Premier Division Preview - Saturday 9th April 2016
Fri 8th April 2016 | General | By Martin Fallon
It's crunch time in the Premier Division this weekend, as the top two go head to head in a match that could go a long way to deciding the destiny of the Championship trophy.
Colne play Runcorn Linnets at the XLCR Stadium, with five points currently seperating the top two in the league table. Linnets lead the way, and they come into the game top of the form table having won eight and drawing one of their last nine matches. Colne are in a similar run of form, with one loss and a draw in their last eight matches.
The home side will be looking to continue their unbeaten run in the league this season having won ten and drawn five of their home games so far, although Linnets have won seven of their last eight matches away from home. The earlier meeting this season finished 4-0 to Linnets, Antony Hickey scoring twice.
Atherton Collieries are still not out of the title picture though, currently sitting ten points behind Linnets with a game in hand, and they travel to Alsager Town who are battling for points at the other end of the table.
Colls are the league's leading goalscorers with 96 goals in their 33 games, 46 of those goals coming on the road which is also a league best. Michael Clegg's men come into the game having lost just once in their last 13 games in all competitions, with Jordan Cover netting a hat-trick in the midweek win over Winsford United.
Alsager had been putting a good run of form together, but three losses in their last four games - coupled with other results in the league - have seen them remain in the bottom three in the league. They remain three points off safety, with seven games still to play. The earlier meeting saw Colls run out 4-2 winners, Ben Hardcastle scoring a hat-trick.
One of the form sides at present is Congleton Town, whose three wins in the last week has moved them to level fifth in the league. They are unbeaten in 12 games now, winning their last five, and have not conceded a goal for 397 minutes.
They travel to Cammell Laird 1907 looking for a double over the Wirral based club, although Lairds are also playing well having won five of their last seven league games. It could be an intruiging game, Craig Cairns for Lairds and Scott McGowan for Congleton amongst the leagues leading goalscorers.
Third in the form table are 1874 Northwich, who travel to Little Wembley to face Nelson. 1874 have scored ten goals in the last week, with Matty Beadle and Stuart Wellstead scoring five goals each, and they have lost just one of their last seven games as they look to finish in the top four in the league once more.
Nelson are at the opposite end of the form guide with just one win in their last nine games, that coming just before Easter at AFC Darwen. This run of form has seen them slip to 17th in the table, although they are 11 points above the relegation zone. The league meeting earlier in the season finished 4-2 to 1874.
Silsden need to start picking up points soon if they are to climb away from the bottom of the table and they travel to Abbey Hey on Saturday. Both sides are in poor form, Silsden having won just one of their last 19 league games whilst Abbey Hey have won just one of their last 15 games, that coming at home to Atherton Collieries.
This will be Silsden's second visit to the Abbey Stadium and they will hoping for a repeat of the MEN United Cup meeting which they won 1-0. The league meeting at Silsden was a 2-2 draw.
AFC Blackpool climbed out of the relegation zone midweek thanks to a 1-0 victory over Nelson, the Mechanics picking up seven points from the last 12 available. AFC Blackpool have a busy run in with ten games still to play, and they will look to pull further clear of the bottom three as they travel to face West Didsbury and Chorlton.
West are in great form though, unbeaten in nine games which has seen them concede a measly six goals. Nic Evangelinos could be the main reason for this run which currently sees them sitting in fifth place, Nic scoring nine goals in those last nine games. This is the first meeting this season, the return game coming on the final day.
Fellow Blackpool side Squires Gate are also looking over their shoulder, currently sitting four points above the drop zone. Gate have won just one of their last eight games, but perhaps more concerning for manager Danny Penswick is that they have failed to score in any of their last three games.
Gate travel to Winsford United, the Blues looking to turn around a mini slump that has seen them go three games without a win. This follows on from a season best of three successive wins just prior to Easter. One of those wins was in the reverse fixture, Winsford winning that in Blackpool 3-1.
One of the problem surfaces at the moment is Brocstedes Park, with Ashton Athletic and St Helens Town having 11 games still to play on it this season, that just at First Team level. Its Ashton's turn this weekend as they host Barnoldswick Town in the first league meeting between the sides this season.
Ashton have a decent record at home, losing just one of their last seven home games in all competitions. The weather has hit Ashton hard, playing just five times since the start of March, and its not surprising this irregularity has affected their form, winning just one of their last seven games.
Barnoldswick are also in indifferent form, with two wins and two losses in their last four games perhaps a reflection of their season as a whole. Mark Threlfall, leading scorer for Barlick, has scored three times in those games.
Another side in indifferent form is Runcorn Town, who have won just one of their last 12 games. Goals have also dried up somewhat for the usually free scoring Town, finding the net just seven times in their last nine games.
They face Maine Road at home, the Sky Blues looking to complete the double after a 3-2 win a few weeks ago. Maine Road are in good form, with five wins in their last eight games. The impressive Connor Hughes has been instrumental, scoring six goals in his last four games to make it 26 for the season.
The final game sees AFC Liverpool host Padiham at the Marine Travel Arena. The Reds have been on a poor run of form recently, winning just one of their last 14 games. They have lost just four times in the league at home all season though, and only three teams have scored more home goals than them.
Opponents Padiham have had a strange week which is a microcosm of their season - a 7-0 loss at home followed by a 6-3 win at home! That big loss to 1874 Northwich was a blip in an otherwise fine run, Steve Wilkes' men losing just one of their last eight games, with Aaron Taylor scoring six goals in the last six games. Padiham have won 3-2 at AFC Liverpool already this season, that in the MEN United Cup.
Wherever you are going, enjoy your afternoon. And rain, please stay away!
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 9th April 2016
Fri 8th April 2016 | General
By Martin Fallon
It's crunch time in the Premier Division this weekend, as the top two go head to head in a match that could go a long way to deciding the destiny of the Championship trophy.
Colne play Runcorn Linnets at the XLCR Stadium, with five points currently seperating the top two in the league table. Linnets lead the way, and they come into the game top of the form table having won eight and drawing one of their last nine matches. Colne are in a similar run of form, with one loss and a draw in their last eight matches.
The home side will be looking to continue their unbeaten run in the league this season having won ten and drawn five of their home games so far, although Linnets have won seven of their last eight matches away from home. The earlier meeting this season finished 4-0 to Linnets, Antony Hickey scoring twice.
Atherton Collieries are still not out of the title picture though, currently sitting ten points behind Linnets with a game in hand, and they travel to Alsager Town who are battling for points at the other end of the table.
Colls are the league's leading goalscorers with 96 goals in their 33 games, 46 of those goals coming on the road which is also a league best. Michael Clegg's men come into the game having lost just once in their last 13 games in all competitions, with Jordan Cover netting a hat-trick in the midweek win over Winsford United.
Alsager had been putting a good run of form together, but three losses in their last four games - coupled with other results in the league - have seen them remain in the bottom three in the league. They remain three points off safety, with seven games still to play. The earlier meeting saw Colls run out 4-2 winners, Ben Hardcastle scoring a hat-trick.
One of the form sides at present is Congleton Town, whose three wins in the last week has moved them to level fifth in the league. They are unbeaten in 12 games now, winning their last five, and have not conceded a goal for 397 minutes.
They travel to Cammell Laird 1907 looking for a double over the Wirral based club, although Lairds are also playing well having won five of their last seven league games. It could be an intruiging game, Craig Cairns for Lairds and Scott McGowan for Congleton amongst the leagues leading goalscorers.
Third in the form table are 1874 Northwich, who travel to Little Wembley to face Nelson. 1874 have scored ten goals in the last week, with Matty Beadle and Stuart Wellstead scoring five goals each, and they have lost just one of their last seven games as they look to finish in the top four in the league once more.
Nelson are at the opposite end of the form guide with just one win in their last nine games, that coming just before Easter at AFC Darwen. This run of form has seen them slip to 17th in the table, although they are 11 points above the relegation zone. The league meeting earlier in the season finished 4-2 to 1874.
Silsden need to start picking up points soon if they are to climb away from the bottom of the table and they travel to Abbey Hey on Saturday. Both sides are in poor form, Silsden having won just one of their last 19 league games whilst Abbey Hey have won just one of their last 15 games, that coming at home to Atherton Collieries.
This will be Silsden's second visit to the Abbey Stadium and they will hoping for a repeat of the MEN United Cup meeting which they won 1-0. The league meeting at Silsden was a 2-2 draw.
AFC Blackpool climbed out of the relegation zone midweek thanks to a 1-0 victory over Nelson, the Mechanics picking up seven points from the last 12 available. AFC Blackpool have a busy run in with ten games still to play, and they will look to pull further clear of the bottom three as they travel to face West Didsbury and Chorlton.
West are in great form though, unbeaten in nine games which has seen them concede a measly six goals. Nic Evangelinos could be the main reason for this run which currently sees them sitting in fifth place, Nic scoring nine goals in those last nine games. This is the first meeting this season, the return game coming on the final day.
Fellow Blackpool side Squires Gate are also looking over their shoulder, currently sitting four points above the drop zone. Gate have won just one of their last eight games, but perhaps more concerning for manager Danny Penswick is that they have failed to score in any of their last three games.
Gate travel to Winsford United, the Blues looking to turn around a mini slump that has seen them go three games without a win. This follows on from a season best of three successive wins just prior to Easter. One of those wins was in the reverse fixture, Winsford winning that in Blackpool 3-1.
One of the problem surfaces at the moment is Brocstedes Park, with Ashton Athletic and St Helens Town having 11 games still to play on it this season, that just at First Team level. Its Ashton's turn this weekend as they host Barnoldswick Town in the first league meeting between the sides this season.
Ashton have a decent record at home, losing just one of their last seven home games in all competitions. The weather has hit Ashton hard, playing just five times since the start of March, and its not surprising this irregularity has affected their form, winning just one of their last seven games.
Barnoldswick are also in indifferent form, with two wins and two losses in their last four games perhaps a reflection of their season as a whole. Mark Threlfall, leading scorer for Barlick, has scored three times in those games.
Another side in indifferent form is Runcorn Town, who have won just one of their last 12 games. Goals have also dried up somewhat for the usually free scoring Town, finding the net just seven times in their last nine games.
They face Maine Road at home, the Sky Blues looking to complete the double after a 3-2 win a few weeks ago. Maine Road are in good form, with five wins in their last eight games. The impressive Connor Hughes has been instrumental, scoring six goals in his last four games to make it 26 for the season.
The final game sees AFC Liverpool host Padiham at the Marine Travel Arena. The Reds have been on a poor run of form recently, winning just one of their last 14 games. They have lost just four times in the league at home all season though, and only three teams have scored more home goals than them.
Opponents Padiham have had a strange week which is a microcosm of their season - a 7-0 loss at home followed by a 6-3 win at home! That big loss to 1874 Northwich was a blip in an otherwise fine run, Steve Wilkes' men losing just one of their last eight games, with Aaron Taylor scoring six goals in the last six games. Padiham have won 3-2 at AFC Liverpool already this season, that in the MEN United Cup.
Wherever you are going, enjoy your afternoon. And rain, please stay away!
