Week 16: Preview
Fri 7th November 2025 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
The second round of the Isuzu FA Vase will be the focus of the weekend, and there's a solid helping of league action to bring to your attention, too! Let's see who is facing whom this weekend...
Friday:
Premier Division:
Just one game to bring you on Friday night, as two struggling sides in the top division hope to light up Liverpool. At Burscough’s Community Ground, 21st placed City of Liverpool welcome 22nd placed AFC Liverpool, with these neighbours currently four points and one point above the drop zone respectively going into this clash.
Saturday:
Isuzu FA Vase, 2nd Round:
The FA Vase is back, and there are still 16 teams from the NWCFL hoping to take one step closer to Wembley this Saturday. Four of these teams will face off against one another, with Premier Division Charnock Richard hosting First Division North promotion hunters Nelson in the early kick-off at 2pm. Then, an hour later, Burscough will go toe to toe with Ashton Town in a battle of play-off hopefuls from their respective divisions; and there’s an all-Premier Division Manchester derby on offer as Prestwich Heys meet Irlam at the Adie Moran Park.
NWCFL sides at home in the Vase on Saturday include: Premier Division Barnoldswick Town, who welcome last season’s First Division South winners Winsford United; Premier Division Cheadle Town, who meet Northern League outfit North Shields; First Division North side Droylsden taking on former NWCFL regulars Northwich Victoria; and Premier Division South Liverpool, who will battle Barton Town, of the NCEL.
NWCFL sides away in the Vase on Saturday include: last weekend’s replay winners Holker Old Boys, who will travel to NCEL outfit Albion Sports; Premier Division promotion hopefuls West Didsbury & Chorlton, who will be on the road to face another NCEL side in Brigg Town; Premier Division leaders Ramsbottom United, who will meet Crook Town, of the Northern League pyramid; Atherton LR, from the middle of the Prem, taking on Liversedge, from the NCEL; Chadderton, who round out the Premier Division sides by going on their travels to Northern League outfit Redcar Town; and finally, there’s Fulwood Amateurs, new-ish arrivals to the First Division North, who will take on Yarm & Eaglescliffe, of the Northern League.
Premier Division:
There are still five games to sink your teeth into from the Premier Division to come this Saturday, and one team looking to right the ship are promotion hungry Padiham. Having been knocked off top spot in recent weeks, they will want to capitalise away against FC St Helens and retake their place in first, with leaders Ramsbottom playing in the Vase.
Also hoping to make the most of the teams around them being preoccupied with Vase duties are Wythenshawe. Having not played a league game in two weeks, they have dropped out of the top five, but they can jump right back in with a win away at second-bottom Abbey Hey.
The rest of the games in the league this weekend in volve teams located between 11th and 20th in the table at the time of writing. Longridge Town, in 11th place, will welcome Euxton Villa; Stockport Town could leapfrog Longridge if they better their result from a home tie with Glossop North End; and, subject to the result on Friday, FC Isle of Man could increase the buffer between themselves and the bottom four to four points as they host Pilkington in the day’s late kick off.
First Division North:
There are six games from the First Division North to bring you this Saturday, including a Top VS Bottom clash that will grab the headlines. Maghull, with the opportunity to extend their lead at the peak given that their two closest challengers are both playing in the Vase, will travel to Garstang, who could leapfrog Ashton Athletic if they can better their result.
Speaking of Ashton Athletic, they will be on the road to the Mechanics Ground to face AFC Blackpool – ninth in the table, and with as many as four games in hand on the two sides directly below them, AND three in hand on Ashton Town, just four points ahead and in the play-off positions.
The remaining three of the bottom five are all in action, with two of them facing one another. MSB Woolton, currently inside the drop zone by a point, will travel to the Skiddle Community Stadium to face Squires Gate directly above them, with just one point separating the two sides. Colne, level on points with Gate and only ahead on goal difference, have a difficult task on their hands this weekend as they welcome fourth-placed Darwen FC.
Daisy Hill have risen from the relegation places to become one of the division’s form teams right now, and will attempt to make it seven unbeaten away at Steeton. And finally, in another mid-table clash on paper, Thornton Cleveleys, in 13th spot right now, will play host to eighth-placed Bacup Borough.
First Division South:
There’s a full fixture list to digest from the First Division South on Saturday. First meets fourth as Runcorn Town look to extend their lead in the league table with the visit of Stockport Georgians – if the visitors win, they cut the gap between themselves and their hosts to just four points.
Also hoping to cut that gap will be new second-placed side Eccleshall, who take on Ashville at home, and third-placed Telford Town, who host bottom of the pile Wolves Sporting. If either of the chasing pack pick up maximum points, they might have the chance to narrow Runcorn’s lead to just three points, with a game in hand each on the league leaders.
With Stafford Town the only team in the division not playing in the league this weekend, sixth-placed Barnton will be looking to take advantage as they host mid-table Foley Meir. If they’re unable to make the most of this chance, waiting in the wings are Sandbach United, seventh placed and level on points with Barnton and prepping for battle this weekend with Allscott Heath
Haughmond and Wolves Casuals, both newly promoted to the NWCFL for 2025/26, currently make up two of the bottom three, and will face one another on Saturday in what might transpire to be a relegation six-pointer by the end of the campaign.
The five teams above the bottom four are all in action this weekend, with four of them facing one another. Market Drayton Town, perched right above the drop zone, will host Cheadle Heath Nomads at Greenfields, with the visitors coming into this one off the back of a 7-0 win. Elsewhere, Shawbury United will welcome Alsager Town on Saturday, with both these sides looking to improve on their matching points totals of 14 from 15 matches this season.
Finally, Cammell Laird 1907, sitting right in the middle of the four above sides who are doing battle with each other this weekend, will meet New Mills, who are on a goal-laden run right now, having won three of their last four in all competitions, scoring 17 in that time.
Week 16: Preview
Fri 7th November 2025 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
The second round of the Isuzu FA Vase will be the focus of the weekend, and there's a solid helping of league action to bring to your attention, too! Let's see who is facing whom this weekend...
Friday:
Premier Division:
Just one game to bring you on Friday night, as two struggling sides in the top division hope to light up Liverpool. At Burscough’s Community Ground, 21st placed City of Liverpool welcome 22nd placed AFC Liverpool, with these neighbours currently four points and one point above the drop zone respectively going into this clash.
Saturday:
Isuzu FA Vase, 2nd Round:
The FA Vase is back, and there are still 16 teams from the NWCFL hoping to take one step closer to Wembley this Saturday. Four of these teams will face off against one another, with Premier Division Charnock Richard hosting First Division North promotion hunters Nelson in the early kick-off at 2pm. Then, an hour later, Burscough will go toe to toe with Ashton Town in a battle of play-off hopefuls from their respective divisions; and there’s an all-Premier Division Manchester derby on offer as Prestwich Heys meet Irlam at the Adie Moran Park.
NWCFL sides at home in the Vase on Saturday include: Premier Division Barnoldswick Town, who welcome last season’s First Division South winners Winsford United; Premier Division Cheadle Town, who meet Northern League outfit North Shields; First Division North side Droylsden taking on former NWCFL regulars Northwich Victoria; and Premier Division South Liverpool, who will battle Barton Town, of the NCEL.
NWCFL sides away in the Vase on Saturday include: last weekend’s replay winners Holker Old Boys, who will travel to NCEL outfit Albion Sports; Premier Division promotion hopefuls West Didsbury & Chorlton, who will be on the road to face another NCEL side in Brigg Town; Premier Division leaders Ramsbottom United, who will meet Crook Town, of the Northern League pyramid; Atherton LR, from the middle of the Prem, taking on Liversedge, from the NCEL; Chadderton, who round out the Premier Division sides by going on their travels to Northern League outfit Redcar Town; and finally, there’s Fulwood Amateurs, new-ish arrivals to the First Division North, who will take on Yarm & Eaglescliffe, of the Northern League.
Premier Division:
There are still five games to sink your teeth into from the Premier Division to come this Saturday, and one team looking to right the ship are promotion hungry Padiham. Having been knocked off top spot in recent weeks, they will want to capitalise away against FC St Helens and retake their place in first, with leaders Ramsbottom playing in the Vase.
Also hoping to make the most of the teams around them being preoccupied with Vase duties are Wythenshawe. Having not played a league game in two weeks, they have dropped out of the top five, but they can jump right back in with a win away at second-bottom Abbey Hey.
The rest of the games in the league this weekend in volve teams located between 11th and 20th in the table at the time of writing. Longridge Town, in 11th place, will welcome Euxton Villa; Stockport Town could leapfrog Longridge if they better their result from a home tie with Glossop North End; and, subject to the result on Friday, FC Isle of Man could increase the buffer between themselves and the bottom four to four points as they host Pilkington in the day’s late kick off.
First Division North:
There are six games from the First Division North to bring you this Saturday, including a Top VS Bottom clash that will grab the headlines. Maghull, with the opportunity to extend their lead at the peak given that their two closest challengers are both playing in the Vase, will travel to Garstang, who could leapfrog Ashton Athletic if they can better their result.
Speaking of Ashton Athletic, they will be on the road to the Mechanics Ground to face AFC Blackpool – ninth in the table, and with as many as four games in hand on the two sides directly below them, AND three in hand on Ashton Town, just four points ahead and in the play-off positions.
The remaining three of the bottom five are all in action, with two of them facing one another. MSB Woolton, currently inside the drop zone by a point, will travel to the Skiddle Community Stadium to face Squires Gate directly above them, with just one point separating the two sides. Colne, level on points with Gate and only ahead on goal difference, have a difficult task on their hands this weekend as they welcome fourth-placed Darwen FC.
Daisy Hill have risen from the relegation places to become one of the division’s form teams right now, and will attempt to make it seven unbeaten away at Steeton. And finally, in another mid-table clash on paper, Thornton Cleveleys, in 13th spot right now, will play host to eighth-placed Bacup Borough.
First Division South:
There’s a full fixture list to digest from the First Division South on Saturday. First meets fourth as Runcorn Town look to extend their lead in the league table with the visit of Stockport Georgians – if the visitors win, they cut the gap between themselves and their hosts to just four points.
Also hoping to cut that gap will be new second-placed side Eccleshall, who take on Ashville at home, and third-placed Telford Town, who host bottom of the pile Wolves Sporting. If either of the chasing pack pick up maximum points, they might have the chance to narrow Runcorn’s lead to just three points, with a game in hand each on the league leaders.
With Stafford Town the only team in the division not playing in the league this weekend, sixth-placed Barnton will be looking to take advantage as they host mid-table Foley Meir. If they’re unable to make the most of this chance, waiting in the wings are Sandbach United, seventh placed and level on points with Barnton and prepping for battle this weekend with Allscott Heath
Haughmond and Wolves Casuals, both newly promoted to the NWCFL for 2025/26, currently make up two of the bottom three, and will face one another on Saturday in what might transpire to be a relegation six-pointer by the end of the campaign.
The five teams above the bottom four are all in action this weekend, with four of them facing one another. Market Drayton Town, perched right above the drop zone, will host Cheadle Heath Nomads at Greenfields, with the visitors coming into this one off the back of a 7-0 win. Elsewhere, Shawbury United will welcome Alsager Town on Saturday, with both these sides looking to improve on their matching points totals of 14 from 15 matches this season.
Finally, Cammell Laird 1907, sitting right in the middle of the four above sides who are doing battle with each other this weekend, will meet New Mills, who are on a goal-laden run right now, having won three of their last four in all competitions, scoring 17 in that time.
