Division One Preview - Saturday 9th April 2016
Fri 8th April 2016 | General | By Gary Langley
With many people focussing on the Grand National, it may be easy to lose track of the fact there are a number of high profile Division One games taking place this weekend.
For the football faithful amongst us here are the runners and riders on Saturday.
Last weekend Hanley’s trip to Holker was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, so it was a weekend of studying other team’s progress for them. This weekend though the way the fixtures have panned out sees Hanley due to host Holker in the reverse fixture!
Leaders Hanley will have one eye over their shoulder as they had previously been ahead of Irlam with a couple of wins to spare, however, the current gap between them and second placed Irlam is only a couple of points but the Potteries side have a game in hand.
Holker have been in strange form, they had been flying up until early March and looked like strong candidates to go straight up, but they have struggled of late winning only one of their last six and shipped a few goals in the process.
They still occupy a play-off spot and many observers fancy them to steady the ship and secure it. Hanley were in action in midweek seeing off Chadderton 2-0, but Holker’s scheduled game at Bacup Borough on Wednesday was postponed.
Chadderton host Barnton this weekend, and as just mentioned, Chaddy were beaten at Hanley in midweek whilst their scheduled fixture at home to Ashton Town last week fell foul of the weather.
Chadderton have been consistently inconsistent this season, and this must be vexing to their support and management team as they have shown some really good play and performances this season, they just seem to be missing a bit of luck.
Barnton travel to Andrew Street this weekend still with Irlam in their sights, and having steadied the ship after an iffy couple of weeks and look strong again. Last weekend they drew 0-0 in a weather affected game at Townfield against Daisy Hill who to be fair have shown strong form of late, followed by a point at play-off chasing Cheadle Town on Wednesday, so the Villagers will be looking for a strong win this weekend to keep the pressure on Irlam.
It’s a local derby this weekend, and a former Landlords versus former Tenants clash, as Ashton Town welcome St Helens Town.
Both of these sides played in midweek. Ashton Town took a point from their home game against Daisy Hill, whom as previously touched on, had held Barnton on their own park a few days earlier. It wasn’t a bad point for Ashton but they would have been hoping for more.
They, like St Helens, have work to do to get into the play-off fold so they will surely be viewing this as a must-win.
St Helens are fancied to make a surge also, they do have the play-offs in their sights but will need a run of results like their hosts in order to haul themselves into that bracket, and their cause was not helped in midweek as fourth placed Stockport beat them 3-0 at home on Tuesday night.
This is a cracking fixture and with both sides needing the points and with their destinies in their own hands at present, this will be a great game to go to.
Widnes host Litherland REMYCA at the Select Security Stadium with both clubs in differing form and coming in after remarkably different results.
Remy were humbled on their own park 0-5 by a hard working and industrious Eccleshall side, a performance that was described by the Remyca Media team as “Frustrating”. An Angelo Errico Hat-trick did the main damage for a morale boosting win for Eccleshall who are showing some fight ahead of re-building for next season.
Widnes, on the other hand, recorded a handsome 4-1 home win over Atherton LR, after the visitors had taken the lead on 19 minutes with a goal from Danny Kerr. However Widnes re-grouped and levelled on 28 minutes and then dominated the game in the second half, scoring three including a last minute penalty from Ronnie McCarthy.
Atherton LR host Whitchurch Alport at Crilly Park in a battle of the Division’s bottom two sides.
Neither of these clubs seems to have had any luck this season and this continues of late with both sides’ form table position mirroring their league position.
Whitchurch were on the wrong end of a 1-5 home reverse to a consistently decent Bacup side whilst LR were turned over 4-1 at Widnes. With a goal difference of -133 between them, at least there is likely to be goals!
Northwich Manchester Villa host their home game against Stockport Town at Mossley FC, and apart from the novelty of the location this weekend, it is a decent looking tie.
Villa are a strong side at present, just inconsistent when it comes to getting some luck and fourth placed Stockport Town will be looking to cement their play-off position.
Speaking of play-offs, much fancied Bacup Borough host Eccleshall with both sides capable of scoring goals, last Saturday being a prime example with Bacup winning 5-1 over Whitchurch and of course Eccleshall travelling well to REMYCA and seeing them off 5-0.
Bacup are not too far off the play-off spots and have games in hand on the teams directly above them, however they will be wary of Angelo Errico and the Eccleshall team that showed a lot of fight and desire last weekend.
Worshipping at the Church of North West Counties on Sunday is a unique fixture, and for the second time this season we have a Sunday game.
The game is at Rochdale Town as they host Cheadle Town on the Sabbath, which has come about due to commitments between the football and host rugby club, but as a neutral I think this should be a great game and hopefully attract a fair few supporters.
Both of these teams are in strong form going into this match, and Rochdale still have a faint chance of rallying into play-off contention, although it will be a tough ask considering their inconsistent start.
Cheadle travel knowing that a win could keep their hat very much in the play-off ring, and also maintain the pressure on the chasing pack as the games run down. This promises to be an interesting game and hopefully the novelty of the Sunday fixture will attract fans of many other clubs within the area, looking for the perfect way to wind down after their Sunday lunch!
With so many strong contenders out this weekend, it is difficult yet to pin down favourites, and there could still be one or two that spring from the chasing pack to make the final furlong to the finishing post a fascinating spectacle.
With a number of clubs that have been strong all season not looking to fall at the final fence, this is the time to gee up players and get business concluded.
For supporters, there are a number of great games to choose from and permutations up and down the table, so enjoy your weekend, and my tip for the weekend is to back your North West Counties club!
Division One Preview - Saturday 9th April 2016
Fri 8th April 2016 | General
By Gary Langley
With many people focussing on the Grand National, it may be easy to lose track of the fact there are a number of high profile Division One games taking place this weekend.
For the football faithful amongst us here are the runners and riders on Saturday.
Last weekend Hanley’s trip to Holker was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, so it was a weekend of studying other team’s progress for them. This weekend though the way the fixtures have panned out sees Hanley due to host Holker in the reverse fixture!
Leaders Hanley will have one eye over their shoulder as they had previously been ahead of Irlam with a couple of wins to spare, however, the current gap between them and second placed Irlam is only a couple of points but the Potteries side have a game in hand.
Holker have been in strange form, they had been flying up until early March and looked like strong candidates to go straight up, but they have struggled of late winning only one of their last six and shipped a few goals in the process.
They still occupy a play-off spot and many observers fancy them to steady the ship and secure it. Hanley were in action in midweek seeing off Chadderton 2-0, but Holker’s scheduled game at Bacup Borough on Wednesday was postponed.
Chadderton host Barnton this weekend, and as just mentioned, Chaddy were beaten at Hanley in midweek whilst their scheduled fixture at home to Ashton Town last week fell foul of the weather.
Chadderton have been consistently inconsistent this season, and this must be vexing to their support and management team as they have shown some really good play and performances this season, they just seem to be missing a bit of luck.
Barnton travel to Andrew Street this weekend still with Irlam in their sights, and having steadied the ship after an iffy couple of weeks and look strong again. Last weekend they drew 0-0 in a weather affected game at Townfield against Daisy Hill who to be fair have shown strong form of late, followed by a point at play-off chasing Cheadle Town on Wednesday, so the Villagers will be looking for a strong win this weekend to keep the pressure on Irlam.
It’s a local derby this weekend, and a former Landlords versus former Tenants clash, as Ashton Town welcome St Helens Town.
Both of these sides played in midweek. Ashton Town took a point from their home game against Daisy Hill, whom as previously touched on, had held Barnton on their own park a few days earlier. It wasn’t a bad point for Ashton but they would have been hoping for more.
They, like St Helens, have work to do to get into the play-off fold so they will surely be viewing this as a must-win.
St Helens are fancied to make a surge also, they do have the play-offs in their sights but will need a run of results like their hosts in order to haul themselves into that bracket, and their cause was not helped in midweek as fourth placed Stockport beat them 3-0 at home on Tuesday night.
This is a cracking fixture and with both sides needing the points and with their destinies in their own hands at present, this will be a great game to go to.
Widnes host Litherland REMYCA at the Select Security Stadium with both clubs in differing form and coming in after remarkably different results.
Remy were humbled on their own park 0-5 by a hard working and industrious Eccleshall side, a performance that was described by the Remyca Media team as “Frustrating”. An Angelo Errico Hat-trick did the main damage for a morale boosting win for Eccleshall who are showing some fight ahead of re-building for next season.
Widnes, on the other hand, recorded a handsome 4-1 home win over Atherton LR, after the visitors had taken the lead on 19 minutes with a goal from Danny Kerr. However Widnes re-grouped and levelled on 28 minutes and then dominated the game in the second half, scoring three including a last minute penalty from Ronnie McCarthy.
Atherton LR host Whitchurch Alport at Crilly Park in a battle of the Division’s bottom two sides.
Neither of these clubs seems to have had any luck this season and this continues of late with both sides’ form table position mirroring their league position.
Whitchurch were on the wrong end of a 1-5 home reverse to a consistently decent Bacup side whilst LR were turned over 4-1 at Widnes. With a goal difference of -133 between them, at least there is likely to be goals!
Northwich Manchester Villa host their home game against Stockport Town at Mossley FC, and apart from the novelty of the location this weekend, it is a decent looking tie.
Villa are a strong side at present, just inconsistent when it comes to getting some luck and fourth placed Stockport Town will be looking to cement their play-off position.
Speaking of play-offs, much fancied Bacup Borough host Eccleshall with both sides capable of scoring goals, last Saturday being a prime example with Bacup winning 5-1 over Whitchurch and of course Eccleshall travelling well to REMYCA and seeing them off 5-0.
Bacup are not too far off the play-off spots and have games in hand on the teams directly above them, however they will be wary of Angelo Errico and the Eccleshall team that showed a lot of fight and desire last weekend.
Worshipping at the Church of North West Counties on Sunday is a unique fixture, and for the second time this season we have a Sunday game.
The game is at Rochdale Town as they host Cheadle Town on the Sabbath, which has come about due to commitments between the football and host rugby club, but as a neutral I think this should be a great game and hopefully attract a fair few supporters.
Both of these teams are in strong form going into this match, and Rochdale still have a faint chance of rallying into play-off contention, although it will be a tough ask considering their inconsistent start.
Cheadle travel knowing that a win could keep their hat very much in the play-off ring, and also maintain the pressure on the chasing pack as the games run down. This promises to be an interesting game and hopefully the novelty of the Sunday fixture will attract fans of many other clubs within the area, looking for the perfect way to wind down after their Sunday lunch!
With so many strong contenders out this weekend, it is difficult yet to pin down favourites, and there could still be one or two that spring from the chasing pack to make the final furlong to the finishing post a fascinating spectacle.
With a number of clubs that have been strong all season not looking to fall at the final fence, this is the time to gee up players and get business concluded.
For supporters, there are a number of great games to choose from and permutations up and down the table, so enjoy your weekend, and my tip for the weekend is to back your North West Counties club!
