Premier Division Preview - Saturday 10th December 2016
Fri 9th December 2016 | General | By Mark Ashmore
We start in Winsford where this weekend's big Premier Division game takes place.
1874 Northwich host league leaders Runcorn Town in a game which will no doubt be full of goals for both sides. The league table would suggest it's either win or lose for Town who have yet to draw a game yet this season, and goals are something Town aren't shy of either with 64 scored so far this season, Bootle the only ones to have scored more.
The form table over the least six games can't separate the two teams by much. It's Town who sit at the top with five out of six wins and 24 goals scored and 1874 sit 6th in the form table and have won 4 of their last six games.
1874 come into this weekend's game after a solid win away at New Mills, top scorer Thomas Bailey back on the score sheet for the first time since the start of November. Runcorn come into the game on the back of a 3-0 away win at Barnton, with their own top goal scorer Craig Cairns netting his 37th goal of the season so far.
The team that Town fans eyes will be on apart from their own on Saturday will be Bootle. They sit five points behind Town and will be looking to make up points again this weekend.
The Bucks were very unlucky to bow out of The Buildbase FA Vase this past Saturday after Cleethorpes cancelled out Ryan Cox 85th minute goal with two goals in the last three minutes. This weekend they make the trip to struggling AFC Darwen who sit one place above the relegation places.
The form table also makes grim reading for the Darwen faithful with their side not winning in six games, picking up just two points from two draws. Though they have struggled in November with playing games, with three of their six games called off last month, manager Adam Douglas will be hoping December can see his side getting games played and points picked up.
When these two met last season the game was a cracker at Bootle, with AFC 2-0 up at half time before the home side mounted a comeback to win 3-2 with two goals in the last four minutes.
Another game which pits top half against bottom half is Runcorn Linnets against New Mills. The Millbank Linnets Stadium has always been a tough place to get any points from and this is no different this season and Linnets have lost just one home game out of the nine played so far.
At the other end of the table it would suggest that New Mills are struggling on the road this season. They've picked up just one win away from home, those two stats not looking too promising for the visitors.
New Mills come into this game at the weekend on the back of the previously mentioned 4-2 loss at home to 1874 Northwich, whereas Linnets come into the weekend on the back of a 2-2 draw, new signing Brian Matthews with a first half double.
A win could be vital for both teams for different reasons. Linnets will need to keep picking up points with Atherton Colls just one point behind them and two point separating them and Bootle in 2nd place. New Mills on the other hand have a resurgent Nelson on their tail below them with 3 points difference.
Speaking of Nelson, this weekend they travel to Barnton looking to continue their improved form of six points from six games. Nelson will be buoyed by the recent signing of striker Jason Hart. A familiar name around the league, last year's top goal scorer arrives from Colne and is bounded to get back to scoring ways.
The Admirals come into this game on the back of a solid 2-2 at home to Ashton Athletic. After the visitors were 2-0 up after 35 minutes, Nelson did well to fight back with goals coming in the 76th and 86th minute.
Barnton have made a shaky start to life in the Premier Division since last year's promotion and currently sit the lowest of the three promoted in 17th. Amongst their 15 losses this year Barnton have picked up some good wins, beating teams like Squires Gate, Winsford, Congleton and AFC Liverpool to name but a few. Striker Christopher Smith is impressing up top for Barnton grabbing himself 17 goals in 29 games.
Sitting just behind him in the goal scoring chart is striker Ashley Woods with 17 goals. His old team West Didsbury and Chorlton will be looking to life without the forward this weekend when they host Winsford United, with the forward moving up into Evo - Stick NPL First Division North to join Trafford FC early last week.
West are sat in 10th place whereas Winsford are in 18th, and West come into the game on the back of a 2-1 defeat away at Congleton, striker Saul Henderson grabbing the goal.
Winsford come into the game in a poor run of form having not won since 22nd October with a 3-1 win away at Abbey Hey. They'll be looking to Nathan Cotterell to lead them to victory on Saturday, he's got an impressive looking 13 goals in 13 games so far this season. Winsford have had a week to prepare for this one after the match referee deemed the pitch unplayable against AFC Liverpool.
AFC will again be on the road this weekend when they travel to Blackpool to face Squires Gate. Seven league places separate the two teams with a ten point gap between.
AFC come into the game in good form winning the four of their last six games, conceding just five goals along the way. Winger Emini Adegbenro has been in fine goal scoring form in those games and so far this season, picking up four goals in their last six games and 11 goals in 21 games. He's the leading goal scorer with the prolific Jason Carey behind him with 5 goals in 24 games.
Comparatively Squires Gate's form of late has been very different, picking up just the one win in their last six games. That came in the form of a 2-0 win against New Mills at home two Saturday's ago, although Squires Gate are a danger at home and have the ability to throw the form book out the window.
They can list the likes of 1874 Northwich and Bootle who have come away from Blackpool with losses to their names. Squires Gate come into this game on the back of a 3-1 defeat away at Irlam, Ric Seear grabbing his 18th goal of the season only a consolation for Gate.
Another player who is level with Seear on 18 goals is striker Daniel Cope at Hanley Town. Cope will need to be on form this weekend when his Hanley Town side travel to Atherton Colls.
Since their promotion Hanley have looked comfortable in the Premier Division sitting in 6th position. On their travels this season Hanley have picked up 17 points winning at the likes of Padiham, Congleton and Road to name a few, and come into the game having won just two of their last six games, last Saturday being one of them when they beat AFC Darwen 3-1.
The mood at Atherton Colls at the moment must be the highest it's ever been after Saturday's Buildbase FA Vase win away at Penrith. The league's only representatives left in the competition, a Cover double and a Grimshaw goal put them through to face Shildon in the next round. In the league, fortunes are just as bright with five wins in their last six games. Striker Jordan Cover has been in fine form for Colls in his past six games scoring eight goals, and Colls will be looking for another win to keep the pressure on with the teams above them all in catching distance and 1874 Northwich not far behind them.
The team just behind Atherton Colls in the form table are Ashton Athletic, who this weekend host Irlam FC. Ashton come into the game after progressing into the semi final of Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy on Tuesday night beating Atherton LR with three first half goals.
Recent wins against West Didsbury and Chorlton and Runcorn Town in the cup as well as draws against Winsford and Nelson see Ashton in the healthy position of joint 12th place with Maine Road. Adam Gilchrist has been in superb goal scoring form in the previously mentioned games scoring five goals in their last six games including a five minute hat trick against West Didsbury.
Irlam come into the game having won two of their last six games, those coming against Hanley Town and Squires Gate on Saturday. Irlam will be looking to winger Matthew Boland and striker Christian Lawlor on Saturday to grab them the goals. Boland has eight in nineteen and Lawlor ten in twenty games. Just three points and four places separate Ashton and Irlam in what's a very tight mid table area
Elsewhere in the league this weekend, one of the form teams Padiham entertain Maine Road at the YESSS Electrical Arena after picking up four wins in their last six games. Maine Road themselves have won three of their last six games in what promises to be an entertaining game.
Last but not least Congleton host bottom side Cammell Laird 1907. Lairds are still yet to register a league win yet where as Congleton come into the game in 14th. The Bears themselves aren't in the best of form winning only one games in the last six, although that win was a very impressive one this past Saturday beating West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-1, the goals coming from Declan Fletcher and Richard Bailey.
Wherever you're going to watch football this weekend, (and you've got some cracking games to choose from!) make sure to enjoy.
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 10th December 2016
Fri 9th December 2016 | General
By Mark Ashmore
We start in Winsford where this weekend's big Premier Division game takes place.
1874 Northwich host league leaders Runcorn Town in a game which will no doubt be full of goals for both sides. The league table would suggest it's either win or lose for Town who have yet to draw a game yet this season, and goals are something Town aren't shy of either with 64 scored so far this season, Bootle the only ones to have scored more.
The form table over the least six games can't separate the two teams by much. It's Town who sit at the top with five out of six wins and 24 goals scored and 1874 sit 6th in the form table and have won 4 of their last six games.
1874 come into this weekend's game after a solid win away at New Mills, top scorer Thomas Bailey back on the score sheet for the first time since the start of November. Runcorn come into the game on the back of a 3-0 away win at Barnton, with their own top goal scorer Craig Cairns netting his 37th goal of the season so far.
The team that Town fans eyes will be on apart from their own on Saturday will be Bootle. They sit five points behind Town and will be looking to make up points again this weekend.
The Bucks were very unlucky to bow out of The Buildbase FA Vase this past Saturday after Cleethorpes cancelled out Ryan Cox 85th minute goal with two goals in the last three minutes. This weekend they make the trip to struggling AFC Darwen who sit one place above the relegation places.
The form table also makes grim reading for the Darwen faithful with their side not winning in six games, picking up just two points from two draws. Though they have struggled in November with playing games, with three of their six games called off last month, manager Adam Douglas will be hoping December can see his side getting games played and points picked up.
When these two met last season the game was a cracker at Bootle, with AFC 2-0 up at half time before the home side mounted a comeback to win 3-2 with two goals in the last four minutes.
Another game which pits top half against bottom half is Runcorn Linnets against New Mills. The Millbank Linnets Stadium has always been a tough place to get any points from and this is no different this season and Linnets have lost just one home game out of the nine played so far.
At the other end of the table it would suggest that New Mills are struggling on the road this season. They've picked up just one win away from home, those two stats not looking too promising for the visitors.
New Mills come into this game at the weekend on the back of the previously mentioned 4-2 loss at home to 1874 Northwich, whereas Linnets come into the weekend on the back of a 2-2 draw, new signing Brian Matthews with a first half double.
A win could be vital for both teams for different reasons. Linnets will need to keep picking up points with Atherton Colls just one point behind them and two point separating them and Bootle in 2nd place. New Mills on the other hand have a resurgent Nelson on their tail below them with 3 points difference.
Speaking of Nelson, this weekend they travel to Barnton looking to continue their improved form of six points from six games. Nelson will be buoyed by the recent signing of striker Jason Hart. A familiar name around the league, last year's top goal scorer arrives from Colne and is bounded to get back to scoring ways.
The Admirals come into this game on the back of a solid 2-2 at home to Ashton Athletic. After the visitors were 2-0 up after 35 minutes, Nelson did well to fight back with goals coming in the 76th and 86th minute.
Barnton have made a shaky start to life in the Premier Division since last year's promotion and currently sit the lowest of the three promoted in 17th. Amongst their 15 losses this year Barnton have picked up some good wins, beating teams like Squires Gate, Winsford, Congleton and AFC Liverpool to name but a few. Striker Christopher Smith is impressing up top for Barnton grabbing himself 17 goals in 29 games.
Sitting just behind him in the goal scoring chart is striker Ashley Woods with 17 goals. His old team West Didsbury and Chorlton will be looking to life without the forward this weekend when they host Winsford United, with the forward moving up into Evo - Stick NPL First Division North to join Trafford FC early last week.
West are sat in 10th place whereas Winsford are in 18th, and West come into the game on the back of a 2-1 defeat away at Congleton, striker Saul Henderson grabbing the goal.
Winsford come into the game in a poor run of form having not won since 22nd October with a 3-1 win away at Abbey Hey. They'll be looking to Nathan Cotterell to lead them to victory on Saturday, he's got an impressive looking 13 goals in 13 games so far this season. Winsford have had a week to prepare for this one after the match referee deemed the pitch unplayable against AFC Liverpool.
AFC will again be on the road this weekend when they travel to Blackpool to face Squires Gate. Seven league places separate the two teams with a ten point gap between.
AFC come into the game in good form winning the four of their last six games, conceding just five goals along the way. Winger Emini Adegbenro has been in fine goal scoring form in those games and so far this season, picking up four goals in their last six games and 11 goals in 21 games. He's the leading goal scorer with the prolific Jason Carey behind him with 5 goals in 24 games.
Comparatively Squires Gate's form of late has been very different, picking up just the one win in their last six games. That came in the form of a 2-0 win against New Mills at home two Saturday's ago, although Squires Gate are a danger at home and have the ability to throw the form book out the window.
They can list the likes of 1874 Northwich and Bootle who have come away from Blackpool with losses to their names. Squires Gate come into this game on the back of a 3-1 defeat away at Irlam, Ric Seear grabbing his 18th goal of the season only a consolation for Gate.
Another player who is level with Seear on 18 goals is striker Daniel Cope at Hanley Town. Cope will need to be on form this weekend when his Hanley Town side travel to Atherton Colls.
Since their promotion Hanley have looked comfortable in the Premier Division sitting in 6th position. On their travels this season Hanley have picked up 17 points winning at the likes of Padiham, Congleton and Road to name a few, and come into the game having won just two of their last six games, last Saturday being one of them when they beat AFC Darwen 3-1.
The mood at Atherton Colls at the moment must be the highest it's ever been after Saturday's Buildbase FA Vase win away at Penrith. The league's only representatives left in the competition, a Cover double and a Grimshaw goal put them through to face Shildon in the next round. In the league, fortunes are just as bright with five wins in their last six games. Striker Jordan Cover has been in fine form for Colls in his past six games scoring eight goals, and Colls will be looking for another win to keep the pressure on with the teams above them all in catching distance and 1874 Northwich not far behind them.
The team just behind Atherton Colls in the form table are Ashton Athletic, who this weekend host Irlam FC. Ashton come into the game after progressing into the semi final of Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy on Tuesday night beating Atherton LR with three first half goals.
Recent wins against West Didsbury and Chorlton and Runcorn Town in the cup as well as draws against Winsford and Nelson see Ashton in the healthy position of joint 12th place with Maine Road. Adam Gilchrist has been in superb goal scoring form in the previously mentioned games scoring five goals in their last six games including a five minute hat trick against West Didsbury.
Irlam come into the game having won two of their last six games, those coming against Hanley Town and Squires Gate on Saturday. Irlam will be looking to winger Matthew Boland and striker Christian Lawlor on Saturday to grab them the goals. Boland has eight in nineteen and Lawlor ten in twenty games. Just three points and four places separate Ashton and Irlam in what's a very tight mid table area
Elsewhere in the league this weekend, one of the form teams Padiham entertain Maine Road at the YESSS Electrical Arena after picking up four wins in their last six games. Maine Road themselves have won three of their last six games in what promises to be an entertaining game.
Last but not least Congleton host bottom side Cammell Laird 1907. Lairds are still yet to register a league win yet where as Congleton come into the game in 14th. The Bears themselves aren't in the best of form winning only one games in the last six, although that win was a very impressive one this past Saturday beating West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-1, the goals coming from Declan Fletcher and Richard Bailey.
Wherever you're going to watch football this weekend, (and you've got some cracking games to choose from!) make sure to enjoy.
