Premier Division Preview - Saturday 19th November 2016
Fri 18th November 2016 | General | By Patrick Burke
With a full Hallmark Security League Premier Division schedule for this weekend, results could have a profound impact at both ends of the table.
We start on Friday night for a Manchester derby between 10th placed Abbey Hey and 7th placed West Didsbury & Chorlton. Luke Gibson’s Abbey will seek a return to winning ways after losing their last three in all competitions. They had triumphed in five of their six games prior to that, so will want to rekindle form of that ilk.
A minor wobble has seen West win just one of their last seven. Goals aren’t proving to be a problem – they are the division’s joint-third highest scorers – but squandering 2-0 leads in each of their last two matches will need rectifying.
Moving onto Saturday, leaders Runcorn Town face what looks an awkward trip to Irlam. Winless in their last four the hosts may be, but Hanley Town and Bootle have come unstuck at the Ambitek Stadium recently; sitting in 11th place marks a very satisfactory transition from Division One. Chris Herbert’s visitors – and more specifically Craig Cairns – have been on fire lately, hence their stance five points clear at the summit. Town have won ten of their last eleven, and Cairns’ season tally is up to 36 in all competitions. It’s going to take a special side to disrupt their momentum.
A real contender for game of the day is surely the 2pm kick off: Atherton Collieries vs Bootle. A stunning 3-0 victory at 1874 Northwich in the Buildbase FA Vase was Colls’ sixth on the spin – a run which has Michael Clegg’s team top of the form table and 3rd in the league table. To add extra spice to this clash, Bootle moved above Colls on goal difference with a 6-1 win against Cammell Laird 1907 on Tuesday – a sixth victory from their last seven. Their red hot form will need to persist if there is to be a repeat of the 3-2 victory against Colls in September.
Exits from cup competitions may have taken the spotlight off 4th placed Runcorn Linnets in some quarters, but their form in the Premier Division is something for visitors Squires Gate to worry about. Beating Nelson 3-1 a fortnight ago saw Michael Ellison’s side claim three points for the eighth time in their last nine league outings. 15th placed Gate are without a win in their last eight in all competitions, but came from 4-2 down to draw with Hanley Town last Saturday, and have taken points off four of the current top six. This will be no formality for Linnets.
The same applies for 1874 Northwich in 5th, who travel to the Arbories to take on Padiham. Steve Wilkes’ Storks are in fine shape, having won five of their last six in all competitions. James Dean had scored in each of his side’s six matches prior to last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Bootle in the Vase – it should be interesting to see how he fares against the division’s second best defence. 1874 will need to keep him quiet if they are to respond to their Vase departure by taking maximum points here, a feat they have managed in four of their last six matches in the league.
One side having a remarkably successful season almost under the radar are Hanley Town. The Division One champions won 3-1 at Winsford United on Monday, climbing up to 6th in the process – not a bad response to taking just two points from their previous four league games. Nelson travel to Abbey Lane on Saturday lying second from bottom. The Admirals were beaten on penalties by Atherton LR last time out in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy, but have taken encouraging points off Squires Gate and West Didsbury lately.
AFC Liverpool and Congleton Town are on disappointing runs of form, but both go head-to-head at the Marine Travel Arena this weekend. Kevin Dally’s hosts have won at Atherton Collieries and 1874 Northwich this year, but tasted victory just once in their last eight in all competitions, lying in 8th place. Similarly, Congleton have beaten 1874 and leaders Runcorn Town in their own back yards, yet are only 14th in the table having come out on top in just one of their last six games in all competitions. The reverse fixture was a 2-2 draw, and this one looks equally tough to call.
After a slow start, 12th placed Ashton Athletic have triumphed in six of their last seven in all competitions: they have won 6-0 twice, won 5-2 at West Didsbury and won at Linnets in the Macron Challenge Cup. The Yellows make the journey to Winsford United with Lee Duckworth’s side five places and five points behind in 17th. Winsford have lost their last four, but have shown their quality this season by winning at the likes of Runcorn Linnets. They will want to get back on track quickly.
Maine Road welcome Barnoldswick Town to Brantingham Road with the two sides in contrasting form. Chris Hirst’s Road have won three and drawn one of their last four, moving up to 13th place. Barnoldswick, however, are without a league win since beating Irlam at the end of September. 1-1 draws against AFC Darwen and Cammell Laird 1907 in their last two league games have hopefully stopped the rot from their perspective, and keep them ticking along in 16th place.
There are two huge clashes at the foot of the table between four of the bottom five.
Firstly, Barnton aim to continue their revival as they host New Mills. The goalless draw against Congleton last Saturday continued a marked improvement over the past month that has put them in 18th place - five points clear of their opponents. New Mills lie just below the dotted line in 20th, but recorded a midweek Derbyshire Senior Cup victory on penalties against Dronfield Town. One of three league victories so far this season saw them trounce Barnton 6-1 in August.
Like New Mills, bottom side Cammell Laird 1907 will hope to take inspiration from an earlier victory when they welcome 19th placed AFC Darwen. Lairds’ only win this campaign came in an FA Cup replay against Darwen, and it’s clearly been a struggle since, underlined by two heavy defeats against Runcorn Town and Bootle, but Mick McGraa’s team did draw their last home fixture against Barnoldswick.
AFC Darwen have won just one of their last 16, but did pick up very useful draws against the likes of New Mills, Congleton and Padiham. The reverse league fixture ended 0-0, so this may be another tight one.
A big weekend for all 22 clubs - all would be very grateful for your support, so get down and support your local team!
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 19th November 2016
Fri 18th November 2016 | General
By Patrick Burke
With a full Hallmark Security League Premier Division schedule for this weekend, results could have a profound impact at both ends of the table.
We start on Friday night for a Manchester derby between 10th placed Abbey Hey and 7th placed West Didsbury & Chorlton. Luke Gibson’s Abbey will seek a return to winning ways after losing their last three in all competitions. They had triumphed in five of their six games prior to that, so will want to rekindle form of that ilk.
A minor wobble has seen West win just one of their last seven. Goals aren’t proving to be a problem – they are the division’s joint-third highest scorers – but squandering 2-0 leads in each of their last two matches will need rectifying.
Moving onto Saturday, leaders Runcorn Town face what looks an awkward trip to Irlam. Winless in their last four the hosts may be, but Hanley Town and Bootle have come unstuck at the Ambitek Stadium recently; sitting in 11th place marks a very satisfactory transition from Division One. Chris Herbert’s visitors – and more specifically Craig Cairns – have been on fire lately, hence their stance five points clear at the summit. Town have won ten of their last eleven, and Cairns’ season tally is up to 36 in all competitions. It’s going to take a special side to disrupt their momentum.
A real contender for game of the day is surely the 2pm kick off: Atherton Collieries vs Bootle. A stunning 3-0 victory at 1874 Northwich in the Buildbase FA Vase was Colls’ sixth on the spin – a run which has Michael Clegg’s team top of the form table and 3rd in the league table. To add extra spice to this clash, Bootle moved above Colls on goal difference with a 6-1 win against Cammell Laird 1907 on Tuesday – a sixth victory from their last seven. Their red hot form will need to persist if there is to be a repeat of the 3-2 victory against Colls in September.
Exits from cup competitions may have taken the spotlight off 4th placed Runcorn Linnets in some quarters, but their form in the Premier Division is something for visitors Squires Gate to worry about. Beating Nelson 3-1 a fortnight ago saw Michael Ellison’s side claim three points for the eighth time in their last nine league outings. 15th placed Gate are without a win in their last eight in all competitions, but came from 4-2 down to draw with Hanley Town last Saturday, and have taken points off four of the current top six. This will be no formality for Linnets.
The same applies for 1874 Northwich in 5th, who travel to the Arbories to take on Padiham. Steve Wilkes’ Storks are in fine shape, having won five of their last six in all competitions. James Dean had scored in each of his side’s six matches prior to last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Bootle in the Vase – it should be interesting to see how he fares against the division’s second best defence. 1874 will need to keep him quiet if they are to respond to their Vase departure by taking maximum points here, a feat they have managed in four of their last six matches in the league.
One side having a remarkably successful season almost under the radar are Hanley Town. The Division One champions won 3-1 at Winsford United on Monday, climbing up to 6th in the process – not a bad response to taking just two points from their previous four league games. Nelson travel to Abbey Lane on Saturday lying second from bottom. The Admirals were beaten on penalties by Atherton LR last time out in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy, but have taken encouraging points off Squires Gate and West Didsbury lately.
AFC Liverpool and Congleton Town are on disappointing runs of form, but both go head-to-head at the Marine Travel Arena this weekend. Kevin Dally’s hosts have won at Atherton Collieries and 1874 Northwich this year, but tasted victory just once in their last eight in all competitions, lying in 8th place. Similarly, Congleton have beaten 1874 and leaders Runcorn Town in their own back yards, yet are only 14th in the table having come out on top in just one of their last six games in all competitions. The reverse fixture was a 2-2 draw, and this one looks equally tough to call.
After a slow start, 12th placed Ashton Athletic have triumphed in six of their last seven in all competitions: they have won 6-0 twice, won 5-2 at West Didsbury and won at Linnets in the Macron Challenge Cup. The Yellows make the journey to Winsford United with Lee Duckworth’s side five places and five points behind in 17th. Winsford have lost their last four, but have shown their quality this season by winning at the likes of Runcorn Linnets. They will want to get back on track quickly.
Maine Road welcome Barnoldswick Town to Brantingham Road with the two sides in contrasting form. Chris Hirst’s Road have won three and drawn one of their last four, moving up to 13th place. Barnoldswick, however, are without a league win since beating Irlam at the end of September. 1-1 draws against AFC Darwen and Cammell Laird 1907 in their last two league games have hopefully stopped the rot from their perspective, and keep them ticking along in 16th place.
There are two huge clashes at the foot of the table between four of the bottom five.
Firstly, Barnton aim to continue their revival as they host New Mills. The goalless draw against Congleton last Saturday continued a marked improvement over the past month that has put them in 18th place - five points clear of their opponents. New Mills lie just below the dotted line in 20th, but recorded a midweek Derbyshire Senior Cup victory on penalties against Dronfield Town. One of three league victories so far this season saw them trounce Barnton 6-1 in August.
Like New Mills, bottom side Cammell Laird 1907 will hope to take inspiration from an earlier victory when they welcome 19th placed AFC Darwen. Lairds’ only win this campaign came in an FA Cup replay against Darwen, and it’s clearly been a struggle since, underlined by two heavy defeats against Runcorn Town and Bootle, but Mick McGraa’s team did draw their last home fixture against Barnoldswick.
AFC Darwen have won just one of their last 16, but did pick up very useful draws against the likes of New Mills, Congleton and Padiham. The reverse league fixture ended 0-0, so this may be another tight one.
A big weekend for all 22 clubs - all would be very grateful for your support, so get down and support your local team!
