Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 12
Thu 22nd October 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. We’re running out of match balls
In the last seven days, from all games in all competitions featuring at least one NWCFL side, six matches have seen an NWCFL registered player bag a hat-trick. That’s almost an average of a hat-trick per day of NWCFL football, which is nothing to turn your nose up at.
Four came on Saturday in the league. In the Prem, Burscough’s Dilon O’Callaghan and Trafford’s Dillon Edmundson both hit the mark three times in dominant victories over Longridge Town and South Liverpool, respectively. In the South, Allscott Heath’s Ben Davies and Dawley Town’s Ross Jones also took home the match ball in home and away victories. The further two came from Joshua Maris, of Crewe; and Jack Sang, of Wolverhampton Casuals, in midweek local County Cup action.
2. The wooden spoon is passed in the Prem
A week removed from AFC Liverpool’s long-awaited first league point of the season, they have now, for the first time since the opening weekend, moved off the bottom of the Premier Division table. In a mirror of last weekend, Jack Edwards’ side drew 3-3 against a side in a much better position in the standings than them – Glossop North End, this time – and earned their first point on the road this season in the process.
That result sees them double their points tally for the campaign and finally climb to 19th in the table. Taking their place in 20th are Abbey Hey, who were beaten 2-0 at home at the weekend by Charnock Richard. They have also only managed two points from the active season, but they have not earned any since a mid-August draw with Prestwich Heys.
3. Fortress OWS is breached
Saturday brought with it a first for the season in the First Division North. Cammell Laird 1907, still very much in a strong position in the standings, second only to Maghull, lost at home for the first time in the league in 2026/27.
It took eight matches, but another team has finally walked away from the OWS Engineering LTD Stadium with maximum points, and that side is lower-mid table Steeton. The Chevrons showed up and showed out this weekend, winning 2-0 against the leagues current silver medallists and extending the gap between themselves and the bottom three from two points to five – a result that won’t be soon forgotten for Roy Mason’s team.
4. Sandbach United lay down the gauntlet
There was a tension in the air going into Saturday’s game at the Sandbach Community Football Centre, where table-topping Sandbach United went toe to toe with second-placed side Bilston Town. A win for the hosts, and they would put five points between themselves and the chasing pack; a win for the visitors, and they would ascend to the top of the tree by a point.
In the end, one goal decided the outcome. Matthew Birchall struck six minutes from time to guarantee all three points for Sandbach. Now the season is no longer in its infancy, such an important win for Declan Swan’s side has sent a message to any fellow title chasers – we are not going anywhere anytime soon.
5. Eleventh heaven at the Marine Travel Arena
An 11-goal game is a rare treat at all levels of the beautiful game, but one happened right on our doorstep this past Saturday, in a battle of First Division South new(ish) boys. Widnes Town welcomed Dawley Town to their ground-shared home this past Saturday, and the fans in attendance got their money’s worth.
By half time, seven goals had already been scored – four by the hosts, and three by the visitors. After going 5-3 down with just shy of an hour played, Tom White and Connor Patterson’s Jockeys re-found their footing and hit three unanswered to complete the turnaround by minute 85, and to eventually win 6-5. Extra credit to Ross Jones, who, as mentioned earlier, bagged a hat-trick for the victors.
Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 12
Thu 22nd October 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. We’re running out of match balls
In the last seven days, from all games in all competitions featuring at least one NWCFL side, six matches have seen an NWCFL registered player bag a hat-trick. That’s almost an average of a hat-trick per day of NWCFL football, which is nothing to turn your nose up at.
Four came on Saturday in the league. In the Prem, Burscough’s Dilon O’Callaghan and Trafford’s Dillon Edmundson both hit the mark three times in dominant victories over Longridge Town and South Liverpool, respectively. In the South, Allscott Heath’s Ben Davies and Dawley Town’s Ross Jones also took home the match ball in home and away victories. The further two came from Joshua Maris, of Crewe; and Jack Sang, of Wolverhampton Casuals, in midweek local County Cup action.
2. The wooden spoon is passed in the Prem
A week removed from AFC Liverpool’s long-awaited first league point of the season, they have now, for the first time since the opening weekend, moved off the bottom of the Premier Division table. In a mirror of last weekend, Jack Edwards’ side drew 3-3 against a side in a much better position in the standings than them – Glossop North End, this time – and earned their first point on the road this season in the process.
That result sees them double their points tally for the campaign and finally climb to 19th in the table. Taking their place in 20th are Abbey Hey, who were beaten 2-0 at home at the weekend by Charnock Richard. They have also only managed two points from the active season, but they have not earned any since a mid-August draw with Prestwich Heys.
3. Fortress OWS is breached
Saturday brought with it a first for the season in the First Division North. Cammell Laird 1907, still very much in a strong position in the standings, second only to Maghull, lost at home for the first time in the league in 2026/27.
It took eight matches, but another team has finally walked away from the OWS Engineering LTD Stadium with maximum points, and that side is lower-mid table Steeton. The Chevrons showed up and showed out this weekend, winning 2-0 against the leagues current silver medallists and extending the gap between themselves and the bottom three from two points to five – a result that won’t be soon forgotten for Roy Mason’s team.
4. Sandbach United lay down the gauntlet
There was a tension in the air going into Saturday’s game at the Sandbach Community Football Centre, where table-topping Sandbach United went toe to toe with second-placed side Bilston Town. A win for the hosts, and they would put five points between themselves and the chasing pack; a win for the visitors, and they would ascend to the top of the tree by a point.
In the end, one goal decided the outcome. Matthew Birchall struck six minutes from time to guarantee all three points for Sandbach. Now the season is no longer in its infancy, such an important win for Declan Swan’s side has sent a message to any fellow title chasers – we are not going anywhere anytime soon.
5. Eleventh heaven at the Marine Travel Arena
An 11-goal game is a rare treat at all levels of the beautiful game, but one happened right on our doorstep this past Saturday, in a battle of First Division South new(ish) boys. Widnes Town welcomed Dawley Town to their ground-shared home this past Saturday, and the fans in attendance got their money’s worth.
By half time, seven goals had already been scored – four by the hosts, and three by the visitors. After going 5-3 down with just shy of an hour played, Tom White and Connor Patterson’s Jockeys re-found their footing and hit three unanswered to complete the turnaround by minute 85, and to eventually win 6-5. Extra credit to Ross Jones, who, as mentioned earlier, bagged a hat-trick for the victors.
