By Steven Oldham Cover photo: James Lobley Atherton LR vs Bacup Borough
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Title winners Atherton LR seal promotion in style
Atherton Laburnum Rovers will be playing Step 5 football next season – after thrashing Bacup Borough 6-0 to wrap up the North West Counties First Division North title.
LR were in charge from the off – with Cal Hunter breaking the deadlock within a minute of the referee’s whistle – and the same player doubled his side’s lead before the break.
Not to be left out, Tom Romano hit a speedy brace after the restart to give his side a four goal cushion by the 50 minute mark. Harvey Sample and Ryan Talbot completed the rout later on.
READ MORE: FA Vase 5R: Brave Atherton LR out on penalties
LR recorded their highest attendance of the season – 420 – in their last home game, with a last day trip to AFC Blackpool on the cards. Putting together a run of five straight wins in the run-in – including clean sheet wins over their two nearest contenders – sealed the deal and brought the title to Crilly Park.
It’s been a memorable season for Dave Jones and co – with a league triumph complimented by a generational run to the fifth round of the FA Vase. A season which promised much for Bacup sees them having to settle for an 11th place finish at best.
Is it even a trophy celebration without Sweet Caroline? 😏#WeAreLR pic.twitter.com/0hoq0TJlYV
— Atherton Laburnum Rovers F(C) (@AthertonLRFC) April 6, 2025
Euxton Villa in the playoffs again
Euxton Villa secured a third straight shot at the playoffs with a 2-1 win over Maghull – but had to come from behind to take all three points.
Raj Uppal’s 64th minute penalty secured victory for the visitors, after Alex Colquhoun’s first half equaliser had cancelled out Adam Brooks’ opener.
Matt Atherton’s side boast a 100% playoff qualification rate since joining the Counties three years ago – can they make it third time lucky and make the step up to the Premier Division?
Sun, smiles, three points… and did I mention playoffs? 🤩
— EuxtonVillaFC (@EuxtonVillaFC) April 6, 2025
Here’s @athers011 post match reaction to yesterdays win 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/v6pkYvVHlE
Big win for Nelson
Nelson needed to win to keep their title hopes alive in case LR failed to do so – and they duly crushed Daisy Hill 5-1.
Max Cane’s hat-trick – on his 50th appearance for the club – took his tally to 23 for the season, while Will Ludlow-Foster opened his account for the club. Darren Holden wrapped up a convincing win in added time.
Ben Unsworth netted The Cutters’ only goal just before the break, but his side fell to a first defeat in six.
Holker Old Boys cruise to fine win
Play-off bound Holker Old Boys continue to build momentum and are unbeaten in five after cruising past Thornton Cleveleys.
The Cumbrian side ran out 5-0 winners with Tyler Spence and Charlie McGladdery on target before the break. Farryl Foster’s second half brace and Freddie Lawton was on target on the hour mark. Despite this result, it’s mission accomplished for Thornton Cleveleys, who are safe in their first season at this level.
Garstang thump Mechanics
Garstang are already resigned to a bottom three finish, but pulled out their biggest win of the season on a goal-heavy day in the division – seeing off the visiting AFC Blackpool 5-0 at The Riverside.
Cole Exley and Daniel Squires both scored in each half with Liam Clegg adding the fifth – and 2 wins in 3 matches represents their team’s best run of the season. The Mechanics can still record a top half finish – a marked improvement on last season’s relegation battle.
⚽ | Brilliant angle of Liam Clegg's goal, our 4th from yesterday.
— Garstang FC (@GarstangFC) April 6, 2025
Highlights and reactions out at some point tomorrow.
🔴 First 5-0 AFC Blackpool#upthestang pic.twitter.com/LbvJxkX1bt
Howard the hat-trick hero for Ashton Town
There will be no repeat of the playoffs this year for Ashton Town, but they at least sealed a top eight finish with a 5-0 win over bottom side Skelmersdale United.
Mikey Howard’s hat-trick doubled his season’s tally to six, while Chris Lomax netted twice. Skem have one last home game at Step 6 against Bacup next weekend.
Darwen away day delight
In-form Darwen wrapped up a fourth straight win as Jack Foster’s hat-trick was the difference maker in a 3-0 result at Steeton.
Scoring once before the break and twice after, Foster increased his tally to 11 for the season. The Salmoners will finish sixth this year regardless of the final day’s action.
⚽ 11 Up for Fozzy@jack_fo secured his Hat-Trick and his Eleventh goal of the season with this penalty in yesterday's 3-0 win at Steeton 👇#OneClub 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/7ERgewc9BA
— Darwen FC (@DarwenFC) April 6, 2025
Maine Road strike Gold at home
Maine Road were 2-0 winners over Greater Manchester rivals Droylsden at Brantingham Road. A Gold Badmus double was enough to wrap up all three points for a side finishing the season strongly – unbeaten in six.
The Bloods need to win their final game to make sure of third place – and home advantage – in the playoffs.
Day to forget for Ashton Athletic
Ten-man Ashton Athletic fell to a 4-1 defeat to Route One Rovers, with Callum Wilson’s early red card leaving The Yellows a man short for the majority of the game.
Umar Ali Zahoor put Rovers ahead from the penalty spot after the dismissal, but Zach Conway would equalise almost immediately. It wasn’t to be for the home side, with Zahoor completing a hat-trick and Haroon Ali also getting his name on the scoresheet.
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