dan Singleton levelled on 88 minutes for the hosts, with Vaughn Green then hitting the winner for Euxton two minutes into stoppage time in a 2-1 win.
That result also meant that they slipped out of the play-off picture with Atherton LR taking their spot after a 4-0 win against Pilkington. Harvey Sample put them ahead on 41 minutes with Joe Bacon adding a second on the hour. Five minutes later Mark Pearson made it three with Owen Green rounding off the scoring with eight minutes to go.
Five points adrift of the play-offs are West Didsbury & Chorlton, but they do have two games in hand on those about them due to their cup explots. They kept up their charge with a 4-0 win at Longridge Town, a result that did not look likely when it was goalless at half time. The start of the second half changed that, with Benjamin Elliott scoring on 48 minutes, Harvey Roberts doubling the lead on 55 minutes, then Paul Riley adding a third three minutes later. Ayo Quadri grabbed the fourth three minutes from time.
Burscough have dropped off the pace in the last few weeks, with a 3-0 home defeat by Stockport Town on Saturday being thier fourth league defeat in five games. After another goalless first half, George Kattah put Stockport ahead on 63 minutes with Tobias Green scoring a penalty with 15 minutes remaining. Kattah added his second game five minutes later to secure the win.
The biggest win of the day came at Adie Moran Park as Prestwich Heys ran out 7-0 winners against City of Liverpool. The scoring started on nine minutes with an own goal before Luke Mann added a second on 21 minutes. Six minutes later Louis Holt added the third, and we then had to wait for just before the hour for the next goal, with Holt again on the scoresheet. With 12 minutes remaining, Takura Sambizi made it five before adding a second on 86 minutes. James Badrock grabbed the seventh goal of the game three minutes into stoppage time.
Other games saw Charnock Richard record a 5-2 win at Litherland REMYCA. Shay Stansfield opened the scoring on 11 minutes for Charnock, with a brace from Jordan Darr then putting them 3-0 ahead. Alfie Walker pulled one back before half time, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished with two goals from Nathan Nickeas making it 5-1. Dilon O`Callaghan grabbed a consolation with Litherland's second.
Barnolswick Town run out 3-1 winners against Cheadle Town. Lewis Farmer hit an early opener for Barlick with Jonathan Nixon levelling on 25 minutes. Seven minutes into the second half, Gareth Hill restored the lead, with Connor McAuley securing victory in the last minute.
Abbey Hey won 1-0 at Glossop North End thanks to Dillon Edmundson's 66th minute goal. And the only drawn game in the division came in a Merseyside Derby as South Liverpool and AFC Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw. Neil Weaver put South ahead five minutes into the first half, with Caleb Jones levelling five minutes into the second half.
First Division North:
Droylsden returned to the top of the First Division North after a 3-0 win at Colne. It was a quickfire start for the Bloods, with Cody Artwell opening the scoring after just two minutes and Jordan Barnett adding a second on 11 minutes. Artwell scored his second of the game just before half time to make it three, and that's how it stayed to move them top on goal difference from Nelson who do have two games in hand.
Maghull are up to third after recording their first win in four games with a 2-1 victory over Ashton Town. It was Joseph Cunningham who opened the scoring for Ashton, with the home side having to wait until five minutes into the second half to equalise, that coming from Jamie Clark. Seven minutes later, Wil Hoey put Maghull ahead, and that's how it stayed for the rest of the game.
The play-off's are rounded off by MSB Woolton who were without a game, and Darwen who were in Edward Case Cup.
The chasing pack are made up of Bacup Borough, who saw their home game with Maine Road postponed. Squires Gate are seventh and could have moved up to third with a win, but they went down to a 3-2 home defeat by Daisy Hill. It was goalless until the 28th minute when Liam Sheppard put the Cutters ahead, with Christian Edokpayi levelling two minutes later for Squires Gate. Sheppard restored the lead two minutes later with his second of the game, only for Ivanilson Da Silva to level just before half time. The game looked like it would finish like that, but two minutes from time Sheppard struck again to complete his hat-trick and give his side the win.
Holker Old Boys run out 3-1 winners against Thornton Cleveleys. Noah Williams put them ahead on 17 minutes with Jacob Aspinall levelling five minutes before half time. Whatever was said in the home dressing room had an immediate effect, with Farryl Foster restoring the lead just 44 seconds after kick off. Tom Dawson then added a third just four minutes later.
The final game was an M55 derby as AFC Blackpool hosted Fulwood Amateurs. Dominic Ritchie scored the only goal of the game with eight minutes remaining to give the Mechanics all three points.
First Division South:
It was a case of missed opportunities in the First Division South as several sides squandered their chance to boost their play-off hopes with the top three not in league action.
Fourth placed Ashville lost the chance to close the gap on Stockport Georgians as they lost 3-1 at Wolverhampton Casuals. Thomas Morris put Wolves ahead on 34 minutes with Joe Cuff adding a second on the stroke of half time. The Villians pulled one back four minutes into the second half through Ben Greenop, with Jack Grimshaw scoring Wolves' third with six minutes to go.
It got no better for fifth placed Sandbach United who lost by the same scoreline at Barnton. After a goalless first half, Joel Hind put Barnton ahead just before the hour, with Ibrahima Thiam levelling on 74 minutes. With five minutes remaining, Jack McKean restored Barnton's lead, with Harry Watson making sure of the win five minutes into stoppage time with his sides third goal of the game.
The big winners were New Mills, who are in sixth place after a 4-0 win at Market Drayton Town. Saul Henderson opened the scoring on 27 minutes before adding another two minutes into the second half. He completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes with an own goal making it four just six minutes from time.
Stafford Town looked good for all three points as Jayden Bailey-Hunter put them ahead on 11 minutes and Callum Parker doubled the lead just before the break. However visitors Allscott Heath had other ideas, with Armando Wood pulling one back on 54 minutes and Asa Dean equalising two minutes into stoppage time.
Telford Town's play-off hopes are fading after falling to a seventh defeat in eight games. William Tams scored the only goal of the game as visiting Foley Meir secured a vital win, their first three points since the middle of December.
The final game could have big consequences at the bottom of the league. Daniel Lewis put Cheadle Heath Nomads ahead after half hour at Shawbury United, however the home side snatched a point with Oliver Cooper's goal in the last minute. That point lifted Shawbury out of the relegation spots, with Alsager Town replacing them atfer being without a game.
Week 34: Review
Mon 16th March 2026 | Match Reviews
By Martin Fallon
Weekend 34 brought our first cup finalists of the season, with key games in all three divisions of the league.
Edward Case Cup Semi Finals
We now know our first cup finalists of the season, with Runcorn Town and Darwen both winning their semi final matches in the Edward Case Cup.
It was First Division North leaders Nelson who faced First Division South leaders Runcorn Town in the first of the semi finals, this kicking off at 2.00pm to ensure the game went ahead after a problem with the floodlights at Little Wembley midweek.
Nelson enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the first half but it was Runcorn who took the lead four minutes into the second half when Connor Spiers got clear of the defence and slotted home at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved. And it was Matty Vickers wrapped up the win for Runcorn with 11 minutes remaining, the substitute put clean through before a cool finish.
The other semi final was also a North v South affair, as Darwen hosted Stockport Georgians. Both sit in play-off postitions at present and it was a close game as many anticipated. There was just one goal that separated the teams, with Abdullah Zaffah getting away on the right with just a minute of normal time remaining and crossing low to the back post where Nick Hepple tapped home.
Details for the Final should be released this week.
Premier Division
With leaders Wythenshawe seeing their game postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, attention turned to the play-off positions in the Premier Division this weekend.
Ramsbottom United were in second place coming into the games and they closed the gap at the top by three points after a 2-1 victory at FC St Helens. Jacob Holland-Wilkinson put them ahead midway through the first half with Richard Baker adding a second just before the break. The hosts made it a tense finale as Ethan Jones converted from the spot on 82 minutes, but Rammy held on for the win.
Chadderton knew the Rammy result when they kicked off as they were visiting FC Isle of Man, and they replicated the scoreline of Rammy with a 2-1 win on the island. Chaddy opened the scoring through who else but Lewis-Simon Byrne on nine minutes, and he also doubled the lead on 69 minutes. Sam Gelling pulled one back with 14 minutes remaining, but that proved merely a consolation for the hosts.
Fourth placed Irlam should have been playing Wythenshawe so sat this matchday out, giving Padiham the chance to move ahead of them. Fenton Davies put them ahead after 11 minutes at Euxton Villa, and they looked good for all three points for the majority of the match. However Dan Singleton levelled on 88 minutes for the hosts, with Vaughn Green then hitting the winner for Euxton two minutes into stoppage time in a 2-1 win.
That result also meant that they slipped out of the play-off picture with Atherton LR taking their spot after a 4-0 win against Pilkington. Harvey Sample put them ahead on 41 minutes with Joe Bacon adding a second on the hour. Five minutes later Mark Pearson made it three with Owen Green rounding off the scoring with eight minutes to go.
Five points adrift of the play-offs are West Didsbury & Chorlton, but they do have two games in hand on those about them due to their cup explots. They kept up their charge with a 4-0 win at Longridge Town, a result that did not look likely when it was goalless at half time. The start of the second half changed that, with Benjamin Elliott scoring on 48 minutes, Harvey Roberts doubling the lead on 55 minutes, then Paul Riley adding a third three minutes later. Ayo Quadri grabbed the fourth three minutes from time.
Burscough have dropped off the pace in the last few weeks, with a 3-0 home defeat by Stockport Town on Saturday being thier fourth league defeat in five games. After another goalless first half, George Kattah put Stockport ahead on 63 minutes with Tobias Green scoring a penalty with 15 minutes remaining. Kattah added his second game five minutes later to secure the win.
The biggest win of the day came at Adie Moran Park as Prestwich Heys ran out 7-0 winners against City of Liverpool. The scoring started on nine minutes with an own goal before Luke Mann added a second on 21 minutes. Six minutes later Louis Holt added the third, and we then had to wait for just before the hour for the next goal, with Holt again on the scoresheet. With 12 minutes remaining, Takura Sambizi made it five before adding a second on 86 minutes. James Badrock grabbed the seventh goal of the game three minutes into stoppage time.
Other games saw Charnock Richard record a 5-2 win at Litherland REMYCA. Shay Stansfield opened the scoring on 11 minutes for Charnock, with a brace from Jordan Darr then putting them 3-0 ahead. Alfie Walker pulled one back before half time, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished with two goals from Nathan Nickeas making it 5-1. Dilon O`Callaghan grabbed a consolation with Litherland's second.
Barnolswick Town run out 3-1 winners against Cheadle Town. Lewis Farmer hit an early opener for Barlick with Jonathan Nixon levelling on 25 minutes. Seven minutes into the second half, Gareth Hill restored the lead, with Connor McAuley securing victory in the last minute.
Abbey Hey won 1-0 at Glossop North End thanks to Dillon Edmundson's 66th minute goal. And the only drawn game in the division came in a Merseyside Derby as South Liverpool and AFC Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw. Neil Weaver put South ahead five minutes into the first half, with Caleb Jones levelling five minutes into the second half.
First Division North:
Droylsden returned to the top of the First Division North after a 3-0 win at Colne. It was a quickfire start for the Bloods, with Cody Artwell opening the scoring after just two minutes and Jordan Barnett adding a second on 11 minutes. Artwell scored his second of the game just before half time to make it three, and that's how it stayed to move them top on goal difference from Nelson who do have two games in hand.
Maghull are up to third after recording their first win in four games with a 2-1 victory over Ashton Town. It was Joseph Cunningham who opened the scoring for Ashton, with the home side having to wait until five minutes into the second half to equalise, that coming from Jamie Clark. Seven minutes later, Wil Hoey put Maghull ahead, and that's how it stayed for the rest of the game.
The play-off's are rounded off by MSB Woolton who were without a game, and Darwen who were in Edward Case Cup.
The chasing pack are made up of Bacup Borough, who saw their home game with Maine Road postponed. Squires Gate are seventh and could have moved up to third with a win, but they went down to a 3-2 home defeat by Daisy Hill. It was goalless until the 28th minute when Liam Sheppard put the Cutters ahead, with Christian Edokpayi levelling two minutes later for Squires Gate. Sheppard restored the lead two minutes later with his second of the game, only for Ivanilson Da Silva to level just before half time. The game looked like it would finish like that, but two minutes from time Sheppard struck again to complete his hat-trick and give his side the win.
Holker Old Boys run out 3-1 winners against Thornton Cleveleys. Noah Williams put them ahead on 17 minutes with Jacob Aspinall levelling five minutes before half time. Whatever was said in the home dressing room had an immediate effect, with Farryl Foster restoring the lead just 44 seconds after kick off. Tom Dawson then added a third just four minutes later.
The final game was an M55 derby as AFC Blackpool hosted Fulwood Amateurs. Dominic Ritchie scored the only goal of the game with eight minutes remaining to give the Mechanics all three points.
First Division South:
It was a case of missed opportunities in the First Division South as several sides squandered their chance to boost their play-off hopes with the top three not in league action.
Fourth placed Ashville lost the chance to close the gap on Stockport Georgians as they lost 3-1 at Wolverhampton Casuals. Thomas Morris put Wolves ahead on 34 minutes with Joe Cuff adding a second on the stroke of half time. The Villians pulled one back four minutes into the second half through Ben Greenop, with Jack Grimshaw scoring Wolves' third with six minutes to go.
It got no better for fifth placed Sandbach United who lost by the same scoreline at Barnton. After a goalless first half, Joel Hind put Barnton ahead just before the hour, with Ibrahima Thiam levelling on 74 minutes. With five minutes remaining, Jack McKean restored Barnton's lead, with Harry Watson making sure of the win five minutes into stoppage time with his sides third goal of the game.
The big winners were New Mills, who are in sixth place after a 4-0 win at Market Drayton Town. Saul Henderson opened the scoring on 27 minutes before adding another two minutes into the second half. He completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes with an own goal making it four just six minutes from time.
Stafford Town looked good for all three points as Jayden Bailey-Hunter put them ahead on 11 minutes and Callum Parker doubled the lead just before the break. However visitors Allscott Heath had other ideas, with Armando Wood pulling one back on 54 minutes and Asa Dean equalising two minutes into stoppage time.
Telford Town's play-off hopes are fading after falling to a seventh defeat in eight games. William Tams scored the only goal of the game as visiting Foley Meir secured a vital win, their first three points since the middle of December.
The final game could have big consequences at the bottom of the league. Daniel Lewis put Cheadle Heath Nomads ahead after half hour at Shawbury United, however the home side snatched a point with Oliver Cooper's goal in the last minute. That point lifted Shawbury out of the relegation spots, with Alsager Town replacing them atfer being without a game.
