Premier Division Preview
Fri 28th November 2014 | General | By Stewart Taylor
There are just five matches in the Premier Division on Saturday as the 3rd round of the Men United Cup takes centre stage.
This gives the opportunity for two of the leading contenders to get League points in the bag whilst their nearest rivals are otherwise occupied.
Leaders Runcorn Linnets will look to add to their four straight League wins in November, and extend their lead at the top of the table, as they travel to Victoria Park to play Nelson.
Joey Dunn’s Linnets remain unbeaten in 24 League matches this season and this consistency has, at least so far, held off the challengers for top spot. Nelson have put in some good performances this season, not least of which was a 0-0 draw at 1874 Northwich a fortnight ago, but they are inconsistent and will need to be at their best to stop the Linnets march.
Ashton Athletic go into their match away at Barnoldswick Town lying 4th in the Division. It’s been a good season so far for the Yellows in the League but goals are proving hard to come by. However, an attractive playing style allied to a consistent defence makes them hard to beat.
Barlick currently lie just above the bottom three and are having their most difficult season since joining the Premier Division for the 2010/11 season. Seven points out of the last twelve have helped the cause and all at the Silentnight Beds Stadium will be hoping that the vocal fans at the Sewer End will get behind their side to good effect.
Playing sides from the Northern League is never easy – particularly up in the North East – and huge credit goes to St. Helens Town following an extra time victory over Alnwick Town in the FA Carling Vase last Saturday.
However, it was a “after the Lord Mayor’s Show” sort of a night on Tuesday as the short trip to Crosby saw them on the wrong end of a 7-3 scoreline against AFC Liverpool. There is a chance to put that right on Saturday with the visit to Brocstedes Park of Bacup & Rossendale Borough.
Brent Peters’ side may be a little rusty following postponements on the last two Saturdays but they will have worked hard in training and will look for a significant change in fortunes over the coming weeks and months – starting right now – in a bid to climb the table.
Another side which has been in the lower reaches of the League table all season is AFC Blackpool. The Mechanics have not won a match for over a month and it will not be easy to change that run as they visit Congleton Town.
It has been announced that The Bears have parted company with Manager Jim Vince following the defeat to Whitley Bay in the FA Carling Vase last Saturday. A change at the managerial controls can often galvanise clubs and it will be interesting to see how Congleton Town react on the pitch to this change of management.
The final match sees Maine Road travel over to Yorkshire to face Silsden. The Cobbydalers are another of the Premier Division sides who have shown inconsistent form this season.
Good early results saw them 3rd in the table in the middle of September but since then the League campaign has been punctuated with a variety of matches in cup competitions and they currently lie in 10th place. All at the Angel Telecom Stadium will be hoping for a return to their early season form in the League matches to come.
Maine Road are another side showing indifferent form at the moment with only a solitary victory over Stockport Sports in the win column since the end of September.
However, a penalty shoot out defeat against high flying Curzon Ashton of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division in the Manchester Premier Cup quarter final on Monday will have raised the spirits of the Brantingham Road outfit and a good match is in prospect with both sides having a deserved reputation for playing good football.
We now approach the time in the season where adverse weather can intervene in the schedule so let’s hope that the weather stays fair and that all of the matches can go ahead. Wherever you end up on Saturday, enjoy the match.
Premier Division Preview
Fri 28th November 2014 | General
By Stewart Taylor
There are just five matches in the Premier Division on Saturday as the 3rd round of the Men United Cup takes centre stage.
This gives the opportunity for two of the leading contenders to get League points in the bag whilst their nearest rivals are otherwise occupied.
Leaders Runcorn Linnets will look to add to their four straight League wins in November, and extend their lead at the top of the table, as they travel to Victoria Park to play Nelson.
Joey Dunn’s Linnets remain unbeaten in 24 League matches this season and this consistency has, at least so far, held off the challengers for top spot. Nelson have put in some good performances this season, not least of which was a 0-0 draw at 1874 Northwich a fortnight ago, but they are inconsistent and will need to be at their best to stop the Linnets march.
Ashton Athletic go into their match away at Barnoldswick Town lying 4th in the Division. It’s been a good season so far for the Yellows in the League but goals are proving hard to come by. However, an attractive playing style allied to a consistent defence makes them hard to beat.
Barlick currently lie just above the bottom three and are having their most difficult season since joining the Premier Division for the 2010/11 season. Seven points out of the last twelve have helped the cause and all at the Silentnight Beds Stadium will be hoping that the vocal fans at the Sewer End will get behind their side to good effect.
Playing sides from the Northern League is never easy – particularly up in the North East – and huge credit goes to St. Helens Town following an extra time victory over Alnwick Town in the FA Carling Vase last Saturday.
However, it was a “after the Lord Mayor’s Show” sort of a night on Tuesday as the short trip to Crosby saw them on the wrong end of a 7-3 scoreline against AFC Liverpool. There is a chance to put that right on Saturday with the visit to Brocstedes Park of Bacup & Rossendale Borough.
Brent Peters’ side may be a little rusty following postponements on the last two Saturdays but they will have worked hard in training and will look for a significant change in fortunes over the coming weeks and months – starting right now – in a bid to climb the table.
Another side which has been in the lower reaches of the League table all season is AFC Blackpool. The Mechanics have not won a match for over a month and it will not be easy to change that run as they visit Congleton Town.
It has been announced that The Bears have parted company with Manager Jim Vince following the defeat to Whitley Bay in the FA Carling Vase last Saturday. A change at the managerial controls can often galvanise clubs and it will be interesting to see how Congleton Town react on the pitch to this change of management.
The final match sees Maine Road travel over to Yorkshire to face Silsden. The Cobbydalers are another of the Premier Division sides who have shown inconsistent form this season.
Good early results saw them 3rd in the table in the middle of September but since then the League campaign has been punctuated with a variety of matches in cup competitions and they currently lie in 10th place. All at the Angel Telecom Stadium will be hoping for a return to their early season form in the League matches to come.
Maine Road are another side showing indifferent form at the moment with only a solitary victory over Stockport Sports in the win column since the end of September.
However, a penalty shoot out defeat against high flying Curzon Ashton of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division in the Manchester Premier Cup quarter final on Monday will have raised the spirits of the Brantingham Road outfit and a good match is in prospect with both sides having a deserved reputation for playing good football.
We now approach the time in the season where adverse weather can intervene in the schedule so let’s hope that the weather stays fair and that all of the matches can go ahead. Wherever you end up on Saturday, enjoy the match.
