Five Things We Learned - Gameweek 25
Wed 18th January 2023 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. Flag-flyers remain in the Vase
The FA Vase continued this weekend with the first games in the competition in 2023, and there were 5 NWCFL teams left in the hat when the previous draw was made, with 2 of them set to face each other. And, after the full-time whistles were blown, there are still some NWCFL names left standing.
On Saturday, Congleton Town and West Didsbury and Chorlton ran out 4-0 and 2-0 winners in their respective games, and AFC Liverpool were unfortunately denied from making it 3/3 by a waterlogged pitch. In the all-NWCFL clash between Premier Division Bury AFC and First Division North Holker Old Boys, the former came out victorious, also winning 4-0. The draw has seen Congleton drawn away to AFC Wulfrunians, West taking on Biggleswade United or Coventry Sphinx, and Bury AFC will travel to Tring Athletic or Walsall Wood.
2. Elsewhere in cup competition...
Ashton Athletic have had a less than enjoyable campaign in the league so far, currently propping up the rest of the Premier Division, and 14 points from escaping the drop zone. However, in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy, they appear to be a totally different beast.
Bury AFC's FA Vase win against Holker on Tuesday was moved to Darwen due to a schedule clash with Radcliffe - the team with whom they share the Neuven Stadium. Taking place at the Neuven instead on Tuesday evening was Ashton Athletic's 1-1 draw with the NPL side, which ended in penalty shootout victory for Foulds, Brodie and their players. They're into the semi-final!
3. Statement wins for league leaders
Since the last one of these lists, Vauxhall Motors have played twice in the league, and they've notched 8 goals in that time without reply. They emphatically dismantled Ashton Athletic 5-0 in their final game before the Radcliffe upset, and they put 3 past fellow promotion chasers, Wythenshawe Town, in Wythy's own back yard, to keep themselves 2 points clear at the top, and with a game in hand.
Also since the last one of these lists, Stockport Town have played twice in the league, and scored 10 whilst only conceding 1 in return. They pulled apart Eccleshall away from home in a 5-1 win, and then smashed another 5 past fellow promotion chasers Brocton, keeping a clean sheet in the process. They are also 2 points clear of the chasing pack in the First Division South.
4. Darwen push Ashton to the edge of the Creech
Ooh, that pun was tenuous, but Darwen FC, with the help of Leon Creech, did indeed twist the knife into Ashton Town when the two sides met on Saturday. Creech bagged a hat-trick in 29 minutes and added a 4th on minute 38 to help his side on their way to an emphatic victory in the weekend's standout result.
Further goals for Rio Wilson-Heyes (2) and Anthony Lynch saw the game finish 7-0 to the hosts, and leaves them in 8th place - quite the recovery for a side who spent the early weeks of the season circling the drop zone. Ashton, meanwhile are kept off the foot of the league only by Cleator moor Celtic, but remain only 3 points and a hefty swing in goal difference from safety.
5. FC St. Helens and Chadderton keep their runs going
These two sides from the First Division North played out an inconspicuous 1-1 draw at the weekend, and that result served the purpose of keeping both teams' impressive unbeaten runs going in NWCFL action. FC St. Helens' is slightly better, not losing any of their last 12 league games, whereas Chadderton's run is now stretched to 10 games.
Taking postponements into account too, you'd have to go back to September 3rd for the last time that FC St. Helens came away from a league game with nothing - they lost 2-1 to Euxton Villa on that date. As for Chadderton, you can trace their run to the 17th of the same month, when AFC Blackpool did them 3-1. Step up to either team, if you can.
Five Things We Learned - Gameweek 25
Wed 18th January 2023 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. Flag-flyers remain in the Vase
The FA Vase continued this weekend with the first games in the competition in 2023, and there were 5 NWCFL teams left in the hat when the previous draw was made, with 2 of them set to face each other. And, after the full-time whistles were blown, there are still some NWCFL names left standing.
On Saturday, Congleton Town and West Didsbury and Chorlton ran out 4-0 and 2-0 winners in their respective games, and AFC Liverpool were unfortunately denied from making it 3/3 by a waterlogged pitch. In the all-NWCFL clash between Premier Division Bury AFC and First Division North Holker Old Boys, the former came out victorious, also winning 4-0. The draw has seen Congleton drawn away to AFC Wulfrunians, West taking on Biggleswade United or Coventry Sphinx, and Bury AFC will travel to Tring Athletic or Walsall Wood.
2. Elsewhere in cup competition...
Ashton Athletic have had a less than enjoyable campaign in the league so far, currently propping up the rest of the Premier Division, and 14 points from escaping the drop zone. However, in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy, they appear to be a totally different beast.
Bury AFC's FA Vase win against Holker on Tuesday was moved to Darwen due to a schedule clash with Radcliffe - the team with whom they share the Neuven Stadium. Taking place at the Neuven instead on Tuesday evening was Ashton Athletic's 1-1 draw with the NPL side, which ended in penalty shootout victory for Foulds, Brodie and their players. They're into the semi-final!
3. Statement wins for league leaders
Since the last one of these lists, Vauxhall Motors have played twice in the league, and they've notched 8 goals in that time without reply. They emphatically dismantled Ashton Athletic 5-0 in their final game before the Radcliffe upset, and they put 3 past fellow promotion chasers, Wythenshawe Town, in Wythy's own back yard, to keep themselves 2 points clear at the top, and with a game in hand.
Also since the last one of these lists, Stockport Town have played twice in the league, and scored 10 whilst only conceding 1 in return. They pulled apart Eccleshall away from home in a 5-1 win, and then smashed another 5 past fellow promotion chasers Brocton, keeping a clean sheet in the process. They are also 2 points clear of the chasing pack in the First Division South.
4. Darwen push Ashton to the edge of the Creech
Ooh, that pun was tenuous, but Darwen FC, with the help of Leon Creech, did indeed twist the knife into Ashton Town when the two sides met on Saturday. Creech bagged a hat-trick in 29 minutes and added a 4th on minute 38 to help his side on their way to an emphatic victory in the weekend's standout result.
Further goals for Rio Wilson-Heyes (2) and Anthony Lynch saw the game finish 7-0 to the hosts, and leaves them in 8th place - quite the recovery for a side who spent the early weeks of the season circling the drop zone. Ashton, meanwhile are kept off the foot of the league only by Cleator moor Celtic, but remain only 3 points and a hefty swing in goal difference from safety.
5. FC St. Helens and Chadderton keep their runs going
These two sides from the First Division North played out an inconspicuous 1-1 draw at the weekend, and that result served the purpose of keeping both teams' impressive unbeaten runs going in NWCFL action. FC St. Helens' is slightly better, not losing any of their last 12 league games, whereas Chadderton's run is now stretched to 10 games.
Taking postponements into account too, you'd have to go back to September 3rd for the last time that FC St. Helens came away from a league game with nothing - they lost 2-1 to Euxton Villa on that date. As for Chadderton, you can trace their run to the 17th of the same month, when AFC Blackpool did them 3-1. Step up to either team, if you can.
