Premier Division Preview - Saturday 17th September 2016
Fri 16th September 2016 | General | By Patrick Burke
The sides in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division amassed 30 goals between them in just six midweek games. It has always been a division renowned for the ‘anyone can beat anyone’ factor; that seems even more apparent this year, and makes every single game vital.
That is particularly true for a team with serious title ambitions, so Atherton Collieries will be aware of the importance of their trip to 7th placed Irlam on Friday night. Irlam will hope that the victory over Selby Town in the FA Vase last weekend, coupled with a 1-1 draw at Hanley Town, has helped to put the 6-0 defeat to West Didsbury & Chorlton in their last home league game behind them. Colls, come into this game on the back of a 3-2 loss on Tuesday at Bootle, but remain 2nd in the table and with four wins from their last six.
The league leaders, 1874 Northwich, are in action on Saturday, with a trip to Division One champions Hanley waiting for them. Sitting in 8th place, the home side are a dangerous opponent, as Padiham discovered last weekend after a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Dean Owen’s side. That said, 1874 arrive full of confidence after some impressive results lately, including arguably the standout result of last weekend – a 4-1 victory against 3rd placed West Didsbury & Chorlton.
West responded in emphatic fashion on Tuesday night with a 7-2 win at Cammell Laird 1907, so Barnton will be hoping that Steve Settle’s side have left their shooting boots on the Wirral ahead of their trip to South Manchester. Given that the hosts are the division’s top scorers, that looks an unlikely prospect. However, the visitors too showed that they can hurt teams going forward, scoring five goals to progress in the FA Vase against Harworth Colliery last Saturday. It was a great response to six games without a win, and they will now hope to move up from their current position of 18th.
Two sides who may be in a buoyant mood after great results in midweek go head-to-head in the Arbories, as Padiham welcome Bootle. The hosts’ 4-1 win at Squires Gate was even more impressive given that they took no points from their five matches prior to that. It moved Steve Wilkes’ men up to 15th. Joe Doran’s Bootle are flying, sitting 4th in the table after five consecutive victories in all competitions. They will be hoping to make it six on Saturday.
Hoping to keep up the pressure on the sides above them, Runcorn Town in 5th entertain AFC Darwen on Saturday at Pavilions. Craig Cairns is proving to be a key asset for Town at the minute, a brace helping his side to a sixth triumph from their opening nine league fixtures at Maine Road on Monday. Darwen started off poorly, but have taken seven points from games against Squires Gate, AFC Liverpool and Ashton Athletic in their last three league matches. Consequently, they have risen to 17th.
Another side who seem to be building some momentum after a slow start is Runcorn Linnets, Michael Ellison’s side travelling to Barnoldswick Town on Saturday hoping to make it eight league games unbeaten. Linnets sit 6th in the table, but Barlick have already matched one of the best in the division on their own turf this season, drawing 2-2 with the leaders 1874 Northwich; Stewart Airdrie’s team are 9th, despite a 3-0 reverse at Atherton Collieries in their last league game.
On paper, Congleton Town vs AFC Liverpool is 14th vs 11th, but both sides will have loftier ambitions for this campaign. Congleton’s last three games have finished 3-2: Bootle and New Mills defeated them by that scoreline in the league, before last weekend’s FA Vase victory at Armthorpe Welfare. After an inconsistent first few games, Kevin Dally’s AFC Liverpool have followed up an excellent win at Atherton Colls with a draw against AFC Darwen and a 3-1 victory at New Mills.
Garry Brown’s Millers responded to that setback on Wednesday, salvaging a late draw against Ashton Athletic at Church Lane. Perched comfortably in mid-table, New Mills face an away trip to Winsford United on Saturday. The hosts’ start is difficult to judge, sitting 21st but having played just four league games owing to an impressive FA Cup run. Monday’s game against Irlam was abandoned because of a serious injury to George Ward. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Following a blistering start which had them top at one point, Squires Gate have faded and are 13th in the table. They lost to Padiham on Tuesday, but beat Nelson in their previous league match. On Saturday, Gate face a trip to bottom side Cammell Laird 1907. The first-half at Atherton Collieries saw Lairds take the game to one of the division’s best sides, and hold a thoroughly deserved 1-0 lead at the break. A poor second half did for 1907, before the heavy loss to West Didsbury on Tuesday. However, Lairds will know that they should move up the table if they can perform as they did in the opening 45 minutes against Colls.
The final game pits together two sides straddling the drop zone, with the hosts, Maine Road, just above the dotted line and Nelson just below it. Playing just six league games so far due to a good FA Cup run may be an explanation for Road’s position, but three defeats back-to-back in the league will be a concern. Phil Eastwood’s Nelson seem to be competing well, with eight of their eleven games in all competitions either drawn or decided by the odd goal. They will now look for a second league win to go with the 4-0 triumph against Barnton
Our last representative in this season’s FA Cup – Ashton Athletic – face one of the biggest games in their history against National League North outfit FC Halifax Town this weekend. We wish them the best of luck for that, and hope you enjoy whichever game you choose to take in!
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 17th September 2016
Fri 16th September 2016 | General
By Patrick Burke
The sides in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division amassed 30 goals between them in just six midweek games. It has always been a division renowned for the ‘anyone can beat anyone’ factor; that seems even more apparent this year, and makes every single game vital.
That is particularly true for a team with serious title ambitions, so Atherton Collieries will be aware of the importance of their trip to 7th placed Irlam on Friday night. Irlam will hope that the victory over Selby Town in the FA Vase last weekend, coupled with a 1-1 draw at Hanley Town, has helped to put the 6-0 defeat to West Didsbury & Chorlton in their last home league game behind them. Colls, come into this game on the back of a 3-2 loss on Tuesday at Bootle, but remain 2nd in the table and with four wins from their last six.
The league leaders, 1874 Northwich, are in action on Saturday, with a trip to Division One champions Hanley waiting for them. Sitting in 8th place, the home side are a dangerous opponent, as Padiham discovered last weekend after a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Dean Owen’s side. That said, 1874 arrive full of confidence after some impressive results lately, including arguably the standout result of last weekend – a 4-1 victory against 3rd placed West Didsbury & Chorlton.
West responded in emphatic fashion on Tuesday night with a 7-2 win at Cammell Laird 1907, so Barnton will be hoping that Steve Settle’s side have left their shooting boots on the Wirral ahead of their trip to South Manchester. Given that the hosts are the division’s top scorers, that looks an unlikely prospect. However, the visitors too showed that they can hurt teams going forward, scoring five goals to progress in the FA Vase against Harworth Colliery last Saturday. It was a great response to six games without a win, and they will now hope to move up from their current position of 18th.
Two sides who may be in a buoyant mood after great results in midweek go head-to-head in the Arbories, as Padiham welcome Bootle. The hosts’ 4-1 win at Squires Gate was even more impressive given that they took no points from their five matches prior to that. It moved Steve Wilkes’ men up to 15th. Joe Doran’s Bootle are flying, sitting 4th in the table after five consecutive victories in all competitions. They will be hoping to make it six on Saturday.
Hoping to keep up the pressure on the sides above them, Runcorn Town in 5th entertain AFC Darwen on Saturday at Pavilions. Craig Cairns is proving to be a key asset for Town at the minute, a brace helping his side to a sixth triumph from their opening nine league fixtures at Maine Road on Monday. Darwen started off poorly, but have taken seven points from games against Squires Gate, AFC Liverpool and Ashton Athletic in their last three league matches. Consequently, they have risen to 17th.
Another side who seem to be building some momentum after a slow start is Runcorn Linnets, Michael Ellison’s side travelling to Barnoldswick Town on Saturday hoping to make it eight league games unbeaten. Linnets sit 6th in the table, but Barlick have already matched one of the best in the division on their own turf this season, drawing 2-2 with the leaders 1874 Northwich; Stewart Airdrie’s team are 9th, despite a 3-0 reverse at Atherton Collieries in their last league game.
On paper, Congleton Town vs AFC Liverpool is 14th vs 11th, but both sides will have loftier ambitions for this campaign. Congleton’s last three games have finished 3-2: Bootle and New Mills defeated them by that scoreline in the league, before last weekend’s FA Vase victory at Armthorpe Welfare. After an inconsistent first few games, Kevin Dally’s AFC Liverpool have followed up an excellent win at Atherton Colls with a draw against AFC Darwen and a 3-1 victory at New Mills.
Garry Brown’s Millers responded to that setback on Wednesday, salvaging a late draw against Ashton Athletic at Church Lane. Perched comfortably in mid-table, New Mills face an away trip to Winsford United on Saturday. The hosts’ start is difficult to judge, sitting 21st but having played just four league games owing to an impressive FA Cup run. Monday’s game against Irlam was abandoned because of a serious injury to George Ward. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Following a blistering start which had them top at one point, Squires Gate have faded and are 13th in the table. They lost to Padiham on Tuesday, but beat Nelson in their previous league match. On Saturday, Gate face a trip to bottom side Cammell Laird 1907. The first-half at Atherton Collieries saw Lairds take the game to one of the division’s best sides, and hold a thoroughly deserved 1-0 lead at the break. A poor second half did for 1907, before the heavy loss to West Didsbury on Tuesday. However, Lairds will know that they should move up the table if they can perform as they did in the opening 45 minutes against Colls.
The final game pits together two sides straddling the drop zone, with the hosts, Maine Road, just above the dotted line and Nelson just below it. Playing just six league games so far due to a good FA Cup run may be an explanation for Road’s position, but three defeats back-to-back in the league will be a concern. Phil Eastwood’s Nelson seem to be competing well, with eight of their eleven games in all competitions either drawn or decided by the odd goal. They will now look for a second league win to go with the 4-0 triumph against Barnton
Our last representative in this season’s FA Cup – Ashton Athletic – face one of the biggest games in their history against National League North outfit FC Halifax Town this weekend. We wish them the best of luck for that, and hope you enjoy whichever game you choose to take in!
