There were 25 goals in seven games across the NWCFL Premier Division this weekend. With some very impressive away performances and yet another change at the top of the table.
But the game that generated the most interest was in the FA Vase, as the last remaining NWCFL side in the competition, Runcorn Town, hosted Midlands Combination League outfit Walsall Wood. There was a good crowd of 233 at Pavilions, but they witnessed a 2-1 Runcorn Town loss in extra time, a result that means there will be no trip to Wembley for an NWCFL team in 2013. Jamie Hankins put Wood ahead just before the break, but James McShane’s equaliser sent the game to extra time. It was Walsall Wood’s top scorer Ahmet Bilgimer’s 109th-minute goal that sent the away side in to the last eight.
With Runcorn Town in Vase action, Maine Road had the chance to go top if they could overcome overcome fourth-placed Bootle at Brantingham Road. But the Bucks pulled off a superb 1-0 win with a late Daniel O’Connor goal, putting themselves in a great position in the table. They are seven points off the lead, with two games in hand, as the race for promotion really starts to heat up.
The team both Bootle and Maine Road are chasing at the top of the league is now Padiham. They beat relegation threatened St. Helens Town 4-2 away from home on Saturday, thanks to a hat-trick from Ben Allen, and a fourth from Keiron Pickup. St. Helens twice led through Michael Sykes-Wright and Philip Williams, but could not pull off the upset, as Padiham scored three goals in the last seven minutes. The result leaves Padiham in first place with games in hand over both Runcorn Town and Maine Road.
Runcorn Linnets are now unbeaten in nine games, winning seven of those, after they thrashed ten-man Wigan Robin Park 6-0 in front of Park’s highest crowd of the season, 138. Wigan’s goalkeeper Jason Foulds was sent off early in the second half with the score at 1-0, and Linnets took full advantage. Goals from Chris Lomax, Adam Wade (shown below), Lee Madin, Jamie Campbell and a Mark Houghton double sent the large contingent of travelling Linnets fans home delighted. It leaves the club in fifth, eight points behind leaders Padiham who have two games in hand.
Alsager Town exacted the perfect revenge on Winsford United after they beat Alsager 4-0 on Boxing Day. This time, it was Alsager who came away 4-0 winners. Two goals each from Sean Turner and Jed Davies gave Alsager their 11th win of the season. Winsford slip to ninth, having not won in their last four games.
Barnoldswick Town overcame a tough test at home against Glossop North End as they picked up three points with a 3-1 win. Mark Threlfall’s first half penalty was cancelled out by Jonathan Hirst, but two goals in six minutes from Danny Morton and Thomas Bradley saw Barnoldswick come away with the win.
After a good start to the season, Congleton Town have now only won one of their last six, and only a late Chris Smith equaliser salvaged a point for them away at Silsden on Saturday. Christopher Wademan put the home side ahead just before the hour mark, but they couldn’t hold on for what would have been a vital win.
Stone Dominoes could not follow up the success of their second league win last week with another on Saturday, as they lost 2-0 at AFC Blackpool. Ryan Vaughan and Stephen Pickup scored the goals as Blackpool move up one place to 13th in the table. Stone remain ten points adrift, with games rapidly running out for them to catch up.
Three NWCFL Premier Division games fell victim to the weather once again, with games at Bacup Borough, Colne and Norton United all postponed due to frozen pitches.
Saturday 23rd February 2013 – FA Vase Fifth Round
Runcorn Town 1-2 Walsall Wood (after extra time)
NWCFL Premier Division
AFC Blackpool 2-0 Stone Dominoes
Bacup Borough P-P Ashton Athletic
Barnoldswick Town 3-1 Glossop North End
Colne P-P AFC Liverpool
Maine Road 0-1 Bootle
Norton United P-P Stockport Sports
Silsden 1-1 Congleton Town
St. Helens Town 2-4 Padiham
Wigan Robin Park 0-6 Runcorn Linnets
Winsford United 0-4 Alsager Town
NORTH WEST COUNTIES REVIEW 