By Steven Oldham Cover photo: Widnes FC Widnes vs Trafford
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Widnes hold nerve to be crowned champions
Widnes will be playing Step 3 football next season after wrapping up the Northern Premier League Division One West title with a 1-0 final day win over Trafford.
Michael Ellison’s side only needed a point heading into the final game to be crowned champions – but took no chances and ended the season with back-to-back wins thanks to Harry McGee’s 67th minute winner.
The club set a new attendance record of 882 as they gained promotion to the NPL Premier Division for the first time. Widnes gain revenge on Trafford for defeat by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture back in August.
READ MORE: NPL West: Widnes bag 4-2 away win
It’s a third promotion since 2017 for the upwardly mobile club – including back-to-back promotions through the North West Counties Football League. Trafford finish the season in ninth place – an improvement of eight places year-on-year.
Hear from a jubilant Michael Ellison after we secured the NPL West title with victory over Trafford 🗣️💬
— (C) Widnes Football Club (@Widnes_FC) April 26, 2025
Widnes’ title win means runners up Hednesford Town must navigate the playoffs, despite beating Runcorn Linnets 1-0 in Staffordshire.
Nathan Blissett’s added time winner sees Runcorn miss out on a top ten finish, having lost four of their final five matches.
Congleton and Vauxhall Motor into playoffs
Hednesford will meet Vauxhall Motors in the playoff semi finals, with the Ellesmere Port side rounding out the regular season with a 0-0 draw at another top five side – Congleton Town.
Honours are even between Hednesford and Vauxhall this season with one win apiece and four goals scored by each team – so Tuesday’s semi-final should be a competitive affair.
No win in their final five matches will be of slight concern to Vauxhall boss Danny Holmes, but a top five finish after a relegation battle last season should not be overlooked.
A fifth clean sheet in six games is a good foundation for Congleton to build on as they aim for a second successive promotion after winning the Midland League Premier Division last season.
Avro break their own record, again
The Bears finish the season in third place – and will therefore have home advantage in their play-off semi final against Chasetown – who drew 1-1 with Avro this weekend.
Liam Ellis opened the scoring for Avro ten minutes in, before Deane Smalley’s own goal gave the visitors a point.
It’s another successful season for the Oldham side, who record a new highest points tally of 64 in this division. Newly-announced manager Grant Shenton hangs up his gloves after playing his final game.
Wythenshawe Town relegated
At the other end, Wythenshawe Town‘s bottom four finish was confirmed after they lost 3-0 at Newcastle Town.
Goals from Jake Avery, Tim Grice and Ty Webster sealed the league double for Neil Baker’s side.
Town end the season at least with local bragging rights, having won both ‘El Civico’ games against rivals Wythenshawe.
Rory Fallon’s side must now wait to see if they’re given a relegation reprieve, as has been forecast may be the case.
Bootle battle back for a point
In any case, Town’s bottom four fate was sealed with Kidsgrove Athletic’s point in a 3-3 draw at Bootle – meaning even a win wouldn’t be enough to bridge the gap for the Ericstan Park side.
It could have been all 3 for the Staffordshire side – who were 3-1 up heading into the final five minutes thanks to goals from Jimmy Garlick, Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi and Kyle Diskin. Ben Hodkinson had put Bootle ahead after 17 minutes.
A late fightback started with Kyle Campbell’s goal four minutes from time and Bootle drew level in added time thanks to Tom Owens. Alan Morgan’s side end with a four game unbeaten run and a 14th place finish.
A final message from the gaffer for this season.#UptheBucks pic.twitter.com/CMjtA2SmZQ
— Bootle Football Club (@Bootle_FC) April 27, 2025
Stalybridge end on a high
A strong season for Stalybridge Celtic came to an end with a 2-0 win over bottom club City of Liverpool at Bower Fold.
First half goals from Benni Smales-Braithwaite and Lewis Rawsthorn wrapped up the three points, and the Tameside club finish in sixth place, four points shy of the playoffs.
Draws in 2 of their last 3 matches may have cost them a play-off place, but looking at the bigger picture it’s a welcome return to the top ten for Celtic – it’s the first time they’ve finished in the leading pack since the 2011-12 Conference North season.
City of Liverpool’s miserable season saw them pick up just three wins in 42 matches.
Nantwich finish strongly with away win
Elsewhere, Nantwich Town end their season in the top eight after beating relegated Wythenshawe 2-1 late on at Hollyhedge Park.
Kofi Moore’s winner four minutes into added time was the difference maker, after Byron Harrison had cancelled out Darrhyl Mason’s opener for the hosts.
The Dabbers end the season unbeaten in five, with Wythenshawe returning to Step 5 after one season.
Atherton Colls bookmark season with victory
A 15th place finish for Atherton Collieries completes a sensational turnaround job for Michael Clegg, who saw his side round out the season with a 3-1 win at Witton Albion.
Tom Bentham opened the scoring for the visitors after four minutes, with Aaron Dwyer adding two more before the break. Harry Brazel netted a consolation for Albion midway through the second half.
Clegg rejoined his former club after David Chadwick left by mutual consent in late August. A poor start with no win in their opening seven left Colls rock bottom and fearing another relegation – but the ex-Macclesfield manager oversaw a vastly improved run of results including wins over four of the eventual top five.
Victory on the final day sees them finish ten points clear of the drop zone – and leapfrog Witton, who finish in 17th place.
Mossley say goodbye with away win
Mossley ended the David Fish era with an away win; beating second bottom Hanley Town 3-1 in their own back yard.
Svarc Kia put the home side ahead before the half hour, but Mossley turned it around before the break thanks to Obua Mugalula and Sean Kgwakgwa. Mugalulu completed his brace five minutes from time.
Promotion from within will see assistant manager Alex Craddock now taking the reigns at Seel Park.
Stalemate sees Clitheroe secure top ten finish
Finally, 1,005 were in attendance to see Clitheroe sneak into the top ten with a goalless draw at home to Stafford Rangers.
Under Sean McConville’s leadership from mid-December, Clitheroe rose from 17th position and a potential relegation battle to looking upwards. An impressive final third of the season saw them ease away from danger.
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