Week 15: Preview
Sat 1st November 2025 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
A nearly-full class roster on offer this Halloweekend from all three divisions, with a slice of rearranged Isuzu FA Vase action to bring to your attention! Let's see who is facing whom this weekend...
Isuzu FA Vase, 1st Round:
One rearranged match is coming your way this weekend, and it will make for quite the round trip for Prem side Wythenshawe. The Ammies will be travelling around 200 miles this weekend as they battle Holker Old Boys away from home in an all-NWCFL clash.
Premier Division:
With Wythenshawe pre-occupied with an FA Vase clash, the rest of the top five will be keen to take full advantage in the Premier Division. League leaders Padiham are on the road to Irlam, who have recently snuck into the play-off places themselves, and second-placed Ramsbottom United will play against mid-table Prestwich Heys for the third time this season already in all competitions.
Rounding out the top five, West Didsbury & Chorlton will be away from home to Pilkington, whose recent dreadful run of form is eclipsed only by that of the league’s bottom side. Speaking of which, Litherland REMYCA will again attempt to snap their 20-game losing streak with a visit to Charnock Richard.
An Irlam defeat could allow for one of three teams to sneak into the top five this Saturday. Sixth-placed Burscough will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat as they go on their travels to Barnoldswick Town; elsewhere, FC St Helens, who have the same points total as Burscough, will also play away from home against Cheadle Town. Finally, Chadderton, in eighth, will contest a Manchester derby of sorts when they face Stockport Town at the latter’s Sports Village.
Towards the foot of the division, second-bottom Abbey Hey have only to avoid defeat to overtake AFC Liverpool, who aren’t featured this weekend, when they host South Liverpool. A win could see them close the gap on City of Liverpool and Euxton Villa, fifth and sixth bottom respectively, depending on who comes out on top when those two sides go toe to toe on Saturday.
Both Atherton LR and Glossop North End will be keen for Saturday’s game against one another – a home win could boost Rovers’ play-off hopes, and an away victory could massively assist GNE in their bid to avoid being caught in a relegation battle.
Finally, in the day’s late kick-off, FC Isle of Man, who will have had time to survey the landscape of their own relegation dogfight by the time their 6pm kick-off time rolls around, will welcome mid-table Longridge Town to the Bowl.
First Division North:
The new-ish leaders of the First Division North are in action earlier than their competitors today. Nelson, top of the league by just a point as of now, will play host to new-ish bottom side Garstang at 2pm, as both teams search for what could be a vital win in the grand scheme of things.
Like Wyhty in the Prem, play-off side Holker Old Boys will be in FA Vase action, which means the rest of the chasing pack will smell blood. Fifth-placed Darwen are within touching distance of Holker and will be at home to relegation zone occupiers Ashton Athletic at 3pm; at the same time, seventh-placed Ashton Town, level on points with Darwen, will also be at home as they welcome Thornton Cleveleys to the Bartons Group Stadium.
Just below top side Nelson are Maghull, who have righted the ship after three straight losses three games ago. They will host mid-table Maine Road at the DT Hughes Community Stadium. Right behind them are Droylsden, who themselves have lost three of their last four in all competitions, and eight-placed new boys Fulwood Amateurs will be trying to make that four from five.
There’s nothing to separate Daisy Hill and the drop zone right now apart from goal difference, but the BL5 side will be hoping to change that as they welcome Squires Gate, who are just two points and two places above them in the league. One team almost certainly hoping that they fail to do so are MSB Woolton – level on points with Daisy Hill and inside the drop zone on GD, they will want to climb out this weekend as they welcome Colne – just one point and two places above them.
Elsewhere, AFC Blackpool will welcome Steeton to the Mechanics Ground. Subject to results around them, this game could lead to AFC dropping to within goal difference of the drop zone, or it might see the Chevrons establish footing in the play-off race.
First Division South:
There’s a full fixture list to bring to you from the First Division South this weekend. The headline spot almost certainly goes to the game taking place at the DRM Aggregate Arena, as second-placed Telford Town host league leaders Runcorn Town in a title battle six-pointer.
If neither side can take full advantage in that game, waiting in the shadows will be third-placed Stockport Georgians, just a point behind Telford. They will host fifth-placed Stafford Town in a potential banana skin game in their own promotion push.
Rounding out the play-off picture are fourth-placed Eccleshall, who will be on the road against relegation zone occupiers Wolves Casuals. If the ST21 side fail to take maximum points in that game, their place in the top five is at risk, with seventh-placed Sandbach United also in action on Saturday. Hoping to close in on the top five, they will travel to the division’s form team in eighth place, Ashville.
Closer to the bottom of the board, the gap between 17th placed Wolves Casuals and 12th placed Alsager Town is just three points, but the latter will be hoping to increase that margin as wide as possible as they take on Cammell Laird 1907, who are currently inside the drop zone by just a point.
That team just outside of the drop zone by a point are Market Drayton Town, who will travel to mid-table New Mills this weekend with the aim of improving on their record of just one win in their last six. Right above them are Shawbury United, who will welcome also-mid-table Allscott Heath to their Sports and Rec Centre.
The final two games in the South centre around the bottom two teams in the division. Haughmond, still adapting to life in the NWCFL and currently four points from safety, will be travelling to the Ideal Building Systems Stadium to face Cheadle Heath Nomads. Five points further off the pace are bottom club Wolves Sporting, who will meet Foley Meir in a battle between two sides in their second straight NWCFL season for the first times in their histories.
Week 15: Preview
Sat 1st November 2025 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
A nearly-full class roster on offer this Halloweekend from all three divisions, with a slice of rearranged Isuzu FA Vase action to bring to your attention! Let's see who is facing whom this weekend...
Isuzu FA Vase, 1st Round:
One rearranged match is coming your way this weekend, and it will make for quite the round trip for Prem side Wythenshawe. The Ammies will be travelling around 200 miles this weekend as they battle Holker Old Boys away from home in an all-NWCFL clash.
Premier Division:
With Wythenshawe pre-occupied with an FA Vase clash, the rest of the top five will be keen to take full advantage in the Premier Division. League leaders Padiham are on the road to Irlam, who have recently snuck into the play-off places themselves, and second-placed Ramsbottom United will play against mid-table Prestwich Heys for the third time this season already in all competitions.
Rounding out the top five, West Didsbury & Chorlton will be away from home to Pilkington, whose recent dreadful run of form is eclipsed only by that of the league’s bottom side. Speaking of which, Litherland REMYCA will again attempt to snap their 20-game losing streak with a visit to Charnock Richard.
An Irlam defeat could allow for one of three teams to sneak into the top five this Saturday. Sixth-placed Burscough will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat as they go on their travels to Barnoldswick Town; elsewhere, FC St Helens, who have the same points total as Burscough, will also play away from home against Cheadle Town. Finally, Chadderton, in eighth, will contest a Manchester derby of sorts when they face Stockport Town at the latter’s Sports Village.
Towards the foot of the division, second-bottom Abbey Hey have only to avoid defeat to overtake AFC Liverpool, who aren’t featured this weekend, when they host South Liverpool. A win could see them close the gap on City of Liverpool and Euxton Villa, fifth and sixth bottom respectively, depending on who comes out on top when those two sides go toe to toe on Saturday.
Both Atherton LR and Glossop North End will be keen for Saturday’s game against one another – a home win could boost Rovers’ play-off hopes, and an away victory could massively assist GNE in their bid to avoid being caught in a relegation battle.
Finally, in the day’s late kick-off, FC Isle of Man, who will have had time to survey the landscape of their own relegation dogfight by the time their 6pm kick-off time rolls around, will welcome mid-table Longridge Town to the Bowl.
First Division North:
The new-ish leaders of the First Division North are in action earlier than their competitors today. Nelson, top of the league by just a point as of now, will play host to new-ish bottom side Garstang at 2pm, as both teams search for what could be a vital win in the grand scheme of things.
Like Wyhty in the Prem, play-off side Holker Old Boys will be in FA Vase action, which means the rest of the chasing pack will smell blood. Fifth-placed Darwen are within touching distance of Holker and will be at home to relegation zone occupiers Ashton Athletic at 3pm; at the same time, seventh-placed Ashton Town, level on points with Darwen, will also be at home as they welcome Thornton Cleveleys to the Bartons Group Stadium.
Just below top side Nelson are Maghull, who have righted the ship after three straight losses three games ago. They will host mid-table Maine Road at the DT Hughes Community Stadium. Right behind them are Droylsden, who themselves have lost three of their last four in all competitions, and eight-placed new boys Fulwood Amateurs will be trying to make that four from five.
There’s nothing to separate Daisy Hill and the drop zone right now apart from goal difference, but the BL5 side will be hoping to change that as they welcome Squires Gate, who are just two points and two places above them in the league. One team almost certainly hoping that they fail to do so are MSB Woolton – level on points with Daisy Hill and inside the drop zone on GD, they will want to climb out this weekend as they welcome Colne – just one point and two places above them.
Elsewhere, AFC Blackpool will welcome Steeton to the Mechanics Ground. Subject to results around them, this game could lead to AFC dropping to within goal difference of the drop zone, or it might see the Chevrons establish footing in the play-off race.
First Division South:
There’s a full fixture list to bring to you from the First Division South this weekend. The headline spot almost certainly goes to the game taking place at the DRM Aggregate Arena, as second-placed Telford Town host league leaders Runcorn Town in a title battle six-pointer.
If neither side can take full advantage in that game, waiting in the shadows will be third-placed Stockport Georgians, just a point behind Telford. They will host fifth-placed Stafford Town in a potential banana skin game in their own promotion push.
Rounding out the play-off picture are fourth-placed Eccleshall, who will be on the road against relegation zone occupiers Wolves Casuals. If the ST21 side fail to take maximum points in that game, their place in the top five is at risk, with seventh-placed Sandbach United also in action on Saturday. Hoping to close in on the top five, they will travel to the division’s form team in eighth place, Ashville.
Closer to the bottom of the board, the gap between 17th placed Wolves Casuals and 12th placed Alsager Town is just three points, but the latter will be hoping to increase that margin as wide as possible as they take on Cammell Laird 1907, who are currently inside the drop zone by just a point.
That team just outside of the drop zone by a point are Market Drayton Town, who will travel to mid-table New Mills this weekend with the aim of improving on their record of just one win in their last six. Right above them are Shawbury United, who will welcome also-mid-table Allscott Heath to their Sports and Rec Centre.
The final two games in the South centre around the bottom two teams in the division. Haughmond, still adapting to life in the NWCFL and currently four points from safety, will be travelling to the Ideal Building Systems Stadium to face Cheadle Heath Nomads. Five points further off the pace are bottom club Wolves Sporting, who will meet Foley Meir in a battle between two sides in their second straight NWCFL season for the first times in their histories.
