Division One Preview - Saturday 3rd September 2016
Fri 2nd September 2016 | General | By Kieran Ford
The first international break of the season may be looming for Premier League and Championship clubs, but non league football fans don’t really care about that.
There is a jam packed 10 matches in the Hallmark Security League Division One this Saturday as local teams celebrate Non-League Day.
With the table looking as competitive as it has ever been in this division, there are plenty of even match ups that could go either way!
Alsager Town vs Holker Old Boys
Recently relegated Alsager have proven that promotion back to the Premier Division may be on the cards this campaign.
They have won all but 1 of their opening 6 matches and sit 2nd in the division, only behind City of Liverpool FC after a 2-1 victory over fellow fast starters Whitchurch Alport on Tuesday night.
On the other hand, Holker Old Boys have lost 4 of their last 5 games, and will look to get their season back on track and maintain the top half finish that they had last season.
Ashton Town vs Sandbach United
Sandbach United had embarked on a 4 game winning streak that had seen them rise to the top of the division, which included a 6-1 hammering of bottom club Eccleshall. However, this was halted by Prestwich Heys on Tuesday night, which has seen them slip to a still very respectable 5th place.
Ashton Town have endured a miserable start to the season, losing 6 of their opening 7 matches, but with the Ashton Town Stadium crowd behind them, they will be searching for their 2nd victory of the season.
Atherton LR vs St Helens Town
After 2 wins on the bounce, Atherton LR faced their toughest challenge of the season by facing the current top two, Alsager Town and City of Liverpool FC.
They were defeated 2-0 by Alsager at home before being hammered by City of Liverpool 8-0 at the Delta Taxis Stadium, but this has left them still in a respectable mid table division. They face another team in form, with St Helens Town visiting Crilly Park.
Town have won their previous two games against previous high flyers Litherland REMYCA and Charnock Richard, but no victories in their opening 3 games sees them in 16th place.
Bacup Borough vs Litherland REMYCA
A 100% start to the season saw Litherland REMYCA at the summit of the division after 3 matches, however a defeat against St Helens Town and 2 points dropped against Chadderton has saw them fall to 9th in the table. But with games in hand over teams around them, there is potential for Remy to fly back up the table.
Playoff finalists Bacup Borough have made a subdued start to the campaign sitting in 14th place, with a 1-0 defeat against Chadderton on Tuesday ending a 4 game undefeated spell.
Charnock Richard v Chadderton
A 3-0 victory in the previously dreaded Tuesday night trip to Holker Old Boys left division newcomers Charnock Richard sitting in the top 3 of the division, winning half of their 8 matches so far. David Burrows has helped Charnock’s surge up the table with 4 goals in as many matches.
Chadderton have also made an impressive start to the season sitting just outside the play off places. Although they beat Bacup Borough 1-0 on Tuesday, there has been 40 goals scored in their 8 games so far, an average of 5 per match! This game is earmarked as tie of the weekend.
Daisy Hill vs. City of Liverpool FC
Saturday’s home match against City of Liverpool FC could be a tough task for Daisy Hill, after the “Purple Partisans” hammered Atherton LR 8-0 on Monday afternoon. The league newcomers have quickly gained a large following and sit top of the division after an unbeaten start to the season, as well as being the top scorers in the division.
Daisy Hill come into the game having conceded 16 goals in their previous 3 games, and a 7-2 defeat at Silsden on Tuesday evening will leave a feeling of trepidation amongst Daisy Hill supporters.
FC Oswestry Town vs. Silsden
It is a compliment to the new clubs that the team lowest of this selection in the table is FC Oswestry Town.
They sit 13th, comfortably in mid table, with 9 points from 7 games. Dan Stevens’ men ended a 4 game winless run with an eye catching 4-1 victory away at FA Cup conquerors Cheadle Town, before handing Eccleshall their first point of the season after a 2-2 draw at The Venue on Tuesday.
Silsden are sitting in 11th, having won and lost 50% of their matches so far. In their 3 victories this season they have scored 16 goals, but 3 close defeats have cost them in their pursuit of promotion.
Prestwich Heys vs. Eccleshall
Prestwich Heys have endured a steady start to their long awaited return to the division, sitting in 10th place. After an opening day defeat to Widnes, they have only lost 1 of their last 6 matches, a run which sees them sit in mid table, with games in hand over teams above them.
Eccleshall managed to grab their first point of the season with a 2-2 draw against FC Oswestry Town in their trip to Shropshire. The men from Pershall Park will be looking to use this positive to win their first match of the season as they are the only team yet to do so thus far.
Stockport Town vs. AFC Blackpool
Although they finished in the playoff places last season, Stockport Town have endured a disappointing start to the season. After an impressive victory over Prestwich Heys, the Manchester men were defeated 5-1 by a rejuvenated Whitchurch Alport and sit in 18th place, albeit with games in hand over teams around them.
AFC Blackpool have also made an anticlimactic start to the season, sitting third from bottom after relegation from the Premier Division, although they are the only team to take points off the league leaders City of Liverpool, after a 2-2 draw last Saturday.
Whitchurch Alport vs. Carlisle City
A transformed Whitchurch Alport sit in the playoff positions after finishing comfortably bottom of the table last season, conceding the most goals.
Their defence has tightened up as they’ve only conceded 8 so far this term, although 2 of those were in a 2-1 defeat against Alsager Town on Tuesday. Carlisle make the longest trip in the many “treks” they will have to take this season on the back of a 6-2 thrashing of Daisy Hill in midweek.
James Tose’s men sit 1 point behind their opponents, which should prove for another tasty contest!
Division One Preview - Saturday 3rd September 2016
Fri 2nd September 2016 | General
By Kieran Ford
The first international break of the season may be looming for Premier League and Championship clubs, but non league football fans don’t really care about that.
There is a jam packed 10 matches in the Hallmark Security League Division One this Saturday as local teams celebrate Non-League Day.
With the table looking as competitive as it has ever been in this division, there are plenty of even match ups that could go either way!
Alsager Town vs Holker Old Boys
Recently relegated Alsager have proven that promotion back to the Premier Division may be on the cards this campaign.
They have won all but 1 of their opening 6 matches and sit 2nd in the division, only behind City of Liverpool FC after a 2-1 victory over fellow fast starters Whitchurch Alport on Tuesday night.
On the other hand, Holker Old Boys have lost 4 of their last 5 games, and will look to get their season back on track and maintain the top half finish that they had last season.
Ashton Town vs Sandbach United
Sandbach United had embarked on a 4 game winning streak that had seen them rise to the top of the division, which included a 6-1 hammering of bottom club Eccleshall. However, this was halted by Prestwich Heys on Tuesday night, which has seen them slip to a still very respectable 5th place.
Ashton Town have endured a miserable start to the season, losing 6 of their opening 7 matches, but with the Ashton Town Stadium crowd behind them, they will be searching for their 2nd victory of the season.
Atherton LR vs St Helens Town
After 2 wins on the bounce, Atherton LR faced their toughest challenge of the season by facing the current top two, Alsager Town and City of Liverpool FC.
They were defeated 2-0 by Alsager at home before being hammered by City of Liverpool 8-0 at the Delta Taxis Stadium, but this has left them still in a respectable mid table division. They face another team in form, with St Helens Town visiting Crilly Park.
Town have won their previous two games against previous high flyers Litherland REMYCA and Charnock Richard, but no victories in their opening 3 games sees them in 16th place.
Bacup Borough vs Litherland REMYCA
A 100% start to the season saw Litherland REMYCA at the summit of the division after 3 matches, however a defeat against St Helens Town and 2 points dropped against Chadderton has saw them fall to 9th in the table. But with games in hand over teams around them, there is potential for Remy to fly back up the table.
Playoff finalists Bacup Borough have made a subdued start to the campaign sitting in 14th place, with a 1-0 defeat against Chadderton on Tuesday ending a 4 game undefeated spell.
Charnock Richard v Chadderton
A 3-0 victory in the previously dreaded Tuesday night trip to Holker Old Boys left division newcomers Charnock Richard sitting in the top 3 of the division, winning half of their 8 matches so far. David Burrows has helped Charnock’s surge up the table with 4 goals in as many matches.
Chadderton have also made an impressive start to the season sitting just outside the play off places. Although they beat Bacup Borough 1-0 on Tuesday, there has been 40 goals scored in their 8 games so far, an average of 5 per match! This game is earmarked as tie of the weekend.
Daisy Hill vs. City of Liverpool FC
Saturday’s home match against City of Liverpool FC could be a tough task for Daisy Hill, after the “Purple Partisans” hammered Atherton LR 8-0 on Monday afternoon. The league newcomers have quickly gained a large following and sit top of the division after an unbeaten start to the season, as well as being the top scorers in the division.
Daisy Hill come into the game having conceded 16 goals in their previous 3 games, and a 7-2 defeat at Silsden on Tuesday evening will leave a feeling of trepidation amongst Daisy Hill supporters.
FC Oswestry Town vs. Silsden
It is a compliment to the new clubs that the team lowest of this selection in the table is FC Oswestry Town.
They sit 13th, comfortably in mid table, with 9 points from 7 games. Dan Stevens’ men ended a 4 game winless run with an eye catching 4-1 victory away at FA Cup conquerors Cheadle Town, before handing Eccleshall their first point of the season after a 2-2 draw at The Venue on Tuesday.
Silsden are sitting in 11th, having won and lost 50% of their matches so far. In their 3 victories this season they have scored 16 goals, but 3 close defeats have cost them in their pursuit of promotion.
Prestwich Heys vs. Eccleshall
Prestwich Heys have endured a steady start to their long awaited return to the division, sitting in 10th place. After an opening day defeat to Widnes, they have only lost 1 of their last 6 matches, a run which sees them sit in mid table, with games in hand over teams above them.
Eccleshall managed to grab their first point of the season with a 2-2 draw against FC Oswestry Town in their trip to Shropshire. The men from Pershall Park will be looking to use this positive to win their first match of the season as they are the only team yet to do so thus far.
Stockport Town vs. AFC Blackpool
Although they finished in the playoff places last season, Stockport Town have endured a disappointing start to the season. After an impressive victory over Prestwich Heys, the Manchester men were defeated 5-1 by a rejuvenated Whitchurch Alport and sit in 18th place, albeit with games in hand over teams around them.
AFC Blackpool have also made an anticlimactic start to the season, sitting third from bottom after relegation from the Premier Division, although they are the only team to take points off the league leaders City of Liverpool, after a 2-2 draw last Saturday.
Whitchurch Alport vs. Carlisle City
A transformed Whitchurch Alport sit in the playoff positions after finishing comfortably bottom of the table last season, conceding the most goals.
Their defence has tightened up as they’ve only conceded 8 so far this term, although 2 of those were in a 2-1 defeat against Alsager Town on Tuesday. Carlisle make the longest trip in the many “treks” they will have to take this season on the back of a 6-2 thrashing of Daisy Hill in midweek.
James Tose’s men sit 1 point behind their opponents, which should prove for another tasty contest!
