By Steven Oldham Cover photo: Nick Gerrard Litherland REMYCA vs Burscough
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Litherland REMYCA relegated on final day
Litherland REMYCA‘s time at Step 5 has come to an end for now, after a 2-1 defeat to Burscough on the final day of the North West Counties Premier Division season.
Steven Scott’s side entered the last game of the season knowing a win combined with a defeat for third-bottom Pilkington would keep them afloat at the last gasp, given their sizable goal difference advantage over the St Helens club.
Unfortunately for REMY – who looked dead and buried while cut well adrift at the halfway mark of the season – they fell just short despite taking the lead through Harry McVeigh on 32 minutes.
READ MORE: Burscough thrash struggling Ravens 5-0
Burscough were level before the break however through Will Lawson, and took all three points late on with Harry Johnson’s goal a minute from time.
Unlikely late season wins over leading pair Wythenshawe and Ramsbottom United will give them hope ahead of the rebuild at Step 6 next term. Burscough end the season by breaking their three game losing streak and take a tenth place finish in the league table.
We didn’t do enough, and we’ll own that.
— Steven Scott (@stescott82) April 18, 2026
I’ve never been prouder to be a part of a club than today. We gave it our best shot but fell short, want to say thank you for all the well wishes.
We’ll accept our fate and come back stronger. I promise you that.
Up The Remy! ❤️ https://t.co/LvRXHUOzbf
Out-of-form Pilks retain Step 5 status
Pilkington will be breathing a bit easier today after survival, despite losing 16 games on the bounce – concluding with a 4-1 loss at AFC Liverpool.
Caleb Jones and Elliot Taylor had the home side ahead in the opening half hour, before Adam Lawrence gave Pilks some hope five minutes before the break.
Joel Skillen re-established AFC’s two goal advantage after 73 minutes, and Jones struck the 24th goal of a profitable campaign with eleven minutes left to play. Phil Stafford’s side end the season just outside the top ten, albeit with a point more than last year when they finished ninth.
Chadderton secure playoff spot
It’s third time lucky for Chadderton, who secured a playoff position with a 2-0 home win over Stockport Town after two near-misses since promotion from the First Division North.
No prizes for guessing who grabbed the goals – with the division’s top scorer Lewis Byrne adding another two to his tally – which now stands at an astonishing 62 across all competitions. The striker’s 57 league goals alone are more than any of the bottom three sides managed in total.
A run of three defeats prior to this game had left the Oldham side in danger of missing out at the last once again, but a goal in each half secured their highest finish yet. Stockport Town end the season in twelfth place.
The boys walking out ready for kick off 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/m3SzTAt61z
— Stockport Town FC (@StockportTownFC) April 18, 2026
7-Up: Champions Ammies ease to victory
Champions Wythenshawe signed off in style with a 7-1 thrashing of Longridge Town ahead of their immediate return to Step 4.
Aaron Dwyer netted a final day hat-trick, and there was a goal apiece for Curtis Jones, Darius Palma, Josh Dickin and Joel Ankers as the Hollyhedge Park side unsurprisingly topped the goals for column with 128. Will Procter was on target for Longridge midway through the first half to narrow the deficit.
It’s been a brief return to the Counties for James Kinsey’s side, who will once again play Northern Premier League football next season. Longridge end the year in 15th place, three slots higher than ’24-’25.
READ MORE: Hyde United 1-3 Wythenshawe: Ammies beat Tigers
Play-off contenders in stalemate
A tight affair could be the sign of things to come as second placed Ramsbottom United and third-placed Atherton LR shared a goalless draw at Crilly Park.
With both sides already secured a top five slot, it was the first opportunity for either side to strike a psychological blow ahead of the playoffs since the season’s opening day – with the Rams coming out as 2-1 winners on home turf on that occasion.
Few could have predicted the season newly-promoted LR would have after that opening day loss – not withstanding that this was their first season at this level in 14 years. The consistent Rams earned one more point and one more position than last season.
Both sides will have home advantage in their play-off semi finals. Ramsbottom will host Chadderton, while LR will play Padiham.
Padiham win ahead of playoffs
Speaking of The Storks, Padiham ended the regular season by doing the double of FC Isle of Man in a 4-2 home win.
Despite the defeat, it was actually The Ravens who broke the deadlock – with Dean Pinnington scoring after 11 minutes. Nevertheless, the Lancashire side went into the break with the lead – thanks to Fenton Davies’ equaliser and one from Joel Brownhill from the penalty spot.
Lewis Ayres quickly added a third after the restart, before Stephen Whitley gave the visitors a second. Isaac Smith’s red card could have derailed the hosts, but Davies was able to bookend the game with his fourth in Padiham colours.
A 20th place finish represents FC Isle of Man’s lowest position in their four seasons as a Step 5 club.
READ MORE: Padiham win table-topping clash 3-1
Irlam narrowly miss play-offs again
Irlam entered the final day knowing a play-off place was up for grabs if they bagged three points and Chadderton fell to a home defeat – but neither happened after a 2-2 draw with Charnock Richard.
Jordan Darr put the visitors ahead, but the Salford side bounced back through player-manager John Main and Alberto Serra’s goal a minute from time – only for Lewis Haydock to level the game four minutes into added time.
In the end, it was all a bit academic as Chadderton’s win left Irlam powerless to move into the top five no matter the result at Silver Street. It’s a second near miss for Irlam, albeit sweetened by improving their best finish in the Counties for the second successive season. It’s another midtable finish for Charnock Richard in 13th.
North West Counties Premier Division results in brief
Prestwich Heys breezed past ten-man Cheadle Town, winning 3-0 at Park Road. Goals from Luke Mann, Josh Tinker and Alistair Bracken wrapped up the points.
Jonny Nixon was sent off the home side with the score at 2-0.
Cheadle end the year in 18th, with Heys the most-improved side in the division, vaulting from 22nd last season to seventh this time around.
A goal in each half gave Glossop North End a 2-0 victory at South Liverpool. Jordan Schofield’s penalty and a Jacques Etia goal saw The Hillmen end the season with a five match unbeaten streak.
FC St Helens notched up a second-successive eighth place finish with a 3-0 home win over Abbey Hey. A first half blast secured the points within 31 minutes, with Joseph Ekundayo, Chris Hill and Tom Lawless all on target. Five games unbeaten before this match preserved the Gorton side’s Step 5 status for another season.
West Didsbury & Chorlton ended their domestic campaign with a 2-1 win at Euxton Villa. Ben Elliott’s winner came after Villa’s Dan Singleton had cancelled out Calum McGlynn’s 20th minute opener. West will look to end the season on a high in the Macron Cup final in two weeks time, after falling short of the play-off position they took last year.
City of Liverpool‘s miserable season comes to an end with a 3-0 home defeat to Barnoldswick Town. Gaz Hill’s brace and Sam Wrigley’s opener gave Barlick the points, who will hope to improve on a 19th placed finish next year. The Purps’ 17 point tally is the lowest any team has managed since the division expanded to 24 teams.
An emotional one all around yesterday.
— Euxton Villa FC (P) (@EuxtonVillaFC) April 19, 2026
Hear from @athers011 and @AlexColquhoun18 after yesterday’s defeat at home 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/fjLic1Rj7C
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