Premier Division Preview - Boxing Day
Sat 24th December 2016 | General | By Gary Langley
As the festive season gets into full flow there are a large number of strong fixtures scheduled for Boxing Day to whet the appetite as clubs at the top and bottom of the table have the opportunity to rack up some much needed points. As you would expect at this time of year, the fixtures are strong and include a number of Derby games just to add to the appeal of an already great looking set of games.
Squires Gate welcome Ashton Athletic at the Royal British Legion Stadium with only a point separating these sides in themed-table region. Gate should have their tails up following an excellent win on the road last weekend with an eye catching 2-0 away at Bootle whilst on the same day Ashton took a respectable point away from Barlick. Occasionally when researching these previews you come across a top stat, Martin Fallon has confirmed this week that records show that gate have played 999 games in the North West Counties League so this should be an iconic occasion as this will be their 1000th game in our League.
Congleton Town host Hanley Town at the Richborough Estates Stadium with both clubs occupying spaces in mid table. Congleton had arrested a dip in form that blighted them over October and November with wins against West Didsbury & Chorlton and Cammell Laird in early December and were reportedly unlucky not to take something from their game away at Padiham last weekend.
Hanley sit fourteenth in the form table and that’s reflected by the fact they’ve only won one of their last six in all competitions, however their good early season form means that they still sit nicely in ninth in the league table. They will be hoping for a repeat of the result earlier in the season when they defeated their opponents 4-1 at home back in August.
Barnoldswick Town face Nelson at the Silentnight Stadium in what looks a tasty Lancashire clash. Both sides are in the bottom half of the table and Barnoldswick with only one win in their last eleven league games will perhaps be just looking for a win to keep enough daylight between them and the drop zone. The said drop zone is currently where Nelson sit, they are currently second-bottom of the table, ten points from safety so they are desperate for the points to improve their new year outlook.
At the Abbey Stadium, eleventh placed Abbey Hey welcome Irlam, who currently sit in tenth spot just two points above them but with a couple of games in hand. The home sides form isn’t too great at the moment they are twentieth in the form table, whilst Irlam are fairing better and go into this game on the back of a couple of wins.
AFC Darwen sit just one place above the relegation zone, however two wins in their last three sees them seven points clear of the danger zone and only a couple of points behind the clubs above them so there are reasons to be cheerful for them at present. One of those reasons to be cheerful is the impending visit of neighbouring Padiham at the WEC Group Anchor Ground for what will be an eagerly awaited derby game. Padiham are one of the in-form teams though and go into this game after four straight wins, netting fifteen goals in the process so this looks like it could be a cracking game.
At the St Lukes Barton Stadium it’s Tennents Versus Landlords as 1874 Northwich host Winsford United. As well as sharing a ground they share most recent opponents and similar results too with both having beaten AFC Liverpool, 1874 winning at the reds last Saturday in a feisty encounter, whilst Winsford defeated them 2-0 in midweek. Three straight wins for 1874 sees them go into this game as favorites, they are fifth in the table and only five points behind the leaders, Runcorn Town but with a game in hand on them too. Winsford are seventeenth in the table but ten points clear of the bottom three with up to five games in hand on some of the clubs around them.
At the Kensite Stadium, in-form Atherton Colls host anything but in-form New Mills. Sixteen places separate these clubs in the table with Colls’ sitting in fourth and New Mills in twentieth but the gulf is even bigger in the form table as Atherton sit top whilst their Derbyshire opponents are in 21st. New Mills have taken steps to try and address their poor season by appointing former Stockport Town Callum Sykes as Manager in midweek so they will be hoping for an immediate impact but could arguably have not asked for a tougher opponent.
Atherton Collieries go into this match with six successive straight league wins and depending on results elsewhere could finish as high as second by the end of the day.
Barton welcome bottom placed Cammell Laird at the Hinchliffe Homes Stadium with both sides still in trouble. Lairds form problems are well documented this season so with it being the season of goodwill and cheer we won’t dwell on that. Barton up until a few weeks ago were in the middle of a purple patch that had lifted them well out of the relegation zone. It’s testament to that earlier run of form that the fact they are currently four without a win is a sign for concern.
At the Delta Taxi’s Stadium Bootle host AFC Liverpool in a great looking Derby game. This is the third of what will be four meetings between these two clubs this season, them having met in both the FA Vase and Macron Cup already this season with Bootle winning both, 6-0 away and 3-0 at home. Joe Doran will be hoping last weeks Club of the month cursed defeat to Squires Gate is a blip and that home advantage will count. AFC Liverpool were unlucky last weekend against 1874 Northwich, in a feisty game there was very little between the two sides (apart from the one goal) and prior to that game they had been in relatively good form. These games are never dull so expect this to be a belter.
Last but not least is arguably the game of the day, as the Runcorn Derby takes place at the Millbank Linnets Stadium. Top of the pile Runcorn Town travel to their second placed opponents four points clear but very little separating them. Town are currently third in the Divisional form table whilst Linnets are second with only one defeat in their last six and both clubs knocking in over 120 league goals between them already.
This is the second time these clubs have met on Boxing Day with the clubs first and second in the Premier Division the last being a few seasons back, another stat that just adds to the intrigue of the game is the fact that Town are yet to win at the Millbank Linnets Stadium in League action, they have won there in the Cheshire Senior Cup though. With their win at Pavilions earlier in the season a win for Town would see them break that record and also notch their first ever league double against their neighbours. This game is likely to attract a massive crowd and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
So, there you have it, a great schedule of games for Boxing day. Whichever game you go to, enjoy it and stay safe. Have a great Christmas and we will see you next week for more of your favorite game previews.
Premier Division Preview - Boxing Day
Sat 24th December 2016 | General
By Gary Langley
As the festive season gets into full flow there are a large number of strong fixtures scheduled for Boxing Day to whet the appetite as clubs at the top and bottom of the table have the opportunity to rack up some much needed points. As you would expect at this time of year, the fixtures are strong and include a number of Derby games just to add to the appeal of an already great looking set of games.
Squires Gate welcome Ashton Athletic at the Royal British Legion Stadium with only a point separating these sides in themed-table region. Gate should have their tails up following an excellent win on the road last weekend with an eye catching 2-0 away at Bootle whilst on the same day Ashton took a respectable point away from Barlick. Occasionally when researching these previews you come across a top stat, Martin Fallon has confirmed this week that records show that gate have played 999 games in the North West Counties League so this should be an iconic occasion as this will be their 1000th game in our League.
Congleton Town host Hanley Town at the Richborough Estates Stadium with both clubs occupying spaces in mid table. Congleton had arrested a dip in form that blighted them over October and November with wins against West Didsbury & Chorlton and Cammell Laird in early December and were reportedly unlucky not to take something from their game away at Padiham last weekend.
Hanley sit fourteenth in the form table and that’s reflected by the fact they’ve only won one of their last six in all competitions, however their good early season form means that they still sit nicely in ninth in the league table. They will be hoping for a repeat of the result earlier in the season when they defeated their opponents 4-1 at home back in August.
Barnoldswick Town face Nelson at the Silentnight Stadium in what looks a tasty Lancashire clash. Both sides are in the bottom half of the table and Barnoldswick with only one win in their last eleven league games will perhaps be just looking for a win to keep enough daylight between them and the drop zone. The said drop zone is currently where Nelson sit, they are currently second-bottom of the table, ten points from safety so they are desperate for the points to improve their new year outlook.
At the Abbey Stadium, eleventh placed Abbey Hey welcome Irlam, who currently sit in tenth spot just two points above them but with a couple of games in hand. The home sides form isn’t too great at the moment they are twentieth in the form table, whilst Irlam are fairing better and go into this game on the back of a couple of wins.
AFC Darwen sit just one place above the relegation zone, however two wins in their last three sees them seven points clear of the danger zone and only a couple of points behind the clubs above them so there are reasons to be cheerful for them at present. One of those reasons to be cheerful is the impending visit of neighbouring Padiham at the WEC Group Anchor Ground for what will be an eagerly awaited derby game. Padiham are one of the in-form teams though and go into this game after four straight wins, netting fifteen goals in the process so this looks like it could be a cracking game.
At the St Lukes Barton Stadium it’s Tennents Versus Landlords as 1874 Northwich host Winsford United. As well as sharing a ground they share most recent opponents and similar results too with both having beaten AFC Liverpool, 1874 winning at the reds last Saturday in a feisty encounter, whilst Winsford defeated them 2-0 in midweek. Three straight wins for 1874 sees them go into this game as favorites, they are fifth in the table and only five points behind the leaders, Runcorn Town but with a game in hand on them too. Winsford are seventeenth in the table but ten points clear of the bottom three with up to five games in hand on some of the clubs around them.
At the Kensite Stadium, in-form Atherton Colls host anything but in-form New Mills. Sixteen places separate these clubs in the table with Colls’ sitting in fourth and New Mills in twentieth but the gulf is even bigger in the form table as Atherton sit top whilst their Derbyshire opponents are in 21st. New Mills have taken steps to try and address their poor season by appointing former Stockport Town Callum Sykes as Manager in midweek so they will be hoping for an immediate impact but could arguably have not asked for a tougher opponent.
Atherton Collieries go into this match with six successive straight league wins and depending on results elsewhere could finish as high as second by the end of the day.
Barton welcome bottom placed Cammell Laird at the Hinchliffe Homes Stadium with both sides still in trouble. Lairds form problems are well documented this season so with it being the season of goodwill and cheer we won’t dwell on that. Barton up until a few weeks ago were in the middle of a purple patch that had lifted them well out of the relegation zone. It’s testament to that earlier run of form that the fact they are currently four without a win is a sign for concern.
At the Delta Taxi’s Stadium Bootle host AFC Liverpool in a great looking Derby game. This is the third of what will be four meetings between these two clubs this season, them having met in both the FA Vase and Macron Cup already this season with Bootle winning both, 6-0 away and 3-0 at home. Joe Doran will be hoping last weeks Club of the month cursed defeat to Squires Gate is a blip and that home advantage will count. AFC Liverpool were unlucky last weekend against 1874 Northwich, in a feisty game there was very little between the two sides (apart from the one goal) and prior to that game they had been in relatively good form. These games are never dull so expect this to be a belter.
Last but not least is arguably the game of the day, as the Runcorn Derby takes place at the Millbank Linnets Stadium. Top of the pile Runcorn Town travel to their second placed opponents four points clear but very little separating them. Town are currently third in the Divisional form table whilst Linnets are second with only one defeat in their last six and both clubs knocking in over 120 league goals between them already.
This is the second time these clubs have met on Boxing Day with the clubs first and second in the Premier Division the last being a few seasons back, another stat that just adds to the intrigue of the game is the fact that Town are yet to win at the Millbank Linnets Stadium in League action, they have won there in the Cheshire Senior Cup though. With their win at Pavilions earlier in the season a win for Town would see them break that record and also notch their first ever league double against their neighbours. This game is likely to attract a massive crowd and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
So, there you have it, a great schedule of games for Boxing day. Whichever game you go to, enjoy it and stay safe. Have a great Christmas and we will see you next week for more of your favorite game previews.
