WINSFORD United will be looking to get their home campaign in the North West Counties League Premier Division finally up and running this weekend.

They are due to host Barnoldswick at Barton Stadium on Saturday, kick-off 3pm, and then title favourites Warrington Rylands 1906 on Wednesday, October 21.

Last Wednesday’s visit to Runcorn Town was called off for Covid-19 reasons, while the previous Saturday’s scheduled league opener at home to Avro was wiped out by a waterlogged pitch.

But they have played twice this week, with mixed results.

Blues got their league season up and running with a sterling 2-0 success at Irlam, who had defeated Litherland REMYCA 5-2 on their previous outing.

Sam Madeley put Winsford in front on the stroke of half time and an own goal in the 58th minute sealed matters and put the topping on an all-round fine Winsford display.

It was just what the doctor ordered after the weekend.

The fine lines between winning and losing a cup tie were probably never better summed up than in Saturday’s home FA Vase defeat.

After 90 minutes the scores were level at 1-1 and so the contest was to be decided by the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

And amazingly, 27 successive spot kicks found the back of the net before one failed to find the target.

Sadly, that was a miss for the Blues and the visitors went through to the first round proper thanks to a 14-13 win on penalties.

The heroes in the end were wearing white, goalkeeper Matthew Coton with the save low down to his left to seal the deal and Jay Denny whose second strike of the shoot-out ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides.

Sam Jones had given Blues the perfect start during the 90 minutes.

He converted in the 15th minute from close in after Coton had only been able to parry a stinging shot into his path.

But the Midland League Premier Division side got themselves back on level terms six minutes before the interval via the boot of Kyle Byrne.

All in all, it was an absorbing contest with all the drama of the epic shoot-out to cap things off.

It was a shame that only 173 supporters got to see it all unfold, but the Covid-19 pandemic is understandably keeping some people from attending sports events.

Now Barnoldswick will come to town on Saturday smarting from a 3-0 home loss to 1874 Northwich on Tuesday night.