Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 33
Wed 13th March 2024 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. That time of the month
Here we go again - it's time to run through your winners for February's NWCFL Clubs, Players(?) and Goalkeepers of the Month, and we'll start with a collective perspective. In the Premier Division, it's table-topping Bury, who won 4 from 5 this month, that take the crown. For the North, fellow league leaders FC St Helens earned their plaudits with an unbeaten 3-game month; and, to round out this hat-trick, Stockport Town are the South's club of the month after they reached the league's summit throughout February.
Now, the reason for the little question mark next to "players" in the above paragraph is that, at the time of writing, those winners are yet to be officially announced - how tense. Instead, we'll get right on with the goalkeepers. For the Prem, it's Wythenshawe FC's Kyle Haslam who is awarded the honour; in the North, struggling Steeton's James Callow is credited for his efforts; and in the South, Stockport have gone 2 for 3 with Josh Schofield being given some recognition. Congratulations to our winners, and we'll do the Players next week!
2. Some tight results in the Prem
There's quite a spectrum of results to observe from the weekend's NWCFL Premier Division action, and we'll start with the less goal-laden ones - albeit, they were no less dramatic. In the promotion race, both Wythenshawe FC and Prestwich Heys picked up crucial 1-0 away wins over Lower Breck and Glossop North End, respectively; in the same afternoon where Bury struggled to a 1-0 defeat away at Irlam.
In more smash and grab news, Charnock Richard put Squires Gate to the sword, hitting them for 6 whilst only shipping 1 in return at home (more on that in a little while). Padiham also managed a 4-1 drubbing of high-flying Chadderton in their own back yard, no less; and Litherland REMYCA and Cheadle Town shared the spoils in an 8-goal thriller at the former's Litherland Sports Park. And, just for good measure, in the late kick-off, FC Isle of Man squeaked out a last-minute winner in a 3-2 victory over Longridge Town.
3. Two threes are what the doctor ordered for Charnock Richard
Here comes the more information that I promised about Charnock Richard's weekend drubbing on Squires Gate. Before the weekend, Charnock gaffer Ryan Donnellan reached a managerial milestone of 200 games in charge of the club - he was unfortunately rewarded with a 4-2 home defeat against Cheadle Town. Well, the weekend brought a redemption day for Donnellan and his team, and Gate were the unfortunate victims.
In a nice game of one-upmanship, two Charnock players - Fenton Davies and Brad Carsley - both put their working boots on for this one and bagged 3 goals each, with Davies' first coming in the opening 2 minutes of the match, and Carsley's last being a converted penalty 5 minutes from time. It's a result that leaves Gate kept off the bottom of the table by just one team - Skelmersdale United. However, there is still a 10-point cushion that the FY4 side can rest on.
4. FC St Helens block the route for others
Last week, I spent an entire list entry waxing lyrical about Route One Rovers' and Zakariya Khan's habit of scoring goals for fun in games. Well, when they travelled to the home of the Champions elect last weekend, they were convincingly beaten. February's Division One North Club of the Month lived up to their moniker.
Thomas Scarborough, Jack Ball and Connor Spiers sandwiched a brace from Josh Hall to secure a 5-0 win for FC St Helens, and to take Rovers to the cleaners. FC are closing in closer and closer on that league title - their closest challengers, Atherton LR, now need an average of no less than 2 points per game, AND for FC themselves not to pick up any more points of their own, to still stand a chance at opposing them.
5. The fight for 5th in the South
The point gap is opening up between a couple of the teams in the top 5 in the First Division South. With Brocton beating Droylsden at the weekend, there's now 7 points between 4th and 5th in the table - compare that to the 8 points between 5th place and 12th placed Brocton. That's 8 teams, some of whom with as many as 7 games left, that all have a considerable shot at making the play-offs if results go their way.
Droylsden are currently to cling on to their place in amongst the promotion candidates, but with the games expected to be coming thick and fast, any one of Alsager Town, Cheadle Heath Nomads, Abbey Hulton United, Stafford Town, Maine Road, Eccleshall OR Brocton could put on a chase and a half. Even 13th placed Stockport Georgians have a game in hand on all of the above and, should they win it, their gap on this collection of teams would be reduced to just a point. Watch this space.
Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 33
Wed 13th March 2024 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. That time of the month
Here we go again - it's time to run through your winners for February's NWCFL Clubs, Players(?) and Goalkeepers of the Month, and we'll start with a collective perspective. In the Premier Division, it's table-topping Bury, who won 4 from 5 this month, that take the crown. For the North, fellow league leaders FC St Helens earned their plaudits with an unbeaten 3-game month; and, to round out this hat-trick, Stockport Town are the South's club of the month after they reached the league's summit throughout February.
Now, the reason for the little question mark next to "players" in the above paragraph is that, at the time of writing, those winners are yet to be officially announced - how tense. Instead, we'll get right on with the goalkeepers. For the Prem, it's Wythenshawe FC's Kyle Haslam who is awarded the honour; in the North, struggling Steeton's James Callow is credited for his efforts; and in the South, Stockport have gone 2 for 3 with Josh Schofield being given some recognition. Congratulations to our winners, and we'll do the Players next week!
2. Some tight results in the Prem
There's quite a spectrum of results to observe from the weekend's NWCFL Premier Division action, and we'll start with the less goal-laden ones - albeit, they were no less dramatic. In the promotion race, both Wythenshawe FC and Prestwich Heys picked up crucial 1-0 away wins over Lower Breck and Glossop North End, respectively; in the same afternoon where Bury struggled to a 1-0 defeat away at Irlam.
In more smash and grab news, Charnock Richard put Squires Gate to the sword, hitting them for 6 whilst only shipping 1 in return at home (more on that in a little while). Padiham also managed a 4-1 drubbing of high-flying Chadderton in their own back yard, no less; and Litherland REMYCA and Cheadle Town shared the spoils in an 8-goal thriller at the former's Litherland Sports Park. And, just for good measure, in the late kick-off, FC Isle of Man squeaked out a last-minute winner in a 3-2 victory over Longridge Town.
3. Two threes are what the doctor ordered for Charnock Richard
Here comes the more information that I promised about Charnock Richard's weekend drubbing on Squires Gate. Before the weekend, Charnock gaffer Ryan Donnellan reached a managerial milestone of 200 games in charge of the club - he was unfortunately rewarded with a 4-2 home defeat against Cheadle Town. Well, the weekend brought a redemption day for Donnellan and his team, and Gate were the unfortunate victims.
In a nice game of one-upmanship, two Charnock players - Fenton Davies and Brad Carsley - both put their working boots on for this one and bagged 3 goals each, with Davies' first coming in the opening 2 minutes of the match, and Carsley's last being a converted penalty 5 minutes from time. It's a result that leaves Gate kept off the bottom of the table by just one team - Skelmersdale United. However, there is still a 10-point cushion that the FY4 side can rest on.
4. FC St Helens block the route for others
Last week, I spent an entire list entry waxing lyrical about Route One Rovers' and Zakariya Khan's habit of scoring goals for fun in games. Well, when they travelled to the home of the Champions elect last weekend, they were convincingly beaten. February's Division One North Club of the Month lived up to their moniker.
Thomas Scarborough, Jack Ball and Connor Spiers sandwiched a brace from Josh Hall to secure a 5-0 win for FC St Helens, and to take Rovers to the cleaners. FC are closing in closer and closer on that league title - their closest challengers, Atherton LR, now need an average of no less than 2 points per game, AND for FC themselves not to pick up any more points of their own, to still stand a chance at opposing them.
5. The fight for 5th in the South
The point gap is opening up between a couple of the teams in the top 5 in the First Division South. With Brocton beating Droylsden at the weekend, there's now 7 points between 4th and 5th in the table - compare that to the 8 points between 5th place and 12th placed Brocton. That's 8 teams, some of whom with as many as 7 games left, that all have a considerable shot at making the play-offs if results go their way.
Droylsden are currently to cling on to their place in amongst the promotion candidates, but with the games expected to be coming thick and fast, any one of Alsager Town, Cheadle Heath Nomads, Abbey Hulton United, Stafford Town, Maine Road, Eccleshall OR Brocton could put on a chase and a half. Even 13th placed Stockport Georgians have a game in hand on all of the above and, should they win it, their gap on this collection of teams would be reduced to just a point. Watch this space.
