Cheshire Ladies Cup

The Cheshire Ladies Cup will enjoy a preview of a potential Division One South title decider this weekend as second place Altrincham travel to fourth place Warrington Wolverines.  Just one point separates the two teams going into the weekends game that has the additional caveat that the two teams will meet again in the league the following Sunday.  The previous meeting this season saw Altrincham win 2-1 and will feel after their penalty shoot out victory away to Workington Reds last weekend that no away game should daunt them.  Wolverines reminded everyone of their quality with a 2-1 win away to Manchester Stingers with Sam Hassall again on the scoresheet.

Northwich Vixens face a potential banana skin away to Cheshire League Champions side Upton.  Upton currently sit second in the league having won 9 of their 10 league games this season and averaging 5 and half goals a game.  Its North versus South as Cammell Laird 1907 host Chester in the weekends other game.  Stockport County and Tranmere Rovers have byes.

 

Liverpool FA Women’s Senior Cup

Its derby day in the semi finals of the Liverpool County Cup as Mossley Hill Athletic face a trip to Women’s National League side Liverpool Feds. Feds are currently sat in sixth place in Division One North with five wins and 19 points from their 13 league games. Mossley Hill are coming in off a comfortable 7-1 win over Preston North End last weekend however they exited this competition at the hands of Feds last season.  Crosby host Merseyrail in the other semi-final.

 

Manchester FA Women’s Challenge Cup

Having previously been without a game FC United have taken the opportunity to bring their Manchester County Cup tie forward to this weekend when they face Sale Ladies.  Having enjoyed a walk-over the previous week against Burscough in the cup the Rebels will be pleased to take the field again as they look to retain the trophy they’ve won for the last two seasons.  They face a Sale side who received an 11^th hour promotion to Division One of the GMWFL this summer and currently sit bottom of the table with just 3 points from their 8 league games to date.  They have however enjoyed success in the County Cup this season with a 4-2 win in September against Flixton before beating Swinton 5-3 in the second round.

 

Premier Division

There’s only one place to start this weekend in the Premier Division as leaders Tranmere Rovers host second place Stockport County at Ellesmere Sports Park.  Tranmere head into the game six points ahead but County, thanks to their impressive FA Cup run, have five games in hand and boast a 100% league record this season.  A win for Tranmere would extend that lead to nine points and reducing the cushion that Stockport currently enjoy from their five-game advantage and a return meeting at Stockport Sports Village still to come.    Three points for Stockport would bring them three points closer to the summit whilst still maintaining those five games in hand and that previously mentioned return fixture at home.

Anything but three points for Stockport may also widen the promotion race potentially bringing FC United back into contention who will no doubt anxiously await to see if the result against Merseyrail will stand (the game was 4-4 in stoppage time) or whether or not it will be replayed in its entirety. FC United are currently in fifth place six points behind Stockport County but with a game in hand. The Rebels are in Manchester County Cup action this weekend.

Tranmere Rovers head into the game on the back of six straight wins and fresh off a 3-0 win against Wythenshawe Amatuers last weekend in the Argyle Sports Cup.  Stockport County overcame a tricky encounter at home to Wigan Athletic winning 4-2.

At the other end of the table it’s a big weekend for the three teams battling to avoid the drop into Division One.  Sir Tom Finney head to Fleetwood Town Wrens on the back of an impressive 13-0 win against Leigh RMI in the cup having collected five points from their previous four league games to spark a mini revival.  The real six pointer is at Frenchfields Park where Penrith host Accrington Girls and Ladies.  Penrith ended a run of three defeats with an impressive 1-0 win away to Stockport County Blues last weekend and are ahead of Accrington on goal difference. Accrington are on a run of eight consecutive league defeats having not picked up three points since their October 7^th 1-0 win over Penrith.

In the Divisions final game this weekend Manchester Stingers will look to complete a league double over Wigan Athletic.  Stingers begin the weekend in 7^th place whilst Wigan start it in 3^rd.

 

Division One North

By far the standout game of the weekend in Division One North this weekend is the much-anticipated meeting between Bury and Blackpool at Gigg Lane.  The first meeting of the season between the two sides will see 4^th place Bury head into the game 10 points behind but with three games in hand.  The Shakers will be aiming to follow Chester in doing what no side in Division One North has managed this season and that’s defeat Blackpool; the Tangerines were beaten 1-0 at home by Chester last weekend in the Argyle Sports Cup.  Bury thrashed Penwortham Town 10-0 last weekend which sees their unbeaten run extended from the opening day of the season. Despite plenty of time left in the season Blackpool will be confident that three points will put sufficient daylight between themselves and their closest challenger in the division.

Should Bury collect three points a side looking to take full advantage and bring their destiny back into their own hands is Carlisle United.  The Cumbrians currently sit eight points behind Blackpool with two games in hand and will be looking to bounce back from their extra-time defeat to Curzon Ashton when they travel to bottom side Burscough Dynamo.

In the other two games 8^th placed Penwortham Town take on 6^th placed Workington Reds whilst Preston North End will be looking to pull clear of Burscough when they entertain 7^th placed Morecambe Reserves.

 

Division One South

Its top versus bottom in Division One South as bottom side Wythenshawe Amateurs welcome West Didsbury & Chorlton who make the short trip from M22 to M21.  It’s the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides who are separated by just 4.8 miles but the Ams will be looking to build on a solid performance away to Premier Division league leaders Tranmere Rovers last weekend.

Should West slip up Liverpool Feds Reserves, third on goal difference, will finish the weekend top of the Division should they defeat point-less City of Liverpool at home. Feds recently moved into their new home and will be looking to crown its debut with three points.

Curzon Ashton will look to keep within touching distance of the top three as they host Didsbury at Failsworth Sports Centre.  Three points for Curzon will move them four points clear of 4^th and one point behind the chasing pack.  Didsbury will start the weekend in 9^th place and finish it in 9^th place but will be keen to exercise the 14-1 defeat against Chester from their minds.