Gary Langley and Martin Fallon sit down for the TENTH season of the definitive podcast covering the North West Counties Football League

In this episode we look at the new clubs joining over the summer, we say goodbye to a few too, then the two of us pick our predictions from who will be successful this season.

Thanks in advance for watching or listening. As Gary says, remember to like and subscribe. It helps our algorithms. And we still don’t know what that means!

After a day of Drama, the Wembley Dream is over for Congleton Town as they exit the Isuzu Vase at the Semi-Final Stage courtesy of holders, Newport Pagnell Town at The Cleric Stadium today.

It was Congleton who started the much brighter today as early pressure produced a couple of early chances for the evergreen Tom Pope and Jon Beaumont. Newport Pagnell carried direct threats themselves with Mo Ahmed and Jake Watson clearly revelling in the occasion. It was a tight game befitting of the spectacle but it was slightly against the run of play when Richard Duffy who appeared out of nowhere with a great touch to put the ball into the back of the net and cause a massive cheer that would likely have been heard across Cheshire to put the Bears ahead.

Newport Pagnell remained a threat and continued to press with Ben Ford testing Dave Parton in the Congleton goal and a couple of minutes before half time, the pressure continued as the ball was Crossed in to Jake Watkinson, who’s open header went over the bar, much to his frustration as he kicked the post with his expensive looking boots. His frustration was soon appeased as shortly after as Ben Ford found some space on the flank and crossed the ball into the box, Watkinson didn’t waste that opportunity as his well connected effort flew past Parton to level the scores at 1-1, which was the way it remained for the short time to the break.

The second half continued at the same frantic pace that the first had finished, just three minutes into the half, Peter Williams shot just over the bar and Pope had a half chance shortly after. Just after the hour Mark Newport were awarded a nothing free kick down the right hand side, the ball was played to Ben Shepherd who promptly swung the ball into the box, a Watkinson header was only parried by the keeper’ the Congleton defender in the mix failed to clear and Mo Ahmed charged in and scuffed the ball into the net to the delight of the away bench.

A number of substitutions took place as both teams started to remodel the sides for what was a shoe-in to be a mad finish and so it proved as both teams pressed for goals rather than shut up shop. The Swans lead only lasted for 5 minutes before a concerted Congleton attack saw the ball fall to Ethan Hartshorn, who’s spectacular volley gave Martin Conway in the visitors goal no chance and sent the crowd again into rapture. There was an air of inevitability at this point as both clubs quickly decided to sure things up at the back and despite a late half chance for Tom Pope, the final whistle went and the drama switch was turned to ten.

Congleton missed their first three penalties but Newport scored their first, missing the next two. The final 4 penalties were all converted giving Newport Pagnell the slenderest of victories in the most dramatic of fashion. This was the Swans sixth Penalty shootout win in their last two FA Vase campaigns but this arguably one of their most dramatic and it is they, rather than Congleton who will be heading to Wembley on non-League Finals day in May but The Bears can hold their head up high after a superb campaign.

It’s Episode 10 of the 2022/23 season with Gary and Martin eating biscuits and sweets in the virtual studio this week.

Of course we arent just there to eat. We talk football, last weeks results, the big FA Cup games for Congleton and Bury, midweek games including three floodlit games for the first time, and this weekends games.

We also look at who has won Club of the Month, and in a little exclusive for our podcast viewers and listeners, we announce who has won the Player of the Month for September a little earlier than will be unveiled on the website! Shhhh dont tell anyone!

Thanks in advance for watching or listening. As Gary says, remember to like and subscribe. Apparently it helps our algorithm, whatever that is!

It’s Episode 9 of the 2022/23 season with Gary and Martin in the virtual studio again this week. With Gary increasingly busy, its a short podcast this week as we run through the results from last weekend in the Isuzu FA Vase and League.

We also look forward a little to this weekend, including two big FA Cup games for Congleton and Bury AFC. .

If you fancy joining us on the podcast one week, or you have someone in mind who you would want on there, then drop us a message!

It’s Episode 8 of the 2022/23 season with Gary and Martin in the studio this week. We discuss the Queen, last weeks missing podcast, a trip to the Isle of Man…. and we talk about some football action too! We look back on all the action from midweek, and look ahead to the weekend games in the FA Cup and League.

If you fancy joining us on the podcast one week, or you have someone in mind who you would want on there, then drop us a message!

It’s Episode 6 of the 2022/23 season and transfer deadline day! So we’ve swapped Rob for AFC Liverpool Chairman and fellow League Director Chris Stirrup.

We talk quite a bit about AFC Liverpool, then get down to business as we discuss all the action from the last “double game” week in the league and FA Vase. Martin also has an ice pop, or is it a freezzy? Let us know!

Counties Podcast Season 9 Episode 5

It’s Episode 5 of the 2022/23 season and the return of one of the founding members of the podcast with Rob McKay joining us. We look back on all the action from the last week in the league and FA Cup, plus take a look at the upcoming FA Vase ties.

Martin has a new camera too – we just with he sorted out his settings before the recording – and we rewind back to a phone call from Episode 44 back in August 2015!

After a weeks hiatus as Gary went on his jollies, we return for Episode 4 of the 2022/23 season. We look back on all the action from the last week as take a look at the league tables. We are a few games in so is everything as we expected them to be? We also answer some of listener questions…. keep them coming folks!

Your pre-game listening starts here! Remember you can listen online at CountiesPodcast.com, subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts from (Apple, Spotify, Google etc) or even watch us on YouTube!

The opening games have come and gone. And now its FA Cup week! Martin Fallon and Gary Langley look back at the opening weekend of the NWCFL season. We look ahead to the FA Cup. We answer listener questions. And MisterFallon comes up with an idea that may see him banned from Northwich in the future!

Your pre-game listening starts here! Remember you can listen online at CountiesPodcast.com, subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts from (Apple, Spotify, Google etc) or even watch us on YouTube!

On this episode, Martin Fallon and Gary Langley discuss the opening games of the 2022/23 season that kicks off on Saturday. We go over pre-season games and what they are about, look back at the Champions Cup from last weekend. We discuss pre-season meetings, before looking ahead to the new season. How will the new clubs fare, and who is our tip for promotion from each division?

Your pre-game listening starts here! Remember you can listen online at CountiesPodcast.com, subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts from (Apple, Spotify, Google etc) or even watch us on YouTube!