Premier Division Preview - Saturday 10th September 2016
Fri 9th September 2016 | General | By Gary Langley
With the Buildbase FA Vase fixtures taking centre stage this weekend there are opportunities for the few teams that do have league games today to make a difference and to engineer themselves some headway in the table. Whilst quantity is reduced this weekend there is certainly no reduction in quality with some fantastic fixtures taking place.
Ten Premier Division sides play in this round of League games and face off, knowing that some are nearly a quarter into their entire fixture list already. All clubs playing over the weekend though will have their eyes looking up as opportunities are there for gains in the table.
Starting with two of the early pace setters, second places West Didsbury and Chorlton travel to 1874 Northwich this weekend with both level on points with Atherton Collieries. Both clubs have been strong so far and this is reflected in the current form table as there is very little between them. Unbeaten in their last four games, 1874 recovered well from their 2-2 draw at Barnoldswick last weekend with a comprehensive 5-0 home win over Cammell Laird 1907 whilst West have netted ten times in their last two games, four of them past Runcorn Town in midweek and six past Irlam under Friday night lights.
Eighth placed Runcorn Linnets travel to Ninth placed Abbey Hey with both looking for the win that could potentially take either as high as fourth in the table depending on other results. Abbey Hey have two successive wins against Lairds and a win over Maine Road on Tuesday night but will face a tough test against a Linnets side that has improved rapidly following an unusually subdued start by their usual standards.
Since the Runcorn derby defeat on 20th April. Michael Ellison's side are unbeaten in the five games they have played since and averaging three goals a game. Most observers expected Linnets to come good and they have certainly proved that their early season form was just a glitch. The game at The Abbey stadium promises to be a good spectacle.
Top of the table Atherton Colieries welcome Cammell laird 1907 to Alder street with both sides having a vastly differing start to the season. Colls' are top of the League table and just shy of the top of the form table only because of the superb form of Ashton Athletic in all competitions at present. In their last five games a single defeat to AFC Liverpool is sandwiched by two comprehensive wins either side and averaging four goals a game.
Cammell Laird have had a poor start, sitting bottom of the table with no wins as yet, they looked to have turned a corner at the end of August with three consecutive draws against Linnets, Nelson and Maine Road but two defeats over the last week to Abbey Hey and a 5-0 reverse at 1874 Northwich have set them back. With tough looking fixtures against Atherton Collieries this weekend and a midweek home fixture against West Didsbury, Neil Prince has a tough ask ahead but he will be confident that if he can get the best from his players he will be able to replicate that strong form from the end of last month.
As a footnote to this game, Colls' are operating a 'Pay what you want' scheme in aid of Combat Stress, a charity that assists UK Veterans with Mental Health and Stress related health problems. A great initiative and we know that the Alder Street faithfull will back this well on the day.
Padiham host Hanley Town at the Yesss Arena with both clubs having relatively inconsistent starts compared to what they've possibly expected. Padiham have been in disappointing form of late, 20th in the form table and only one win in their last six in all competitions but have been playing good football according to observers.
Hanley have adjusted well since promotion and currently sit in tenth spot in the table but ther are without a win in their last four but last time out they notched a noteable home draw against fellow promoted side Irlam, who themselves have had a great start.
New Mills are another club in a different Division this season and have adapted fairly well to their return to the League, amassing ten points from their eight game so far. They take on AFC Liverpool at Church Lane knowing a win could take them to the verge of the top six so the stakes are high. Both of these clubs are in close proximity in the table and whilst New Mills are adjusting to life at this level, AFC Liverpool have been building strongly over the last few years to beat them back to it.
Whilst AFC Liverpool have a couple of games in hand over many around them they have struggled to maintain their early season form where they bagged eight goals in their first couple of games. With only one win in their last five games Kevin Dally will be looking to get a run of wins together to push them into contention, Winsford United's cup replay left The Reds without a game in midweek but they have been working hard with their players.
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 10th September 2016
Fri 9th September 2016 | General
By Gary Langley
With the Buildbase FA Vase fixtures taking centre stage this weekend there are opportunities for the few teams that do have league games today to make a difference and to engineer themselves some headway in the table. Whilst quantity is reduced this weekend there is certainly no reduction in quality with some fantastic fixtures taking place.
Ten Premier Division sides play in this round of League games and face off, knowing that some are nearly a quarter into their entire fixture list already. All clubs playing over the weekend though will have their eyes looking up as opportunities are there for gains in the table.
Starting with two of the early pace setters, second places West Didsbury and Chorlton travel to 1874 Northwich this weekend with both level on points with Atherton Collieries. Both clubs have been strong so far and this is reflected in the current form table as there is very little between them. Unbeaten in their last four games, 1874 recovered well from their 2-2 draw at Barnoldswick last weekend with a comprehensive 5-0 home win over Cammell Laird 1907 whilst West have netted ten times in their last two games, four of them past Runcorn Town in midweek and six past Irlam under Friday night lights.
Eighth placed Runcorn Linnets travel to Ninth placed Abbey Hey with both looking for the win that could potentially take either as high as fourth in the table depending on other results. Abbey Hey have two successive wins against Lairds and a win over Maine Road on Tuesday night but will face a tough test against a Linnets side that has improved rapidly following an unusually subdued start by their usual standards.
Since the Runcorn derby defeat on 20th April. Michael Ellison's side are unbeaten in the five games they have played since and averaging three goals a game. Most observers expected Linnets to come good and they have certainly proved that their early season form was just a glitch. The game at The Abbey stadium promises to be a good spectacle.
Top of the table Atherton Colieries welcome Cammell laird 1907 to Alder street with both sides having a vastly differing start to the season. Colls' are top of the League table and just shy of the top of the form table only because of the superb form of Ashton Athletic in all competitions at present. In their last five games a single defeat to AFC Liverpool is sandwiched by two comprehensive wins either side and averaging four goals a game.
Cammell Laird have had a poor start, sitting bottom of the table with no wins as yet, they looked to have turned a corner at the end of August with three consecutive draws against Linnets, Nelson and Maine Road but two defeats over the last week to Abbey Hey and a 5-0 reverse at 1874 Northwich have set them back. With tough looking fixtures against Atherton Collieries this weekend and a midweek home fixture against West Didsbury, Neil Prince has a tough ask ahead but he will be confident that if he can get the best from his players he will be able to replicate that strong form from the end of last month.
As a footnote to this game, Colls' are operating a 'Pay what you want' scheme in aid of Combat Stress, a charity that assists UK Veterans with Mental Health and Stress related health problems. A great initiative and we know that the Alder Street faithfull will back this well on the day.
Padiham host Hanley Town at the Yesss Arena with both clubs having relatively inconsistent starts compared to what they've possibly expected. Padiham have been in disappointing form of late, 20th in the form table and only one win in their last six in all competitions but have been playing good football according to observers.
Hanley have adjusted well since promotion and currently sit in tenth spot in the table but ther are without a win in their last four but last time out they notched a noteable home draw against fellow promoted side Irlam, who themselves have had a great start.
New Mills are another club in a different Division this season and have adapted fairly well to their return to the League, amassing ten points from their eight game so far. They take on AFC Liverpool at Church Lane knowing a win could take them to the verge of the top six so the stakes are high. Both of these clubs are in close proximity in the table and whilst New Mills are adjusting to life at this level, AFC Liverpool have been building strongly over the last few years to beat them back to it.
Whilst AFC Liverpool have a couple of games in hand over many around them they have struggled to maintain their early season form where they bagged eight goals in their first couple of games. With only one win in their last five games Kevin Dally will be looking to get a run of wins together to push them into contention, Winsford United's cup replay left The Reds without a game in midweek but they have been working hard with their players.
