Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 9
Wed 27th September 2023 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. FA Vase rundown
Here we go again for the 2nd qualifying rounds in this season's Isuzu FA Vase. On Saturday, 29 different teams from the NWCFl took to the field in the competition, some of them against each other, and, by 5pm, there would be 12 names remaining in the hat.
Some notable results include an all-NWCFL clash between Prem outfits Irlam and Glossop North End which ended 4-4 before the former won on penalties; Premier Division leaders Kendal Town giving Newcastle University a real run for their money in a 6-4 home defeat; and, a little bit more unfortunately, First Division North side AFC Blackpool being put to the sword by West Allotment Celtic in a 10-1 rout.
2. New manager bounce for Bury
One of the bigger talking points from the NWCFL in the last week or so was the departure of Bury FC manager Andy Welsh. Welsh was the club's first full-time manager after they reformed in 2020 as Bury AFC, and saw the club lift the NWCFL First Division North title in 2021/22. Despite that, a run of 2 wins from 8 games was enough to convince the board it was time for a change.
Joint managers of Bury's U23's team, Leon Mike and Stephen Sheil were tasked with temporarily carrying the load, and from 2 games, they've picked up maximum points. Last Tuesday, they defeated Squires Gate 2-0 away from home, before thumping Colne 4-1 at Gigg Lane last weekend. And now, the club have appointed Dave McNabb as their new permanent manager - let's see if he can continue this momentum.
3. Seventh Heaven
A lot of the entries on these lists are to do with big scorelines, or an impressive collective goals haul from the weekend, but a curious continuity emerged over the course of the weekend’s games, which all involved the lucky number 7. In the Premier Division, Wythenshawe FC, who are really thriving after their promotion from the South last season, beat Squires Gate 7-0, a result helped on by a hat-trick from Saul Henderson.
In addition to this, Winsford United, who've struggled in their start to life in the First Division South after voluntary relegation from the Prem last season, took Stafford Town to the cleaners in a 7-2 away win. Just for good measure, in the First Division North, the highest-scoring fixture from the weekend was Daisy Hill 2-5 Holker Old Boys - a match with 7 goals in total. Coincidence? Yes, probably.
4. Speaking of that Holker win...
It was quite an impressive result from a team standpoint, and it leaves the Barrow-based side 7th in the table as well as doing the good work of wiping out their previously negative goal difference. On a personal level, however, it was all the sweeter for Tom Dawson.
In his 7th start this season, and his 8th game overall, Dawson managed to increase his goal tally by a whopping 500%. He notched 4 of his team's 5 goals against Daisy Hill, including a first-half hat-trick, and, in doing so, became the first player in the NWCFl this season to bag 4 goals in one game. Well done, Tom.
5. Georgians go big in the Vase, but prefer going home in the league
Stockport Georgians have played 14 games in all competitions at this stage of the 2023/24 campaign. Half of these games have been played away from Cromley Road, and only 2 of these travels have resulted in Andy Jenkins' side snatching the victory - against Barton Town and Barnton, with both matches being in the Isuzu FA Vase.
These 2 wins are their only games at all from the Vase this season, but Georgians' league away form thus far tells a bit of a different tale. From 5 away league games, they've managed just 2 points, which means no wins as of yet. But they have walked away as the winners from 4 home games this season, which is a big reason why they're currently a good 9 points clear of the drop zone.
Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 9
Wed 27th September 2023 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. FA Vase rundown
Here we go again for the 2nd qualifying rounds in this season's Isuzu FA Vase. On Saturday, 29 different teams from the NWCFl took to the field in the competition, some of them against each other, and, by 5pm, there would be 12 names remaining in the hat.
Some notable results include an all-NWCFL clash between Prem outfits Irlam and Glossop North End which ended 4-4 before the former won on penalties; Premier Division leaders Kendal Town giving Newcastle University a real run for their money in a 6-4 home defeat; and, a little bit more unfortunately, First Division North side AFC Blackpool being put to the sword by West Allotment Celtic in a 10-1 rout.
2. New manager bounce for Bury
One of the bigger talking points from the NWCFL in the last week or so was the departure of Bury FC manager Andy Welsh. Welsh was the club's first full-time manager after they reformed in 2020 as Bury AFC, and saw the club lift the NWCFL First Division North title in 2021/22. Despite that, a run of 2 wins from 8 games was enough to convince the board it was time for a change.
Joint managers of Bury's U23's team, Leon Mike and Stephen Sheil were tasked with temporarily carrying the load, and from 2 games, they've picked up maximum points. Last Tuesday, they defeated Squires Gate 2-0 away from home, before thumping Colne 4-1 at Gigg Lane last weekend. And now, the club have appointed Dave McNabb as their new permanent manager - let's see if he can continue this momentum.
3. Seventh Heaven
A lot of the entries on these lists are to do with big scorelines, or an impressive collective goals haul from the weekend, but a curious continuity emerged over the course of the weekend’s games, which all involved the lucky number 7. In the Premier Division, Wythenshawe FC, who are really thriving after their promotion from the South last season, beat Squires Gate 7-0, a result helped on by a hat-trick from Saul Henderson.
In addition to this, Winsford United, who've struggled in their start to life in the First Division South after voluntary relegation from the Prem last season, took Stafford Town to the cleaners in a 7-2 away win. Just for good measure, in the First Division North, the highest-scoring fixture from the weekend was Daisy Hill 2-5 Holker Old Boys - a match with 7 goals in total. Coincidence? Yes, probably.
4. Speaking of that Holker win...
It was quite an impressive result from a team standpoint, and it leaves the Barrow-based side 7th in the table as well as doing the good work of wiping out their previously negative goal difference. On a personal level, however, it was all the sweeter for Tom Dawson.
In his 7th start this season, and his 8th game overall, Dawson managed to increase his goal tally by a whopping 500%. He notched 4 of his team's 5 goals against Daisy Hill, including a first-half hat-trick, and, in doing so, became the first player in the NWCFl this season to bag 4 goals in one game. Well done, Tom.
5. Georgians go big in the Vase, but prefer going home in the league
Stockport Georgians have played 14 games in all competitions at this stage of the 2023/24 campaign. Half of these games have been played away from Cromley Road, and only 2 of these travels have resulted in Andy Jenkins' side snatching the victory - against Barton Town and Barnton, with both matches being in the Isuzu FA Vase.
These 2 wins are their only games at all from the Vase this season, but Georgians' league away form thus far tells a bit of a different tale. From 5 away league games, they've managed just 2 points, which means no wins as of yet. But they have walked away as the winners from 4 home games this season, which is a big reason why they're currently a good 9 points clear of the drop zone.
