Premier Division Preview
Fri 19th December 2014 | General | By Jonathan Haggart
There are plenty of games to whet the appetite in the NWCFL Premier League this weekend, providing the weather allows them to go ahead. A number of clashes catch the eye.
On the assumption that Mother Nature does ease up on the wet stuff (and keeps the temperature acceptable) the bottom three clash at Bacup, where Borough take on AFC Blackpool stands out.
There are still twenty games left for Brent Peters' team, but with Blackpool already ten points better off this really is a must win game. However, Blackpool will see this as a chance to exit the relegation places.
The other current bottom three team, Stockport Sports, need to curtail an alarming slide, but will face a difficult afternoon against a Colne side buoyed by midweek Men United cup success.
At the top, Runcorn Linnets are back in action after a week off and make the trip to Alsager Town. Linnets will start favourites, of course, but Alsager showed with a win against AFC Liverpool that they can spring a surprise on their day.
Similarly hoping to avoid a banana-skin away trip slip-up will be Glossop North End, who travel to Barnoldswick Town on a high, having reached a total of 100 goals for the season when beating Ashton Athletic last week, quite a feat before Christmas.
Barlick are struggling a little, with some heavy defeats of late, and will need to be at their very best to take something from the game.
Meanwhile at Brocstedes Park, it is 3rd vs 4th as Ashton Athletic take on 1874 Northwich in another cracking looking tie. The Yellows had been in cracking nick until running into in-form GNE last Saturday, whilst 1874 might come into the game on the back of two cup defeats, but have still only one entry in the ‘L’ column in the league. Both sides defend stoutly and attack quickly, and this is probably game of the day.
Bootle and Congleton have identical records over their last six games, and their clash at the Delta Taxis Stadium should be a close one. Both teams have followed four defeats with two wins, so two teams finding their feet again should play out a close tie. Perhaps a score draw seems the safest prediction.
Nelson take on St Helens at Little Wembley, and their last game – a 2-1 win over Runcorn Linnets will give them bags of confidence. St Helens remain inconsistent, and their supporters will wonder which team will turn up.
Runcorn Town are another side in a funk, showing form that is well below the high standards they have set themselves since coming into the Premier League. Silsden must make the long trip from Yorkshire to West Cheshire and will hope that their journey can be rewarded with at least a point.
Squires Gate, who host Abbey Hey, have reacted well to losing top scorer Jack Sowerby to Fleetwood, winning three on the spin.
Abbey too put in a good performance in their last game when seeing off Winsford, and although Gate will start as favourites, it might not be a straightforward as some might think.
West Didsbury & Chorlton host AFC Liverpool on the back of three consecutive victories, and will be keen to test their form and confidence against a team from the upper echelons.
AFC come into the game frustrated by a couple of postponements, having been unable to get a defeat at Alsager out of their system. It won’t be easy at Brookburn Road.
Finally, Winsford United host Maine Road at the Barton Stadium, with both teams in need of three points having won just one of their last six. They look to be two well matched sides and will try to get it down and play, so the game has the potential to be a good one, despite neither being in the best of nick.
Wherever you are watching your football this weekend, enjoy your game.
Premier Division Preview
Fri 19th December 2014 | General
By Jonathan Haggart
There are plenty of games to whet the appetite in the NWCFL Premier League this weekend, providing the weather allows them to go ahead. A number of clashes catch the eye.
On the assumption that Mother Nature does ease up on the wet stuff (and keeps the temperature acceptable) the bottom three clash at Bacup, where Borough take on AFC Blackpool stands out.
There are still twenty games left for Brent Peters' team, but with Blackpool already ten points better off this really is a must win game. However, Blackpool will see this as a chance to exit the relegation places.
The other current bottom three team, Stockport Sports, need to curtail an alarming slide, but will face a difficult afternoon against a Colne side buoyed by midweek Men United cup success.
At the top, Runcorn Linnets are back in action after a week off and make the trip to Alsager Town. Linnets will start favourites, of course, but Alsager showed with a win against AFC Liverpool that they can spring a surprise on their day.
Similarly hoping to avoid a banana-skin away trip slip-up will be Glossop North End, who travel to Barnoldswick Town on a high, having reached a total of 100 goals for the season when beating Ashton Athletic last week, quite a feat before Christmas.
Barlick are struggling a little, with some heavy defeats of late, and will need to be at their very best to take something from the game.
Meanwhile at Brocstedes Park, it is 3rd vs 4th as Ashton Athletic take on 1874 Northwich in another cracking looking tie. The Yellows had been in cracking nick until running into in-form GNE last Saturday, whilst 1874 might come into the game on the back of two cup defeats, but have still only one entry in the ‘L’ column in the league. Both sides defend stoutly and attack quickly, and this is probably game of the day.
Bootle and Congleton have identical records over their last six games, and their clash at the Delta Taxis Stadium should be a close one. Both teams have followed four defeats with two wins, so two teams finding their feet again should play out a close tie. Perhaps a score draw seems the safest prediction.
Nelson take on St Helens at Little Wembley, and their last game – a 2-1 win over Runcorn Linnets will give them bags of confidence. St Helens remain inconsistent, and their supporters will wonder which team will turn up.
Runcorn Town are another side in a funk, showing form that is well below the high standards they have set themselves since coming into the Premier League. Silsden must make the long trip from Yorkshire to West Cheshire and will hope that their journey can be rewarded with at least a point.
Squires Gate, who host Abbey Hey, have reacted well to losing top scorer Jack Sowerby to Fleetwood, winning three on the spin.
Abbey too put in a good performance in their last game when seeing off Winsford, and although Gate will start as favourites, it might not be a straightforward as some might think.
West Didsbury & Chorlton host AFC Liverpool on the back of three consecutive victories, and will be keen to test their form and confidence against a team from the upper echelons.
AFC come into the game frustrated by a couple of postponements, having been unable to get a defeat at Alsager out of their system. It won’t be easy at Brookburn Road.
Finally, Winsford United host Maine Road at the Barton Stadium, with both teams in need of three points having won just one of their last six. They look to be two well matched sides and will try to get it down and play, so the game has the potential to be a good one, despite neither being in the best of nick.
Wherever you are watching your football this weekend, enjoy your game.
