Five Things We Learned - Week 2
Thu 11th August 2022 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
With another round of NWCFL football passing by, here are 5 things we learned from Gameweek 2.
1. No love lost between Wythenshawe and Macclesfield
In perhaps the standout fixture on paper of the weekend's FA Cup EP round, Wythenshawe Town took on last season's NWCFL Prem winners Macclesfield, in a game originally drawn to be played at Ericstan Park, but relocated to Macclesfield's Leasing.com Stadium. The last time these two sides met at Moss Rose, Wythy ran out 4-2 winners during a league campaign that saw the teams develop a rivalry in their shared pursuit of promotion.
That was on full display during Macclesfield's 2-0 win on Saturday, which was marred by scuffles between small sections of each teams supporters that reportedly left one man hospitalised. Both clubs have since issued statements rightly denouncing the violence, and it's a shame that this kind of thing can still persist in football long after the 80's heyday of the football hooligan.
2. Records, even the smallest ones, are made to be broken
Or in this case, equalled. The twitter page "@FACupFactfile" found an absolute trivia gem ahead of the weekend's Extra Preliminary fixtures. Two NWCFL sides, Irlam and Avro, were drawn to play one another at Irlam's Silver Street ground. What 99.9% of people won't know is that this fixture was one of the few games in FA Cup history to feature two teams with a combined 9 letters in their names, making it the joint-shortest amount for a game in the competition's history.
These two teams are familiar enough with one another from their meetings in the NWCFL, and on this occasion, Avro were conclusive 4-0 victors.
3. Burscough might be in for a long season
Burscough were something of a surprise package in last season's NWCFL Premier Division season, finishing in a very respectable 7th place. However, this campaign began bleakly with the club having parted ways with former boss Leon Mike come day one away at Prestwich Heys, who beat them 3-0. The appointment of joint managers Craig Davies and Todd Blaynley looks smart, but the duo are "under no illusions" of the task at hand and have stated that "everyone knows within the club and outside that it needs a rebuild".
Since their reign began, the Merseyside outfit have lost in the FA Cup EP Round to Silsden and been smashed 6-1 at home by table-topping AFC Liverpool. It's still early days, but they are propping up the rest of the league as it stands and there's certainly a challenge ahead at The Community Ground.
4. How are all the new boys doing?
In the Premier Division, it's Kendal Town, who joined the NWCFL from a higher division last season, who've got off to the worst start of the new arrivals. They've suffered defeats to Vauxhall Motors and Barnoldswick and are level on points, GD and goals scored with Winsford, who currently occupy a relegation place. In comparison, newly-promoted Bury AFC and West Didsbury and Chorlton occupy 2 of the 6 spots, whilst Isle of Man currently sit 12th.
In D1N, both Euxton Villa and FC St. Helen's are undefeated, with Villa maintaining a 100% win record, whereas last season's Prem side Runcorn Town are yet to pick up a win. Laterally, in D1S, Ashville are currently 2nd in the table, behind only Wythenshawe Amateurs, and Foley Meir technically have a 100% win record (from only 1 game). Stockport Georgians are currently 15th with 1 point from 2 games - they've work to do in order to catch their Town rivals.
5. Carl Grimshaw is still the man
This man was playing NWCFL football long before any of us were born, and will continue long after all of us are gone. Charnock Richard have made an undefeated start to the competitive season (discounting the 6-0 defeat to Skelmersdale United in the Reusch Champions Cup final), and, just as surely as the sun rises, Carl Grimshaw has been amongst the goals.
From 4 appearances in all competitions since day one of the league season, 3 of which were off the bench, the veteran striker has bagged 3 goals and seen to it that the PR7 side are sat in the top half of the table. Charnock will want to build on last season's promotion push this time out, and, in his 13th season at the club, Grimshaw's goals may well be a deciding factor, as they so often have been.
Five Things We Learned - Week 2
Thu 11th August 2022 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
With another round of NWCFL football passing by, here are 5 things we learned from Gameweek 2.
1. No love lost between Wythenshawe and Macclesfield
In perhaps the standout fixture on paper of the weekend's FA Cup EP round, Wythenshawe Town took on last season's NWCFL Prem winners Macclesfield, in a game originally drawn to be played at Ericstan Park, but relocated to Macclesfield's Leasing.com Stadium. The last time these two sides met at Moss Rose, Wythy ran out 4-2 winners during a league campaign that saw the teams develop a rivalry in their shared pursuit of promotion.
That was on full display during Macclesfield's 2-0 win on Saturday, which was marred by scuffles between small sections of each teams supporters that reportedly left one man hospitalised. Both clubs have since issued statements rightly denouncing the violence, and it's a shame that this kind of thing can still persist in football long after the 80's heyday of the football hooligan.
2. Records, even the smallest ones, are made to be broken
Or in this case, equalled. The twitter page "@FACupFactfile" found an absolute trivia gem ahead of the weekend's Extra Preliminary fixtures. Two NWCFL sides, Irlam and Avro, were drawn to play one another at Irlam's Silver Street ground. What 99.9% of people won't know is that this fixture was one of the few games in FA Cup history to feature two teams with a combined 9 letters in their names, making it the joint-shortest amount for a game in the competition's history.
These two teams are familiar enough with one another from their meetings in the NWCFL, and on this occasion, Avro were conclusive 4-0 victors.
3. Burscough might be in for a long season
Burscough were something of a surprise package in last season's NWCFL Premier Division season, finishing in a very respectable 7th place. However, this campaign began bleakly with the club having parted ways with former boss Leon Mike come day one away at Prestwich Heys, who beat them 3-0. The appointment of joint managers Craig Davies and Todd Blaynley looks smart, but the duo are "under no illusions" of the task at hand and have stated that "everyone knows within the club and outside that it needs a rebuild".
Since their reign began, the Merseyside outfit have lost in the FA Cup EP Round to Silsden and been smashed 6-1 at home by table-topping AFC Liverpool. It's still early days, but they are propping up the rest of the league as it stands and there's certainly a challenge ahead at The Community Ground.
4. How are all the new boys doing?
In the Premier Division, it's Kendal Town, who joined the NWCFL from a higher division last season, who've got off to the worst start of the new arrivals. They've suffered defeats to Vauxhall Motors and Barnoldswick and are level on points, GD and goals scored with Winsford, who currently occupy a relegation place. In comparison, newly-promoted Bury AFC and West Didsbury and Chorlton occupy 2 of the 6 spots, whilst Isle of Man currently sit 12th.
In D1N, both Euxton Villa and FC St. Helen's are undefeated, with Villa maintaining a 100% win record, whereas last season's Prem side Runcorn Town are yet to pick up a win. Laterally, in D1S, Ashville are currently 2nd in the table, behind only Wythenshawe Amateurs, and Foley Meir technically have a 100% win record (from only 1 game). Stockport Georgians are currently 15th with 1 point from 2 games - they've work to do in order to catch their Town rivals.
5. Carl Grimshaw is still the man
This man was playing NWCFL football long before any of us were born, and will continue long after all of us are gone. Charnock Richard have made an undefeated start to the competitive season (discounting the 6-0 defeat to Skelmersdale United in the Reusch Champions Cup final), and, just as surely as the sun rises, Carl Grimshaw has been amongst the goals.
From 4 appearances in all competitions since day one of the league season, 3 of which were off the bench, the veteran striker has bagged 3 goals and seen to it that the PR7 side are sat in the top half of the table. Charnock will want to build on last season's promotion push this time out, and, in his 13th season at the club, Grimshaw's goals may well be a deciding factor, as they so often have been.
