Photo Credit: Alison Greenwood

 

SSE Women’s FA Cup

 

The FA Cup reaches the first round proper stage and two NWWRFL clubs still remaining as they face WNL sides this weekend.

The NWWRFL Premier Division leaders Stockport County travel to…err…Barnoldswick Town…where they will face Women’s National League Division 1 North side Chorley.  The Lancashire side currently sit 4^th in the WNL having enjoyed a fantastic start to the new season. The Lancashire side were 2-1 victors over fellow WNL side Crewe Alexandra at Victory Park in the last round having previously beaten Farsley Celtic 5-0 in the second qualifying round.

NWWRFL Division One South Champions FC United entertain Chester Le Street at their, home-for-the-day, AVRO FC. Chester Le Street currently sit in third place in the WNL Division One North with 15 points from seven games.  They enjoyed an 8-1 win away to Steel City Wanderers in the second qualifying round before defeating Newcastle United 2-0 away in the third qualifying round.

We wish both sides well in their FA Cup ties this weekend.

 

NWWRFL Premier Division

 

Looking to take advantage of Stockport County’s FA Cup focus will be Mossley Hill Athletic who can take over temporarily at the top of the Premier Division with a victory over 10^th placed Penrith.

Also with the potential to top the table should Mossley Hill slip up are Tranmere Rovers who suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend. They travel to a Fleetwood Town Wrens team who will be looking to return to winning ways themselves.

Two teams who will be boosted by their weekend results meet this weekend as they look to kick start their seasons. Merseyrail defeated Penrith 6-2 to record their first win of the season and welcome a Sir Tom Finney side who picked up their first point of the season thanks to a 2-2 draw at Manchester Stingers.

In the final game 9^th placed Accrington Ladies & Girls host a Manchester Stingers side who will be looking to keep up with the chasing pack at the top of the table with a win.

 

NWWRFL Division One South

 

We’ve a full weekend of fixtures ahead of us as no less than three teams will be looking to overtake Altrincham, who are the odd team out, at the top of the table.

It’s second versus third at Grappenhall Sports Club as Warrington Wolverines host Curzon Ashton.  The Wolverines enjoyed a confidence boosting 13-0 win over City of Liverpool last weekend to leave themselves two points behind Altrincham.  Curzon enjoyed a narrow 1-0 win over Stockport County Blues to bounce back following back-to-back defeats.  This is the second time the two sides have met this season with Curzon having already enjoyed a win over Warrington already this season in a 4-3 thriller.

Looking to take advantage of a slip from both sides are Liverpool Feds Reserves who are back in action for the first time since a 28^th October 5-1 win over Didsbury. Feds travel to Northwich Vixens, arguably the divisions form side having won their last three games, and know an away win will bring them level on points with their opponents.

Wythenshawe Amateurs will be hoping to return to action this weekend having been unable to field a team against Altrincham the previous week.  ‘The Ams’ host Chester, a hotly contested fixture in previous seasons in the Cheshire League, who head into the game 10 points ahead of them in seventh.

Didsbury, taking to the field for the first time since October 28^th, host Stockport County Blues at Didsbury Sports Ground whilst West Didsbury & Chorlton welcome City of Liverpool to Brookburn Road.

 

NWWRFL Division One North

 

It’s hard to look past the Lancashire Derby on Sunday as Preston North End host Blackpool at UCLAN sports Arena.  Local bragging rights aside, it’s a game containing significant meaning for both sides with Blackpool top of the league unbeaten and Preston looking over their shoulders at the drop zone in 11^th place with just four points.

Blackburn Community continue to try and keep the pressure on the leaders having registered four wins on the bounce and scoring 30 goals in the process. They’re the latest team to face the prospect of a journey to Workington Reds who head into the weekend in 10^th.

Another team hot on the heels of Blackpool are Bury who will be looking to make it six wins on the bounce when they travel to Morecambe Reserves.  Bury have enjoyed a 100% start on the road this season and face a Morecambe side in 6^th after last week’s win against Burscough.

Two other teams chasing the leaders in a congested top half of Division One North are both away as Carlisle United travel to 8^th place Crosby whilst Cammell Laird travel to 9^th placed Leigh RMI. The weekends final game sees 7^th placed Penwortham Town welcome bottom club Burscough Dynamo.