Premier Division Preview - 7th January 2017
Fri 6th January 2017 | General | By Gary Langley
With five clubs all realistically vying for that coveted top spot and the promotion prize that comes with it, this New Year promises to be one of the most exciting we have seen in the Premier Division for a number of Years. A plethora of strong clubs all going head to head with so many different permutations and thats just this weekend! Lets take a closer look at this weekends fixtures...
1874 Northwich look to affirm their title credentials this weekend as they welcome Ashton Athletic to the St Luke's Barton Stadium. Four wins in their last five games is in stark contrast to the form of their visitors this weekend whom are without a league win since November 5th.
Abbey Hey host AFC Liverpool at The Abbey Stadium with both clubs in the top ten of the table and both seemingly having satisfying Christmas and New Year results. AFC Liverpool recorded a late winner at home to West Didsbury & Chorlton last weekend whilst Abbey Hey took the honours in a Derby game against Irlam on Boxing Day.
Squires Gate face Cammell Laird this weekend and are going into this game on reasonable form with three games unbeaten. They are an enigma at present, having beaten sides such as Bootle (twice), holding Runcorn Town on their own ground, seeing off West Didsbury (twice in two different Competitions) and also having won against 1874 this season. I was discussing this with a well known Runcorn Town fan last week who dismissed my aruguement that Gate seem to raise their game for the big games but can't seem to finish off teams lower down. I still stand by my observation though!
One side who are still unable to notch up that all important win though are Squires Gates' opponents this weekend, Cammell Laird. They are still without a league win and are struggling to trade spirited performances on the field for three points. Another concern for the Wirral side is that they have played more games than any other club (28) and are realistically eighteen points from safety allowing for goal-difference. They will be hoping to catch their opponents off guard and finish on a flourish.
Nelson welcome league leaders Runcorn Town to Little Wembley on Saturday with both clubs desperate for the points for vastly differing reasons. The home side sit 21st in the table, eleven points from safety and will be wary of a new look New Mills one place ahead of the. Runcorn Town have won only one of their last four and have three clubs immediately behind them waiting to take the helm of the league table should they slip up this weekend. It's arguably with this in mind that has led Chris Herbert to bring in experienced striker Phil Marsh from Altrincham in midweek to bolster his squad.
Runcorn Linnets are one of the clubs that are looking to take top spot this weekend and welcome Hanley Town to the Millbank Linnets Stadium on Saturday. The Linnets will be looking to "Fortress Millbank" to help them in 2017 as much as it did last year with only one competitive defeat taken at home in the last calendar year, they also go into this game unbeaten in their last five league games so look strong at the half way point. Hanley will likely be happy going into 2017 in the top ten of the table, they have been fairly inconsistent in their last eight or nine fixtures but have potential if they can click into gear to give their opponents a real game.
Barnoldswick Town and Maine Road face-off this weekend at the Silentnight Stadium. Both clubs are fairly comfortable in mid-table and similar in form. Maine Toad have the better form going into this game unbeaten in their last three, however, Barlick' are unbeaten in two and recorded a handsome 4-0 win last time out at Ashton Athletic.
Barnton host AFC Darwen this weekend with neither side safe from trouble with Barnton two places above the drop zone in 18th position and their visiting opponents just one place below them. It's cliche time as we proclaim this as a 'six pointer' in a match that both will be keen to win. New Mills are eight points below Darwen in the final relegation spot but with new management at the helm, a new Squad and Nathan Neequaye in their line-up they will be breathing down their necks soon enough if they don't start racking up some points.
After the build-up it's probably worth looking at who New Mills have next, yes they are strong contenders to improve but to do so immediately they will have to overcome a trip to West Didsbury and Chorlton, who up until last Saturday's defeat at AFC Liverpool looked to have turned a corner form-wise. Courtesy of four games unbeaten they are top six in the form table, top eight in the league table and are largely on the up on all fronts.
Padiham vs Irlam looks a good fixture for the footballing purist this weekend as these are two sides who have played some really attacking football this season. Padiham are in sixth and technically not out of the promotion race by virtue of having a couple of games in hand on the sides above them. If they are to make a late push they are going to need to facilitate an impressive run of form to do so. Irlam are a few places below them in eleventh and on reflection will probably be happy with their progress on the park this campaign, so close is the league though that if they win and results go their way elsewhere, they could end the day as high as eighth.
Congleton Town welcome Bootle to the Richborough Estates Stadium with the visitors looking for a win to keep the pressure on Runcorn Town at the top of the table. If results elsewhere go their way by the end of the day the side from the Sefton/Liverpool border could be top of the Hallmark Security league. They go into the game with four wins from their last five and netting twenty goals in the process. Congleton are mid-table at present but without a win in their last three.
Premier Division Preview - 7th January 2017
Fri 6th January 2017 | General
By Gary Langley
With five clubs all realistically vying for that coveted top spot and the promotion prize that comes with it, this New Year promises to be one of the most exciting we have seen in the Premier Division for a number of Years. A plethora of strong clubs all going head to head with so many different permutations and thats just this weekend! Lets take a closer look at this weekends fixtures...
1874 Northwich look to affirm their title credentials this weekend as they welcome Ashton Athletic to the St Luke's Barton Stadium. Four wins in their last five games is in stark contrast to the form of their visitors this weekend whom are without a league win since November 5th.
Abbey Hey host AFC Liverpool at The Abbey Stadium with both clubs in the top ten of the table and both seemingly having satisfying Christmas and New Year results. AFC Liverpool recorded a late winner at home to West Didsbury & Chorlton last weekend whilst Abbey Hey took the honours in a Derby game against Irlam on Boxing Day.
Squires Gate face Cammell Laird this weekend and are going into this game on reasonable form with three games unbeaten. They are an enigma at present, having beaten sides such as Bootle (twice), holding Runcorn Town on their own ground, seeing off West Didsbury (twice in two different Competitions) and also having won against 1874 this season. I was discussing this with a well known Runcorn Town fan last week who dismissed my aruguement that Gate seem to raise their game for the big games but can't seem to finish off teams lower down. I still stand by my observation though!
One side who are still unable to notch up that all important win though are Squires Gates' opponents this weekend, Cammell Laird. They are still without a league win and are struggling to trade spirited performances on the field for three points. Another concern for the Wirral side is that they have played more games than any other club (28) and are realistically eighteen points from safety allowing for goal-difference. They will be hoping to catch their opponents off guard and finish on a flourish.
Nelson welcome league leaders Runcorn Town to Little Wembley on Saturday with both clubs desperate for the points for vastly differing reasons. The home side sit 21st in the table, eleven points from safety and will be wary of a new look New Mills one place ahead of the. Runcorn Town have won only one of their last four and have three clubs immediately behind them waiting to take the helm of the league table should they slip up this weekend. It's arguably with this in mind that has led Chris Herbert to bring in experienced striker Phil Marsh from Altrincham in midweek to bolster his squad.
Runcorn Linnets are one of the clubs that are looking to take top spot this weekend and welcome Hanley Town to the Millbank Linnets Stadium on Saturday. The Linnets will be looking to "Fortress Millbank" to help them in 2017 as much as it did last year with only one competitive defeat taken at home in the last calendar year, they also go into this game unbeaten in their last five league games so look strong at the half way point. Hanley will likely be happy going into 2017 in the top ten of the table, they have been fairly inconsistent in their last eight or nine fixtures but have potential if they can click into gear to give their opponents a real game.
Barnoldswick Town and Maine Road face-off this weekend at the Silentnight Stadium. Both clubs are fairly comfortable in mid-table and similar in form. Maine Toad have the better form going into this game unbeaten in their last three, however, Barlick' are unbeaten in two and recorded a handsome 4-0 win last time out at Ashton Athletic.
Barnton host AFC Darwen this weekend with neither side safe from trouble with Barnton two places above the drop zone in 18th position and their visiting opponents just one place below them. It's cliche time as we proclaim this as a 'six pointer' in a match that both will be keen to win. New Mills are eight points below Darwen in the final relegation spot but with new management at the helm, a new Squad and Nathan Neequaye in their line-up they will be breathing down their necks soon enough if they don't start racking up some points.
After the build-up it's probably worth looking at who New Mills have next, yes they are strong contenders to improve but to do so immediately they will have to overcome a trip to West Didsbury and Chorlton, who up until last Saturday's defeat at AFC Liverpool looked to have turned a corner form-wise. Courtesy of four games unbeaten they are top six in the form table, top eight in the league table and are largely on the up on all fronts.
Padiham vs Irlam looks a good fixture for the footballing purist this weekend as these are two sides who have played some really attacking football this season. Padiham are in sixth and technically not out of the promotion race by virtue of having a couple of games in hand on the sides above them. If they are to make a late push they are going to need to facilitate an impressive run of form to do so. Irlam are a few places below them in eleventh and on reflection will probably be happy with their progress on the park this campaign, so close is the league though that if they win and results go their way elsewhere, they could end the day as high as eighth.
Congleton Town welcome Bootle to the Richborough Estates Stadium with the visitors looking for a win to keep the pressure on Runcorn Town at the top of the table. If results elsewhere go their way by the end of the day the side from the Sefton/Liverpool border could be top of the Hallmark Security league. They go into the game with four wins from their last five and netting twenty goals in the process. Congleton are mid-table at present but without a win in their last three.
