Premier Division Preview - Saturday 6th February 2016
Fri 5th February 2016 | General | By Gary Langley
As the League’s fixture programme rolls into its final third, it is all to play for with a number of teams still in contention for the Premier Division Championship.
Whilst a number of contenders look the real deal going into February, a number of clubs can quite rightly say that they are still in it. This weekend’s fixtures could further enhance some teams’ credentials or it could also leave some looking frustrated.
This weekend’s action starts on Friday evening as Atherton Collieries host Nelson at Alder Street.
Colls Manager, Michael Clegg has been both vexed and frustrated by the knock on effects of the period of bad weather, with a number of games being postponed lately. However, after another postponement in midweek at home, quick thinking between Bootle and Colls saw a hastily arranged League fixture between the two sides in midweek.
An enthralling game saw Colls win 2-5 at the Delta Taxis Stadium, having been 1-0 down at half time.
Paul Fildes’ Nelson side are much improved since the start of the season, and they currently sit 12th in the form table, 13th in the League table but have been playing some good football of late. The good form includes a 3-1 midweek home win over Silsden.
This will certainly be a tough test for Colls, but for the spectator this is a great way to start the footballing weekend.
On Saturday there is a great list of games, and another one of the favourites for the title are Colne, who face a difficult looking fixture at 7th place Abbey Hey.
Abbey Hey are right up there in the form table, and despite two consecutive defeats are still in good form and look in a good place for a strong finish to the season. Second placed Colne are nine points behind Runcorn Linnets at the summit, but have a massive five games in hand on their rivals.
They are in good form, only losing one of their last six games in all competitions, and they will be looking to keep the pressure on Linnets above them, but of course also on Colls and 1874 beneath them.
At the other end of the table, AFC Blackpool travel to Cammell Laird 1907 looking for a much needed win to try and narrow the five-point gap between them and a position of safety.
They will have a tough ask against Paul McNally’s team, who have been slightly inconsistent at home but have been beset by injuries to their forwards in equal measures for some time. Lairds themselves may be looking over their shoulders, 13 points over the drop zone but having played more games than the teams around them.
Having seen Lairds a few times this season though, I personally believe they will finish higher than they are at present, provided they can get their strikers consistently fit.
Maine Road have played more games (27) than any other club in the Division and sit comfortably in mid table. Chris Hirst’s young squad have attracted many admirers for their free flowing attractive football, but they will face a stern test as another of the title chasers 1874 Northwich visit Brantingham Road.
Some observers in the fickle world of internet forums have suggested that their title credentials would be stretched a bit too far between now and the end of the season, but I for one see them still as contenders. Whilst their recent form over the last 8 games is inconsistent, they do carry a number of threats throughout the team.
Barnoldswick Town and Ashton Athletic face each other at the Silentnight Stadium. Barlick have two wins and four defeats in the last six and sit only three points ahead of their opponents, with both currently sitting in mid-table.
The Ashton Athletic management trio will be looking for a win here, especially as looking ahead they have a number of games on the horizon against clubs that are a number of places below them in the table, either side of a difficult looking game against 1874.
Squires Gate will be looking to build on a tidy looking 3-1 win over AFC Liverpool last weekend, a hat-trick from Danny Morris proving the difference as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.
Gate play host to Winsford United who themselves recorded a decent win, a 2-4 away win at Abbey Hey.
There’s a genuine six-pointer at The Angel Telecom Stadium with two of the bottom three sides coming face to face as Silsden welcome Alsager Town.
Silsden were unlucky in midweek, as they came across a hard working Nelson side who turned them over 3-1. However, they do have a number of games in hand on the sides beneath, and more importantly above them, so they have a job on to get themselves out of bother but they do have the games available to do it.
Alsager face a tougher task, as they are 14 points off safety at present, but history shows at this point in the season that similar margins have been clawed back in the past, but they will be looking for three points in this game to keep the momentum going.
Runcorn Town host another side looking over their shoulder in AFC Darwen at Pavillions.
Darwen are five points and three points clear of 19th placed Silsden and they will be looking to celebrate their recent awarding of Community Charter Standard status by looking to gain what could be a crucial three points at this stage of the season. A win could put them back into the pack and give them some breathing space.
Town sit in fifth and look perhaps a little too far away from top to be obvious contenders, however, Linnets’ result in midweek shows that this season will be one that the eventual league winners are going to have to keep fighting until the end, and take nothing for granted. So for my money, they are still just about on the periphery of clubs that are contenders.
Bootle will be looking to put their 5-2 home defeat to Atherton Colls in midweek behind them but face a tough test in the form of current league leaders, Runcorn Linnets.
Joe Doran’s side have indifferent form against the clubs in the top five, indeed in the reverse fixture in November Linnets won the game 7-1 despite a steady start in the match from Bootle.
Linnets have looked solid of late and despite scoring goals at the front end which they have done fairly consistently over the last couple of seasons. This term they look a lot stronger at the back and able to close games out. This won’t be an easy one for the leaders though, Bootle are a hard working side, and this makes this a fascinating game to keep an eye on.
Two of the divisions entertainers meet at the Marine Travel Arena as AFC Liverpool welcome West Didsbury & Chorlton. Joe Gibbons’ free-scoring Reds have been enjoyable to watch this campaign and if it wasn’t for a few leaks at the back they would be much nearer to the top.
Steve Settle’s West are sitting in eighth at the moment and are more than capable of finishing top six, however, their recent pattern results reads as a pattern of win, loss, win, loss and repeat! They don’t draw too many having drawn only one league fixture all season….. so get 50p each way this week on a 1-1 draw!
Last but not least for this weekend’s preview sees Padiham face Congleton Town at the YESSS Electrical Arena.
These sides have been very similar on a number of fronts all season, similar games played, goals scored and conceded and a similar amount of points. With two high profile clubs in the division, one could argue they probably had similar expectations to be higher up the table as well.
Neither team look in trouble in lower-mid table but I’m sure both would like to get a run together to climb much higher up the table, a task that both are very capable of doing.
It is a fascinating run of fixtures this weekend, and results in either direction could see a number of clubs move a number of positions up or down the table.
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 6th February 2016
Fri 5th February 2016 | General
By Gary Langley
As the League’s fixture programme rolls into its final third, it is all to play for with a number of teams still in contention for the Premier Division Championship.
Whilst a number of contenders look the real deal going into February, a number of clubs can quite rightly say that they are still in it. This weekend’s fixtures could further enhance some teams’ credentials or it could also leave some looking frustrated.
This weekend’s action starts on Friday evening as Atherton Collieries host Nelson at Alder Street.
Colls Manager, Michael Clegg has been both vexed and frustrated by the knock on effects of the period of bad weather, with a number of games being postponed lately. However, after another postponement in midweek at home, quick thinking between Bootle and Colls saw a hastily arranged League fixture between the two sides in midweek.
An enthralling game saw Colls win 2-5 at the Delta Taxis Stadium, having been 1-0 down at half time.
Paul Fildes’ Nelson side are much improved since the start of the season, and they currently sit 12th in the form table, 13th in the League table but have been playing some good football of late. The good form includes a 3-1 midweek home win over Silsden.
This will certainly be a tough test for Colls, but for the spectator this is a great way to start the footballing weekend.
On Saturday there is a great list of games, and another one of the favourites for the title are Colne, who face a difficult looking fixture at 7th place Abbey Hey.
Abbey Hey are right up there in the form table, and despite two consecutive defeats are still in good form and look in a good place for a strong finish to the season. Second placed Colne are nine points behind Runcorn Linnets at the summit, but have a massive five games in hand on their rivals.
They are in good form, only losing one of their last six games in all competitions, and they will be looking to keep the pressure on Linnets above them, but of course also on Colls and 1874 beneath them.
At the other end of the table, AFC Blackpool travel to Cammell Laird 1907 looking for a much needed win to try and narrow the five-point gap between them and a position of safety.
They will have a tough ask against Paul McNally’s team, who have been slightly inconsistent at home but have been beset by injuries to their forwards in equal measures for some time. Lairds themselves may be looking over their shoulders, 13 points over the drop zone but having played more games than the teams around them.
Having seen Lairds a few times this season though, I personally believe they will finish higher than they are at present, provided they can get their strikers consistently fit.
Maine Road have played more games (27) than any other club in the Division and sit comfortably in mid table. Chris Hirst’s young squad have attracted many admirers for their free flowing attractive football, but they will face a stern test as another of the title chasers 1874 Northwich visit Brantingham Road.
Some observers in the fickle world of internet forums have suggested that their title credentials would be stretched a bit too far between now and the end of the season, but I for one see them still as contenders. Whilst their recent form over the last 8 games is inconsistent, they do carry a number of threats throughout the team.
Barnoldswick Town and Ashton Athletic face each other at the Silentnight Stadium. Barlick have two wins and four defeats in the last six and sit only three points ahead of their opponents, with both currently sitting in mid-table.
The Ashton Athletic management trio will be looking for a win here, especially as looking ahead they have a number of games on the horizon against clubs that are a number of places below them in the table, either side of a difficult looking game against 1874.
Squires Gate will be looking to build on a tidy looking 3-1 win over AFC Liverpool last weekend, a hat-trick from Danny Morris proving the difference as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.
Gate play host to Winsford United who themselves recorded a decent win, a 2-4 away win at Abbey Hey.
There’s a genuine six-pointer at The Angel Telecom Stadium with two of the bottom three sides coming face to face as Silsden welcome Alsager Town.
Silsden were unlucky in midweek, as they came across a hard working Nelson side who turned them over 3-1. However, they do have a number of games in hand on the sides beneath, and more importantly above them, so they have a job on to get themselves out of bother but they do have the games available to do it.
Alsager face a tougher task, as they are 14 points off safety at present, but history shows at this point in the season that similar margins have been clawed back in the past, but they will be looking for three points in this game to keep the momentum going.
Runcorn Town host another side looking over their shoulder in AFC Darwen at Pavillions.
Darwen are five points and three points clear of 19th placed Silsden and they will be looking to celebrate their recent awarding of Community Charter Standard status by looking to gain what could be a crucial three points at this stage of the season. A win could put them back into the pack and give them some breathing space.
Town sit in fifth and look perhaps a little too far away from top to be obvious contenders, however, Linnets’ result in midweek shows that this season will be one that the eventual league winners are going to have to keep fighting until the end, and take nothing for granted. So for my money, they are still just about on the periphery of clubs that are contenders.
Bootle will be looking to put their 5-2 home defeat to Atherton Colls in midweek behind them but face a tough test in the form of current league leaders, Runcorn Linnets.
Joe Doran’s side have indifferent form against the clubs in the top five, indeed in the reverse fixture in November Linnets won the game 7-1 despite a steady start in the match from Bootle.
Linnets have looked solid of late and despite scoring goals at the front end which they have done fairly consistently over the last couple of seasons. This term they look a lot stronger at the back and able to close games out. This won’t be an easy one for the leaders though, Bootle are a hard working side, and this makes this a fascinating game to keep an eye on.
Two of the divisions entertainers meet at the Marine Travel Arena as AFC Liverpool welcome West Didsbury & Chorlton. Joe Gibbons’ free-scoring Reds have been enjoyable to watch this campaign and if it wasn’t for a few leaks at the back they would be much nearer to the top.
Steve Settle’s West are sitting in eighth at the moment and are more than capable of finishing top six, however, their recent pattern results reads as a pattern of win, loss, win, loss and repeat! They don’t draw too many having drawn only one league fixture all season….. so get 50p each way this week on a 1-1 draw!
Last but not least for this weekend’s preview sees Padiham face Congleton Town at the YESSS Electrical Arena.
These sides have been very similar on a number of fronts all season, similar games played, goals scored and conceded and a similar amount of points. With two high profile clubs in the division, one could argue they probably had similar expectations to be higher up the table as well.
Neither team look in trouble in lower-mid table but I’m sure both would like to get a run together to climb much higher up the table, a task that both are very capable of doing.
It is a fascinating run of fixtures this weekend, and results in either direction could see a number of clubs move a number of positions up or down the table.
