Week 9: Preview
Fri 19th September 2025 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
The Isuzu FA Vase is back! And there's a slice of NWCFL league action as a cherry on the cake! Let's see who's facing whom this weekend.
Friday
First Division South:
Greenfields Sports Ground is the place to be this coming Friday, as one-win-in-seven, relegation zone occupiers Market Drayton Town hope to right the ship as they welcome middle-of-the-pack Shawbury United, who’ve only lost one of their last four, and won two of those.
Saturday
Isuzu FA Vase, 2nd Qualifier:
AFC Liverpool and Daisy Hill will contest the weekend’s first all-NWCFL in the FA Vase at the former’s Berry Street Garage Stadium. They will be followed by Cheadle Town’s hosting of Barnton; with Lewis Wood and Craig Humphries’ side having gotten past South Leeds in the previous round on penalties.
Two Prem sides will go toe to toe as City of Liverpool welcome Charnock Richard for a place in the next round, and Prem meets First Division South when Euxton Villa take on Sandbach United.
Bacup Borough’s season is beginning to catch up to everyone else’s, and they make their Vase bow with an away trip to Premier Division Irlam; and First Division South regulars New Mills will host 2021/22 champions of that same division in Wythenshawe.
Stockport Town will have to contend with First Division South high-flyers Runcorn Town on Saturday; and, in the final all-NWCFL clash in this weekend’s Vase fixtures, Thornton Cleveleys will entertain Colne in a meeting of two First Division North sides.
Other NWCFL sides who will play at home this weekend in the Vase include:
Alsager Town, against Coventry United; Ashville, against Penistone Church; Barnoldswick Town, against Sunderland West End; Chadderton, against Wakefield AFC; Eccleshall, against Stone Old Alleynians; Fulwood Amatuers, against Kendal Town; Holker Old Boys, against Route One Rovers; Maghull, against Northwich Victoria; Ramsbottom United, Glasshoughton Welfare; and Stafford Town, against AFC Bridgnorth.
As for the away sides:
Darwen FC, away at Armthorpe Welfare; Nelson, away at Boro Rangers; Wolves Sporting, away at Coton Green; Haughmond, away at Gornal Athletic; Foley Meir, away at Heather St Johns; Allscott Heath, away at Lye Town; Garstang, away at Northallerton Town; Droylsden, away at Nostell Miners Welfare; Burscough, away at Sheffield; and Longridge Town, away at Shildon.
Finally, in a quirk of fate, Prestwich Heys, originally drawn away at Doncaster City, will be at home at the Adie Moran Park on Saturday due to their opponents on-going groundshare with Armthorpe Welfare.
Premier Division:
Four games will take place in the Prem this Saturday, and all of them kick off at 3pm, barring anything unforeseen. Atherton LR, who win their first game in three last time out against Litherland REMYCA, will meet play-off placed FC St Helens. Further into Liverpool, there’s a derby on the horizon, as Litherland REMYCA host South Liverpool – the visitors have lost their last three ahead of this one; the hosts have lost their last 11!
Elsewhere, FC Isle of Man can put some distance between themselves and the bottom of the league with a second win in three away at Pilkington. And finally, West Didsbury & Chorlton, fresh off winning their last two, will play host to one-win-in-six Glossop North End.
First Division North:
Both Ashton sides are in home action in the First Division North on Saturday – bottom meets second-bottom as Ashton Athletic take on MSB Woolton in a crucial game as we get further and further into Autumn; and Ashton Town will meet AFC Blackpool, with just three points separating the two teams at this stage.
Elsewhere, there’s a battle for a place in the play-off places at this juncture as fourth-placed Maine Road welcome sixth-placed Steeton. Road won their last outing against Thornton Cleveleys, but the visiting Chevrons haven’t been victorious in a match since mid-August.
First Division South:
Both Cammell Laird 1907 and Cheadle Heath Nomads are level on points with Alsager Town in the relegation zone – this weekend’s meeting between them will be a great chance for one of the teams to take a big step in the right direction.
There will also be a meeting of two sides from the feeder leagues last season that have adjusted to life in the NWCFL pretty well to this point – thirteenth-placed Wolves Casuals will welcome second-placed Telford Town to Brinsford Stadium.
Sunday
Isuzu FA Vase, 2nd Qualifier:
There is one game to speak of on Sunday this weekend, but it’s one that’s not worth missing – Premier Division table toppers Padiham will be on the road against Campion in the FA Vase, after losing in the league for the first time this season last weekend against City of Liverpool, and having failed to fully course correct with a midweek draw away at Charnock Richard.
Week 9: Preview
Fri 19th September 2025 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
The Isuzu FA Vase is back! And there's a slice of NWCFL league action as a cherry on the cake! Let's see who's facing whom this weekend.
Friday
First Division South:
Greenfields Sports Ground is the place to be this coming Friday, as one-win-in-seven, relegation zone occupiers Market Drayton Town hope to right the ship as they welcome middle-of-the-pack Shawbury United, who’ve only lost one of their last four, and won two of those.
Saturday
Isuzu FA Vase, 2nd Qualifier:
AFC Liverpool and Daisy Hill will contest the weekend’s first all-NWCFL in the FA Vase at the former’s Berry Street Garage Stadium. They will be followed by Cheadle Town’s hosting of Barnton; with Lewis Wood and Craig Humphries’ side having gotten past South Leeds in the previous round on penalties.
Two Prem sides will go toe to toe as City of Liverpool welcome Charnock Richard for a place in the next round, and Prem meets First Division South when Euxton Villa take on Sandbach United.
Bacup Borough’s season is beginning to catch up to everyone else’s, and they make their Vase bow with an away trip to Premier Division Irlam; and First Division South regulars New Mills will host 2021/22 champions of that same division in Wythenshawe.
Stockport Town will have to contend with First Division South high-flyers Runcorn Town on Saturday; and, in the final all-NWCFL clash in this weekend’s Vase fixtures, Thornton Cleveleys will entertain Colne in a meeting of two First Division North sides.
Other NWCFL sides who will play at home this weekend in the Vase include:
Alsager Town, against Coventry United; Ashville, against Penistone Church; Barnoldswick Town, against Sunderland West End; Chadderton, against Wakefield AFC; Eccleshall, against Stone Old Alleynians; Fulwood Amatuers, against Kendal Town; Holker Old Boys, against Route One Rovers; Maghull, against Northwich Victoria; Ramsbottom United, Glasshoughton Welfare; and Stafford Town, against AFC Bridgnorth.
As for the away sides:
Darwen FC, away at Armthorpe Welfare; Nelson, away at Boro Rangers; Wolves Sporting, away at Coton Green; Haughmond, away at Gornal Athletic; Foley Meir, away at Heather St Johns; Allscott Heath, away at Lye Town; Garstang, away at Northallerton Town; Droylsden, away at Nostell Miners Welfare; Burscough, away at Sheffield; and Longridge Town, away at Shildon.
Finally, in a quirk of fate, Prestwich Heys, originally drawn away at Doncaster City, will be at home at the Adie Moran Park on Saturday due to their opponents on-going groundshare with Armthorpe Welfare.
Premier Division:
Four games will take place in the Prem this Saturday, and all of them kick off at 3pm, barring anything unforeseen. Atherton LR, who win their first game in three last time out against Litherland REMYCA, will meet play-off placed FC St Helens. Further into Liverpool, there’s a derby on the horizon, as Litherland REMYCA host South Liverpool – the visitors have lost their last three ahead of this one; the hosts have lost their last 11!
Elsewhere, FC Isle of Man can put some distance between themselves and the bottom of the league with a second win in three away at Pilkington. And finally, West Didsbury & Chorlton, fresh off winning their last two, will play host to one-win-in-six Glossop North End.
First Division North:
Both Ashton sides are in home action in the First Division North on Saturday – bottom meets second-bottom as Ashton Athletic take on MSB Woolton in a crucial game as we get further and further into Autumn; and Ashton Town will meet AFC Blackpool, with just three points separating the two teams at this stage.
Elsewhere, there’s a battle for a place in the play-off places at this juncture as fourth-placed Maine Road welcome sixth-placed Steeton. Road won their last outing against Thornton Cleveleys, but the visiting Chevrons haven’t been victorious in a match since mid-August.
First Division South:
Both Cammell Laird 1907 and Cheadle Heath Nomads are level on points with Alsager Town in the relegation zone – this weekend’s meeting between them will be a great chance for one of the teams to take a big step in the right direction.
There will also be a meeting of two sides from the feeder leagues last season that have adjusted to life in the NWCFL pretty well to this point – thirteenth-placed Wolves Casuals will welcome second-placed Telford Town to Brinsford Stadium.
Sunday
Isuzu FA Vase, 2nd Qualifier:
There is one game to speak of on Sunday this weekend, but it’s one that’s not worth missing – Premier Division table toppers Padiham will be on the road against Campion in the FA Vase, after losing in the league for the first time this season last weekend against City of Liverpool, and having failed to fully course correct with a midweek draw away at Charnock Richard.
