West Men Preview | Winsford United (H)

West Men Preview | Winsford United (H)

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West Men vs Winsford United

West bounced back with a comeback victory over Tividale. The visitors took the lead in the first half, with Sam Dickov drawing us level just before the hour mark. A penalty put Tividale back in front with 20 minutes to go, and it looked as though that may be enough to gain them the points. An 86th Markell Foulds goal from close range followed by a 93rd minute penalty converted by Max Leonard was enough to gain Lee Rick's side the win.

Those three points took us up to third once more, though those around us have games in hand. Top of the table Winsford United are next up at Brookburn Road.

To say we are familiar foes is putting things lightly. Last season alone, despite being in different divisions, we faced off three times. A 1-1 draw away in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup was followed up by a 120th minute Jack Banister winner at 'home' in Irlam for the replay. Our meeting in the FA Vase 5th Round was a more straightforward affair in every regard: played at Brookburn Road, Paul Marshall's side recovered from an early goal to win 4-1. Brandon Dawson and Ben Elliott both bagged a brace in front of a February crowd of 1,151.

Those two victories tilted the balance in our favour regarding overall head to head since we joined the pyramid, with it now standing at nine wins, two draws and seven losses. With a title push on, Winsford will be looking to gain their first win at Brookburn Road since November 2018 to continue their positive early season form. As things stand, the only blot on their league record has been a 4-0 home loss to Northwich Victoria. That game accounts for their only dropped points this campaign as well as 80% of their total conceded, with six clean sheets in eight league games.

Though top of the Midland Football League Premier, Winsford United have far from a straightforward relationship with the division. Faced with sideways movement from the North West Counties Premier at the start of the 2023/24 season, the club opted for voluntary relegation to the NWCFL Division One South instead.

Finishing second bottom in their first campaign back in the tenth tier, they won D1S outright in 2024/25, earning promotion to the Midland League Premier and immediately becoming amongst the division's higher performers. Last season they came 3rd, losing in the playoff semi final at home to 1874 Northwich - who went on to win the final.

The Blues have a rich history, which includes reaching the FA Cup First Round on three occasions (4-1 loss at Peterborough United in 1975/76, 5-2 loss at Wrexham in 1991/92, 2-1 loss at Chester City in 1997/98). The most famous name to have pulled on their shirt is Neville Southall, who played for them at the age of 20. After winning the Cheshire Senior Cup and earning their Player of the Season award, he was sold to Bury for £6,000. A year later he was plucked from Fourth Division obscurity by Howard Kendall and Everton for £150,000, with Winsford taking an additional £25,000 due to a sell-on clause.

Our two clubs have shared a number of notable players in either side's history. Striker David Short found the net six times for West during his short stay with us in 2014/15, but became one of Winsford's mainstays between 2016 and 2023, appearing 98 times and scoring 33. Goalkeeper Andrew Jones had an eventful 4 year spell at Brookburn Road, but prior to that had 130 games between the sticks for Winsford United between 2011 and 2017. On the shorter side of things, Lewis Billingsley left West for a 16 day spell at the Barton Stadium side before being lured back.

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