Week 35: Preview
Fri 20th March 2026 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
It’s a return to complete focus on league action during the next few days! Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Premier Division:
There’s a full house of fixtures scheduled for the Prem this weekend.
League leaders Wythenshawe are on a run to forget right now, having failed to win any of their last four, including a back-and-forth 3-3 draw in midweek. With just a point separating them now from the chasing pack (albeit with a game in hand), they will aim to right the ship away at Charnock Richard this weekend.
If they can’t, either of second placed Ramsbottom United or third placed Chadderton might well be sitting pretty at the top of the tree come Sunday. In what is almost certainly the game of the weekend on paper, second meets third at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium.
Atherton LR’s 11-game winning streak was halted in midweek by the table-toppers, but they needn’t fret – they’re still fourth in the table, and can strengthen their grip on the play-off spot this weekend if they can turn over mid-table Stockport Town away from home.
Irlam complete the top five as of right now, and their play-off destiny is in their own hands this weekend as they host Euxton Villa. They are by no means secure in the play-off places though, as sixth placed Padiham are breathing down their necks, just a point behind ahead of their own away trip to seventh placed West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday.
Prestwich Heys, in eighth, are the form team in the league right now. They’ve won their last seven and knocked off Irlam in midweek to preserve that run. Up next for Ryan Hutchinson’s side are 14th placed South Liverpool at Jericho Lane on Saturday.
Should Heys’ run be stonewalled on Saturday, there’s two Liverpool-based sides waiting to potentially leapfrog them in the table. Ninth placed FC St Helens will welcome Longridge Town to the SMS Pro Soccer Park this weekend, whilst 10th placed Burscough will be away from home to meet AFC Liverpool.
Towards the bottom of the division, Abbey Hey have escaped the bottom three for the first time in what must feel like forever for Simon Heaton’s side after a midweek win. They will aim to make it two in two this weekend as they host the team they’ve now overtaken in the standings, winless-in-14 Pilkington.
Should worse come to worse, second bottom City of Liverpool could be officially relegated after next weekend. The Purps are 13 points adrift of safety and will be going toe to toe this weekend with the only side worse off than them in the division, Litherland REMYCA. Whilst REMY are three points worse off than their hosts on Saturday, they do have two games in hand on their fellow relegation candidates.
Amongst the teams who are officially safe but have very little to play for beyond pride at this stage, there are a couple of battles to come this Saturday. Barnoldswick Town, in 20th, will welcome 15th placed Glossop North End to the Silentnight Stadium; and 19th meets 18th as FC Isle of Man and Cheadle Town do battle at the Bowl in the day’s late kick-off.
First Division North:
Nine fixtures on the cards this weekend from the North.
Droylsden are the new torch bearers in a tight title race after the former table-toppers featured in the Edward Case Cup last weekend. The Bloods have a stern test on their hands this weekend if they are to retain their spot, with visiting Ashton Athletic just a point from safety going into this weekend’s games.
Nelson were the former leaders who fell in the ECC last weekend, but they have earned four further points in the league from two midweek fixtures. They’ll do well to make it seven from three against Colne this weekend, who are, coincidentally, the side sitting above Ashton Athletic in the bottom three by just a point.
With five points between the top two and the rest of the chasing pack, the focus may now be on maintaining a play-off spot for third placed Squires Gate. They have just a point to spare on their hosts for the weekend, fellow Blackpool-based side Thornton Cleveleys, who will break into the top five with maximum points regardless of results elsewhere.
Maghull, in fourth, are tied for points with the two teams right below them, but their superior goal difference means that their play-off position is in their hands this weekend. They’ll be on the road on Saturday to face bottom side Maine Road, who are seven points adrift of safety with seven games remaining.
That third team with 44 points ahead of Saturday are fifth placed MSB Woolton, whose ambition to earn a second straight promotion remains in their control. They are also away from home this weekend to meet 12th placed Daisy Hill.
Despite being seventh and eight respectively, the right set of results this weekend could see either of Darwen FC or Bacup Borough ascend right back into the top five. Both teams will be on their travels on Saturday, with the Salmoners travelling to AFC Blackpool, and Borough heading north to face Holker Old Boys.
There’s a third player in the ongoing battle to avoid the drop in the First Division North right now. Behind 15th placed Cole by a point and 16th placed Ashton Athletic on goal difference alone are Garstang, who have the chance to potentially escape the bottom three entirely with a win against 11th placed Ashton Town and positive results elsewhere.
Fulwood Amateurs’ hopes of a play-off surge have been dashed after just one win in their last five in the league, but they have a great opportunity to course correct on home soil this weekend against winless-in-seven Steeton.
First Division South:
Eight from nine potential games scheduled from the South.
With table toppers Runcorn Town MIA this weekend, the stage is set for second placed Eccleshall and third placed Stockport Georgians to go face to face at the latter’s Cromley Road. Whoever wins will further delay the inevitable crowning of Runcorn, and close out the weekend as best of the rest.
There’s just a point between fourth and sixth in the table ahead of the weekend’s games, and yet, neither side above the play-off dotted line need to worry about their position on Saturday. Sixth placed Sandbach United do not feature this weekend, so all that Ashville and New Mills must do to retain their positions is remain composed and overcome Allscott Heath away, and Stafford Town at home, respectively.
In the event that third-bottom Shawbury United record maximum points against 14th placed Cammell Laird 1907 away from home this Saturday, bottom side Haughmond could be all but officially relegated. Unless they can break a six-game winless run this weekend against Alsager Town – whose own two-week hiatus from the field has seen them join the Mond in the drop zone – they might find themselves nine points adrift with three games left come Sunday.
Mid-table sides Cheadle Heath Nomads and Wolves Casuals are separated by just two points as of now, and they will square off on Saturday for the first time this season at the Ideal Building Systems Stadium. Then, on Tuesday, they’ll face each other again at the Brinsford Stadium.
Telford Town are a mere two places below the top five, and they recorded their first win in nine in midweek. They’ll aim to preserve that momentum going into the closing portion of the campaign, and going into Saturday’s game against Market Drayton Town, just two places above the drop zone following two straight defeats.
Foley Meir, 13th in the table, are the sole team left in the division that have played just 25 games. They have games in hand on literally everyone around them, including ninth placed Barnton, who will be their visitors to the Trentham Foods Stadium on Saturday.
Week 35: Preview
Fri 20th March 2026 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
It’s a return to complete focus on league action during the next few days! Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend…
Premier Division:
There’s a full house of fixtures scheduled for the Prem this weekend.
League leaders Wythenshawe are on a run to forget right now, having failed to win any of their last four, including a back-and-forth 3-3 draw in midweek. With just a point separating them now from the chasing pack (albeit with a game in hand), they will aim to right the ship away at Charnock Richard this weekend.
If they can’t, either of second placed Ramsbottom United or third placed Chadderton might well be sitting pretty at the top of the tree come Sunday. In what is almost certainly the game of the weekend on paper, second meets third at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium.
Atherton LR’s 11-game winning streak was halted in midweek by the table-toppers, but they needn’t fret – they’re still fourth in the table, and can strengthen their grip on the play-off spot this weekend if they can turn over mid-table Stockport Town away from home.
Irlam complete the top five as of right now, and their play-off destiny is in their own hands this weekend as they host Euxton Villa. They are by no means secure in the play-off places though, as sixth placed Padiham are breathing down their necks, just a point behind ahead of their own away trip to seventh placed West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday.
Prestwich Heys, in eighth, are the form team in the league right now. They’ve won their last seven and knocked off Irlam in midweek to preserve that run. Up next for Ryan Hutchinson’s side are 14th placed South Liverpool at Jericho Lane on Saturday.
Should Heys’ run be stonewalled on Saturday, there’s two Liverpool-based sides waiting to potentially leapfrog them in the table. Ninth placed FC St Helens will welcome Longridge Town to the SMS Pro Soccer Park this weekend, whilst 10th placed Burscough will be away from home to meet AFC Liverpool.
Towards the bottom of the division, Abbey Hey have escaped the bottom three for the first time in what must feel like forever for Simon Heaton’s side after a midweek win. They will aim to make it two in two this weekend as they host the team they’ve now overtaken in the standings, winless-in-14 Pilkington.
Should worse come to worse, second bottom City of Liverpool could be officially relegated after next weekend. The Purps are 13 points adrift of safety and will be going toe to toe this weekend with the only side worse off than them in the division, Litherland REMYCA. Whilst REMY are three points worse off than their hosts on Saturday, they do have two games in hand on their fellow relegation candidates.
Amongst the teams who are officially safe but have very little to play for beyond pride at this stage, there are a couple of battles to come this Saturday. Barnoldswick Town, in 20th, will welcome 15th placed Glossop North End to the Silentnight Stadium; and 19th meets 18th as FC Isle of Man and Cheadle Town do battle at the Bowl in the day’s late kick-off.
First Division North:
Nine fixtures on the cards this weekend from the North.
Droylsden are the new torch bearers in a tight title race after the former table-toppers featured in the Edward Case Cup last weekend. The Bloods have a stern test on their hands this weekend if they are to retain their spot, with visiting Ashton Athletic just a point from safety going into this weekend’s games.
Nelson were the former leaders who fell in the ECC last weekend, but they have earned four further points in the league from two midweek fixtures. They’ll do well to make it seven from three against Colne this weekend, who are, coincidentally, the side sitting above Ashton Athletic in the bottom three by just a point.
With five points between the top two and the rest of the chasing pack, the focus may now be on maintaining a play-off spot for third placed Squires Gate. They have just a point to spare on their hosts for the weekend, fellow Blackpool-based side Thornton Cleveleys, who will break into the top five with maximum points regardless of results elsewhere.
Maghull, in fourth, are tied for points with the two teams right below them, but their superior goal difference means that their play-off position is in their hands this weekend. They’ll be on the road on Saturday to face bottom side Maine Road, who are seven points adrift of safety with seven games remaining.
That third team with 44 points ahead of Saturday are fifth placed MSB Woolton, whose ambition to earn a second straight promotion remains in their control. They are also away from home this weekend to meet 12th placed Daisy Hill.
Despite being seventh and eight respectively, the right set of results this weekend could see either of Darwen FC or Bacup Borough ascend right back into the top five. Both teams will be on their travels on Saturday, with the Salmoners travelling to AFC Blackpool, and Borough heading north to face Holker Old Boys.
There’s a third player in the ongoing battle to avoid the drop in the First Division North right now. Behind 15th placed Cole by a point and 16th placed Ashton Athletic on goal difference alone are Garstang, who have the chance to potentially escape the bottom three entirely with a win against 11th placed Ashton Town and positive results elsewhere.
Fulwood Amateurs’ hopes of a play-off surge have been dashed after just one win in their last five in the league, but they have a great opportunity to course correct on home soil this weekend against winless-in-seven Steeton.
First Division South:
Eight from nine potential games scheduled from the South.
With table toppers Runcorn Town MIA this weekend, the stage is set for second placed Eccleshall and third placed Stockport Georgians to go face to face at the latter’s Cromley Road. Whoever wins will further delay the inevitable crowning of Runcorn, and close out the weekend as best of the rest.
There’s just a point between fourth and sixth in the table ahead of the weekend’s games, and yet, neither side above the play-off dotted line need to worry about their position on Saturday. Sixth placed Sandbach United do not feature this weekend, so all that Ashville and New Mills must do to retain their positions is remain composed and overcome Allscott Heath away, and Stafford Town at home, respectively.
In the event that third-bottom Shawbury United record maximum points against 14th placed Cammell Laird 1907 away from home this Saturday, bottom side Haughmond could be all but officially relegated. Unless they can break a six-game winless run this weekend against Alsager Town – whose own two-week hiatus from the field has seen them join the Mond in the drop zone – they might find themselves nine points adrift with three games left come Sunday.
Mid-table sides Cheadle Heath Nomads and Wolves Casuals are separated by just two points as of now, and they will square off on Saturday for the first time this season at the Ideal Building Systems Stadium. Then, on Tuesday, they’ll face each other again at the Brinsford Stadium.
Telford Town are a mere two places below the top five, and they recorded their first win in nine in midweek. They’ll aim to preserve that momentum going into the closing portion of the campaign, and going into Saturday’s game against Market Drayton Town, just two places above the drop zone following two straight defeats.
Foley Meir, 13th in the table, are the sole team left in the division that have played just 25 games. They have games in hand on literally everyone around them, including ninth placed Barnton, who will be their visitors to the Trentham Foods Stadium on Saturday.
