Premier Division Preview - Saturday 14th January 2017
Fri 13th January 2017 | General | By Connor O`Neill
Who would be a North West Counties manager? It may only be the month of January but things are already heating up at both the top and bottom of the table. Just four points separate the top five sides, while at the bottom those down there know it is vital they begin to pick up points if they are to survive.
To kick off this weekend’s preview, league leaders Bootle welcome Abbey Hey to the Delta Taxis Stadium. The Bucks went top last weekend after a 2-0 win over Congleton Town courtesy of a Ryan Cox brace, the goals were the newly-crowned December player of the months 32nd and 33rd of the season.
Joe Doran’s side are currently on a four-game winning run, with their latest being a penalty shoot out win over Tranmere Rovers in the Liverpool Senior Cup.
Luke Gibson’s side arrive at the Delta Taxis Stadium on the back two straight wins with the latest coming against AFC Liverpool. Abbey currently find themselves in tenth in the table and will be looking for revenge after Joe Doran’s side knocked them out of the FA Cup earlier on in the season.
Two points behind Bootle in second place are Runcorn Town, who welcome Barnoldswick Town to Pavilions. Chris Herbert’s side come into the game looking for their first win in four games after two draws and a Cheshire Senior Cup defeat to Conference North side Altrincham in their last outing. Town will no doubt be looking to Craig Cairns to continue his impressive goal-scoring run, the forward has already bagged forty-one goals this season.
Barnoldswick meanwhile, will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to three games after a four nil win over Ashton Athletic, and a one-one draw against Maine Road in their last outing.
Fresh from their FA Vase heroics, Atherton Collieries welcome West Didsbury & Chorlton to the Kensite Stadium. Michael Clegg’s side produced a phenomenal performance to overcome Shildon in the Vase last weekend, and are currently on a six-game winning run. Sitting just three points behind table toppers Bootle, Clegg's side do however, have two games in hand on the Bucks.
Currently, in eighth place, Steve Settle’s men come into the game on the back a 4-3 win over New Mills and will no doubt be looking to Nico Evangelinos to continue his impressive goalscoring run. The winger has scored four times in his last five games.
Elsewhere this weekend, Maine Road welcome fourth place 1874 Northwich to Brantingham Road. Ian Street's men are currently on fifty-five points and come into the game on the back of a big local derby win over Northwich Victoria in the Cheshire Senior Cup. Tom Bailey struck twice for the Greens and will be looking to continue his impressive scoring run when he comes up against his former side on Saturday.
Road are in steady form and have recorded three straight draws, with their most recent point coming against Barnoldswick Town courtesy of a Connor Hughes strike. The draw left the Sky Blues in eleventh.
Currently occupying fifth place in the league table is Runcorn Linnets who make the trip to Cheshire rivals Winsford United. Michael Ellison’s side suffered a somewhat surprising home defeat last weekend going down 5-2 against Hanley Town. Linnets will also be looking to avenge the 2-0 defeat they suffered in the reserve fixture earlier on in the season. Linnets are currently four points behind leaders Bootle but have played a game more than Joe Doran’s side.
The hosts meanwhile will be looking to make it four league wins on the bounce. Despite bowing out of the Cheshire Senior Cup against Stockport County in midweek, Lee Duckworth’s side beat Congleton Town in their last league outing, having also collected wins over AFC Liverpool and 1874 Northwich in recent weeks.
As well as big games at the top there are also some big games at the bottom of the table this weekend.
Cammell Laird 1907 make the trip to East Lancashire to take on Nelson at Little Wembley. Mick McGraa’s side are currently rooted at the foot of the table and are still looking for their first league win of the season but will take heart from a spirited performance against Squires Gate last weekend.
Meanwhile, Nelson will be looking to register their win since knocking Atherton Collieries out of the Macron Challenge Cup in November. Alex Norwood’s side are eleven points behind fourth from bottom AFC Darwen and know it’s vital they begin to pick up points if they are to survive relegation.
Elsewhere in East Lancashire on Saturday, AFC Darwen welcome Squires Gate to the WEC Group Anchor Ground. Darwen currently find themselves eight points clear of third from bottom New Mills and come into the game on the back of a one nil defeat away at Barnton.
Gate, on the other hand, come into this clash on the back of a two-nil win over Cammell Laird 1907, which saw Danny Penswick’s side extend their unbeaten run to four games. Gate's unbeaten run includes a win away at Bootle and a draw away Runcorn Town.
Currently occupying the final place in the relegation zone is New Mills, who welcome Padiham to Church Lane. Since the arrival of new manager Calum Sykes, there has been a squad overhaul at Church Lane in a bid for survival.
But despite the influx on new additions, the Derbyshire-based side have failed to register a win losing by a single goal in their last three games against AFC Darwen, Atherton Collieries, and West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Padiham meanwhile, will be looking to continue their impressive form. The Storks have lost just once in their last six games with their latest win coming against Irlam, thanks to Kieron Pickup’s late winner.
Its ninth v seventh at Abbey Lane this weekend as Hanley Town face AFC Liverpool, and Dean Owen’s side will no doubt be full of confidence after last weekend’s stunning win at Runcorn Linnets.
Town has impressed in their first season in the Premier Division with a solid mid-table finish looking likely, while seventh place AFC Liverpool will be looking to get back to winning ways after being on the wrong end a five-goal thriller last weekend against Abbey Hey. The Reds will also be without midfielder Paul Speed, who has left the club to head to Australia to play for Langwarrin.
Over at Brocstedes Park Ashton Athletic welcome Barnton, where Steve Lloyd’s side will be looking to make it three league wins on the bounce. Despite bowing out of the Cheshire Senior Cup in midweek after a 3-1 defeat to Witton Albion, the Black and Whites registered victories over Cammell Laird 1907 and AFC Darwen in their two previous league matches.
The hosts meanwhile, are two places above their visitors but are level on the same amount of points. Athletic will also be looking to register their first win since the sixth of December - the Yellows have lost three and drawn two of their last five games.
Squashed in between Ashton and Barnton is Congleton Town who face Irlam at The Ambitek Stadium. The Bears pushed league leaders Bootle all the way last weekend but ultimately went down by two goals to nil. Andy Alston’s side will be looking for their first win in five games in a bid to move up the league table.
Steve Nixon’s Irlam will also be looking to get back to winning ways after losing their last three games. The Manchester-based side has adapted well to life in the Premier Division and currently find themselves in twelfth in the league table.
So with plenty of action to pick from this weekend; with moves and shakes expected at both the top and bottom of the table, there really isn’t a reason why you shouldn’t be out there cheering on your local side on Saturday.
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 14th January 2017
Fri 13th January 2017 | General
By Connor O`Neill
Who would be a North West Counties manager? It may only be the month of January but things are already heating up at both the top and bottom of the table. Just four points separate the top five sides, while at the bottom those down there know it is vital they begin to pick up points if they are to survive.
To kick off this weekend’s preview, league leaders Bootle welcome Abbey Hey to the Delta Taxis Stadium. The Bucks went top last weekend after a 2-0 win over Congleton Town courtesy of a Ryan Cox brace, the goals were the newly-crowned December player of the months 32nd and 33rd of the season.
Joe Doran’s side are currently on a four-game winning run, with their latest being a penalty shoot out win over Tranmere Rovers in the Liverpool Senior Cup.
Luke Gibson’s side arrive at the Delta Taxis Stadium on the back two straight wins with the latest coming against AFC Liverpool. Abbey currently find themselves in tenth in the table and will be looking for revenge after Joe Doran’s side knocked them out of the FA Cup earlier on in the season.
Two points behind Bootle in second place are Runcorn Town, who welcome Barnoldswick Town to Pavilions. Chris Herbert’s side come into the game looking for their first win in four games after two draws and a Cheshire Senior Cup defeat to Conference North side Altrincham in their last outing. Town will no doubt be looking to Craig Cairns to continue his impressive goal-scoring run, the forward has already bagged forty-one goals this season.
Barnoldswick meanwhile, will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to three games after a four nil win over Ashton Athletic, and a one-one draw against Maine Road in their last outing.
Fresh from their FA Vase heroics, Atherton Collieries welcome West Didsbury & Chorlton to the Kensite Stadium. Michael Clegg’s side produced a phenomenal performance to overcome Shildon in the Vase last weekend, and are currently on a six-game winning run. Sitting just three points behind table toppers Bootle, Clegg's side do however, have two games in hand on the Bucks.
Currently, in eighth place, Steve Settle’s men come into the game on the back a 4-3 win over New Mills and will no doubt be looking to Nico Evangelinos to continue his impressive goalscoring run. The winger has scored four times in his last five games.
Elsewhere this weekend, Maine Road welcome fourth place 1874 Northwich to Brantingham Road. Ian Street's men are currently on fifty-five points and come into the game on the back of a big local derby win over Northwich Victoria in the Cheshire Senior Cup. Tom Bailey struck twice for the Greens and will be looking to continue his impressive scoring run when he comes up against his former side on Saturday.
Road are in steady form and have recorded three straight draws, with their most recent point coming against Barnoldswick Town courtesy of a Connor Hughes strike. The draw left the Sky Blues in eleventh.
Currently occupying fifth place in the league table is Runcorn Linnets who make the trip to Cheshire rivals Winsford United. Michael Ellison’s side suffered a somewhat surprising home defeat last weekend going down 5-2 against Hanley Town. Linnets will also be looking to avenge the 2-0 defeat they suffered in the reserve fixture earlier on in the season. Linnets are currently four points behind leaders Bootle but have played a game more than Joe Doran’s side.
The hosts meanwhile will be looking to make it four league wins on the bounce. Despite bowing out of the Cheshire Senior Cup against Stockport County in midweek, Lee Duckworth’s side beat Congleton Town in their last league outing, having also collected wins over AFC Liverpool and 1874 Northwich in recent weeks.
As well as big games at the top there are also some big games at the bottom of the table this weekend.
Cammell Laird 1907 make the trip to East Lancashire to take on Nelson at Little Wembley. Mick McGraa’s side are currently rooted at the foot of the table and are still looking for their first league win of the season but will take heart from a spirited performance against Squires Gate last weekend.
Meanwhile, Nelson will be looking to register their win since knocking Atherton Collieries out of the Macron Challenge Cup in November. Alex Norwood’s side are eleven points behind fourth from bottom AFC Darwen and know it’s vital they begin to pick up points if they are to survive relegation.
Elsewhere in East Lancashire on Saturday, AFC Darwen welcome Squires Gate to the WEC Group Anchor Ground. Darwen currently find themselves eight points clear of third from bottom New Mills and come into the game on the back of a one nil defeat away at Barnton.
Gate, on the other hand, come into this clash on the back of a two-nil win over Cammell Laird 1907, which saw Danny Penswick’s side extend their unbeaten run to four games. Gate's unbeaten run includes a win away at Bootle and a draw away Runcorn Town.
Currently occupying the final place in the relegation zone is New Mills, who welcome Padiham to Church Lane. Since the arrival of new manager Calum Sykes, there has been a squad overhaul at Church Lane in a bid for survival.
But despite the influx on new additions, the Derbyshire-based side have failed to register a win losing by a single goal in their last three games against AFC Darwen, Atherton Collieries, and West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Padiham meanwhile, will be looking to continue their impressive form. The Storks have lost just once in their last six games with their latest win coming against Irlam, thanks to Kieron Pickup’s late winner.
Its ninth v seventh at Abbey Lane this weekend as Hanley Town face AFC Liverpool, and Dean Owen’s side will no doubt be full of confidence after last weekend’s stunning win at Runcorn Linnets.
Town has impressed in their first season in the Premier Division with a solid mid-table finish looking likely, while seventh place AFC Liverpool will be looking to get back to winning ways after being on the wrong end a five-goal thriller last weekend against Abbey Hey. The Reds will also be without midfielder Paul Speed, who has left the club to head to Australia to play for Langwarrin.
Over at Brocstedes Park Ashton Athletic welcome Barnton, where Steve Lloyd’s side will be looking to make it three league wins on the bounce. Despite bowing out of the Cheshire Senior Cup in midweek after a 3-1 defeat to Witton Albion, the Black and Whites registered victories over Cammell Laird 1907 and AFC Darwen in their two previous league matches.
The hosts meanwhile, are two places above their visitors but are level on the same amount of points. Athletic will also be looking to register their first win since the sixth of December - the Yellows have lost three and drawn two of their last five games.
Squashed in between Ashton and Barnton is Congleton Town who face Irlam at The Ambitek Stadium. The Bears pushed league leaders Bootle all the way last weekend but ultimately went down by two goals to nil. Andy Alston’s side will be looking for their first win in five games in a bid to move up the league table.
Steve Nixon’s Irlam will also be looking to get back to winning ways after losing their last three games. The Manchester-based side has adapted well to life in the Premier Division and currently find themselves in twelfth in the league table.
So with plenty of action to pick from this weekend; with moves and shakes expected at both the top and bottom of the table, there really isn’t a reason why you shouldn’t be out there cheering on your local side on Saturday.
