Reserves Look to Finish Group Stage on a Positive Note

Newton-le-Willows Reserves complete their Presidents Cup group campaign on Saturday when they travel to face Wigan Town at The Grove.

The match kicks off at 2:45pm, with both sides still searching for their first points of the competition.

Newton have suffered defeats in their opening two fixtures, losing 8–3 at home to Winstanley FC before a 5–1 defeat against Poynton FC Reserves last weekend.

Those results leave Newton bottom of Group C on goal difference, with Wigan Town also yet to register a point.

At the top of the group, Winstanley FC and Poynton FC Reserves both have six points and a goal difference of +7. Winstanley currently lead the group having scored 13 goals compared to Poynton’s nine.

With progression no longer possible for either Newton or Wigan, Saturday provides both sides with an opportunity to finish the group stage positively ahead of the beginning of their respective league campaigns.

The Opposition: Wigan Town

Wigan Town have also lost their opening two Presidents Cup fixtures, going down 4–1 against Poynton FC Reserves before a 5–3 defeat to Winstanley FC.

They competed alongside Newton’s First Team in Cheshire Football League 2 last season, enduring a difficult campaign in which they won two of their 28 league fixtures and finished second from bottom.

Wigan will compete in the newly formed Cheshire Football League 3 during the 2026/27 season following their relegation.

There have, however, been changes over the summer, with Wigan believed to have recruited well ahead of the new campaign. Their Presidents Cup results also suggest a more competitive side, particularly after scoring three times against group leaders Winstanley.

With both teams still searching for their first points, Saturday’s fixture offers Newton and Wigan an opportunity to finish the group stage on a positive note before attention turns fully to the league season.

Squad News

Newton name a 15-man squad for the trip to Wigan, with joint player-managers Lewis Appleby and Stephen Lyddon both included.

Newton squad:
Ollie Foy, Nathan Anderson, Lewis Appleby, Ben Cross, Joe Davidson, Bobby Dearden, Nathan Heyburn, Josh Kelly, Lewis Kelly, Declan Lacey, Stephen Lyddon, Kaine Mulligan, Alex Peplow, Kian Walkden, Ryan Whittle.

Fixture Details

Wigan Town v Newton-le-Willows Reserves
Cheshire Football League Presidents Cup
Saturday 15 August 2026
Kick-off: 2:45pm
The Grove
Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan
WN2 2BU