West Men Preview | Northwich Victoria (A)

Northwich Victoria vs West Men

• Tuesday 27th October 2026
• 7:45pm kick-off
• Midland Football League Cup, Second Round
• Apec Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, Runcorn, WA7 6GJ
• Admission, pay on the gate
  • £10 Adults
  • £7 Concessions
  • £2 Ages 12-16
  • £1 Ages 5-11

West are back in Runcorn this Tuesday, as we head to face Northwich Victoria for the second time this season. Vics are tenants at the Apec Taxis Stadium, the scene of our 2-1 league loss to them on Bank Holiday Monday. 

Owing to the gap in the calendar Saturday before last, meaning we had a rare free weekend, Lee Rick has elected to field the first team in this fixture rather than the original plan of using it as a development opportunity for Reserve Team Manager Jeff Crewe and the reserve squad.

We come into the game during a testing spell in the league. Saturday's home fixture against AFC Wolverhampton City saw the away side leave Brookburn Road with all three points. In torrential rain, the visitors scored either side of half time before giving us a way back into the game with an own goal. Cheers for a late West leveller were cut short by the offside flag, as Wolverhampton successfully weathered the storm to secure their first league victory since late September.

Our record against cup opponents Northwich Victoria is not one to dwell on. We've met them eight times competitively since we joined the pyramid: Vics have won five to our two, with one draw. Our last win did in fact come in a cup tie, a 3-2 FA Cup Preliminary Round victory in 2022/23, settled by a late Curtis Miller effort. 

The first round of the Midland Football League Cup was a round filled with drama and intrigued. Two ties went to penalty competitions: Uttoxeter Town edged Brocton 5-4 from the spot in front of 56 people, and G.N.G Oadby Town beating Lutterworth Athletic 3-1 in a shootout. Lye Town and Northfield Town's first round tie was abandoned due to serious injury, so they go again on Tuesday with Cradley Town awaiting the victors. The biggest shock was perhaps Division One side winning 6-1 away at Premier side Tividale.

Nobody has made a habit of winning this cup, and no side has retained it in the last decade. Bescot Stadium has hosted half of the last eight finals, and Congleton Town made the most of it in 2023/24, beating Highgate United 5-1, an uncharacteristically large scoreline in what is usually a keenly contested final. The current holders are Sutton United, who won a penalty shooutout against Romulus after extra time to win the trophy for the first time since 2012/13.

Tuesday's Midland Football League Cup fixtures

Midland Football League Cup first round results

Getting to Northwich Victoria

Northwich Victoria play their home games at Runcorn Linnets' ground, Apec Taxis Stadium, in Murdishaw, Runcorn. Runcorn East station is just under a mile away. Check National Rail Enquiries for services from Manchester and, in particular, midweek return trains.

If you are driving, there is on-site parking. Anyone crossing the Mersey Gateway Bridge needs to pay the toll.