Match of the Day

Northwich Victoria v Winsford United (at Witton Albion FC, ko 3pm)

A first derby of the new season in the North West Counties League pits Vics, buoyed by an FA Cup replay success against higher-ranked opponents in midweek, against a Winsford United side seeking to recover from the disappointment of exiting the same competition after conceding a last-minute goal against Irlam.

Blues won the corresponding fixture last season 4-0, and manager Lee Duckworth will be seeking a similar kick-start after successive draws in the Premier Division matches they’ve played so far.

Vics, beaten in their first league game at Wincham Park, hope theirs has one already.

It’s an important afternoon for…

1874 Northwich

Taking Burscough the distance in their FA Cup extra preliminary round encounter will have felt a remote prospect when they went 2-0 down last weekend.

However they recovered to force a replay on Tuesday night that they subsequently lost after extra-time and a penalty shoot-out.

A visit from Abbey Hey, who themselves cancelled a two-goal deficit on the season’s opening afternoon to draw with Winsford, is an opportunity to channel that frustration into a first league victory of the campaign.

And what about…

Cuddington v Winnington Avenue 1994 (ko 3pm)

Winnington Avenue 1994, promoted from the Crewe and District League, are seeking to emulate what their hosts this weekend have done and establish themselves at a higher level this season.

A tie with Cheadle Town’s reserves last weekend earned a first point in new surroundings.

Meanwhile Cuddington followed an 8-0 drubbing of St Helens Town reserves on the opening day with a 1-1 draw at Rylands reserves last time out.

A derby at Norley Road will provide an early indication of both teams’ relative strength.

Why not go and give your local side a cheer?

Here’s a full list of fixtures from the respective competitions our teams play in:

Northern Premier League (3pm unless stated)

Premier Division: Grantham v Bamber Bridge; Hednesford v Scarborough Ath; Hyde v Basford; Marine v North Ferriby; Matlock v Lancaster; Nantwich v Gainsborough; South Shields v Witton; Stalybridge v Mickleover; Warrington v Farsley; Whitby v Buxton; Workington v Stafford.

North West Counties League (3pm unless stated)

Premier Division: 1874 Northwich v Abbey Hey (at Winsford United FC); Burscough v Bootle; Charnock Richard v Hanley; City of Liverpool v Irlam (at Bootle FC); Litherland REMYCA v Barnoldswick; Northwich Victoria v Winsford (at Witton Albion FC); Padiham v Whitchurch; Runcorn Town v West Didsbury & Chorlton; Silsden v Ashton Ath; Squires Gate v Congleton.

Division One South: Cammell Laird v Abbey Hulton; Cheadle Heath v Vauxhall Motors; Eccleshall v Barnton; Ellesmere v Wythenshawe Amateurs; FC Oswestry v Alsager; Maine Road v New Mills; Rylands v Wythenshawe Town; Sandbach Utd v Stone Dominoes; Stockport Town v St Martins; Stone Old Alleynians v Cheadle Town.

Cheshire League (3pm unless stated)

Premier Division: Congleton Vale v Knutsford; Daten v Crewe; Denton v Malpas; Eagle v Pilkington; Egerton v Greenalls PSO; Middlewich v Billinge; Poynton v Altrincham res; Whaley Bridge v FC St Helens.

League One: Blacon v Garswood; Ford Motors v Golborne; Lostock Gralam v Windle Labour; Moore v Broadheath Central; Styal v Halebank; Vulcan v Grappenhall; Winstanley v Buxton res.

League Two: Ashton Ath res v Cheadle Heath res; Cheadle Town res v Ashton Town res; Cuddington v Winnington Ave 1994; Holmes Chapel v Sandbach Utd res; Mersey Valley v Maine Road res; St Helens Town res v Club AZ (12.15pm); Wythenshawe Town Development v Rylands res.

Reserves Division: Billinge v Middlewich; Broadheath Central v Pilkington; FC St Helens v Moore; Golborne v Vulcan; Greenalls PSO v Styal.