Division One Preview - Saturday 3rd December 2016
Fri 2nd December 2016 | General | By Martin Stewart
This weekend's first division action has been pruned to just seven matches due to the Quarter Finals of the Reusch Cup, and with 6 of the top 10 sides in the division all taking part in knockout action, the league will be mainly on the battles for play-off spots and avoiding relegation.
So like MOTD on those wonderful Saturdays when none of the big Sky 4 are playing, we will start with the teams near the bottom this week.
Bottom of the pile currently are Ashton Town, with just one win and one draw in 18 games so far. Recent form hasn't been good either with just that one draw, ironically away at the then table topping City of Liverpool, the only thing to show for their last six.
It's going to be a battle to avoid the drop for the Town, but this weekend may offer an opportunity with a home game against former tenants, St Helens Town. The Saints play their second game in 48 hours having been on Reusch Cup duty last night, and that might offer a glimmer of hope to John Brownrigg's side in a game that is also a local derby and a chance for Town to claw back some of the space between them and Eccleshall.
Having said that, now isn't the best time to be playing the revitalised Saints who have won five and lost just one recently (not including last night's tie), scoring an almighty 23 goals in the process.
Just above Ashton in 21st place are Eccleshall, who last time out got a chance to put some distance between themselves and fellow relegation rivals with a 5-4 win over Ashton Town.
New manager Jamie Cullerton has only been in charge for 4 games and despite defeats in the other 3 matches, the Eagles have at least started to perform better of late. They head to the Brian Boys West View Stadium to take on Brent Peters and his Bacup Borough side.
Since being relegated two seasons ago, Bacup have struggled to regain their top flight status and it doesn't look like they will be getting it back this season either. They currently lie 16th with just 6 wins all campaign and barring a 3-2 victory at Blackpool recently, they haven't troubled the form table of late either. When the two sides last met at the beginning of October it was a 2-1 victory for Borough.
Hovering just above the relegation places are AFC Blackpool who will take on Silsden at home this weekend. Relegated just last season, the home side have not fared well in their first season back in the lower flight. Lying in 20th with just three wins all season they will have been buoyed by an impressive victory away to Prestwich last time out, and looking to build a run of form from that.
Opponents Silsden are still celebrating a huge extra time win in the Macron Cup last Monday against Premier League big boys 1874 Northwich. Since then, they've even had time to fit in a win over Halifax Town in the local county cup on Wednesday.
In the league the Cobbydalers have slipped recently to 18th but with plenty of games in hand on those around them, they will be hoping to avoid being sucked into the fight. This was a massive 5-2 win for the men from Yorkshire back in September, so their Red Rose opponents will be looking to exact revenge on this side of the Pennines.
Moving up the table, Atherton LR are the only team heading off for some early Christmas shopping this weekend so we next look at the game between Litherland REMYCA and Chadderton.
The away side had high hopes for the new season back in August with a new side and a new 35 year ground lease. But on the pitch they have failed to put together the sort of consistency that would make them promotion contenders and currently lie instead in 17th. They are on the back of two recent away victories however, firstly beating Holker Old Boys 4-1 in the league and last weekend taking on Premier League Maine Road in the Macron Cup, to emerge with a giant-killing 3-1 victory.
Possibly the happiest teams in the league right now will be Litherland REMYCA, with the Merseysiders currently enjoying a high profile season. An FA Vase victory at City of Liverpool back in August gave them a share of the Hallmark Security League's biggest crowd so far this season of 711.
Victory a fortnight ago in the Liverpool Senior Cup has lined them up with a mouth-watering home tie against Everton in the next round, so that attendance record may yet be broken once more. If that wasn't enough, last week they earned a prize in the prestigious Community Business Awards for their work to develop the club as a community owned enterprise.
On the field hasn't been too shabby either, with Phil Stafford's men sitting comfortably in the promotion race in 5th place. Recent form has them winning 4 out of the last 6 games, but a draw in the reverse of this fixture earlier in the season suggests they won't have it all their own way on Saturday.
Into that hinterland that isn't quite the relegation nor the promotion fight are Cheadle Town who sit currently in 15th spot. They travel to the grandly named 'The Venue' for a fixture that definitely won't fall foul of the weather this weekend against hosts FC Oswestry Town.
The men from Park Road are in a poor run of form with just one win in the last six. They did however hold leaders Whitchurch Alport to a goalless draw away last Saturday, so something to perhaps build on.
At the opposite end of the scale are FC Oswestry Town who are amidst a blistering run of form that has seen them move out of no man's land and into genuine contenders for a play-off spot.
Town have won 4 of the last six and sit in 7th place in the table. When the sides last met in August, Oswestry recorded a 4-1 away victory, so will be feeling confident of another three points this time.
Right into mid-table now but certainly not mediocrity is Stockport Town v Daisy Hill. The Nathan Neequaye inspired sprint up the table for Stockport has faltered of late with just 7 points of the last 18 available being taken and exits from three cup competitions suffered in the space of two weeks.
But the 17 times netted goal scoring machine is always a danger and will pose a threat to a Daisy Hill side who have conceded 14 in their last six matches.
Goalkeeper Craig Haynes received the Division One goalkeeper of the month award for October and has since went on to retrieve the ball from his net a back-breaking dozen or so times during November……those damned awards are cursed!
However, in Ashley Stott the Daisies have a goal scoring machine of their own and 21 from 22 games, including 4 against Silsden recently, suggests that the scoreboard manager at Lambeth Grove might want to bring his calculator along with him.
Saturday's last game has Alsager Town hosting Prestwich Heys at the delightfully entitled Woodland Court, which conjures up images of young deer, pixies and other Disneyland characters playfully gambolling in the enchanted trees next to the pitch.
Both sides have been well in the hunt for the promotion places all season, but Heys have slipped to 11th due to suffering 4 postponements in a row. Last Saturday they played their first league fixture since 2nd November and only their second in all competitions, and it was perhaps ring-rustiness that allowed them to lose 1-0 at home to struggling AFC Blackpool.
Games in hand suggest they can move back up the table but they won't want to lose any more ground this side of New Year to leave them with too much to make up when the games are played come springtime.
Alsager were installed as instant favourites for the First Division as early as the last day of last season, when they just failed to survive relegation from the Premier Division. They haven't quite stormed the league as expected this year, but have done enough to remain around the business end of the table and with games in hand of their own, could yet still threaten the title race.
They will have to ensure they don't keep dropping points to those around them though, having failed to take all the spoils from any of recent games against Sandbach, Widnes, Whitchurch (although this was a cup match) and City of Liverpool.
If Sky can include Monday night football as part of the weekend's fixture list then we can end by briefly looking at one more game taking place between Widnes and City of Liverpool. Both teams are in cup action just before the weekend so will meet at the Select Security Stadium in the league on Monday.
Both sides are in form taking valuable league points as well as cup scalps recently so there isn't much to choose between them. It was widely accepted that Widnes outclassed their opponents when they last met in October, winning 2-1 at the Delta Taxis Stadium, but Simon Burton's side have many new faces and a new formation since then so will be looking to go toe to toe with a side that is surprisingly not as dominant on their own ground.
However with Kevin Towey and George Lomax to call on, Joey Dunn and his men won't fear anyone at the moment.
Division One Preview - Saturday 3rd December 2016
Fri 2nd December 2016 | General
By Martin Stewart
This weekend's first division action has been pruned to just seven matches due to the Quarter Finals of the Reusch Cup, and with 6 of the top 10 sides in the division all taking part in knockout action, the league will be mainly on the battles for play-off spots and avoiding relegation.
So like MOTD on those wonderful Saturdays when none of the big Sky 4 are playing, we will start with the teams near the bottom this week.
Bottom of the pile currently are Ashton Town, with just one win and one draw in 18 games so far. Recent form hasn't been good either with just that one draw, ironically away at the then table topping City of Liverpool, the only thing to show for their last six.
It's going to be a battle to avoid the drop for the Town, but this weekend may offer an opportunity with a home game against former tenants, St Helens Town. The Saints play their second game in 48 hours having been on Reusch Cup duty last night, and that might offer a glimmer of hope to John Brownrigg's side in a game that is also a local derby and a chance for Town to claw back some of the space between them and Eccleshall.
Having said that, now isn't the best time to be playing the revitalised Saints who have won five and lost just one recently (not including last night's tie), scoring an almighty 23 goals in the process.
Just above Ashton in 21st place are Eccleshall, who last time out got a chance to put some distance between themselves and fellow relegation rivals with a 5-4 win over Ashton Town.
New manager Jamie Cullerton has only been in charge for 4 games and despite defeats in the other 3 matches, the Eagles have at least started to perform better of late. They head to the Brian Boys West View Stadium to take on Brent Peters and his Bacup Borough side.
Since being relegated two seasons ago, Bacup have struggled to regain their top flight status and it doesn't look like they will be getting it back this season either. They currently lie 16th with just 6 wins all campaign and barring a 3-2 victory at Blackpool recently, they haven't troubled the form table of late either. When the two sides last met at the beginning of October it was a 2-1 victory for Borough.
Hovering just above the relegation places are AFC Blackpool who will take on Silsden at home this weekend. Relegated just last season, the home side have not fared well in their first season back in the lower flight. Lying in 20th with just three wins all season they will have been buoyed by an impressive victory away to Prestwich last time out, and looking to build a run of form from that.
Opponents Silsden are still celebrating a huge extra time win in the Macron Cup last Monday against Premier League big boys 1874 Northwich. Since then, they've even had time to fit in a win over Halifax Town in the local county cup on Wednesday.
In the league the Cobbydalers have slipped recently to 18th but with plenty of games in hand on those around them, they will be hoping to avoid being sucked into the fight. This was a massive 5-2 win for the men from Yorkshire back in September, so their Red Rose opponents will be looking to exact revenge on this side of the Pennines.
Moving up the table, Atherton LR are the only team heading off for some early Christmas shopping this weekend so we next look at the game between Litherland REMYCA and Chadderton.
The away side had high hopes for the new season back in August with a new side and a new 35 year ground lease. But on the pitch they have failed to put together the sort of consistency that would make them promotion contenders and currently lie instead in 17th. They are on the back of two recent away victories however, firstly beating Holker Old Boys 4-1 in the league and last weekend taking on Premier League Maine Road in the Macron Cup, to emerge with a giant-killing 3-1 victory.
Possibly the happiest teams in the league right now will be Litherland REMYCA, with the Merseysiders currently enjoying a high profile season. An FA Vase victory at City of Liverpool back in August gave them a share of the Hallmark Security League's biggest crowd so far this season of 711.
Victory a fortnight ago in the Liverpool Senior Cup has lined them up with a mouth-watering home tie against Everton in the next round, so that attendance record may yet be broken once more. If that wasn't enough, last week they earned a prize in the prestigious Community Business Awards for their work to develop the club as a community owned enterprise.
On the field hasn't been too shabby either, with Phil Stafford's men sitting comfortably in the promotion race in 5th place. Recent form has them winning 4 out of the last 6 games, but a draw in the reverse of this fixture earlier in the season suggests they won't have it all their own way on Saturday.
Into that hinterland that isn't quite the relegation nor the promotion fight are Cheadle Town who sit currently in 15th spot. They travel to the grandly named 'The Venue' for a fixture that definitely won't fall foul of the weather this weekend against hosts FC Oswestry Town.
The men from Park Road are in a poor run of form with just one win in the last six. They did however hold leaders Whitchurch Alport to a goalless draw away last Saturday, so something to perhaps build on.
At the opposite end of the scale are FC Oswestry Town who are amidst a blistering run of form that has seen them move out of no man's land and into genuine contenders for a play-off spot.
Town have won 4 of the last six and sit in 7th place in the table. When the sides last met in August, Oswestry recorded a 4-1 away victory, so will be feeling confident of another three points this time.
Right into mid-table now but certainly not mediocrity is Stockport Town v Daisy Hill. The Nathan Neequaye inspired sprint up the table for Stockport has faltered of late with just 7 points of the last 18 available being taken and exits from three cup competitions suffered in the space of two weeks.
But the 17 times netted goal scoring machine is always a danger and will pose a threat to a Daisy Hill side who have conceded 14 in their last six matches.
Goalkeeper Craig Haynes received the Division One goalkeeper of the month award for October and has since went on to retrieve the ball from his net a back-breaking dozen or so times during November……those damned awards are cursed!
However, in Ashley Stott the Daisies have a goal scoring machine of their own and 21 from 22 games, including 4 against Silsden recently, suggests that the scoreboard manager at Lambeth Grove might want to bring his calculator along with him.
Saturday's last game has Alsager Town hosting Prestwich Heys at the delightfully entitled Woodland Court, which conjures up images of young deer, pixies and other Disneyland characters playfully gambolling in the enchanted trees next to the pitch.
Both sides have been well in the hunt for the promotion places all season, but Heys have slipped to 11th due to suffering 4 postponements in a row. Last Saturday they played their first league fixture since 2nd November and only their second in all competitions, and it was perhaps ring-rustiness that allowed them to lose 1-0 at home to struggling AFC Blackpool.
Games in hand suggest they can move back up the table but they won't want to lose any more ground this side of New Year to leave them with too much to make up when the games are played come springtime.
Alsager were installed as instant favourites for the First Division as early as the last day of last season, when they just failed to survive relegation from the Premier Division. They haven't quite stormed the league as expected this year, but have done enough to remain around the business end of the table and with games in hand of their own, could yet still threaten the title race.
They will have to ensure they don't keep dropping points to those around them though, having failed to take all the spoils from any of recent games against Sandbach, Widnes, Whitchurch (although this was a cup match) and City of Liverpool.
If Sky can include Monday night football as part of the weekend's fixture list then we can end by briefly looking at one more game taking place between Widnes and City of Liverpool. Both teams are in cup action just before the weekend so will meet at the Select Security Stadium in the league on Monday.
Both sides are in form taking valuable league points as well as cup scalps recently so there isn't much to choose between them. It was widely accepted that Widnes outclassed their opponents when they last met in October, winning 2-1 at the Delta Taxis Stadium, but Simon Burton's side have many new faces and a new formation since then so will be looking to go toe to toe with a side that is surprisingly not as dominant on their own ground.
However with Kevin Towey and George Lomax to call on, Joey Dunn and his men won't fear anyone at the moment.
