Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 26
Wed 24th January 2024 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. Have you heard the one about Kendal Town?
I hope you have, because it's been a feature of mainstream sports news, this week. As I'm sure we're all well aware, the weather over the course of the past week or so has been absolutely dreadful - thank you, storm Isha. As a result, there have been plenty of matches called off, but for Jimmy Marshall's Kendal side, this wasn't the case on Saturday away at FC Isle of Man.
Their 1-1 result stung a bit thanks to a late equaliser, especially given that they'd quite literally flown into away territory for it, but, when it came to heading home, the ever-indifferent Mother Nature had other ideas. The awful conditions led to all flights from the Isle of Man back to the mainland being cancelled, and, at the time of writing, Kendal are still stuck out there. Here's hoping everyone in this situation is home safe and soon.
2. Elsewhere in the Prem...
It seems like it was a bad Saturday to be a home team in the NWCFL Premier Division. Of all the other matches that were meant to take place on Saturday as preludes to Kendal VS Isle of Man, there were only 3 that actually made it to kick off. And all 3 were dream days for the respective visitors.
AFC Liverpool played host to high-flying Chadderton and had quite the first half to forget, conceding 4 goals without reply. The second half was goalless, but Chaddy won't care much about that. Also in Liverpool, bottom club Skelmersdale United suffered a slim defeat to Longridge Town; and, over in Blackpool, Squires Gate were put to the sword 3-0 by Lower Breck.
3. 3 sets of 4 in the South
Like the Premier Division, there were plenty of games from the First Division South that were also postponed due to the weather, but, of the 3 games that we were graced with on Saturday did certainly catch the eye. Let's start with 2nd placed Stockport Town, who, thanks to a Dan McLaughlin brace, stormed to a 4-0 win at home against Eccleshall.
Secondly, in what was very much a game of two halves, Winsford United went into half time 2-0 up at home against Alsager Town, but the Bullets came out firing on target in the second period, smashing 4 past their hosts and walking away with the points. Finally, in arguably the tensest of all 3 matches that took place, Sandbach United just about edged past Droylsden 4-3 after the away side bagged an opening goal in the first minute of the match.
4. Welcome to Pilkington
I was about 8 or so hours late for this when writing last week’s list, where I did mention that the previous management team of Nick Dunn and Gaz Kenny from the Pilkington dugout had left their positions with immediate effect. Well, the board did not wait all that long to find their previous promotion-winning pair's replacements.
Arriving at the club are two managers with NWCFL experience already under their belts - former Congleton Town gaffer Kevin Langley and former Skelmersdale United boss Matt Potter. It's a managerial pairing that the executives over in WA10 will be hoping can solidify the club in mid-table at least before going again next season.
5. Wythenshawe's ace in the Hall
For a player to be "the first name on the team sheet" is quite the cliche in football, but, for one player at Wythenshawe Town, this classic trope seems to absolutely apply. Presumably alongside new signings Declan Daniels and George Boyd in recent weeks, you can't go to Ericstan Park without encountering goalkeeper Greg Hall.
Of all the players in Rory Fallon's side, the only one to have started every league game for Town is Hall. As a matter of fact, of all of the players in the entire NWCFL Premier Division in 2023/24 so far, the only man to have started every league game for their club is Greg Hall. Let's see if he can carry that flame all the way to April.
Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 26
Wed 24th January 2024 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. Have you heard the one about Kendal Town?
I hope you have, because it's been a feature of mainstream sports news, this week. As I'm sure we're all well aware, the weather over the course of the past week or so has been absolutely dreadful - thank you, storm Isha. As a result, there have been plenty of matches called off, but for Jimmy Marshall's Kendal side, this wasn't the case on Saturday away at FC Isle of Man.
Their 1-1 result stung a bit thanks to a late equaliser, especially given that they'd quite literally flown into away territory for it, but, when it came to heading home, the ever-indifferent Mother Nature had other ideas. The awful conditions led to all flights from the Isle of Man back to the mainland being cancelled, and, at the time of writing, Kendal are still stuck out there. Here's hoping everyone in this situation is home safe and soon.
2. Elsewhere in the Prem...
It seems like it was a bad Saturday to be a home team in the NWCFL Premier Division. Of all the other matches that were meant to take place on Saturday as preludes to Kendal VS Isle of Man, there were only 3 that actually made it to kick off. And all 3 were dream days for the respective visitors.
AFC Liverpool played host to high-flying Chadderton and had quite the first half to forget, conceding 4 goals without reply. The second half was goalless, but Chaddy won't care much about that. Also in Liverpool, bottom club Skelmersdale United suffered a slim defeat to Longridge Town; and, over in Blackpool, Squires Gate were put to the sword 3-0 by Lower Breck.
3. 3 sets of 4 in the South
Like the Premier Division, there were plenty of games from the First Division South that were also postponed due to the weather, but, of the 3 games that we were graced with on Saturday did certainly catch the eye. Let's start with 2nd placed Stockport Town, who, thanks to a Dan McLaughlin brace, stormed to a 4-0 win at home against Eccleshall.
Secondly, in what was very much a game of two halves, Winsford United went into half time 2-0 up at home against Alsager Town, but the Bullets came out firing on target in the second period, smashing 4 past their hosts and walking away with the points. Finally, in arguably the tensest of all 3 matches that took place, Sandbach United just about edged past Droylsden 4-3 after the away side bagged an opening goal in the first minute of the match.
4. Welcome to Pilkington
I was about 8 or so hours late for this when writing last week’s list, where I did mention that the previous management team of Nick Dunn and Gaz Kenny from the Pilkington dugout had left their positions with immediate effect. Well, the board did not wait all that long to find their previous promotion-winning pair's replacements.
Arriving at the club are two managers with NWCFL experience already under their belts - former Congleton Town gaffer Kevin Langley and former Skelmersdale United boss Matt Potter. It's a managerial pairing that the executives over in WA10 will be hoping can solidify the club in mid-table at least before going again next season.
5. Wythenshawe's ace in the Hall
For a player to be "the first name on the team sheet" is quite the cliche in football, but, for one player at Wythenshawe Town, this classic trope seems to absolutely apply. Presumably alongside new signings Declan Daniels and George Boyd in recent weeks, you can't go to Ericstan Park without encountering goalkeeper Greg Hall.
Of all the players in Rory Fallon's side, the only one to have started every league game for Town is Hall. As a matter of fact, of all of the players in the entire NWCFL Premier Division in 2023/24 so far, the only man to have started every league game for their club is Greg Hall. Let's see if he can carry that flame all the way to April.
