Saturday saw games in the Emirates FA Cup, and all three divisions of the League. We look back on all the action from across the weekend.
It was not a bad weekend in the Emirates FA Cup with three of our eight sides progressing through and a further three gaining midweek replays.
The action started last Friday evening as Northwich Victoria hosted West Didsbury & Chorlton. Harvey Whyte put Vics ahead before Ben Elliott and Dontai Gabidon turned the game round for West. Ashley Dunn levelled for Vics with four minutes remaining, only for Curtis Miller to hit a winner for West which put them in the First Qualifying Round for the first time.
Joining them will be Charnock Richard who have reached the First Qualifying Round for the fourth successive season. They had a superb 51 win away at Silsden come up with Simon grant giving them a perfect start after just two minutes. The home side levelled on 67 minutes through Harry Parsons, however four goals in the last 19 minutes saw Charnock progress. Brad Carsley hit two of them, one a penalty, with Nathan Nickeas also scoring a brace.
The final side through are Bury AFC, who secured a 2-0 victory over Northern Premier League side Widnes in what is their debut Emirates FA Cup campaign. Second-half goals from Chris rowny and Anton Smith saw Bury safely through.
Prestwich Hays secured A22 draw with Stocksbridge Park Steels and they had to do it the hard way. The Northern Premier League took full control with Charlie Oglesby and Luke Rawson goals just before half time giving them a comfortable lead. Kaiden Barlow pulled one back eight minutes from time before Tyler James sent the home fans into raptures with a stoppage time equaliser.
Congleton Town and Bootle will try again on Tuesday evening after a goalless draw at the Cleric Stadium. It's also a replay for Avro, it will also help to a goalless draw by Albion Sports.
The final side saw Kendal Town bow out to another Northern Premier League side in Bishop Auckland. Louis Johnson hit a hattrick with Wayne Whitfield and Dale Elgie putting the home side five goals ahead. Goals from Brandon Croskell-Robinson on 77 minutes and Steven Yawson in stoppage time made it respectable.
The Premier Division saw a reduced programme due to the Emirates FA Cup. Vauxhall Motors made it five wins from five in the league this season with a 2-1 victory over FC Isle of Man. Ben Holmes put the home side ahead from the spot on 53 minutes with Bobby McDonell doubling the lead 19 minutes from time. Jack McVey got a consolation for Isle of Man 6 minutes into stoppage time.
Squires Gate beat Longridge Town 4-2 with a dominant first half performance. A Gary Pett penalty after three minutes put them on their way with Josh Westwood doubling the lead and a Nathan Cliff double making it four after just 33 minutes. Jack Arrowsmith pulled one back just before the break with Curtis Poole adding another on 57 minutes, however they could find no further way back into the game.
Irlam picked up their first victory of the season with a 2-0 win at Lower Breck. Sidney Otoo put them ahead after 20 minutes with Babatunde Otulana making it two on 68 minutes.
It was a similar case at Litherland REMYCA who picked up a 2-0 victory over Ashton Athletic. Johnny Foy put REMYCA ahead on 13 minutes with an own goal securing victory eight minutes into the second-half.
There was a full programme of games in the First Division North, with the game of the day coming at Chadderton as the top two in the table met. It was the visitors Pilkington who picked up all three points, thanks to a second-half double from Adam Gilchrist.
The win of the day was undoubtedly at Cleator Moor Celtic where visitors South Liverpool picked up their first victory of the season with an 8-1 win. Mason Nevitt took home the match ball as he scored four come up with Bradley Williams netting a brace. Harry Farley and Mohamed Abdi with the other goal scorers for South, with Leo Brennan scoring the only goal for Celtic.
Euxton Villa played their first ever home game in the NWCFL and came out of it with a 3-1 victory over Runcorn Town. It was the visitors who took the lead after just 7 minutes through Oliver Scott, with Nathan Parish levelling two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half. Ian Billington gave Euxton the lead just after the hour, with Liam McNally securing victory minutes into second-half stoppage time.
Daisy Hill secured a 5-2 victory over Darwen FC. Just to confuse the opposition this season, Daisy have got a Connor Hughes and a Connor J Hughes in their side, and both of them hit a brace in the win. The other was an own goal, with Rio Wilson-Hayes also netting a brace for Darwen.
Bacup Borough ended the unbeaten start to the season by FC St Helens with a 2-1 away victory. Jack Hayward opened the scoring on three minutes with an Own Goal six minutes into the second half doubling Bacup's lead. FC St Helens replied with Jacob Stretch 15 minutes from time but they couldnt find the equaliser.
Also winning 2-1 were Garstang, but they had to come from behind against Steeton to do so and they left it late! Callum Buttle gave Steeton the lead on four minutes with Zac Clark levelling in the first minute of the second half. It was Clark who gave Garstang the lead, his winner coming three minutes into stoppage time.
Holker Old Boys ran out 3-1 winners at Ilkley Town with Samuel Joel putting them on their way after 24 minutes. Harry Brown levelled nine minutes into the second half but two late goals won it for Holker. Jamie Hodgson restored the lead three minutes from time, with a 90th minute penalty from Jason Walker securing the win.
The final win came at Ashton Town where visitors Atherton LR picked up their first win of the season. Emmanuel Amole scored the only goal of the game on 33 minutes. The final game saw Nelson and AFC Blackpool draw 2-2. A Jack Foster penalty gave Nelson the lead on 14 minutes with Josh Winder soon levelling. Foster restored the lead and that's how it remained until stoppage time when another penalty, this time from Ric Seear, gave Blackpool a point.
Arguably the game of the day came at Park Road where Cheadle Town ended the 100% winning start by Wythenshawe Amateurs. Bryan Ly put Wythenshawe ahead ten minutes before the break with Callum McGlynn levelling seven minutes later. Christopher Howard restored the lead on 68 minutes only for a remarkable late turnaround to keep the points at Cheadle. A Pat Davin penalty on with two minutes on the clock levelled things, with Liam Moran scoring two minutes into stoppage time to claim victory.
Biggest win of the day saw Stockport Town run out 8-0 winners against Abbey Hey. William Calligan grabbed a hat-trick with Scott McGowan netting a brace. Daniel McLaughlin, Tobias Green and the evergreen Sam Hiind got the others, with the goals equally shared in each half.
Two games finished 5-0, one being Alsager Town with their first win of the season. It came against Cheadle Heath Nomads with two from Kyle Campbell and one from Tawab Djankpata putting them three ahead inside 21 minutes. Callum Collinson added two in the second half to secure the win.
New Mills also scored five at Rocester, with five different goalscorers. A Darren McKnight penalty and one from Elliot Cooke made it two at the break. Richard Tindall, Bradley Kay and Jack Wray added further goals in the second half.
Brocton continued their good start with a 2-0 win at previously unbeaten Ellesmere Rangers. Cameron Jackson opened the scoring on 11 minutes with a Connor Haddaway penalty on 23 minutes wrapping up the points. Another side losing their unbeaten start was Ashville, who lost 2-1 at home to Maine Road. Thomas Davies put the home side ahead just after the half hour, with second half goals from Shaquille Lewys and Yousif Yousif giving Road the win.
Barnton also won 2-1 at home to Cammell Laird 1907. A Joe Levey double in the first half put them in control with Ben Wood's goal ten minutes into the second half proving just a consolation. Sandbach United came from behind to beat Foley Meir 3-1. Jack Gumbley opened the scoring seven minutes into the second half with Harry Cain levelling just a minute later. Liam Fitzpatrick gave Sandbach the lead with Stanley Tatters wrapping up the win with five minutes to go.
The final game saw Eccleshall concede their first goal of the season as Ryan Taylor put Stafford Town ahead in their clash. However Mitchell Glover's goal 20 minutes into the second half gave them a point with Eccleshall now the only unbeaten side in the division.
