Premier Division Preview - Saturday 17th December 2016
Fri 16th December 2016 | General | By Gary Langley
This season has seen one of the closest and most anticipated Premier Division Seasons for a number of years and it’s the calibre and number of the clubs pressing at the top that has made every weekend feel like Christmas of late when viewing the fixtures.
This weekend has been no different with a number of high profile fixtures taking place that really catch the eye.
Starting at the Marine Travel Arena where there is an intriguing clash as AFC Liverpool host 1874 Northwich as the seventh placed reds look to net the points that will put them at the top of “The Rest Mini League” of clubs adrift of the top five. 1874 are at the bottom of that top echelon on 46 points but know a win will really keep the pressure on the clubs above them and with only five points separating them between 5th and the summit it is all to play for.
Cammell Laird this week appointed former Eurovision star Daz Sampson as Manager following Mick McGraa’s departure from the role. Daz is a suitably qualified coach and has had a number of roles around the non-league scene but this is likely to be his toughest test yet. A baptism of fire will welcome Daz in his first game as they host fourth placed Atherton Colls at the North West Construction Stadium. Colls are nine wins without defeat in the League and in good goal-scoring form.
Maine Road in fourteenth, welcome in-form Barnton who are currently in seventeenth in the table. Depending on results elsewhere they could climb right into the bosom of mid-table if they win and results elsewhere go their way. Maine Road go into this game with three defeats on the spin so will be looking for a turnaround in form.
There are a lot of good games in mid-table as Winsford host Irlam at the St Lukes Barton Stadium whilst Padiham welcome Congleton Town to the YESSS Electrical Arena, knowing that they will be needing a win to keep AFC Liverpool at bay and to keep the pressure on the top five. Congleton seem to have steadied things with two wins and a draw in their last four games, the two wins coming in their last two fixtures against Lairds and West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Speaking of West Didsbury & Chorlton, they will be looking to build on the momentum from their midweek 4-2 win over Glossop North End in the Quarter Finals of the Manchester Premier Cup, a win that sees them face FC United in the Semi-finals of that competition. They travel to Hanley Town this weekend with only three points separating them in the table. Hanley have been fairly steady this season and sit well in the top half, they just have not been able to stitch two wins together in the league since the back end of August.
Nelson welcome Runcorn Linnets to Little Wembley with three draws and a win in their last five in all competitions and keeps them on the heels of New Mills in 20th and more importantly only seven points behind 19th placed AFC Darwen who currently occupy the last safety position in the table. Linnets in third are only four points behind their neighbours from Weston in the League, they currently sit ninth in the form table but will fancy their chances being quite solid on the road this campaign. Darwen will be looking to protect that last position of safety and perhaps fancy their chances against New Mills, The Derbyshire side are one place but four points behind them in the table and struggling in games at the moment so Darwen may see this as winnable.
As we look at the fixtures of the top two both Bootle and Runcorn Town may well have eyes on each other as only two points separate them at the peak. Bootle host Squires Gate at the Delta Taxis Stadium with them second in the form table and knocking the goals in, they have netted sixteen times in their last four games in all competitions. Gate, who have shipped twelve in their last four had the better of the reverse fixture back in August, running out 4-3 winners. They have played fairly well of late but just haven’t been able to wrap games up so they will possibly look to the previous result for inspiration.
Top of the table Runcorn Town welcome Abbey Hey to Pavilions and will be looking to get back on track having been defeated last time out away at 1874 Northwich. Twenty Goals in their last five games shows where their strengths lie and with the signing this week of Former Lairds and Winsford United goalkeeper Michael Langley this week, Chris Herbert is certainly looking at fixing the slight issues at the back. Abbey Hey are currently 11th in the League Table but 19th in the form table which tells a story in itself. They have done well at Runcorn Town in recent seasons though and the fact they’re facing the top side is unlikely to faze them.
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 17th December 2016
Fri 16th December 2016 | General
By Gary Langley
This season has seen one of the closest and most anticipated Premier Division Seasons for a number of years and it’s the calibre and number of the clubs pressing at the top that has made every weekend feel like Christmas of late when viewing the fixtures.
This weekend has been no different with a number of high profile fixtures taking place that really catch the eye.
Starting at the Marine Travel Arena where there is an intriguing clash as AFC Liverpool host 1874 Northwich as the seventh placed reds look to net the points that will put them at the top of “The Rest Mini League” of clubs adrift of the top five. 1874 are at the bottom of that top echelon on 46 points but know a win will really keep the pressure on the clubs above them and with only five points separating them between 5th and the summit it is all to play for.
Cammell Laird this week appointed former Eurovision star Daz Sampson as Manager following Mick McGraa’s departure from the role. Daz is a suitably qualified coach and has had a number of roles around the non-league scene but this is likely to be his toughest test yet. A baptism of fire will welcome Daz in his first game as they host fourth placed Atherton Colls at the North West Construction Stadium. Colls are nine wins without defeat in the League and in good goal-scoring form.
Maine Road in fourteenth, welcome in-form Barnton who are currently in seventeenth in the table. Depending on results elsewhere they could climb right into the bosom of mid-table if they win and results elsewhere go their way. Maine Road go into this game with three defeats on the spin so will be looking for a turnaround in form.
There are a lot of good games in mid-table as Winsford host Irlam at the St Lukes Barton Stadium whilst Padiham welcome Congleton Town to the YESSS Electrical Arena, knowing that they will be needing a win to keep AFC Liverpool at bay and to keep the pressure on the top five. Congleton seem to have steadied things with two wins and a draw in their last four games, the two wins coming in their last two fixtures against Lairds and West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Speaking of West Didsbury & Chorlton, they will be looking to build on the momentum from their midweek 4-2 win over Glossop North End in the Quarter Finals of the Manchester Premier Cup, a win that sees them face FC United in the Semi-finals of that competition. They travel to Hanley Town this weekend with only three points separating them in the table. Hanley have been fairly steady this season and sit well in the top half, they just have not been able to stitch two wins together in the league since the back end of August.
Nelson welcome Runcorn Linnets to Little Wembley with three draws and a win in their last five in all competitions and keeps them on the heels of New Mills in 20th and more importantly only seven points behind 19th placed AFC Darwen who currently occupy the last safety position in the table. Linnets in third are only four points behind their neighbours from Weston in the League, they currently sit ninth in the form table but will fancy their chances being quite solid on the road this campaign. Darwen will be looking to protect that last position of safety and perhaps fancy their chances against New Mills, The Derbyshire side are one place but four points behind them in the table and struggling in games at the moment so Darwen may see this as winnable.
As we look at the fixtures of the top two both Bootle and Runcorn Town may well have eyes on each other as only two points separate them at the peak. Bootle host Squires Gate at the Delta Taxis Stadium with them second in the form table and knocking the goals in, they have netted sixteen times in their last four games in all competitions. Gate, who have shipped twelve in their last four had the better of the reverse fixture back in August, running out 4-3 winners. They have played fairly well of late but just haven’t been able to wrap games up so they will possibly look to the previous result for inspiration.
Top of the table Runcorn Town welcome Abbey Hey to Pavilions and will be looking to get back on track having been defeated last time out away at 1874 Northwich. Twenty Goals in their last five games shows where their strengths lie and with the signing this week of Former Lairds and Winsford United goalkeeper Michael Langley this week, Chris Herbert is certainly looking at fixing the slight issues at the back. Abbey Hey are currently 11th in the League Table but 19th in the form table which tells a story in itself. They have done well at Runcorn Town in recent seasons though and the fact they’re facing the top side is unlikely to faze them.
