Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 37
Thu 11th April 2024 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. ... ...of the Month!
There aren't many of these left for the season, so let's get them wrapped up! Firstly, the Clubs of the Month for March - in the Premier Division, former strugglers Cheadle Town were rewarded for turning their form right around this past month with 4 wins from 5; in the First Division North, Euxton Villa revitalised their play-off push and made the Edward Case Cup Final; and, in the South, New Mills have dragged themselves right out of the drop zone with 5 wins and 1 draw across an unbeaten month.
As for Players, we have the ultimate veteran in Barnoldswick Town's Gareth Smith picking up the POTM award in the Prem; Ashton Athletic's Thomas Romano is your winner in the North; and New Mills' Christopher Pauley makes it 2 for 2 on the awards front for his side. And the Goalkeepers, its table-topping Wythenshawe Town's Kyle Haslam who scoops the plaudits; Atherton LR's Joseph Bickerstaffe is honoured in the North; and in the South, New Mills complete the hat-trick with their stopper Joseph Oldham earning his spot. Congratulations to all our winners!
2. We're feeling the fixture cramming!
Since last week's Five Things We Learned list, there have been lots, and lots, and lots of games scheduled, and one or two have also been postponed due to MORE blasted bad weather! Let's try and ignore those ones and focus on the action we did get - and we got plenty of it!
In the last 7 days, in league competition alone, there have been 42 (that’s FORTY-TWO) matches that have been scheduled to play, and that's not even including your Colne's, Padiham's, Barnoldswick's and Alsager's, who were all also scheduled to play cup fixtures during that time too! At the time of writing, the Premier Division season was scheduled to end in 10 days - something tells me we may not quite manage that.
3. First is confirmed, and now so is Second in the North!
Last week, my list was almost half-filled with entries regarding confirmed final positions in our divisions - namely, both FC St Helens and Brocton being crowned Champions in the First Division North and South. Well, now we know who will make up the top 2 in the former league.
Atherton LR are one of seven teams who still have more than one game left of the NWCFL First Division North campaign, and, upon stretching the gap between themselves and 3rd-placed Ashton Town to 4 points with a weekend win over lowly Garstang, they can no longer be caught by any of the teams below them. Their home seeding in the play-offs is confirmed.
4. First is confirmed, and now so is Second in the South!
Last week, my list was almost half-filled with entries regarding confirmed final positions in our divisions - namely, both FC St Helens and Brocton being crowned Champions in the First Division North and South. Well, now we know who will make up the top 2 in the latter league.
Just like last season, it's Paul Marshall's Stockport Town who collect a runners-up trophy for their efforts in the First Division South, and they will get another shot at the play-offs for the chance to earn promotion. This one wasn't nearly as heartbreaking as last seasons, where they finished a point behind their title rivals Wythenshawe FC (then Amateurs), but they're still far enough ahead of the chasing pack to give themselves some confidence going into the play-offs.
5. The play-off door is closed in the South
Stockport Town are runners-up, and they will have home advantage in the play-offs for the second season straight, but what is also confirmed is who will travel to the Sports Village for the semi-final. That would be new arrivals to the league for 2023/24, Droylsden - Dave Pace's side have 5th placed secured.
We essentially know who will have the home advantage in the other semi-final too - Sandbach United will play host to Abbey Hey, unless, in an absolute shocker, the latter can overcome a 3-point and 12-goal deficit to earn home advantage on the final day. It will be a fight to the bitter end between these 4 sides, but only one of them can go up!
Five Things We Learned 2023/24 - Gameweek 37
Thu 11th April 2024 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. ... ...of the Month!
There aren't many of these left for the season, so let's get them wrapped up! Firstly, the Clubs of the Month for March - in the Premier Division, former strugglers Cheadle Town were rewarded for turning their form right around this past month with 4 wins from 5; in the First Division North, Euxton Villa revitalised their play-off push and made the Edward Case Cup Final; and, in the South, New Mills have dragged themselves right out of the drop zone with 5 wins and 1 draw across an unbeaten month.
As for Players, we have the ultimate veteran in Barnoldswick Town's Gareth Smith picking up the POTM award in the Prem; Ashton Athletic's Thomas Romano is your winner in the North; and New Mills' Christopher Pauley makes it 2 for 2 on the awards front for his side. And the Goalkeepers, its table-topping Wythenshawe Town's Kyle Haslam who scoops the plaudits; Atherton LR's Joseph Bickerstaffe is honoured in the North; and in the South, New Mills complete the hat-trick with their stopper Joseph Oldham earning his spot. Congratulations to all our winners!
2. We're feeling the fixture cramming!
Since last week's Five Things We Learned list, there have been lots, and lots, and lots of games scheduled, and one or two have also been postponed due to MORE blasted bad weather! Let's try and ignore those ones and focus on the action we did get - and we got plenty of it!
In the last 7 days, in league competition alone, there have been 42 (that’s FORTY-TWO) matches that have been scheduled to play, and that's not even including your Colne's, Padiham's, Barnoldswick's and Alsager's, who were all also scheduled to play cup fixtures during that time too! At the time of writing, the Premier Division season was scheduled to end in 10 days - something tells me we may not quite manage that.
3. First is confirmed, and now so is Second in the North!
Last week, my list was almost half-filled with entries regarding confirmed final positions in our divisions - namely, both FC St Helens and Brocton being crowned Champions in the First Division North and South. Well, now we know who will make up the top 2 in the former league.
Atherton LR are one of seven teams who still have more than one game left of the NWCFL First Division North campaign, and, upon stretching the gap between themselves and 3rd-placed Ashton Town to 4 points with a weekend win over lowly Garstang, they can no longer be caught by any of the teams below them. Their home seeding in the play-offs is confirmed.
4. First is confirmed, and now so is Second in the South!
Last week, my list was almost half-filled with entries regarding confirmed final positions in our divisions - namely, both FC St Helens and Brocton being crowned Champions in the First Division North and South. Well, now we know who will make up the top 2 in the latter league.
Just like last season, it's Paul Marshall's Stockport Town who collect a runners-up trophy for their efforts in the First Division South, and they will get another shot at the play-offs for the chance to earn promotion. This one wasn't nearly as heartbreaking as last seasons, where they finished a point behind their title rivals Wythenshawe FC (then Amateurs), but they're still far enough ahead of the chasing pack to give themselves some confidence going into the play-offs.
5. The play-off door is closed in the South
Stockport Town are runners-up, and they will have home advantage in the play-offs for the second season straight, but what is also confirmed is who will travel to the Sports Village for the semi-final. That would be new arrivals to the league for 2023/24, Droylsden - Dave Pace's side have 5th placed secured.
We essentially know who will have the home advantage in the other semi-final too - Sandbach United will play host to Abbey Hey, unless, in an absolute shocker, the latter can overcome a 3-point and 12-goal deficit to earn home advantage on the final day. It will be a fight to the bitter end between these 4 sides, but only one of them can go up!
