By Steven Oldham Cover photo: Nick Gerrard Litherland REMYCA vs Colne
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Colne edge closer to safety
Colne picked up a precious win at Litherland REMYCA to boost their chances of remaining a North West Counties Premier Division side next season.
Andy Harrison’s side were 3-1 winners on the road despite falling behind to a 13th minute goal from James Hammill – although they were level within three minutes through Jordyn Fitton.
The sides looked to be heading in level until Nathan Cliffe’s intervention two minutes before the break, with Jude Entwistle making sure of a first win in five for the visitors with his tenth of the season later on.
READ MORE: NWC: Colne pick up first league win since August
Colne climb out of the bottom two as a result and are now three points clear of the drop zone with three games left to play.
🔴⚪ POST-MATCH REACTION 🔴⚪
— Colne F.C. (@Colne_FC) March 29, 2025
We caught up with the Gaffer after today’s huge 3-1 away win at Litherland REMYCA! 💪⚽
Hear his thoughts on the performance, the key moments, and what this result means for the team moving forward. 🎤🔥#ColneFC #RedArmy #NonLeagueFootball pic.twitter.com/EAvMtJfFOG
Late heartbreak for Prestwich
Prestwich Heys were denied a much-needed point deep into added time, with near neighbours Ramsbottom United taking all three points with a 2-1 win.
Ryan Hutchinson’s side led for the majority of the game thanks to the division’s quickest goal of the weekend – with Takura Sambizi breaking the deadlock after just two minutes.
Here's Tom Hoyle's thumping strike into the bottom corner which brought the Rams level midway through the second half. pic.twitter.com/vcl0kW3BLf
— Ramsbottom United (@RamsbottomUtd) March 29, 2025
Prestwich retained the lead until midway through the second half – with Tom Hoyle levelling the game with less than 20 minutes left on the clock. It would be Luke Barlow that won it for the visitors – seven minutes into added time.
It’s a costly defeat for Heys, who drop back into the bottom two as a result. Third-placed Ramsbottom have already booked a spot in the playoffs at worst, and still have an outside chance of the title should the top two collapse in the last few matches.
Bury hit the 100 point mark
Squires Gate were pushed further towards the trap door in a 3-0 loss at Bury – a result which moved the hosts on to a cool 100 points total.
There was to be no repeat of the opening day heroics for the Blackpool side, who held the league leaders to a 4-4 draw in the reverse fixture.
The Shakers remain three points clear at the top, thanks to two Rustam Stepans goals, and a late Bryan Ly effort made it 12 wins in a row for the Gigg Lane side.
Luke Evans’ side are now five points adrift of safety with nine left to play for – and they will be relegated next weekend if they lose and Colne win.
Relentless Lower Breck march on
Lower Breck will not allow Bury to rest and kept up the title pressure while thumping FC Isle of Man 4-0 in their own back yard.
Tom Mitchell gave the visitors the lead just before the break, with Jesse Dowling doubling the lead on the hour. Elliot Hughes and Sam Burns made sure of it as Gary Moore’s side secured the league double over The Ravens.
Eleven wins on the bounce keep Breck very much in the title race, waiting to pounce on any setback for the table-toppers. Isle of Man remain just inside the top half, but are without a win in eight attempts.
West edge past Chadderton
West Didsbury & Chorlton further cemented their place in the top five with a 1-0 win over fading Chadderton.
Sean Moscrop’s goal ten minutes from time gives West a six-point buffer in the final playoff place, with Paul Marshall’s side picking up a first win in three attempts.
No win in seven for Chadderton leaves them in seventh place.
Momentum building for play-off bound Padiham
Already booked into the playoffs are Padiham, who were 2-0 winners at ten-man Abbey Hey.
Bobby Page’s red card after 35 minutes left the home side with an uphill battle, with The Storks already having had a goal chalked off for offside early doors.
Second half goals from Lewis Ayres and Rio Wilson-Heyes extended Padiham’s unbeaten run to nine matches.
A first loss in eight for the Gorton side still sees them on track for a successful return to Step 5 after play-off glory last year. Simon Heaton’s side are 11th.
In brief: North West Counties Premier Division results
Stockport Town won the battle of two promoted sides, as Paul Turnbull’s team emerged as 3-1 winners over FC St Helens.
Harrison Lomakin-Rogers opened the scoring midway through the first half, and Keane Barugh doubled the lead before the break. Chris Hill pulled one back for the visitorts before Barugh made sure of it with his first goals since December.
Pilkington took a huge step towards safety after picking up a 2-0 win at Longridge Town. Freddy Garbutt and Kyle Schorah were on target for the visitors, who are seven points clear of the drop zone after a first win in four.
Burscough remain in with a shout of a top half finish; David Dempsey’s side were 1-0 winners at Cheadle Town thanks to Callum Laird’s goal just before the break.
Six Burscough wins in seven contrasts to Cheadle’s recent downturn in form, with the home side losing four on the bounce for the first time this season.
Finally, South Liverpool and Irlam played out a goalless draw. The home side edged closer to survival with a point here, while Irlam’s hopes of a play-off spot narrowed thanks to West Didsbury’s home win.
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