Week 3: Preview

Sat 9th August 2025 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper

Premier Division

Friday:

- Burscough picked up an away victory in the weekend's opening match, scoring twice without reply away at Prestwich Heys.

Saturday:

- Chadderton will hope to keep their momentum going from last week's FA Cup win over Stockport Town with anither home victory. They will welcome South Liverpool, who were hammered 6-0 in the Cup last weekend.

- Charnock Richard also won at home in the FA Cup last weekend, and will want to do the same in the league this Saturday as Irlam, who battered Thackley 4-0 last weekend, visit Mossie Park.

- Cheadle Town were also involved in a game where one side scored four goals last weekend, but they were defeated. They'll hope to recover against AFC Liverpool, who beat Abbey Hey in a replay.

- City of Liverpool defeated newly promoted Euxton Villa in the FA Cup last weekend, and will face newly promoted Atherton LR in the league on Saturday after their 1-0 cup victory over Ossett United.

- Litherland REMYCA will be at home on Saturday, hoping to recover from their 3-0 loss last weekend. They will host Barnoldswick Town, who also suffered defeat last time out, against Trafford.

- Longridge Town put right a weekend draw with Pilkington by smashing their opponents 8-1 in midweek. They'll want to keep that momentum going when they face newly relegated Wythenshawe on Saturday.

- Pilkington were on the other side of that 8-1 Longridge result earlier this week, and will want redemption when they take on Abbey Hey - a meeting of two sides who lost a Cup replay.

- Ramsbottom United, who won away from home against Golcar United last weekend, will square off with FC St Helens, who won in a midweek replay against Glossop North End.

- There's an early top of the table clash between Stockport Town and Padiham on Saturday, with the Storks hoping to take the first points away from Town on their own home turf.

- West Didsbury and Chorlton won in extra time after a replay with Winsford United earlier this week, but their match against Euxton Villa on Saturday will be over in 90 minutes. The away side are yet to win in the league this season - we'll see if that changes.

- In the late kick-off, FC Isle of Man will host Glossop North End at The Bowl, with the away side having only had since Tuesday to recover from their FA Cup replay defeat to FC St Helens.

First Division North

- Maghull were winners of the NWCFL's game of the weekend last time out, winning 4-3 against Droylsden, and will hope to replicate that result when they travel to AFC Blackpool on Saturday.

- Ashton Town are back in action this weekend following their Tuesday night defeat to Steeton, with Daisy Hill visiting the Bartons Group Stadium having drawn 2-2 with Garstang last time out.

- Colne snatched a 3-2 win in the 98th minute last weekend, but they'll be hoping to have a less tense go-around this time as they welcome league new boys Fulwood Amateurs to East Lancashire.

- Droylsden were second best in the play-offs last season, and Garstang were second-bottom and reprieved. This Saturday, these two sides face each other again, despite there being every chance they wouldn't towards the tail end of 2024/25.

- The only two-wins-from-two side in the First Division North is Holker Old Boys, who will hope to continue their perfect run so far this season with the visit of Steeton, who won 2-0 in midweek against Ashton Town.

- MSB Woolton made their NWCFL bow last weekend in an away defeat to Darwen. They'll hope for better fortunes this weekend as they hit the road again, this time visiting Maine Road, who were Colne's last-minute victims last weekend.

- Squires Gate's start to life in the First Division North hasn't been great, with just one point from six to their name so far. They'll be looking to get their first win of the season as Darwen FC come to the seaside.

- Also on the seaside are Thornton Cleveleys, who have a home game of their own. Ashton Athletic are the visitors to Gamble Road as the hosts look to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign.

First Division South

- A Tyler Magee penalty was the only thing separating Ashville from Wolves Sporting last weekend, and the hosts will hope for a bigger margin of victory when they welcome Stockport Georgians on Saturday.

- There were three-goal margins in both Cheadle Heath Nomads' and Cammell Laird 1907's matches last weekend - Nomads won, Laird lost. The latter will be looking to right that wrong when the two teams go toe to toe this weekend.

- Eccleshall weren't in action last weekend, but are back with a home fixture this Saturday and will square off with Allscott Heath. The visitors will be wanting to bounce back following their late loss to Barnton last time out.

- Foley Meir are the lowest-placed team with a point to their name after three league games so far, and will try again for their first win when they host Market Drayton Town on Saturday. Town are coming into this one with momentum, having beaten Stockport Georgians 3-1 in their last league match.

- Haughmond are the outright lowest-placed team in the league to this point, and will hope to earn their first point(s) as an NWCFL side when they host New Mills this weekend.

- Runcorn Town are a perfect three for three so far in terms of wins, and Wolves Sporting are a less-than-ideal three for three so far in terms of defeats. The table-toppers face the second-bottom side on Saturday.

- Another team with a spotless record to this point are Stafford Town, who will go above and beyond to make it four out of four on Saturday when they host Barnton. The away side snatched a win from the jaws of defeat last time out against Allscott, and if they do the same again, they'll have broken Stafford's perfect streak thus far.

- Telford Town look like good value for money so far in the NWCFL. They're unbeaten in the league, and they'll want to keep it that way when Sandbach United travel to the DRM Aggregate Arena on Saturday.

- No matter what the score is this weekend, either one or both of Wolves Casuals and Alsager Town will improve on their one-point tally from their league games so far when they square off with one another at the former's Brinsford Stadium.