Division One Preview - 7th January 2017
Fri 6th January 2017 | General | By Gary Langley
January has arrived with a number of clubs looking to make 2017 a year to remember, whilst others - a year not to be making history for the wrong reasons. The cold snap over the last week won't have done much to help clubs up and down the region. The forecast for this weekend is set fair so hopefully that will cut everyone a bit of slack and enable all and sundry to continue their seasons adventure! So, lets take a look at the games taking place around the Hallmark Security League Division One this weekend.....
City of Liverpool hit double figures last week at Stockport Town as they turned them over 10-0. Despite the result they remained third in the table as the teams above them also won. Next up for the purple steam roller are AFC Blackpool who had an equally bad weekend for totally differing reasons. The tangerines game last week was called off following a break-in and vandalism at their ground, leaving glass on the pitch and other secure walkways. That's just what the need at a time when on the park they had been in good form and hopeful of pulling away from the relegation zone.
On the subject of the relegation zone, the two clubs currently keeping the drop spots warm are Ashton Town and Eccleshall who go head to head this weekend at Edge Green Street. It's good to see that Ashton Town's Chairman Mark Hayes hasn't lost his sense of humour, tweeting out last week that his Town' side are unbeaten in 2017. He will be looking to keep that 'run' going and make a giant stride towards a run for salvation with a win this weekend.
There are all sorts of permutations come the end of the season for relegation and so on, both of these long established clubs are fighting for their League survival and this makes this a fascinating game to watch and stats really go out the window for these guys.
Observers at Towns' 2-4 away defeat to Carlisle last week cited them as a good young side who can play football so if they can convert good football to points then it makes it interesting. They only have three games scheduled for January though, one of which is away at the league leaders.
Eccleshall will take heart from the last time these two sides met, they won by the odd goal in nine in a thrilling game at Pershall Park back on 26th November. Likewise they are in an equally perilous position to their opponents and also have games in hand on Atherton LR above them. For Eccleshall this could be a defining month for their survival hopes as they face both Sides either side of them over the next fortnight.
Bacup Borough are having a season to forget it seems with postponements and lack of consistency (probably down to said postponements) from a promising young squad seeing them stuck in 18th spot in the table at the moment. Daisy Hill in thirteenth position, travel to the Brian Boys West View stadium this weekend in similar form to their opponents so both will be keen to get some momentum behind them in the new year.
Widnes welcome Carlisle City to the Select Security Stadium for the first competitive meeting between these sides and start the day in eighth position in the table. Many people expect Widnes to surge into the top six, however the fixtures have not been too kind for them, yes they have a good unbeaten run but they just can't get the points on the board quick enough to break away from the "best of the rest" pack.
Carlisle City have been in fairly decent form of late with four wins in their last six in all competitions, however their early season results as they adapted to this level may just peg them back enough to rule them out of a play-off spot this season being twelve points off the top six themselves.
St Helens Town welcome Holker Old Boys to Valerie Park, Prescot this weekend and will be hoping to put three successive league defeats behind them. Holker won last time out, they hosted Daisy Hill last weekend and ran out 3-2 winners. They face Town this weekend then the bottom two clubs in succession over the next fortnight.
Chadderton haven't really cemented themselves as early season play-off contenders over the course of the last few months, currently sitting fourteenth in the table with a zero goal difference but they have recorded some good wins when they have needed to this campaign. The are currently in decent form with only one defeat in their last eight in all competitions which will be something Alsager Town will be wary of as they visit the ARK Fleetech stadium this weekend. Fifth placed Alsager have won when it matters of late and we're unlucky according to some observers last weekend as they narrowly lost 0-1 at home to leaders, Whitchurch.
Silsden host Prestwich Heys this weekend in good form, five wins in their last six gives them a cause for optimism for the New Year. Prestwich are also looking good going into the new calendar year going into this game on the back of three straight wins scoring fourteen goals in the process. They will be looking to keep the pressure on the top six as they currently sit seventh in the table, seven points off bridging the gap but with a couple of games in hand.
FC Oswestry and Stockport Town meet at The Venue this coming weekend and both will feel they have points to prove, having sustained heavy defeats last time out. FC Oswestry Town were beaten 1-5 at the same venue last weekend by fellow promotion chasers, Sandbach United. It was a defeat that made their attempts to reach the top six that bit more difficult.
Stockport Town's current squad rebuild at short notice didn't help their situation last week, contributing to their 10-0 reverse by City of Liverpool last weekend. They will be hoping that the squad has a chance to settle to steady the ship a bit.
Charnock Richard host Litherland Remyca at Mossie Park in a mouth watering clash between second and fourth in the table. Both teams head into this game in good form with only one league defeat in their last twelve league games whilst The Remy' have only had one defeat in their last ten in all competitions. Only five points separate these two clubs with both having played a similar amount of games. Very much all to play for in this game and whilst Charnock have the upper hand at present, they know a defeat could be quite costly at this stage in the season.
Top of the table Whitchurch Alport travel to Cheadle Town this weekend, aware of the fact that whatever the result they will stay top of the league. They have the rare luxury in what has been a very tight season of having some daylight between them and the suitors of their position and will be keen to retain that, having played a couple more games than some of their fellow promotion chasers.
Alport are unbeaten in their last six league games and that includes noteable wins over Alsager Town and FC Oswestry Town and also have a favourable run of fixtures ahead. Cheadle Town who are currently in fifteenth position go into this game on two straight wins, unusually for a club who have been consistently challenging in recent years that is the first time this season they have managed to string two wins together. Reasons to be cheerful nonetheless!
Sandbach are looking the real deal and it's probably not the best time to head to the Sandbach Community Football Ground but that is the task facing Atherton LR on Saturday. Two defeats in their last twelve league games for Sandbach shows their promotion credentials and one of those was to top of the table Whitchurch Alport. They are currently eight points clear of seventh placed Prestwich Heys but also only eight off an automatic promotion spot such is the close proximity of the sides in the top six.
Atherton LR have managed to steer clear of the bottom two spaces for most of the season and remain third from bottom, nine points clear of the drop zone. Both clubs beneath them have a games in hand but it's LR who have the breathing space and depending on results elsewhere, an eye catching win this weekend could see them tugging on the coat-tails of the mid-table pack.
Division One Preview - 7th January 2017
Fri 6th January 2017 | General
By Gary Langley
January has arrived with a number of clubs looking to make 2017 a year to remember, whilst others - a year not to be making history for the wrong reasons. The cold snap over the last week won't have done much to help clubs up and down the region. The forecast for this weekend is set fair so hopefully that will cut everyone a bit of slack and enable all and sundry to continue their seasons adventure! So, lets take a look at the games taking place around the Hallmark Security League Division One this weekend.....
City of Liverpool hit double figures last week at Stockport Town as they turned them over 10-0. Despite the result they remained third in the table as the teams above them also won. Next up for the purple steam roller are AFC Blackpool who had an equally bad weekend for totally differing reasons. The tangerines game last week was called off following a break-in and vandalism at their ground, leaving glass on the pitch and other secure walkways. That's just what the need at a time when on the park they had been in good form and hopeful of pulling away from the relegation zone.
On the subject of the relegation zone, the two clubs currently keeping the drop spots warm are Ashton Town and Eccleshall who go head to head this weekend at Edge Green Street. It's good to see that Ashton Town's Chairman Mark Hayes hasn't lost his sense of humour, tweeting out last week that his Town' side are unbeaten in 2017. He will be looking to keep that 'run' going and make a giant stride towards a run for salvation with a win this weekend.
There are all sorts of permutations come the end of the season for relegation and so on, both of these long established clubs are fighting for their League survival and this makes this a fascinating game to watch and stats really go out the window for these guys.
Observers at Towns' 2-4 away defeat to Carlisle last week cited them as a good young side who can play football so if they can convert good football to points then it makes it interesting. They only have three games scheduled for January though, one of which is away at the league leaders.
Eccleshall will take heart from the last time these two sides met, they won by the odd goal in nine in a thrilling game at Pershall Park back on 26th November. Likewise they are in an equally perilous position to their opponents and also have games in hand on Atherton LR above them. For Eccleshall this could be a defining month for their survival hopes as they face both Sides either side of them over the next fortnight.
Bacup Borough are having a season to forget it seems with postponements and lack of consistency (probably down to said postponements) from a promising young squad seeing them stuck in 18th spot in the table at the moment. Daisy Hill in thirteenth position, travel to the Brian Boys West View stadium this weekend in similar form to their opponents so both will be keen to get some momentum behind them in the new year.
Widnes welcome Carlisle City to the Select Security Stadium for the first competitive meeting between these sides and start the day in eighth position in the table. Many people expect Widnes to surge into the top six, however the fixtures have not been too kind for them, yes they have a good unbeaten run but they just can't get the points on the board quick enough to break away from the "best of the rest" pack.
Carlisle City have been in fairly decent form of late with four wins in their last six in all competitions, however their early season results as they adapted to this level may just peg them back enough to rule them out of a play-off spot this season being twelve points off the top six themselves.
St Helens Town welcome Holker Old Boys to Valerie Park, Prescot this weekend and will be hoping to put three successive league defeats behind them. Holker won last time out, they hosted Daisy Hill last weekend and ran out 3-2 winners. They face Town this weekend then the bottom two clubs in succession over the next fortnight.
Chadderton haven't really cemented themselves as early season play-off contenders over the course of the last few months, currently sitting fourteenth in the table with a zero goal difference but they have recorded some good wins when they have needed to this campaign. The are currently in decent form with only one defeat in their last eight in all competitions which will be something Alsager Town will be wary of as they visit the ARK Fleetech stadium this weekend. Fifth placed Alsager have won when it matters of late and we're unlucky according to some observers last weekend as they narrowly lost 0-1 at home to leaders, Whitchurch.
Silsden host Prestwich Heys this weekend in good form, five wins in their last six gives them a cause for optimism for the New Year. Prestwich are also looking good going into the new calendar year going into this game on the back of three straight wins scoring fourteen goals in the process. They will be looking to keep the pressure on the top six as they currently sit seventh in the table, seven points off bridging the gap but with a couple of games in hand.
FC Oswestry and Stockport Town meet at The Venue this coming weekend and both will feel they have points to prove, having sustained heavy defeats last time out. FC Oswestry Town were beaten 1-5 at the same venue last weekend by fellow promotion chasers, Sandbach United. It was a defeat that made their attempts to reach the top six that bit more difficult.
Stockport Town's current squad rebuild at short notice didn't help their situation last week, contributing to their 10-0 reverse by City of Liverpool last weekend. They will be hoping that the squad has a chance to settle to steady the ship a bit.
Charnock Richard host Litherland Remyca at Mossie Park in a mouth watering clash between second and fourth in the table. Both teams head into this game in good form with only one league defeat in their last twelve league games whilst The Remy' have only had one defeat in their last ten in all competitions. Only five points separate these two clubs with both having played a similar amount of games. Very much all to play for in this game and whilst Charnock have the upper hand at present, they know a defeat could be quite costly at this stage in the season.
Top of the table Whitchurch Alport travel to Cheadle Town this weekend, aware of the fact that whatever the result they will stay top of the league. They have the rare luxury in what has been a very tight season of having some daylight between them and the suitors of their position and will be keen to retain that, having played a couple more games than some of their fellow promotion chasers.
Alport are unbeaten in their last six league games and that includes noteable wins over Alsager Town and FC Oswestry Town and also have a favourable run of fixtures ahead. Cheadle Town who are currently in fifteenth position go into this game on two straight wins, unusually for a club who have been consistently challenging in recent years that is the first time this season they have managed to string two wins together. Reasons to be cheerful nonetheless!
Sandbach are looking the real deal and it's probably not the best time to head to the Sandbach Community Football Ground but that is the task facing Atherton LR on Saturday. Two defeats in their last twelve league games for Sandbach shows their promotion credentials and one of those was to top of the table Whitchurch Alport. They are currently eight points clear of seventh placed Prestwich Heys but also only eight off an automatic promotion spot such is the close proximity of the sides in the top six.
Atherton LR have managed to steer clear of the bottom two spaces for most of the season and remain third from bottom, nine points clear of the drop zone. Both clubs beneath them have a games in hand but it's LR who have the breathing space and depending on results elsewhere, an eye catching win this weekend could see them tugging on the coat-tails of the mid-table pack.
