Premier Division Preview - Saturday 26th March 2016
Fri 25th March 2016 | General | By Mark Ashmore
I feel it appropriate to start at the bottom of the league this week with the relegation battle going full speed ahead. Special mention should go to Alsager Town who moved off the bottom of the league for the first time this season.
Replacing them at the bottom of the league AFC Blackpool will be looking to move of the bottom when they host Runcorn Town this weekend. The last time the two met Runcorn won the game 4-2. Two goals from Robert Ablewhite and one a piece from Shanley and Grant in the first half securing the points. Town come into the game in poor form having not won since the end of January against Padiham. In their last six games they've drawn two of their last six, losing the other four. The last time they were in action they drew 0-0 with West Didsbury and Chorlton on Monday night. AFC Blackpool were in action on Tuesday night when they hosted promotion chasing Atherton Colls. Mechanics took the lead in that game through Aaron Fleming but Colls replied six minutes later through Brad Cooke. They then left it late but showed their quality when, in the last five minutes, they scored two goals to win the game. Before that Blackpool had been in poor form in their bid to beat the drop. They'd won just one of their last six, that against Cammell Laird 1907 in The MEN United Cup.
Just above Blackpool are Alsager who moved off the bottom of the league last weekend with a 1-0 win over fellow relegation candidates Silsden, Richard Smith with the only goal in the game to see Scott Dundas' hard work finally pay off. Seven points picked up in their last six games will have installed them with confidence especially the win against Silsden. A loss against high flying Colne on Tuesday night was no real surprise, and Dundas will be looking to regroup and go again this weekend when they host Bootle. Bootle come into the game up in 6th position, nine points separate them and West Didsbury above them. Bootle have won just one of their last six games, that at home to struggling Silsden. On Monday night they drew 2-2 with Maine Road. They took a two goal lead with both goals being scored in the first 20 minutes, but Maine Road came back in the second half with two Connor Hughes goals in two minutes giving them a point. Come Saturday, Joe Doran's men will be looking towards the talent of front man Tom Peterson and Dominic Marie, the front pair having scored a combined 24 goals so far this year and will cause a threat to Alsager's backline.
Elsewhere at the bottom of the league joint second bottom Silsden will be looking to move out the bottom three but have to overcome a tough test against Runcorn Linnets. Silsden's recent form has seen them pick up just one point in their last six games, that coming in a 0-0 draw with Barnoldswick. Silsden's problem as of late seems to be their lack of fire power. In the last six games they've scored just two goals, coming against Harrogate Town in the West Riding Cup and 1874 Northwich on Tuesday night. A tough four games are in line for Silsden in their battle to stay up. As well as Saturdays game against Linnets, they have to travel to Colne and Maine Road plus host in form West Didsbury all in a very short amount of time. Runcorn Linnets come into the game sitting second in the form table having won five of their last six, the other being a draw. That draw came last Saturday at home to inform West Didsbury with both teams evenly matched. New signing Ryan Cox has settled in since signing from AFC Liverpool and has scored six goals in his last six games.
Five points behind Runcorn Linnets are Colne. This Saturday they travel to Barnoldswick who sit in 13th place coming into the game. Colne still have two games to make up on Runcorn Linnets to keep up the pressure in the race for that one promotion spot. Five wins and one draw in their last six sees them come into this weekend in good form. Just two goals conceded and the addition of experienced striker Ben Wharton, last year's NWCFL player of the year Joel Melia, plus no doubt many more on deadline day adds to what is already a very strong squad for the run in. Barnoldswick will be up against their former star striker for the second time in recent weeks with Joe Gaughan likely to start the game for Colne. He bagged two goals in the second half in a 4-0 win for Colne last time the two sides met. Barnoldswick come into the weekend on the back of 2-0 defeat away at Cammell Laird 1907 last Tuesday. They've won just one of their last six games scoring just four goals in the process, that coming away at Abbey Hey last Saturday when two goals in two minutes was enough to seal the victory.
Abbey Hey will be looking to improve on Saturdays performance when they travel to AFC Darwen. Abbey Hey currently sit second bottom of the form table having lost four of their last six games, drawing two. Hey have dropped off in the league and haven't won a game since the 13th February, that against Atherton Colls when James Moss and George Noon scored two second half goals to win the game. Since then they've conceded thirteen goals and scored just four. AFC Darwen sit just above Abbey Hey in the form league. They've won just one of their last six, losing the other five, and that win came at the end of February against Winsford United. Paddy O'Brien and Jack McKay gave them a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of the game before Nick Hepple sealed the points in the 76th minute. Coming into the game AFC Darwen will be looking for Hepple to find the net again, and he has scored four goals in Darwen's last six games taking his tally to ten for the season.
Just above AFC Darwen in the league are Squires Gate, who travel to Cammell Laird 1907 this weekend looking to move further away from the relegation zone. Gate come into the game having lost 3-1 at home to Winsford on Tuesday night ending a run of one loss in their last six games. Striker Ryan Tanser will be looking to continue his goal scoring streak, Tanser finding the net five times in Gate's last six games. Cammell Laird sit 4th in the form table coming into Saturdays fixture. They've won four of their last six games, drawing and losing the other two. They come into the game having beaten Barnoldswick Town 2-0 on Tuesday night, with goals from Craig Cairns and Adam Hughes either side of half time securing the 2-0 victory. Lairds have improved alot since manager Tony Sullivan came back to the club following Paul McNally's departure, and a win at the weekend could see them move as high as 8th in the league if result around them go their way.
Elsewhere in the battle of the mid table teams Nelson travel to Congleton. Twelve points separate Nelson and AFC Darwen who sit fourth bottom so it's safe to say at this point that The Admirals are safe. Congleton on the other hand sit in the top ten though at this point you'd say a top five finish is out of reach for The Bears. Another mid table battle is at The Barton Stadium where Winsford host Padiham. Ten points separate the two teams, and although Padiham are just seven points from AFC Darwen, they'll should have enough quality to move up the league soon.
Wherever you're watching your NWCFL football this weekend remember to enjoy!
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 26th March 2016
Fri 25th March 2016 | General
By Mark Ashmore
I feel it appropriate to start at the bottom of the league this week with the relegation battle going full speed ahead. Special mention should go to Alsager Town who moved off the bottom of the league for the first time this season.
Replacing them at the bottom of the league AFC Blackpool will be looking to move of the bottom when they host Runcorn Town this weekend. The last time the two met Runcorn won the game 4-2. Two goals from Robert Ablewhite and one a piece from Shanley and Grant in the first half securing the points. Town come into the game in poor form having not won since the end of January against Padiham. In their last six games they've drawn two of their last six, losing the other four. The last time they were in action they drew 0-0 with West Didsbury and Chorlton on Monday night. AFC Blackpool were in action on Tuesday night when they hosted promotion chasing Atherton Colls. Mechanics took the lead in that game through Aaron Fleming but Colls replied six minutes later through Brad Cooke. They then left it late but showed their quality when, in the last five minutes, they scored two goals to win the game. Before that Blackpool had been in poor form in their bid to beat the drop. They'd won just one of their last six, that against Cammell Laird 1907 in The MEN United Cup.
Just above Blackpool are Alsager who moved off the bottom of the league last weekend with a 1-0 win over fellow relegation candidates Silsden, Richard Smith with the only goal in the game to see Scott Dundas' hard work finally pay off. Seven points picked up in their last six games will have installed them with confidence especially the win against Silsden. A loss against high flying Colne on Tuesday night was no real surprise, and Dundas will be looking to regroup and go again this weekend when they host Bootle. Bootle come into the game up in 6th position, nine points separate them and West Didsbury above them. Bootle have won just one of their last six games, that at home to struggling Silsden. On Monday night they drew 2-2 with Maine Road. They took a two goal lead with both goals being scored in the first 20 minutes, but Maine Road came back in the second half with two Connor Hughes goals in two minutes giving them a point. Come Saturday, Joe Doran's men will be looking towards the talent of front man Tom Peterson and Dominic Marie, the front pair having scored a combined 24 goals so far this year and will cause a threat to Alsager's backline.
Elsewhere at the bottom of the league joint second bottom Silsden will be looking to move out the bottom three but have to overcome a tough test against Runcorn Linnets. Silsden's recent form has seen them pick up just one point in their last six games, that coming in a 0-0 draw with Barnoldswick. Silsden's problem as of late seems to be their lack of fire power. In the last six games they've scored just two goals, coming against Harrogate Town in the West Riding Cup and 1874 Northwich on Tuesday night. A tough four games are in line for Silsden in their battle to stay up. As well as Saturdays game against Linnets, they have to travel to Colne and Maine Road plus host in form West Didsbury all in a very short amount of time. Runcorn Linnets come into the game sitting second in the form table having won five of their last six, the other being a draw. That draw came last Saturday at home to inform West Didsbury with both teams evenly matched. New signing Ryan Cox has settled in since signing from AFC Liverpool and has scored six goals in his last six games.
Five points behind Runcorn Linnets are Colne. This Saturday they travel to Barnoldswick who sit in 13th place coming into the game. Colne still have two games to make up on Runcorn Linnets to keep up the pressure in the race for that one promotion spot. Five wins and one draw in their last six sees them come into this weekend in good form. Just two goals conceded and the addition of experienced striker Ben Wharton, last year's NWCFL player of the year Joel Melia, plus no doubt many more on deadline day adds to what is already a very strong squad for the run in. Barnoldswick will be up against their former star striker for the second time in recent weeks with Joe Gaughan likely to start the game for Colne. He bagged two goals in the second half in a 4-0 win for Colne last time the two sides met. Barnoldswick come into the weekend on the back of 2-0 defeat away at Cammell Laird 1907 last Tuesday. They've won just one of their last six games scoring just four goals in the process, that coming away at Abbey Hey last Saturday when two goals in two minutes was enough to seal the victory.
Abbey Hey will be looking to improve on Saturdays performance when they travel to AFC Darwen. Abbey Hey currently sit second bottom of the form table having lost four of their last six games, drawing two. Hey have dropped off in the league and haven't won a game since the 13th February, that against Atherton Colls when James Moss and George Noon scored two second half goals to win the game. Since then they've conceded thirteen goals and scored just four. AFC Darwen sit just above Abbey Hey in the form league. They've won just one of their last six, losing the other five, and that win came at the end of February against Winsford United. Paddy O'Brien and Jack McKay gave them a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of the game before Nick Hepple sealed the points in the 76th minute. Coming into the game AFC Darwen will be looking for Hepple to find the net again, and he has scored four goals in Darwen's last six games taking his tally to ten for the season.
Just above AFC Darwen in the league are Squires Gate, who travel to Cammell Laird 1907 this weekend looking to move further away from the relegation zone. Gate come into the game having lost 3-1 at home to Winsford on Tuesday night ending a run of one loss in their last six games. Striker Ryan Tanser will be looking to continue his goal scoring streak, Tanser finding the net five times in Gate's last six games. Cammell Laird sit 4th in the form table coming into Saturdays fixture. They've won four of their last six games, drawing and losing the other two. They come into the game having beaten Barnoldswick Town 2-0 on Tuesday night, with goals from Craig Cairns and Adam Hughes either side of half time securing the 2-0 victory. Lairds have improved alot since manager Tony Sullivan came back to the club following Paul McNally's departure, and a win at the weekend could see them move as high as 8th in the league if result around them go their way.
Elsewhere in the battle of the mid table teams Nelson travel to Congleton. Twelve points separate Nelson and AFC Darwen who sit fourth bottom so it's safe to say at this point that The Admirals are safe. Congleton on the other hand sit in the top ten though at this point you'd say a top five finish is out of reach for The Bears. Another mid table battle is at The Barton Stadium where Winsford host Padiham. Ten points separate the two teams, and although Padiham are just seven points from AFC Darwen, they'll should have enough quality to move up the league soon.
Wherever you're watching your NWCFL football this weekend remember to enjoy!
