Saturday 5th May 2018 (3pm), NWCFL Premier Division
West v Ashton Athletic
Brookburn Road, Chorlton, M21 8FE
£5 adults, £3 concessions, free for under-12s

West return to Brookburn Road for the visit of Ashton Athletic as the 2017-18 finish line comes into sharp focus.

This is something of a mid-table six-pointer – the Yellows leapfrogged West on Thursday night after their 2-0 win at Congleton Town. As a result, they sit one point ahead of West, although the visitors do also have two games in hand – they’ll squeeze in five games in eight days before the season’s end, including two home matches in 24 hours against Burscough and Irlam.

The Yellows looked set to challenge the top six at the turn of the year, particularly after they beat West 7-1 at Brocstedes Park before Christmas, but a weak second half of the season has resulted in them falling to mid-table. Their form has improved of late, though – their win against Congleton was their third in a row.

Steve Settle’s side, meanwhile, have been consistently inconsistent of late, and Tuesday’s 4-3 win against City of Liverpool was the continuation of a win-loss-win-loss pattern that began on 12th April. But the midweek victory over the Purps will hopefully set West up for a final flourish, particularly as they close the season with three home games – matches against the Yellows and Charnock Richard sandwiching the South Manchester derby against Maine Road.

By the numbers

• Matty Kay’s goal against City of Liverpool on Tuesday night was his third in six games – and he also picked up his first Man of the Match award of the season.

At a glance

Recent meetings

• 23/12/2017, NWCFL Premier Division – Ashton Athletic 7 West 1 (Whyment)
• 5/11/2016, NWCFL Premier Division – West 2 (Mendes Gomes, Woods) Ashton Athletic 5
• 11/10/2016, NWCFL Premier Division – Ashton Athletic 2 West 3 (Poizer 2, Black)