By Steven Oldham Cover photo: JT Photo Alsager Town vs Dawley Town
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New Mills dominate Telford
New Mills thumped Telford Town 6-0 at Church Lane on the opening day of the North West Counties First Division South season.
It was a dream start for the club’s new management duo, Nathan Neequaye and Sam Scott.
Solomon Richards opened the scoring two minutes in, and doubled his tally from the penalty spot midway through the first half. Gilbert Ocran added a third on 54 minutes.
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Another brace came from Luke Evans in the final ten minutes, with Harley Hughes rounding out the win with The Millers’ sixth in added time.
A great start to the season @NewMillsFC
— Nathan Neequaye (@nathanneequaye) August 1, 2026
6 goals and a clean sheet! 😮💨
The lads were fantastic today as were the fans! Onto Tuesday now 💪🏽⚽️#Upthemillers pic.twitter.com/hVXjuvJ0e4
Bevan brace enough for Sandbach
Sandbach United also collected three points after beating Counties newcomers Wednesfield 2-1.
Joe Bevan scored both goals for The Ramblers, breaking the deadlock after just three minutes. The away side responded with Tyler Bishop’s goal just before the break, but Bevan was on the scoresheet again six minutes after the restart.
Having just missed out on the playoffs last season, could this be the year Declan Evans’ perennial promotion contenders make it happen?
Defeat for newcomers Widnes and Crewe
Widnes Town were on the receiving end of a 3-1 defeat to last season’s beaten playoff finalists, Eccleshall.
Goals from Billy Silvester, Nicky Parker and Essa Faburay put the Staffordshire side in control with 20 minutes to play before Josh Quarless pulled one back for the visitors.
Still, the main thing is competitive football is back on the cards for the Cheshire town following the demise of Widnes last summer.
Crewe also lost their first match since moving up to Step 6, with Wolverhampton Casuals running out 3-0 winners.
Two first half goals from Kieran Cook and Jake Pearson’s second half effort ensured the points left with the visitors.
The club were admitted to the the North West Counties following a fifth placed finish in the Cheshire Football League last season.
Bullets pegged back late on
Alsager Town suffered a late collapse and had to settle for a point in a 2-2 game with Shropshire newcomers Dawley Town.
The Bullets looked to be cruising to a 2-0 victory with less than five minutes on the clock, thanks to a goal in either half from Ivan Otono and Luke Moran.
Home goalkeeper William O’Carroll was then sent off, with Ross Jones converting a spot kick to give his side hope. An own goal in added time ensured a point on debut for the visitors.
Should of took all 3 points. Dont take your chances you know it will come back to bite you, and we had enough. Fair play to Dawley they punished us, we have to learn quickly if we are going to have s good season. https://t.co/cw3ObSOyzZ
— Warren Jones (@WozzaJ5) August 1, 2026
Point on the road for Nomads
Cheadle Heath Nomads battled back from 2-0 down to take a point in a 2-2 draw with Allscott Heath.
It looked like it may be a long afternoon for the Stockport side, who found themselves conceding twice in the early going – with Harry Morris (10) and Ben Davies (18) on target for the hosts.
Undeterred, the Nomads fightback began with Dylan Woods on 20 minutes, and Chigozie Ewelike secured a point for his team in first half added time.
Opening day loss for Barnton
Barnton took the lead within two minutes, but couldn’t add to it and fell to a 2-1 home loss to Stafford Town.
Jordan Sherlock was the early scorer, shortly before Eshan Greer equalised in the sixth minute. Sam Lynch won it for the visitors ten minutes after the break.
275 were in attendance for this one, making it the best attended game in the division.
Hear from Manager Lewis Wood after today’s 1-2 defeat against Stafford Town. #cheshirejuve #Barnton #nwcfl #FinoAllaFine #UTV pic.twitter.com/Ldff5LLFG0
— Barnton AFC (@barntonfc) August 1, 2026
North West Counties First Division South results
- AFC Bridgnorth 3-1 Foley Meir
- Allscott Heath 2-2 Cheadle Heath Nomads
- Alsager Town 2-2 Dawley Town
- Barnton 1-2 Stafford Town
- Bilston Town 2-0 Shawbury United
- Crewe 0-3 Wolverhampton Casuals
- Eccleshall 3-1 Widnes Town
- Market Drayton Town 0-2 Brereton Social
- New Mills 6-0 Telford Town
- Sandbach United 2-1 Wednesfield
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