Premier Division Preview - Saturday 24th September
Fri 23rd September 2016 | General | By Gary Langley
With many clubs in FA Vase action this wekend there is an opportunity for a number of clubs to gain some ground as a number of Hallmark Security League clubs take to the field this weekend. Only eight teams will be in action on Saturday but this includes the top two in the table, namely 1874 Northwich and Atherton Collieries.
At the top of the stack, 1874 Northwich will look to bounce back from Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Irlam as they travel to Nelson at Little Wembley. Some 1874 fans have been disappointed that draw in midweek, but having seen Irlam play a couple of times this season they are a solid looking side with pace and are capable of really shaking some trees this season. Although the manner of the draw which came with an own goal from 1874 in extra time suggests that it was two points dropped right at the death, before the game this did not look like an easy game for either side. That result saw 1874 stay top but only a point clear of Atherton Colls and they are now unbeaten in nine league games.
Nelson's form is remarkably different with seven defeats in their nine league games and they need to start clocking up some points sooner rather than later if they are to avoid staying near the bottom of the table. They are currently 21st in the table but are only on a -5 goal difference compared to clubs around them being in their minus twenties so they have not been too far off the mark in games.
Winsford United welcome AFC Darwen to the St Lukes Barton Stadium on Saturday with both clubs in the bottom half of the table. Both of these sides have been unlucky with postponements, abandonments or tied up with cup games so have not played as many games as many of their rivals in the table. They come head to head knowing that a win for either club could see them potetially rise as many as four places in the table.
Winsford's form is pretty decent despite the initial illusion of their league position and closer inspection shows that they have won their last couple of games, a 3-1 (H) win against New Mills and 4-1 (A) win at Cammell Laird in midweek. Lee Duckworth has had a number of players return from injury and has managed to put out what he would deem as his strongest 1-16 and this has shown in stronger performances and of course better results.
AFC Darwen themselves had an upturn in form at the beginning of the month, they had a run of three games unbeaten before their exit in the FA VAse to Pickering Town at home. Last weekend they travelled to Runcorn Town and were beaten 1-3 but Town had made Pavillions a particularly difficult place to go this season so there is no shame in that, however they will have been more concerned by the 0-6 home defeat to Maine Road on Wednesday evening that sees them out of the relegation zone only by goal difference.
Runcorn Linnets host second placed Atherton Collieries at the Millbank Linnets Stadium in a mouth watering fixture that sees two of the pre-season favorites face off. It took Linnets a little while to get started this season but they are now unbeaten in six straight League games as Michael Ellison has started really getting his squad playing his way and settled. They are looking ominously close to where they need to be as they are in the top six and positioning well as they look to stake their claim for promotion this season.
Of course, in order for Linnets to do that they need to get past Atherton Collieries and that will not be an easy task even with home advantage. Michael Clegg's side have hit the ground running this season and have been string in games. Only one defeat in their last six league games and buoyed by a strong 2-1 home win over Padiham on Monday night they will be fancying their chances to go top if 1874 Northwich slip up in their game.
The last fixture of the day sees Maine Road welcome Squires Gate to Brantingham Road and the home side will be looking to secure points to lift them up the table having arrested a run of four straight defeats in all compeitions last weekend. Their 2-0 home win over Nelson was only their seventh game of the season but they will be looking to get some points on the board as their next three League games are against Bootle, Colls and Runcorn Linnets who are all in form and in the top six of the table. They were potent on the road on Wednesday night as they travelled to AFC Darwen and came away with an impressive 6-0 win
Squires Gate will look to revover from a 2-3 home defeat to Barnsoldswick in midweek having previously got off to a flying start to the season. They are still on the coat tails of the leading pack and know that a win this weekend will put them right back into the mix again.
So there you have it, only four games but implications for all parts of the table. A great selection of games and with the weather set fair it could be a defining weekend of early season league action.
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 24th September
Fri 23rd September 2016 | General
By Gary Langley
With many clubs in FA Vase action this wekend there is an opportunity for a number of clubs to gain some ground as a number of Hallmark Security League clubs take to the field this weekend. Only eight teams will be in action on Saturday but this includes the top two in the table, namely 1874 Northwich and Atherton Collieries.
At the top of the stack, 1874 Northwich will look to bounce back from Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Irlam as they travel to Nelson at Little Wembley. Some 1874 fans have been disappointed that draw in midweek, but having seen Irlam play a couple of times this season they are a solid looking side with pace and are capable of really shaking some trees this season. Although the manner of the draw which came with an own goal from 1874 in extra time suggests that it was two points dropped right at the death, before the game this did not look like an easy game for either side. That result saw 1874 stay top but only a point clear of Atherton Colls and they are now unbeaten in nine league games.
Nelson's form is remarkably different with seven defeats in their nine league games and they need to start clocking up some points sooner rather than later if they are to avoid staying near the bottom of the table. They are currently 21st in the table but are only on a -5 goal difference compared to clubs around them being in their minus twenties so they have not been too far off the mark in games.
Winsford United welcome AFC Darwen to the St Lukes Barton Stadium on Saturday with both clubs in the bottom half of the table. Both of these sides have been unlucky with postponements, abandonments or tied up with cup games so have not played as many games as many of their rivals in the table. They come head to head knowing that a win for either club could see them potetially rise as many as four places in the table.
Winsford's form is pretty decent despite the initial illusion of their league position and closer inspection shows that they have won their last couple of games, a 3-1 (H) win against New Mills and 4-1 (A) win at Cammell Laird in midweek. Lee Duckworth has had a number of players return from injury and has managed to put out what he would deem as his strongest 1-16 and this has shown in stronger performances and of course better results.
AFC Darwen themselves had an upturn in form at the beginning of the month, they had a run of three games unbeaten before their exit in the FA VAse to Pickering Town at home. Last weekend they travelled to Runcorn Town and were beaten 1-3 but Town had made Pavillions a particularly difficult place to go this season so there is no shame in that, however they will have been more concerned by the 0-6 home defeat to Maine Road on Wednesday evening that sees them out of the relegation zone only by goal difference.
Runcorn Linnets host second placed Atherton Collieries at the Millbank Linnets Stadium in a mouth watering fixture that sees two of the pre-season favorites face off. It took Linnets a little while to get started this season but they are now unbeaten in six straight League games as Michael Ellison has started really getting his squad playing his way and settled. They are looking ominously close to where they need to be as they are in the top six and positioning well as they look to stake their claim for promotion this season.
Of course, in order for Linnets to do that they need to get past Atherton Collieries and that will not be an easy task even with home advantage. Michael Clegg's side have hit the ground running this season and have been string in games. Only one defeat in their last six league games and buoyed by a strong 2-1 home win over Padiham on Monday night they will be fancying their chances to go top if 1874 Northwich slip up in their game.
The last fixture of the day sees Maine Road welcome Squires Gate to Brantingham Road and the home side will be looking to secure points to lift them up the table having arrested a run of four straight defeats in all compeitions last weekend. Their 2-0 home win over Nelson was only their seventh game of the season but they will be looking to get some points on the board as their next three League games are against Bootle, Colls and Runcorn Linnets who are all in form and in the top six of the table. They were potent on the road on Wednesday night as they travelled to AFC Darwen and came away with an impressive 6-0 win
Squires Gate will look to revover from a 2-3 home defeat to Barnsoldswick in midweek having previously got off to a flying start to the season. They are still on the coat tails of the leading pack and know that a win this weekend will put them right back into the mix again.
So there you have it, only four games but implications for all parts of the table. A great selection of games and with the weather set fair it could be a defining weekend of early season league action.
