Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 5
Thu 3rd September 2026 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
Another week, another series of matches from the NWCFL. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
1. Goals galore on Bank Holiday Monday
There’s little better than watching a football game on a bank holiday, and most fans who attended any NWCFL matches on this past Monday will have gotten their money’s worth. From 14 matches played across the Premier Division and First Division North, a whopping 55 goals were scored, which creates an average of just shy of four goals per game.
Choice cuts include FC Isle of Man hitting Abbey Hey for six without reply, and Irlam edging a six-goal thriller on home soil against Longridge Town in the Prem; and Fulwood Amateurs and Holker Old Boys contesting an eight-goal stalemate, and Darwen winning a seven-goal affair in the 87th minute away at Steeton in the North. Don’t blink!
2. Double-promotion candidates in the Prem?
As of right now, 99% of NWCFL sides have played at least five league games, which has allowed for the pacesetters to emerge. In the Premier Division, Nelson, despite not topping the table, have undeniably thrown their hats into the ring for a potential promotion, which would be their second in as many years if it materialised.
Last season’s Division One North champions won 5-2 at the weekend against winless Abbey Hey, but were beaten by fellow promotion candidates Trafford in midweek. Despite that defeat, they are currently fourth in the table, and are the division’s third-highest top scorers, behind only table-topping Burscough and second-place Chadderton. Watch this space.
3. The late, late show with Max Bardsley-Rowe
Glossop North End were fixed in mid-table throughout the 2025/26 season, but they have made a fantastic start to life in the league for the 2026/27 campaign. Lee Wilshaw’s side took six points from an available six over the course of the bank holiday weekend, seeing off Atherton LR and Droylsden, respectively.
Curiously, the final goal of both games was scored well after the 90th minute, and by the same player for GNE. Max Bardsley-Rowe popped up with a cherry-on-the-cake third in the 92nd minute on Saturday during the 3-0 victory over Rovers; and he scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 win against Droylsden on Monday in the 94th minute of play. Way to play to the whistle, Max!
4. Evans Fortress
Stafford Town have had a bright start to the 2026/27 season, currently sitting in inside of the play-off places in fifth, thanks to their goal difference being three better than nearest challengers New Mills. On Saturday, they were beaten 3-1 on the road by new boys Bilston Town, but they return home this coming weekend for a meeting with another new side in the NWCFL, Dawley Town.
They ought to be optimistic about that upcoming meeting taking place in their own back yard, given that, as of right now, Stafford Town are the last remaining team in the NWCFL to have played at least one home league game, and to not have conceded a league goal on home soil. From three matches thus far, they’ve won 5-0, drawn 0-0, and won 3-0 – more of the same on Saturday?
5. And it begins…
There have been entire seven-day weeks this past summer where it’s been too hot to breathe by the standards of this country, let alone to run around a pitch for 90 minutes. And yet, in the final weekend of August, whilst it was still technically summer, we have had our first postponement in the league for a waterlogged pitch.
The date was August 31st, and the site of the cancellation was Brantingham Road, where Maine Road’s hosting of Garstang was scheduled to take place. Alas, Mother Nature had other ideas on the day – hopefully this is NOT a sign of things to come as summer becomes autumn, and eventually winter.
Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 5
Thu 3rd September 2026 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
Another week, another series of matches from the NWCFL. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
1. Goals galore on Bank Holiday Monday
There’s little better than watching a football game on a bank holiday, and most fans who attended any NWCFL matches on this past Monday will have gotten their money’s worth. From 14 matches played across the Premier Division and First Division North, a whopping 55 goals were scored, which creates an average of just shy of four goals per game.
Choice cuts include FC Isle of Man hitting Abbey Hey for six without reply, and Irlam edging a six-goal thriller on home soil against Longridge Town in the Prem; and Fulwood Amateurs and Holker Old Boys contesting an eight-goal stalemate, and Darwen winning a seven-goal affair in the 87th minute away at Steeton in the North. Don’t blink!
2. Double-promotion candidates in the Prem?
As of right now, 99% of NWCFL sides have played at least five league games, which has allowed for the pacesetters to emerge. In the Premier Division, Nelson, despite not topping the table, have undeniably thrown their hats into the ring for a potential promotion, which would be their second in as many years if it materialised.
Last season’s Division One North champions won 5-2 at the weekend against winless Abbey Hey, but were beaten by fellow promotion candidates Trafford in midweek. Despite that defeat, they are currently fourth in the table, and are the division’s third-highest top scorers, behind only table-topping Burscough and second-place Chadderton. Watch this space.
3. The late, late show with Max Bardsley-Rowe
Glossop North End were fixed in mid-table throughout the 2025/26 season, but they have made a fantastic start to life in the league for the 2026/27 campaign. Lee Wilshaw’s side took six points from an available six over the course of the bank holiday weekend, seeing off Atherton LR and Droylsden, respectively.
Curiously, the final goal of both games was scored well after the 90th minute, and by the same player for GNE. Max Bardsley-Rowe popped up with a cherry-on-the-cake third in the 92nd minute on Saturday during the 3-0 victory over Rovers; and he scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 win against Droylsden on Monday in the 94th minute of play. Way to play to the whistle, Max!
4. Evans Fortress
Stafford Town have had a bright start to the 2026/27 season, currently sitting in inside of the play-off places in fifth, thanks to their goal difference being three better than nearest challengers New Mills. On Saturday, they were beaten 3-1 on the road by new boys Bilston Town, but they return home this coming weekend for a meeting with another new side in the NWCFL, Dawley Town.
They ought to be optimistic about that upcoming meeting taking place in their own back yard, given that, as of right now, Stafford Town are the last remaining team in the NWCFL to have played at least one home league game, and to not have conceded a league goal on home soil. From three matches thus far, they’ve won 5-0, drawn 0-0, and won 3-0 – more of the same on Saturday?
5. And it begins…
There have been entire seven-day weeks this past summer where it’s been too hot to breathe by the standards of this country, let alone to run around a pitch for 90 minutes. And yet, in the final weekend of August, whilst it was still technically summer, we have had our first postponement in the league for a waterlogged pitch.
The date was August 31st, and the site of the cancellation was Brantingham Road, where Maine Road’s hosting of Garstang was scheduled to take place. Alas, Mother Nature had other ideas on the day – hopefully this is NOT a sign of things to come as summer becomes autumn, and eventually winter.
