Weekend 8 n the NWCFL saw two teams playing in the Emirates FA Cup with most other sides in league action across all three divisions.
Emirates FA Cup
Chadderton created history by reaching the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time with a 1-0 win at FC United of Manchester. Chaddy had never previously beaten FC United in three previous meetings, but they stunned the Northern Premier League leaders with a goal worthy of winning any game from Matthew Crothers. Picking up the ball in his own half, he spotted the home keeper off his line and shot from the halfway line, the ball flying over the keeper into the net.
Atherton LR, the only other remaining NWCFL side in the competition, went down 3-0 at National League North side Macclesfield. However that does not really tell the story of the game. A resiliant first half saw them go in goalless at the break, and it could have been better with a close range header well saved on the stroke of half time. Levels told though with Sean Etaluku scoring the opener on 56 minutes, Ethan McLeod adding a second seven minutes later and D’Mani Mellor wrapping up the win in stoppage time.
Premier Division
Padiham remain top of the Premier Division, but slipped to their first loss of the season with City of Liverpool winning 2-0 at the Ruby Civil Arena. After a goalless first half, Stephen Milne put them ahead ten minutes into the second half with Jason Clark securing the win with 12 minutes remaining.
The Storks are four points ahead now of both Burscough and Ramsbottom United, both of whom dropped points on a strange day for the leading sides. The Linnets lost 1-0 at home to Cheadle Town thanks to an own goal just after the half hour. And Rammy had to settle for a 3-3 home draw with Stockport Town, the home side coming from behind three times in that game. Ethan Padden put the visitors ahead on 40 minutes with Thomas Walker levelling just before the break. George Kattah restored the lead six minutes into the second half with Harvey Whyte's penalty making it 2-2. Kattah again put Stockport ahead before Oscar Radcliffe grabbed a point with five minutes to go.
FC St Helens are up to fourth after a 3-0 win at Abbey Hey. Joshua Briggs put them ahead just before the break with a Joseph Barker double in the second half securing the win. And in the final play-off spot at the moment is Wythenshawe, who came from behind to beat AFC Liverpool. Adam Moorcroft put the visitors ahead just before the break with Aaron Dwyer levelling two minutes into the second half. Princewill Anuniru quickly made it 2-1 before Dwyer added another just after the hour.
Charlie Higgins was the hero for FC Isle of Man as he scored a hat-trick in their 3-2 win over Charnock Richard. The visitors levelled twice in that game, both through Jordan Darr, before Higgins hit the winner. Another hat-trick came from Connor Martin who scored all three in Prestwich Heys' 3-0 win over South Liverpool. And Tom Douglas scored three for Pilkington who won 5-3 at home to Longridge Town. Douglas opened the scoring before Liam Atkinson levelled with Douglas restoring the lead almost immediately. Connor High made it 2-2 before Douglas again put Pilks ahead. Three became five thanks to a Kyle Robinson-Murray brace, with an own goal making the score 5-3.
West Didsbury & Chorlton cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win at home to Barnoldswick Town. A Lewis Billingsley goal on the half hour put them in control, before two quick goals at the start of the second half from Kaleb Parkinson and Harvey Roberts made the game safe. Victor Abadaki scored the fourth with eight minutes left. The other two games ended 2-1. Second half goals from Dylan Fitzgerald and Ethan Sutcliffe put Glossop North End ahead at Litherland REMYCA for whom Joel Ogiugo netted a late consolation. And a Patrik Bibby penalty for Euxton Villa was cancelled out by another penalty from Irlam's Declan Daniels, with Josh Hall's goal giving Euxton all three points.
First Division North
Droylsden celebrated being top of the First Division North with a 6-1 demolition of Bacup Borough. The visitors led thanks to Connor Morris' goal with Nellson Van levelling just before the break. The second half was all Bloods though, with three goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half making the game safe. Yasir Salim scored the second, quickly followed by goals from Emmanuel Udjor Omorogbe and Kyle Campbell. Another Van goal made it five before Caelan Kilheeney scored a last minute penalty for the sixth.
Maghull bounced back from their first loss with a 3-0 win at home to Daisy Hill. Darren Brannigan put them ahead early and it took until Sam Smith's goal with 20 minutes to go for the second. Harrison Worden's penalty with seven minutes remaining made it three. And Nelson are up to third after their fifth straight win, a 2-0 win at Ashton Athletic. Luke Hepple opened the scoring six minutes before the break with Billy Priestley scoring the second ten minutes into the second half.
Maine Road made it four wins from four at home with a 3-0 win over Thornton Cleveleys. A Jack Coop double put them in control with adding the third with fifteen minutes remaining. And in fifth place is Fulwood Amateurs, who trailled from an early own goal but turned things around thanks to a James Ball brace, the second coming from the penalty spot.
Michael Howard scored a 90th minutes for Ashton Town in a 1-0 win at Holker Old Boys. And there were late goals at AFC Blackpool, whose equaliser came in the 89th minute through Jacob Gregory after Andrew Murphy had put Garstang ahead five minutes earlier.
Darwen took the lead at Steeton thanks to Pawel Zuk's goal just before the hour with Lewis Gartland levelling. Akim Samms hit the winner for Darwen with a goal four minutes from time. And in the meeting between last season's relegated sides, Christian Edokpayi and Jake Forshaw both put Squires Gate ahead at Colne, only for Sam Lloyd and Barney Wiggin to level for Colne.
First Division South
Runcorn Town continue to lead the way in the First Division South, but had to settle for a point as they drew 2-2 at Eccleshall. Goals from Ben Marshall and Jordan Flattley put the Staffordshire side in control at the break, only for a brace from Matty Vickers to force a point from their Cheshire opponents.
It was potentially a point gained, with second placed Stafford Town also drawing 2-2 at home to Haughmond. Harvey Lewis put the visitors ahead before the home side levelled through who else but Matthew Hearsey! Striker partner Patryk Mazurkiewicz then put Stafford ahead only for Ethan Pickford to levell to take home a point for Haughmond.
With third place Telford Town having a free week, Stockport Georgians and Barnton both won to draw level with Telford. Harry Lynn scored early for Georgians at Wolverhampton Casuals only for Jonathan Letford to level. Josh Winthrop hit the winner for Georgians ten minutes into the second half. And Barnton romped to a 4-1 home win over Wolverhampton Sporting Community. Joel Hind and Callum Parker put them ahead but Yasen Omar's goal just before the bteak made it 2-1. However second half goals from Parker and Malachi Babayale gave Barnton a convincing win.
Sandbach United scored twice in the first ten minutes through Kacper Mikulski and Joe Bevan en-route to a 5-2 win at Cammell Laird 1907. Taylor Kennerley added a third in first half stoppage time and Jake Pollard another midway through the half to make it four. A Ben Wood goal and an own goal made it 4-2 before Bevan added his second with a minute remaining.
Ashville had a 3-0 win at Shawbury United thanks to a double from Mark Madden and one from Jude Mante. Allscott Heath also had a fine win after they trailled at Market Drayton Town to an early Sam Preece goal, with second half goals from Armando Wood, Ben Davies (penalty) and Benjamin Summers turning things around.
Alsager Town also won on the road with goals from Luke Moran and George Taylor-Fletcher coming in the last 15 minutes in a 2-0 win at Cheadle Heath Nomads. And the final game saw Foley Meir score an equaliser four minutes into stoppage time from Daniel Ward to deny New Mills a win, Millen Brown with the Millers goal.
Photo from Thornton Cleveleys website from the Maine Road v Thornton Cleveleys game.
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