NWWRFL Premier Division – Big Day out for FC United whilst Stingers face familiar opposition
It’s the meeting of the two Division One Champions on Sunday as South Champions FC United make the 210 mile round trip to North Champions Penrith.
FC Untied head into the game in 5th place but still boast a 100% record in all competitions having progressed through to the first round proper for the first time in their history. Penrith have found life in the Premier Division less straight forward as they sit in 9th having lost three of their first four games. They kicked off their season with a 2-1 win away to Sir Tom Finney but have since come undone losing at home to Stockport County and Wigan Athletic before losing 1-0 away to Accrington Girls and Ladies on Sunday.
It’s already the third meeting of the season between Merseyrail and Manchester Stingers this season as the Manchester based side make the trip to St John Bosco High School looking to make it four wins in four against their hosts.
After an encouraging start Stingers have lost their last two fixtures but face a side they’ve beaten 3-1 and 4-1 already this season as well as having yet to record a win in the league. Merseyrail earned themselves a point away to Fleetwood Town Wrens on Sunday with a 1-1 draw with a 4-4 draw at Tranmere Rovers on the opening day having bookended three consecutive 4-1 defeats against FC United, Stingers and Wigan Athletic.
NWWRFL Division One South – Altrincham look to pull clear whilst Curzon look to build on recent form
There are just four games in the division on Sunday as West Didsbury & Chorlton miss out whilst City of Liverpool’s game against Liverpool Feds Reserves has already been postponed. This follows on from last weekend’s postponement when Didsbury were left without a fixture.
West’s absence leaves Altrincham, one of two sides who still boast a 100% start to their league campaign, with the opportunity to extend their winning to eight games dating back to April 29th last season when they beat Sunday’s opponents Stockport County Blues 3-1. Their current unbeaten run stretches to 9 games as they last tasted defeat to eventual champions FC United on 11th April.
Hoping for a slip up from the league leaders will be Curzon Ashton who’ve enjoyed rejuvenation in form since their defeat to Chester as they look to build on 20 goals and back to back wins when they travel to Didsbury Sports Ground on Sunday to face Didsbury. Didsbury will be hoping that their extended absence from league play won’t prevent them from building on their solid start to the new campaign which has seen them collect four points from their opening four games as they currently sit in seventh.
Warrington Wolverines, who suffered a set-back last week, losing 4-3 away to Curzon Ashton, head into the weekend in third place as they face Wythenshawe Amateurs at Grappenhall Sports Club. The Wolverines finished fourth last season following back-to-back third place finishes and will need to take advantage of the Ams start to the season as they seek to take the next step this season in the push for promotion. Wythenshawe Amateurs picked up an impressive first point of the season last weekend as they drew 3-3 with a resilient Stockport County Blues side.
The divisions surprise package so far, Chester, will look to put their 2-0 defeat away to a Liverpool Feds Reserves featuring a number of WNL players last weekend, as they face Northwich Vixens away in another Cheshire Derby for the Vixens. The Vixens were beaten 4-2 away to league leaders Altrincham having previously come off an impressive 5-3 win v Wythenshawe Amateurs the week before.
GMWFL Division One – Salford facing tough test whilst Rochdale look to capitalise
The seemingly unstoppable juggernaut that is Salford City Lionesses faces arguable their toughest test to date this Sunday when they face Barr Hill away. The Division Two Champions have started the season in rich form recording three wins from three having seen off Urmston Meadowside, Bolton Lads & Girls and newcomers Langho. Of course, it’s hard to look past a Salford side that has netted 36 times in four games, conceding just once, but the Salford derby on Sunday should be an excellent test for a side that boasts such much talent within its ranks.
Hoping to capitalise on a slip up for either team are Rochdale who travel to bottom club Sale Ladies knowing that a draw elsewhere and a win for them will take them top of Division One come Sunday night. They will be buoyed by their win at the weekend as they defeated 2017 Champions Urmston Meadowside 5-3 away from home. Sale’s admirable willingness to step up a division following Beechfield United folding, has naturally impacted them on the playing field as, a Manchester Challenge Cup win over Flixton aside, they remain rooted to the bottom with no points after three games.
A name to look out for at Rochdale is 16-year-old Georgia Cocking who marked her Derby last Sunday with a goal, two assists and a player of the match performance
Urmston Meadowside and Langho meet with both sides hoping three points will kick start their seasons and keep them within touching distance of the leading clubs.
GMWFL Division Two – Title race hotting up
The GMWFL title picture is starting to emerge as a two horse race as Swinton and West Didsbury & Chorlton Development occupy the top two spots in the standings.
Looking to prove that untrue are Heyside Angels who despite being a late addition to the league following Crompton’s merger have enjoyed an unbeaten start in the league drawing 3-3 away to Tameside United and beating Boltonian Ladies 4-2 at home. They welcome a West team who’ve enjoyed a 100% start to the league and are currently the only side to have scored against Salford City this season. For West, this is their fourth in a run of seven consecutive away games and having bounced back from their defeat to Salford City two weeks ago to beat Boltonian Ladies they will be looking to close the gap to Swinton at the top.
Currently top of the pile are Swinton thanks in part to Flixton’s forfeiture of three points two weeks ago on the same day the Lions lost at home to AFC Oldham in the replacement game. A positive for Swinton is that the came back to earn a point against the same opposition a week later as they now face that same Flixton side who currently sit bottom of the league with no points.
Tameside United host Boltonian Ladies on the 3G at Ewen Fields this weekend as they look to compile on Boltonian’s point-less start to the season and build on their 8-0 win over Flixton last weekend.
Cheshire Ladies Cup Draw
The first round of the Cheshire Ladies Cup has been made pitting three of our sides against County League opposition. The highlight of the draw, to be played on Sunday 18th November, is a trip for Warrington Wolverines to the Millbank Linnets Stadium where they will face Runcorn Linnets.
Draw in full:
Egerton v Northwich Vixens
Ashville v Stockport County
Brookvale United v Cammell Laird
Runcorn Linnets v Warrington Wolverines
West Kirby v Macclesfield Town
Altrincham v Sandbach
Upton v Wallasey Athletic
Chester v Sale United
Stealing Five Yards 