Premier Division Preview - Saturday 10th October 2015
Fri 9th October 2015 | General | By Connor O`Neill
This Saturday sees Non-League clubs up and down the country celebrate Non-League day. Non-League Day is a chance for football clubs from outside the professional game to attract fans from English football's top two divisions during an international break, and for big-club supporters to show solidarity with teams from further down the footballing ladder.
The North West Counties League will be looking to capitalise on Non-League Day, with the Premier Division playing host to a full set of fixtures.
The division is turning out to be one of the most unpredictable in years, with every team seemingly having the ability to beat anyone in the division.
To kick off this weekend’s preview, current league leaders Colne will look to remain at the summit come ten to five on Saturday evening.
Steve Cunningham's Red Army welcome Congleton Town to The XLCR Stadium on Saturday, with the Reds currently having a two point lead over second placed Runcorn Linnets. But Cunningham's side will be wary of the Bears who are currently two unbeaten, with their latest victory being a 3-0 win over Bootle in mid-week.
Second placed Runcorn Linnets will be looking to keep the pressure up on Colne when they welcome Silsden to the Millbank Linnets Stadium. Joey Dunn's side come into the game having won their last three, scoring ten and conceding none in the process, while their Yorkshire visitors will be looking to cause an upset and extend their winning run to three games.
In form Runcorn Town will be looking to make it eight wins in eleven games when they visit Neil Prince's AFC Darwen.
Town manager Simon Burton will no doubt be looking to current North West Counties Player of the Month Paul Shanley to continue his fantastic form. Shanley scored an emphatic nine goals in the month of September while picking up four man of the match awards from his fellow opponents.
Neil Prince meanwhile, will be looking for a big response from his team after their mid-week 6-1 hammering away at AFC Liverpool.
Third place Barnoldswick Town welcome AFC Liverpool and their newly appointed manager Joe Gibbons to the Silentnight Stadium. Gibbons' side have certainly found their shooting boots in their last two games scoring an emphatic thirteen goals, with forward Ryan Cox crabbing five of them.
Town will be looking for a victory to keep them within touching distance of the league’s top two.
Newly appointed Squires Gate manager Danny Penswick and his side will travel to Bootle full of confidence, having recorded their first victory of the season in mid-week, with a 1-0 win away at Padiham. Joe Doran's side on the other hand will be looking to return to winning ways, after losing their last two which included an FA Vase tie away at Dronfield Town last weekend.
Having won their last five games, Michael Clegg will be hoping his Atherton Collieries side can continue their excellent run of form, when they visit the Barton Stadium to take on Winsford United. Colls latest victory came away at Cammell Laird 1907 thanks in particular to Jordan Cover’s hat-trick.
Winsford lost their last outing by a single goal at Cheshire rivals Runcorn Town.
The Abbey Stadium will plays host to a local derby this Saturday as West Didsbury & Chorlton travel across Manchester to take on Abbey Hey. Luke Gibson’s side will be no doubt be aware of their local rivals, with Didsbury coming into this game on the back of back-to-back victories, which included a phenomenal 15-1 win over Dinnington Town in the FA Vase last weekend.
1874 Northwich travel to the Mechanics Ground to take on AFC Blackpool. The hosts will be looking to tighten up defensively having conceded fifteen goals in their last three games, while 1874 will be looking to return to winning ways, having lost their last game away at Ashton Athletic.
Winless Alsager Town will be hoping for a change in fortune when they welcome Ashton Athletic to Woodland Court. Town, who suffered ninetieth minute heartbreak in mid-week against West Didsbury & Chorlton, face an Athletic side who will be brimming with confidence after a convincing 4-0 victory over 1874 Northwich on Tuesday.
Maine Road will be hoping for a victory which will see them out of the relegation zone. Twentieth placed Road welcome eighth placed Nelson to Brantinham Road, where the visitors will be looking to Mark Jackson to continue his impressive goal-scoring form. The forward has scored five goals in his last three games.
Finally to round up another pulsating round of fixtures in the Premier Division, Padiham welcome Cammell Laird 1907 to the YESSS Electrical Arena.
Both sides come into this game on the back of defeats, against Atherton Collieries and Squires Gate, respectively. The hosts will have to be wary of Lairds forward Craig Cairns, who has scored two hat-tricks in his last two games.
You can follow Connor on Twitter - @ConnorOn95
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 10th October 2015
Fri 9th October 2015 | General
By Connor O`Neill
This Saturday sees Non-League clubs up and down the country celebrate Non-League day. Non-League Day is a chance for football clubs from outside the professional game to attract fans from English football's top two divisions during an international break, and for big-club supporters to show solidarity with teams from further down the footballing ladder.
The North West Counties League will be looking to capitalise on Non-League Day, with the Premier Division playing host to a full set of fixtures.
The division is turning out to be one of the most unpredictable in years, with every team seemingly having the ability to beat anyone in the division.
To kick off this weekend’s preview, current league leaders Colne will look to remain at the summit come ten to five on Saturday evening.
Steve Cunningham's Red Army welcome Congleton Town to The XLCR Stadium on Saturday, with the Reds currently having a two point lead over second placed Runcorn Linnets. But Cunningham's side will be wary of the Bears who are currently two unbeaten, with their latest victory being a 3-0 win over Bootle in mid-week.
Second placed Runcorn Linnets will be looking to keep the pressure up on Colne when they welcome Silsden to the Millbank Linnets Stadium. Joey Dunn's side come into the game having won their last three, scoring ten and conceding none in the process, while their Yorkshire visitors will be looking to cause an upset and extend their winning run to three games.
In form Runcorn Town will be looking to make it eight wins in eleven games when they visit Neil Prince's AFC Darwen.
Town manager Simon Burton will no doubt be looking to current North West Counties Player of the Month Paul Shanley to continue his fantastic form. Shanley scored an emphatic nine goals in the month of September while picking up four man of the match awards from his fellow opponents.
Neil Prince meanwhile, will be looking for a big response from his team after their mid-week 6-1 hammering away at AFC Liverpool.
Third place Barnoldswick Town welcome AFC Liverpool and their newly appointed manager Joe Gibbons to the Silentnight Stadium. Gibbons' side have certainly found their shooting boots in their last two games scoring an emphatic thirteen goals, with forward Ryan Cox crabbing five of them.
Town will be looking for a victory to keep them within touching distance of the league’s top two.
Newly appointed Squires Gate manager Danny Penswick and his side will travel to Bootle full of confidence, having recorded their first victory of the season in mid-week, with a 1-0 win away at Padiham. Joe Doran's side on the other hand will be looking to return to winning ways, after losing their last two which included an FA Vase tie away at Dronfield Town last weekend.
Having won their last five games, Michael Clegg will be hoping his Atherton Collieries side can continue their excellent run of form, when they visit the Barton Stadium to take on Winsford United. Colls latest victory came away at Cammell Laird 1907 thanks in particular to Jordan Cover’s hat-trick.
Winsford lost their last outing by a single goal at Cheshire rivals Runcorn Town.
The Abbey Stadium will plays host to a local derby this Saturday as West Didsbury & Chorlton travel across Manchester to take on Abbey Hey. Luke Gibson’s side will be no doubt be aware of their local rivals, with Didsbury coming into this game on the back of back-to-back victories, which included a phenomenal 15-1 win over Dinnington Town in the FA Vase last weekend.
1874 Northwich travel to the Mechanics Ground to take on AFC Blackpool. The hosts will be looking to tighten up defensively having conceded fifteen goals in their last three games, while 1874 will be looking to return to winning ways, having lost their last game away at Ashton Athletic.
Winless Alsager Town will be hoping for a change in fortune when they welcome Ashton Athletic to Woodland Court. Town, who suffered ninetieth minute heartbreak in mid-week against West Didsbury & Chorlton, face an Athletic side who will be brimming with confidence after a convincing 4-0 victory over 1874 Northwich on Tuesday.
Maine Road will be hoping for a victory which will see them out of the relegation zone. Twentieth placed Road welcome eighth placed Nelson to Brantinham Road, where the visitors will be looking to Mark Jackson to continue his impressive goal-scoring form. The forward has scored five goals in his last three games.
Finally to round up another pulsating round of fixtures in the Premier Division, Padiham welcome Cammell Laird 1907 to the YESSS Electrical Arena.
Both sides come into this game on the back of defeats, against Atherton Collieries and Squires Gate, respectively. The hosts will have to be wary of Lairds forward Craig Cairns, who has scored two hat-tricks in his last two games.
You can follow Connor on Twitter - @ConnorOn95
