Premier Division Preview - Saturday 29th August 2015
Fri 28th August 2015 | General | By Mark Ashmore
The NWCFL Premier Division is back in action for the final Saturday in August, and this weekend sees just eight Premier Division teams in action, due to the FA Cup Preliminary round featuring the rest of our teams.
We'll start at Little Wembley where Nelson entertain Ashton Athletic.
Mark Fell's men are off to a solid start winning three of their four league games with goals a plenty scoring no less than 2 in each game they've played. With experienced players such as Ricky Mercer and Warren Beattie now in the squad it's hard to see Nelson dropping off any time soon.
Ashton Athletic on the other hand have had a very mixed start to the season. Wins against AFC Darwen and Runcorn Linnets in their opening two games got them off to a good start but after Ashton's draw and then loss in the replay against Maltby Main they've lost the following two league games.
This promises to be a tight game and one to keep an eye on, as I'm sure they'll be goals.
Another of the league’s form teams are in action as Barnoldswick take on Squires Gate at the Silentnight Stadium.
Barlick have lost just one of their 5 opening league games, that coming in a tight 4-3 loss away at Congleton on the opening day, and since then though they've gone unbeaten.
Between Mark Threlfall and Joseph Gaughan they have scored 10 goals, the pair becoming deadlier in front of goal as each game comes, none more so than when both were involved in all 5 goals against AFC Darwen on Tuesday night.
Whilst only conceding 2 goals since the Congleton defeat, it would seem that Barlick have found the perfect combination between attack and defence.
Speaking on defence, Barlick's opponents on Saturday Squires Gate have struggled to defend so far this season.
Gate have conceded 8 goals so far and have failed to find a win, picking up just 1 point in their opening 4 games, a draw at home against Cammell Laird 1907.
They have yet to find the form last season was built on, but to be fair they have played four very strong sides, who will be up at the top end of the table come the end of the season.
But Gate must find a win and quick before other clubs around them pick up wins and move away from them.
Like Squires Gate, AFC Darwen are another team who have struggled to find a win so far this season. After coming up from the First Division, Darwen have seemingly struggled to adapt to life in the Premier.
Heavy defeats against Colne (1-6) and Barnoldswick (1-5) coupled with draws against AFC Liverpool and Silsden mean AFC Darwen sit in 20th position. AFC Darwen face West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday who, like their hosts, haven't made the best of starts to the season.
West have just the one win to their names so far, that being a 2-1 win against Alsager Town. Worryingly for West, they've only managed to score 5 goals so far this season but with losses against Colls, AFC Liverpool, Barlick and Nelson, it's fair to say they've faced a strong start to the season.
Last but not least is Cammell Laird 1907 vs. Bootle.
Lairds will be looking to get off the mark and pick up their first 3 points of the season. In the four games they've played so far, they're drawn 2 and lost 2. Goals don't seem to be a problem for Paul McNally's side though, as he's seen his side score 2 goals in 3 of their 4 games.
Last season's club top goals scorer Craig Cairns has made the transition up the leagues and is doing what he did best last season. He's found the net 3 times this season including twice against Runcorn Town on Tuesday night.
Lairds have however conceded 9 goals in 4 games, which is something Bootle will be looking to take advantage of, and manager Joe Doran will no doubt be looking towards Tom Peterson to exploit Lairds’ defence. The striker was in and around the leading goal scorer charts last season and has already got 2 goals to his name.
Bootle find themselves in 7th position and have lost just the one game so far, 2-1 at home to Nelson, and wins against Congleton Town and Runcorn Town as well as draws against Winsford and Padiham suggest that they will be challenging at the top half of the table again this season.
So four Premier Division games this weekend for you to enjoy, all most likely to be entertaining close games. Let's hope the rain stays away!
I'd like to take this chance to wish all out clubs competing in the FA Cup the very best of luck and I hope to see as many NWCFL teams through to the next round as possible!
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 29th August 2015
Fri 28th August 2015 | General
By Mark Ashmore
The NWCFL Premier Division is back in action for the final Saturday in August, and this weekend sees just eight Premier Division teams in action, due to the FA Cup Preliminary round featuring the rest of our teams.
We'll start at Little Wembley where Nelson entertain Ashton Athletic.
Mark Fell's men are off to a solid start winning three of their four league games with goals a plenty scoring no less than 2 in each game they've played. With experienced players such as Ricky Mercer and Warren Beattie now in the squad it's hard to see Nelson dropping off any time soon.
Ashton Athletic on the other hand have had a very mixed start to the season. Wins against AFC Darwen and Runcorn Linnets in their opening two games got them off to a good start but after Ashton's draw and then loss in the replay against Maltby Main they've lost the following two league games.
This promises to be a tight game and one to keep an eye on, as I'm sure they'll be goals.
Another of the league’s form teams are in action as Barnoldswick take on Squires Gate at the Silentnight Stadium.
Barlick have lost just one of their 5 opening league games, that coming in a tight 4-3 loss away at Congleton on the opening day, and since then though they've gone unbeaten.
Between Mark Threlfall and Joseph Gaughan they have scored 10 goals, the pair becoming deadlier in front of goal as each game comes, none more so than when both were involved in all 5 goals against AFC Darwen on Tuesday night.
Whilst only conceding 2 goals since the Congleton defeat, it would seem that Barlick have found the perfect combination between attack and defence.
Speaking on defence, Barlick's opponents on Saturday Squires Gate have struggled to defend so far this season.
Gate have conceded 8 goals so far and have failed to find a win, picking up just 1 point in their opening 4 games, a draw at home against Cammell Laird 1907.
They have yet to find the form last season was built on, but to be fair they have played four very strong sides, who will be up at the top end of the table come the end of the season.
But Gate must find a win and quick before other clubs around them pick up wins and move away from them.
Like Squires Gate, AFC Darwen are another team who have struggled to find a win so far this season. After coming up from the First Division, Darwen have seemingly struggled to adapt to life in the Premier.
Heavy defeats against Colne (1-6) and Barnoldswick (1-5) coupled with draws against AFC Liverpool and Silsden mean AFC Darwen sit in 20th position. AFC Darwen face West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday who, like their hosts, haven't made the best of starts to the season.
West have just the one win to their names so far, that being a 2-1 win against Alsager Town. Worryingly for West, they've only managed to score 5 goals so far this season but with losses against Colls, AFC Liverpool, Barlick and Nelson, it's fair to say they've faced a strong start to the season.
Last but not least is Cammell Laird 1907 vs. Bootle.
Lairds will be looking to get off the mark and pick up their first 3 points of the season. In the four games they've played so far, they're drawn 2 and lost 2. Goals don't seem to be a problem for Paul McNally's side though, as he's seen his side score 2 goals in 3 of their 4 games.
Last season's club top goals scorer Craig Cairns has made the transition up the leagues and is doing what he did best last season. He's found the net 3 times this season including twice against Runcorn Town on Tuesday night.
Lairds have however conceded 9 goals in 4 games, which is something Bootle will be looking to take advantage of, and manager Joe Doran will no doubt be looking towards Tom Peterson to exploit Lairds’ defence. The striker was in and around the leading goal scorer charts last season and has already got 2 goals to his name.
Bootle find themselves in 7th position and have lost just the one game so far, 2-1 at home to Nelson, and wins against Congleton Town and Runcorn Town as well as draws against Winsford and Padiham suggest that they will be challenging at the top half of the table again this season.
So four Premier Division games this weekend for you to enjoy, all most likely to be entertaining close games. Let's hope the rain stays away!
I'd like to take this chance to wish all out clubs competing in the FA Cup the very best of luck and I hope to see as many NWCFL teams through to the next round as possible!
