By David Foy
As matters stand currently in the North West Counties League First Division North all three Kirklees clubs occupy the 3rd, 4th and 5th places. Separated by eleven points hopefully, this would guarantee by the season’s end that there would be promotion glory for one or two of the clubs.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| 1st | Lower Breck | 28 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 87 | 38 | 49 | 64 |
| 2nd | AFC Liverpool | 28 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 90 | 43 | 47 | 54 |
| 3rd | SHELLEY | 29 | 16 | 6 | 7 | 63 | 43 | 20 | 54 |
| 4th | EMLEY AFC | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 64 | 42 | 22 | 53 |
| 5th | GOLCAR UNITED | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 64 | 43 | 21 | 43 |
| 6th | Prestwich Heys | 27 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 43 | 41 | 2 | 43 |
Emley – 4th in the North West Counties League First Division North
When do they next play?
Saturday 7th March 2020 3 pm.
Emley vs Prestwich Heys
With last Saturday’s away match versus Atherton falling foul to the weather Emley have now not played since their 1-0 defeat at Oswestry Town in the PlayerMatch.com Cup Quarter Final on the 8th February. They are a point behind but have three games in hand on fellow Kirklees club Shelley. Fatigue will come into play as matches have been played mere days after one another, but it would be safe to assume points will be picked up.
Prediction: Prestwich equally need points to close the promotion gap, but should the game go ahead – a 3-2 win for Emley.
Team News:
The club continues to promote their ‘All-Stars’ match versus Manchester United Legends at home on Sunday 5th April.
In a club statement on the 1st March, Emley said that many of the players that featured in the FA Cup 3rd Round tie away at West Ham United back in 1998 will reunite to play The Red Devils.
The 3rd January 1998 the club’s greatest day as after a Frank Lampard opener for The Hammers was equalised by Paul David in the 56th minute from a corner. The 2,200 that had travelled that watch the Conference North outfit then known as Wakefield and Emley FC dreamt of a massive upset taking Premier League West Ham to a replay. It was however not to be as John Hartson won the tie in the 82nd minute.
Golcar United – 5th in the North West Counties League First Division North
When do they next play?
Friday 6th March 8 pm.
Golcar United vs Steeton (to be played at Avro FC, Oldham).
Golcar comes into the tie off the back of a 3-1 win at ‘home’ to Garstang. An own goal from United in the 22nd minute seven minutes later was equalised by Nathan Tayo. On the stroke of half time, Joshua Lang put Golcar ahead. Debutant striker Reuben Noble Lazarus made it 3-1 in the 70th minute.
Golcar faces bottom club Steeton and must be seeking out a win to keep the pressure on those promotion places.
Prediction: 2-0 Golcar United.
Team News:
Noble-Lazarus joins Golcar
Huddersfield-born Noble-Lazarus joins Kirklees club Golcar United. The 26-year-old holds the record of being the youngest player to debut in the Football League aged 15 years and 45 days old. He came on as a Barnsley substitute versus Ipswich Town in a 3-0 defeat. He returned to Newsome High School the next day to study!
Noble-Lazarus spent seven seasons at The Tykes having come through their youth academy. Loaned out to Rochdale in the 2014-15 season he joined The Dale permanently the following campaign. He scored two goals in 36 appearances going on to join Chorley in October 2018 but was released two months later.
He scored on debut for Golcar in their 3-1 win versus Garstang last week.
Shelley – 3rd in the North West Counties League First Division North
When do they next play?
Saturday 7th March 2020 3 pm.
Cleator Moor Celtic vs Shelley.
Team News:
Shelley are unbeaten in seven now. Five wins and two draws have seen The Shells just about stay in the race for the title. They now find themselves ten points behind Lower Breck having played a game more.
Shelley travelled to Atherton on Tuesday night coming away with a 4-0 win thanks to a Matty Waller hat-trick and another from Alex O’Keefe. Waller now has 20 goals for the club from the wing.
Cleator have played the fewest games in the league with 24 and are three points clear of the relegation zone occupied by St. Helens Town and Steeton. Shelley should have too much quality for them, however.
Prediction: 3-0 Shelley.
