West make the short trip north to Bury AFC on Tuesday evening, continuing a run of games against promotion contenders.

� Tuesday 21st February, 7:45pm
� NWCFL Premier Division
� Neuven Stadium, Radcliffe, M26 3PE
� Cash or card – £8 / U16s £3 / U5s free (advance tickets on Bury AFC’s website)
� Radcliffe Metrolink (1.1 miles)

Saturday’s 3-0 win at home to AFC Liverpool continued West’s good recent record against the leading pack, having beaten Wythenshawe Town by the same scoreline and drawn with Northwich Victoria in the last few weeks.

But West’s credentials will be put under the microscope at the Neuven Stadium, against a Bury AFC side who are racking up the wins as they chase a second successive promotion.

Chris Rowley’s side will be acutely aware of the threat posed by Tuesday’s hosts, who strolled to a comprehensive three-goal victory in October’s reverse fixture.

Bury currently sit 5th in the Premier Division table, but the “games played” column is almost as important as the “points” column in this instance, as they have at least five games in hand on each of the sides above them – and seven on current leaders Avro.

They are far from the first side to have extended cup runs (coupled with some interfering weather) rewarded with a league backlog, but are showing little sign of strain as they tick off the matches.

Only Jonathan Beaumont’s stoppage-time equaliser for Congleton Town prevented Andy Welsh’s team from making it eight straight wins in all competitions last time out – a game that was a dress rehearsal for the sides’ all-NWCFL FA Vase Sixth Round tie next month.

They were frustrated in another manner last weekend, as their game at Barnoldswick Town was one of only two matches across the NWCFL to succumb to a waterlogged pitch.

Tuesday’s other Premier Division fixtures

Ashton Athletic v Squires Gate
Barnoldswick Town v Northwich Victoria
Prestwich Heys v Congleton Town