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2017–18 North West Counties Football League

Football league season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2017–18 North West Counties Football League season (known as the Hallmark Security League for sponsorship reasons[1]) was the 36th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England.

The league comprised two divisions, the Premier Division and the First Division (at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system, Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System respectively) – this was the final season the league operated a single Step 6 First Division, from next season 2 first divisions, designated North and South were in existence. Additionally there were two cup competitions: the League Challenge Cup (known as the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons), a knockout competition open to all the league's clubs; and the First Division Trophy (known as the LWC Drinks First Division Cup for sponsorship reasons[2]), a knockout trophy competition for First Division clubs only.

Premier Division

Quick facts Season, Teams ...
North West Counties
Football League
Premier Division
Season2017–18
Teams23
ChampionsRuncorn Linnets
PromotedRuncorn Linnets
Widnes
RelegatedAFC Liverpool
Maine Road
Barnton
AFC Darwen
Matches506
Goals1,990 (3.93 per match)
Average attendance156[3]
Close

At the end of the previous season the following four clubs left the division:

The 2017–18 Premier Division club allocations from the FA Leagues Committee (subject to appeal) were announced on 26 May 2017[4] and included the provisional placement of Northwich Victoria – the club had been relegated from Step 4 but was a new entity having recently been reconstituted under the ownership of its supporters association.[5] Following a vote of acceptance of Northwich Victoria the constitution was ratified by the league at its AGM on 17 June.[6] The division comprised 23 clubs, 18 remaining from the previous season plus 5 additions:

At the end of the season the champions Runcorn Linnets and runners-up Widnes (with their second successive promotion) were promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One West. Widnes were beneficiaries of a National League System restructure which saw fourteen Step 5 clubs promoted (initially only twelve of the fourteen Step 5 runners-up were to be promoted however, owing to resignations and mergers in the leagues above they were all promoted).[7] To reduce the division to twenty clubs for the next season four clubs were relegated to the two new regional First Division leagues: AFC Darwen and AFC Liverpool to the First Division North, and Barnton and Maine Road to the First Division South. Barnton set a new league record for goals conceded over a season with 171 from 44 matches exceeding the previous high set by Stone Dominoes – 166 from 42 matches in the 2012–13 Premier Division. For the third successive season the average goals scored per divisional match increased to a new high for the Premier Division (formerly Division One) of 3.93 goals per match (exceeding the 3.76 of the 2016–17 season).

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Season End Notes
1 Runcorn Linnets (C, P) 44 31 7 6 122 36 +86 100 Promoted to Northern Premier
League Division One West
2 Widnes (P) 44 30 6 8 102 52 +50 96 Promoted to Northern Premier
League Division One West[a]
3 Runcorn Town 44 29 6 9 107 65 +42 93
4 City of Liverpool 44 25 9 10 115 58 +57 84
5 Bootle 44 25 8 11 122 61 +61 83
6 Charnock Richard 44 24 7 13 103 72 +31 79
7 1874 Northwich 44 24 7 13 85 56 +29 79
8 Hanley Town 44 23 7 14 94 59 +35 76
9 Barnoldswick Town 44 22 5 17 102 78 +24 71
10 West Didsbury & Chorlton 44 21 4 19 99 120 −21 67
11 Squires Gate 44 19 7 18 79 94 −15 64
12 Ashton Athletic 44 19 5 20 86 69 +17 62
13 Irlam 44 18 5 21 66 80 −14 59
14 Winsford United 44 16 10 18 77 87 −10 58
15 Congleton Town 44 16 8 20 83 85 −2 56
16 Northwich Victoria 44 17 5 22 77 93 −16 56
17 Padiham 44 16 5 23 85 96 −11 53
18 Burscough 44 15 5 24 82 103 −21 50
19 Abbey Hey 44 13 6 25 65 84 −19 45
20 AFC Liverpool (R) 44 12 6 26 77 94 −17 42 Relegated to First Division North
21 Maine Road (R) 44 11 4 29 59 117 −58 37 Relegated to First Division South
22 Barnton (R) 44 4 7 33 61 171 −110 19
23 AFC Darwen (R) 44 3 7 34 42 160 −118 16 Relegated to First Division North
Close
Source: "Final Tables, Season 2017/18". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 7 June 2026., "North West Counties League - North West Counties League Premier Division: 2017 – 18: League Table". nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [8]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Promoted as one of fourteen Step 5 runners-up per National League System restructuring (originally only 12 of the 14 were to be promoted however, owing to resignations and mergers all 14 were promoted)[7]

Results

More information Home \ Away, 18N ...
Home \ Away 18N ABH ADR ALV ASH BWT BNT BTL BUR CHR CoL CON HAN IRL MNR NWV PAD RNL RNT SQG WDC WID WIN
1874 Northwich 1–1 5–0 4–1 1–2 3–0 3–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–2 5–0 2–1 2–0 2–4 2–1 3–1 1–0 1–2 1–0
Abbey Hey 4–2 1–1 3–3 0–2 0–2 7–1 0–1 4–2 1–2 0–0 2–3 2–3 1–2 0–4 1–2 3–0 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–2 0–3 1–2
AFC Darwen 0–3 1–3 2–0 0–4 0–4 1–3 4–4 0–0 1–4 0–6 3–3 2–5 0–4 1–3 0–5 0–1 0–1 2–2 0–1 3–3 2–3 0–0
AFC Liverpool 3–0 3–1 4–2 1–3 3–4 5–0 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–1 1–2 2–4 1–3 1–2 1–2 0–0 3–2 2–4 4–0
Ashton Athletic 0–2 3–0 6–0 1–0 3–2 3–3 0–1 2–4 5–0 1–2 4–2 0–5 0–2 0–1 5–1 2–0 0–3 3–1 0–2 7–1 0–1 0–2
Barnoldswick T 4–0 3–1 0–1 3–2 1–3 5–0 1–2 5–2 0–4 1–3 4–2 1–3 3–0 2–4 1–1 5–1 1–4 0–1 5–0 4–1 6–1 3–2
Barnton 2–3 0–4 2–0 1–0 2–2 2–3 1–9 1–2 3–5 0–8 1–1 1–5 1–3 3–3 0–4 2–3 1–3 1–4 0–7 2–4 2–2 0–4
Bootle 0–1 2–0 10–0 3–3 4–3 2–3 5–0 1–2 0–0 0–4 5–1 3–4 3–3 4–1 5–0 4–1 0–0 3–3 1–0 3–3 5–2 3–0
Burscough 0–1 3–2 1–0 2–3 1–4 4–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 1–4 2–1 2–1 1–5 0–1 2–5 3–2 4–5 0–1 1–6
Charnock Richard 4–2 0–1 9–1 2–2 1–0 3–4 4–1 3–1 5–2 1–4 2–0 3–0 1–0 4–1 3–2 4–1 0–2 1–1 5–2 1–2 1–4 1–1
City of Liverpool 2–0 2–0 8–0 1–1 2–1 4–4 4–2 0–2 3–2 2–0 2–4 3–0 5–0 4–0 2–1 4–3 1–5 0–0 0–1 6–1 1–4 3–1
Congleton Town 1–4 3–1 6–2 3–3 0–2 1–1 5–1 3–4 4–2 1–1 1–2 3–1 3–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–0 0–1 0–3 0–1 4–1
Hanley Town 1–1 4–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 5–1 2–1 2–0 1–3 2–0 0–2 5–0 3–0 3–0 3–2 1–1 1–2 4–0 6–2 1–1 1–1
Irlam 0–3 1–2 3–5 0–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 0–3 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–0 2–1 0–2 0–4 1–0 2–3 4–0 3–0 1–3 1–5
Maine Road 2–3 1–3 3–2 0–1 0–3 0–3 3–1 0–4 2–3 1–3 0–5 2–1 2–8 2–0 2–1 1–3 0–5 2–5 1–1 2–1 0–2 0–1
Northwich Victoria 0–2 0–2 5–0 3–1 0–2 3–1 5–2 2–3 1–1 0–2 3–2 3–2 3–2 1–4 1–0 1–2 3–0 1–3 1–1 1–2 2–2 0–4
Padiham 0–3 1–2 5–1 5–4 0–0 1–2 5–3 0–2 3–2 2–1 2–0 3–4 1–2 0–1 1–1 2–4 1–1 4–0 4–2 6–1 3–3 1–2
Runcorn Linnets 2–1 2–2 5–1 5–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 3–0 6–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–0 4–2 6–1 0–1 5–0 7–0 0–2 5–0
Runcorn Town 2–1 1–0 10–3 1–0 3–1 3–2 5–0 2–0 3–2 0–2 2–2 5–2 1–0 2–0 4–3 6–1 4–0 0–5 1–2 3–2 1–2 1–2
Squires Gate 0–3 3–2 4–0 5–4 3–1 1–3 6–4 0–5 0–6 3–1 3–2 3–1 1–0 2–1 2–2 5–0 2–2 0–5 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–2
W Didsbury & Ch. 2–1 2–2 4–1 1–2 4–2 0–2 1–4 0–4 4–3 5–3 4–3 2–1 3–3 3–5 4–3 1–2 3–1 4–0 2–4 4–2 3–1 3–2
Widnes 2–2 0–1 4–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 7–1 3–2 3–0 0–3 0–1 2–1 3–0 3–1 5–1 4–0 3–1 2–1 2–0 0–1 4–0 3–1
Winsford United 1–1 1–2 2–0 4–3 3–3 1–0 1–1 0–4 1–5 3–3 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–3 5–1 2–3 2–1 0–4 2–4 2–2 1–3 2–1
Close
Source: "Premier Division Results 2017/18". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Locations of the 2017–18 North West Counties Football League Premier Division teams
More information Team, Stadium ...
Team Stadium Capacity
WidnesSelect Security Stadium
(groundshare with Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club)		13,350
AFC DarwenThe Anchor Ground4,000
AFC LiverpoolMarine Travel Arena, Crosby (groundshare with Marine)3,185
BurscoughVictoria Park3,054
1874 Northwich *Barton Stadium (groundshare with Winsford United)3,000
Winsford UnitedBarton Stadium3,000
BootleDelta Taxis Stadium2,500
City of LiverpoolDelta Taxis Stadium (groundshare with Bootle)2,500
Maine RoadBrantingham Road, Chorlton2,000
PadihamArbories Memorial Sports Ground1,688
Runcorn LinnetsMillbank Linnets Stadium1,600
Runcorn TownPavilions Sports Complex1,530
Congleton TownRichborough Estates Stadium1,450
Abbey HeyThe Abbey Stadium, Gorton1,000
Ashton AthleticBrockstedes Park1,000
IrlamSilver Street1,000
Squires GateSchool Road1,000
West Didsbury & ChorltonBrookburn Road, Chorlton1,000
Hanley TownAbbey Lane750
Barnoldswick TownSilentnight Beds Stadium
BarntonTownfield
Charnock RichardMossie Park1,000
Northwich VictoriaTownfield (groundshare with Barnton)
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First Division

Quick facts Season, Teams ...
North West Counties
Football League
First Division
Season2017–18
Teams22
ChampionsSilsden
PromotedSilsden
Litherland REMYCA
Whitchurch Alport
Matches462
Goals1,701 (3.68 per match)
Average attendance86[10]
Close

At the end of the previous season four clubs left the division:

The 2017–18 First Division club allocations from the FA Leagues Committee (subject to appeal) were announced on 26 May 2017[4] and its constitution ratified at the league's AGM on 17 June 2017.[6] The division comprised 22 clubs, 18 remaining from the previous season plus 4 additions:

At the end of the season the champions Silsden, runners-up Litherland REMYCA and promotion play-off winners Whitchurch Alport (who had been fourth in the division) were promoted to the Premier Division. The twenty clubs remaining in the division were evenly allocated to next season's newly instigated First Division North or First Division South.

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Season End Notes
1 Silsden (C, P) 42 33 4 5 110 38 +72 103 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Litherland REMYCA (P) 42 31 6 5 117 39 +78 99
3 Prestwich Heys 42 29 4 9 124 50 +74 91 Qualified for promotion play-offs.
Allocated to First Division North
4 Whitchurch Alport (O, P) 42 28 4 10 91 38 +53 88 Won the promotion play-offs,
promoted to Premier Division[a]
5 Sandbach United 42 27 3 12 90 57 +33 84 Qualified for promotion play-offs.
Allocated to First Division South
6 Cammell Laird 1907 42 22 6 14 84 58 +26 72
7 AFC Blackpool 42 21 5 16 92 78 +14 68 Allocated to First Division North
8 Alsager Town 42 19 10 13 84 71 +13 67 Allocated to First Division South
9 Holker Old Boys 42 19 8 15 72 89 −17 65 Allocated to First Division North
10 Stockport Town 42 15 8 19 81 87 −6 53 Allocated to First Division South
11 Carlisle City 42 16 5 21 71 80 −9 53 Allocated to First Division North
12 Cheadle Town 42 14 11 17 72 83 −11 53 Allocated to First Division South
13 Abbey Hulton United 42 14 8 20 56 66 −10 50
14 New Mills 42 14 7 21 68 95 −27 49
15 Eccleshall 42 13 8 21 66 105 −39 47
16 Chadderton 42 12 10 20 83 93 −10 46 Allocated to First Division North
17 Bacup Borough 42 14 4 24 65 95 −30 46[b]
18 Atherton Laburnum Rovers 42 13 5 24 61 81 −20 44
19 FC Oswestry Town 42 11 7 24 60 101 −41 40 Allocated to First Division South
20 St Helens Town 42 8 8 26 55 98 −43 32 Allocated to First Division North
21 Nelson 42 7 10 25 50 91 −41 31
22 Daisy Hill 42 8 7 27 49 108 −59 31
Close
Source: "Final Tables, Season 2017/18". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 7 June 2026., "North West Counties League - North West Counties League Division One North: 2017 – 18: League Table". nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [8]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Winner from the four clubs who competed in the promotion play-offs
  2. [b]
    Bacup Borough were awarded a 3–0 win against FC Oswestry Town who failed to fulfill fixture on 5 May

Results

More information Home \ Away, ABH ...
Home \ Away ABH ABL ALS ALR BAC CAM CAR CHD CHE DSH ECC OSW HOB LIT NEL NWM PRH SAN SIL STH STK WHI
Abbey Hulton U 4–2 2–4 1–1 4–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–0 2–3 3–0 0–3 1–3 0–1 3–2 0–3 1–3 1–2 3–1 3–3 0–1
AFC Blackpool 3–1 5–1 1–6 1–2 3–2 1–3 1–3 4–2 3–2 5–0 9–2 1–2 0–1 4–2 1–0 3–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 2–1 1–4
Alsager Town 2–0 4–1 1–0 3–0 3–2 0–1 2–2 1–4 1–2 2–1 2–1 5–2 0–1 2–1 2–3 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–3
Atherton Lab. R 2–1 4–3 1–2 1–3 2–1 1–4 2–3 1–2 1–3 3–4 0–1 0–2 0–3 3–2 2–5 1–3 1–4 0–0 2–0 2–0 0–3
Bacup Borough 2–0 1–2 2–5 1–2 0–1 4–1 4–3 1–5 1–1 3–0 3–0[a] 2–5 0–3 0–3 2–1 2–0 0–3 1–6 2–3 5–2 2–1
Cammell L 1907 2–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–0 3–1 3–0 1–2 5–0 5–1 3–2 5–1 1–4 2–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 4–1 4–0 2–1 2–2
Carlisle City 1–2 2–3 2–3 0–1 1–1 2–3 0–4 2–2 2–1 1–0 2–1 4–1 2–1 5–0 1–2 0–3 0–1 0–1 3–0 1–4 3–1
Chadderton 2–1 1–3 3–3 1–3 5–4 0–1 5–0 2–0 4–3 1–2 0–1 2–2 4–4 4–2 1–1 2–3 1–2 0–2 4–0 2–4 1–3
Cheadle Town 1–0 2–2 1–2 2–1 4–1 3–0 1–1 2–2 0–0 3–3 1–2 1–1 0–5 0–2 0–2 2–4 3–4 2–2 0–0 1–2 1–4
Daisy Hill 1–2 1–3 1–7 1–0 1–1 3–4 1–3 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–3 0–2 2–2 2–2 2–6 1–2 0–3 3–4 0–2 0–2
Eccleshall 0–0 2–2 0–4 1–1 3–2 4–2 2–1 2–2 3–4 1–3 3–0 2–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–5 2–1 0–5 3–2 4–1 0–2
FC Oswestry T 2–2 1–3 1–2 0–2 2–0 3–2 3–3 1–4 2–3 5–0 4–0 4–0 1–4 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–0 0–3 1–5 0–1
Holker OB 2–3 0–3 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–3 2–1 0–2 2–2 1–0 3–5 6–1 3–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 4–3
Litherland R 2–0 2–3 2–2 3–3 3–1 2–1 3–0 3–3 2–0 4–0 6–0 4–3 6–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 3–2 3–0 1–0 4–0 1–0
Nelson 0–1 2–1 3–1 1–3 0–1 1–2 0–4 0–0 1–2 2–0 2–2 0–0 1–1 0–6 1–2 0–4 2–4 1–2 1–2 0–4 2–3
New Mills 0–1 4–1 0–3 1–4 0–3 2–2 2–3 2–2 2–3 1–5 3–1 0–4 7–2 0–2 2–2 2–1 1–5 2–4 2–0 4–2 4–1
Prestwich Heys 2–2 0–1 4–0 2–1 3–1 3–0 7–2 4–2 3–1 8–0 3–0 5–2 5–0 1–1 4–1 4–0 2–1 0–4 4–0 8–1 0–1
Sandbach United 1–2 1–4 2–2 4–2 7–1 1–0 2–1 4–2 1–3 4–0 2–1 4–0 0–1 0–2 2–1 3–0 0–6 3–1 1–0 1–0 2–1
Silsden 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 3–2 6–0 5–2 5–1 6–0 5–1 5–0 2–1 1–0 4–0 2–2 1–0 5–2 2–0 1–2
St Helens Town 0–0[b] 2–3 3–3 3–0 1–2 1–1 2–3 3–1 2–3 1–3 1–2 2–3 1–3 1–4 2–2 0–2 0–2 3–2 1–4 3–3 1–5
Stockport Town 3–1 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 4–2 2–2 2–1 3–2 7–0 1–3 2–6 2–4 6–1 2–1 3–2 1–3 1–1 0–1
Whitchurch Alport 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 3–0 2–0 2–1 3–1 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 5–1 0–2 5–1 5–0 0–1 0–2 0–1 5–1 3–0
Close
Source: "First Division Results 2017/18". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Bacup Borough v Oswestry Town: visitors failed to fulfil fixture on 5 May, result declared a 3–0 home win
  2. [b]
    St Helens Town v Abbey Hulton: result declared a draw following investigation[11]

Promotion play-offs

The 2017–18 First Division promotion play-offs contested by the clubs that finished third to sixth in the league table were won by Whitchurch Alport who had been fourth-placed in the division.

Semi-finals Final
            
3 Prestwich Heys 1
6 Cammell Laird 1907 4
6 Cammell Laird 1907 1
4 Whitchurch Alport 2
4 Whitchurch Alport 1
5 Sandbach United 0

Source="First Division Play-Off Results 2017/18". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 7 June 2026.

Semi-finals

12 May 2018 Prestwich Heys1–4 Cammell Laird 1907 Prestwich
  • Belcher 25'
  • Mitchell 34'
  • Malkin 70'
  • Carlin 84'
  • Cross 87'
 Stadium: Adie Moran Park
Attendance: 294
12 May 2018 Whitchurch Alport 1–0Sandbach UnitedWhitchurch
  • Cuff 76'
 Stadium: Yockings Park
Attendance: 502

Final

17 May 2018 Whitchurch Alport 2–1 Cammell Laird 1907Whitchurch
 Report
  • Macinnes 90'
 Stadium: Yockings Park
Attendance: 733

Stadia and locations


Locations of the 2017–18 North West Counties Football League First Division teams
More information Team, Stadium ...
Team Stadium Capacity
Carlisle CityGillford Park Stadium4,000
Atherton Laburnum RoversCrilly Park3,000
Bacup BoroughWest View3,000
Holker Old BoysRakesmoor Lane Barrow-in-Furness2,500
Stockport TownStockport Sports Village2,384
FC Oswestry TownPark Hall Stadium2,034
Cammell Laird 1907North West Construction Stadium, Birkenhead2,000
Cheadle TownPark Road Stadium2,000
Daisy HillNew Sirs Westhoughton2,000
EccleshallPershall Park2,000
NelsonVictoria Park2,000
AFC BlackpoolThe Mechanics1,500
Alsager TownWood Park Stadium1,500
ChaddertonMCA Stadium1,500
SilsdenKeighley Road Stadium1,500
New MillsChurch Lane1,400
Abbey Hulton UnitedBirches Head Road
Litherland REMYCALitherland Sports Park
Prestwich HeysAdie Moran Park
Sandbach UnitedSandbach Community Football Centre
St Helens TownRuskin Drive Sportsground
Whitchurch AlportYockings Park
Close

League Challenge Cup

The 2017–18 League Challenge Cup (known as the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was a knockout competition open to all the league's 45 clubs. The final, played at Fleetwood Town F.C. contested by Premier Division clubs, was won 2–1 by Widnes who defeated Burscough.[12]

First round

For the first three rounds of the competition the clubs were divided into North and South Sections. The first round comprised thirteen ties, six in the North section and seven in the South section.

(Appended to club names in the results listings below: '(PD)'=Premier Division club; '(FD)'=First Division club)

Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
North Section
AFC Blackpool (FD) 0–0
(2–3 p)		 Nelson (FD)
AFC Darwen (PD) 1–0 City of Liverpool (PD)
Ashton Athletic (PD) 6–3 Daisy Hill (FD)
Atherton Laburnum Rovers (FD) 0–4 Carlisle City (FD)
Prestwich Heys (FD) 4–0 St. Helens Town (FD)
Silsden (FD) 0–3 Burscough (PD)
South Section
Cammell Laird 1907 (FD) 2–1 Congleton Town (PD)
FC Oswestry Town (FD) 2–1 Chadderton (FD)
Runcorn Town (PD) 3–3
(3–4 p)		 Alsager Town (FD)
Sandbach United (FD) 2–3 Irlam (PD)
Stockport Town (FD) 7–1 Maine Road (PD)
Whitchurch Alport (FD) 1–1
(4–5 p)		 Northwich Victoria (PD)
Winsford United (PD) 4–3 Barnton (PD)
The remaining 19 clubs received byes to the second round

Second round

Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
North Section
AFC Darwen (PD) W–x[a][b] Padiham (PD)
Bacup Borough (FD) 1–6[c] Ashton Athletic (PD)
Barnoldswick Town (PD) 0–4 Charnock Richard (PD)
Bootle (PD) 4–2 Litherland REMYCA (FD)
Holker Old Boys (FD) 2–7[d] AFC Liverpool (PD)
Nelson (FD) x–W[e][f] Prestwich Heys (FD)
Squires Gate (PD) 1–2 Burscough (PD)
Widnes (PD) 1–1
(3–1 p)		 Carlisle City (PD)
South Section
1874 Northwich (PD) 4–1[g] Abbey Hulton United (FD)
Abbey Hey (PD) 5–3 New Mills (FD)
Cheadle Town (FD) 2–1 Alsager Town (FD)
Eccleshall (FD) 0–3 FC Oswestry Town (FD)
Hanley Town (PD) 3–5 Northwich Victoria (PD)
Irlam (PD) 1–1[h]
(5–4 p)		 Cammell Laird 1907 (FD)
Stockport Town (FD) 2–1 Runcorn Linnets (PD)
Winsford United (PD) 5–1 West Didsbury & Chorlton (PD)
  1. [a]
    Match venue moved to Padiham F.C. following two postponements
  2. [b]
    Padiham disqualified for fielding ineligible player (match result 1-2)
  3. [c]
    Match venue moved to Ashton Athletic F.C. following two postponements
  4. [d]
    Match venue moved to A.F.C. Liverpool following two postponements
  5. [e]
    Match venue moved to Prestwich Heys A.F.C. following two postponements
  6. [f]
    Nelson disqualified for fielding ineligible player (match result 1–1 (3–0 p))
  7. [g]
    Match venue moved to Abbey Hulton United F.C. following two postponements
  8. [h]
    Match venue moved to Cammell Laird 1907 F.C. following two postponements

Third round

Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
North Section
Bootle (PD) 1–3 Charnock Richard (PD)
Burscough (PD) 1–1
(8–7 p)		 Prestwich Heys (FD)
AFC Liverpool (PD) 1–4 Ashton Athletic (PD)
Widnes (PD) 2–1 AFC Darwen (PD)
South Section
Cheadle Town (FD) 1–1
(3–4 p)		 Northwich Victoria (PD)
Irlam (PD) 3–1 FC Oswestry Town (FD)
Stockport Town (FD) 2–1 Abbey Hey (PD)
Winsford United (PD) 3–1 1874 Northwich (PD)

Quarter-finals

From this round the division of clubs into two geographic sections was discontinued.

Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
Ashton Athletic (PD) 0–2 Widnes (PD)
Burscough (PD) 2–1 Northwich Victoria (PD)
Stockport Town (FD) 0–4 Irlam (PD)
Winsford United (PD) 1–1
(4–2 p)		 Charnock Richard (PD)

Semi–Finals

The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played

Tie Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
1 Irlam (PD) 0–0 Burscough (PD)
Burscough (PD) 3–0 Irlam (PD)
Burscough won 3–0 on aggregate
2 Widnes (PD) 5–0 Winsford United (PD)
Winsford United (PD) 2–2 Widnes (PD)
Widnes won 7–2 on aggregate

Final

Team (division) Score Team (division)
Played 15 May 2018 at Fleetwood Town F.C., Highbury Stadium
Burscough (PD) 1–2 Widnes (PD)

source: "League Challenge Cup: 2017/18 Season". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 7 June 2026.

First Division Trophy

The 2017–18 First Division Trophy (known as the LWC Drinks First Division Cup for sponsorship reasons[2]) was a knockout competition for the 22 First Division clubs only. The final, played at Runcorn Linnets F.C., was won 2–1 by Prestwich Heys who defeated Cammell Laird 1907.[13]

First round

The competition was split into North and South groups up and including the quarter-finals. Twelve clubs (six from each group) were drawn into first round matches, the remaining 10 clubs received byes to the second round.

Home team Score Away team
North Section
Atherton Laburnum Rovers 2–1[a] Carlisle City
Daisy Hill 0–0
(5–4 p)		 Litherland REMYCA
Holker Old Boys 1–2 St. Helens Town
South Section
Chadderton 0–1 Cheadle Town
New Mills 2–2
(3–4 p)		 Alsager Town
Sandbach United 6–1 FC Oswestry Town
The remaining ten clubs received byes to the second round
  1. [a]
    Match venue moved to Carlisle City F.C. following two postponements

Second round

Home team Score Away team
North Section
AFC Blackpool 4–0 Silsden
Nelson 0–1 Atherton Laburnum Rovers
Prestwich Heys 3–1 Bacup Borough
St. Helens Town 3–3
(2–4 p)		 Daisy Hill
South Section
Cammell Laird 1907 2–0 Stockport Town
Cheadle Town 3–1 Abbey Hulton United
Sandbach United 4–2 Eccleshall
Whitchurch Alport 0–3 Alsager Town

Quarter-finals

Home team Score Away team
North Section
Daisy Hill W–x[a] Atherton Laburnum Rovers
Prestwich Heys 3–1 AFC Blackpool
South Section
Alsager Town 0–4 Cammell Laird 1907
Sandbach United 4–1 Cheadle Town
  1. [a]
    Atherton LR disqualified for fielding an ineligible player[14] (match result 0–1)

Semi–Finals

The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played

Tie Home team Score Away team
1 Cammell Laird 1907 3–1 Daisy Hill
Daisy Hill 1–2 Cammell Laird 1907
Cammell Laird 1907 won 5–2 on aggregate
2 Sandbach United 1–2 Prestwich Heys
Prestwich Heys 3–2 Sandbach United
Prestwich Heys won 5–3 on aggregate

Final

Team Score Team
Played 9 May 2018 at Runcorn Linnets F.C., Millbank Linnets Stadium
Cammell Laird 1907 1–2 Prestwich Heys

source: "First Division Trophy: 2017/18 Season". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 7 June 2026.

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