Division One Preview - Saturday 11th February 2017
Fri 10th February 2017 | General | By Patrick Burke
If you’re looking for a dictionary definition of the adjective ‘tight’, then look no further than our very own Hallmark Security League First Division this season!
Whether it’s at the top of the table, where just nine points plus games in hand separate the top six, in the race for the play-offs or in the battle to avoid the bottom two, nothing is set in stone yet. In light of this, another vital weekend of action is in the waiting.
Seven consecutive wins, or ten games unbeaten if you prefer, has built Litherland REMYCA a two point lead at the summit, and Phil Stafford’s side seek to take advantage of 2nd placed Whitchurch Alport’s inactivity at third-bottom AFC Blackpool on Saturday.
Eight points clear of the drop zone, the hosts will know that they are not clear of relegation danger yet, especially after losing on the road at Widnes and Sandbach United without scoring. However, they broke their home duck in their last match at the Mechanics Ground, beating Sandbach 2-1, so will still harbour hopes of stopping REMYCA in their tracks.
3rd placed City of Liverpool will aim to use their game in hand on Whitchurch to climb into the automatic promotion places. When the Purples are firing on all cylinders, they can be a frightening team to play against, winning 6-0 at Carlisle City last weekend to follow up 6-2, 10-0 and 6-1 victories in their last six.
Saturday’s trip to fourth-from-bottom Atherton LR is a 14:30 kick-off, and the home side will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their 8-0 defeat in the reverse fixture back in August. Shaun Lynch’s men should be buoyed after coming out on top in a massive six-pointer at Eccleshall last Saturday to end a run of five straight defeats, even though four of those were actually by the odd goal.
Alsager Town in 4th welcome Chadderton in 12th in what looks a real contender for game of the day. Both these teams are in great form. The Bullets, despite a narrow loss at Silsden in their last outing, have won five of their last seven, including a 3-1 triumph over Chadderton at the ARK Fleetech Stadium.
However, Mark Howard’s side have gone from strength to strength since then, drawing one and winning three, with Whitchurch Alport, Eccleshall and FC Oswestry Town all succumbing to defeat.
Another well-matched clash could be in Cheshire, where Charnock Richard visit Sandbach United as 6th plays 5th. Sandbach haven’t lost a home league game since August and have been victorious in four of their last five games to draw levels on points with their next opponents.
The visitors have won just one of their last four, but remain in a very commanding position: three points from all of their games in hand would in fact return them to the top of the table. This is a battle of two of the league’s newcomers, but both deserve huge credit for the way they have embraced the step up!
Hoping to continue their play-off push, 7th placed Widnes play an out of sorts Bacup Borough at Barnton’s Hinchcliffe Homes Stadium. Joey Dunn’s men haven’t lost in the league since October, and returned to winning ways by beating FC Oswestry Town 5-0 at Barnton in midweek, moving just four points off the top six with games in hand.
In contrast, just one point from a possible 24 sees last season’s losing play-off finalists occupying 18th place in the table. However, many of those eight games have been tight, and granting new signings time to bed into the squad could lead to an upturn in fortunes in the coming weeks.
8th placed Prestwich Heys will still believe that they can put a good run of results together to break into the top six, especially if they perform as they did in a 3-1 victory at Whitchurch Alport last weekend. Heys aim for a fifth win from seven with a trip to 16th placed Holker Old Boys on Saturday.
The hosts have won three and lost two of their last five, most recently suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Cheadle Town last Saturday. Their recent home record is good though, losing just one of their last seven at Rakesmoor, so this looks a tough one to call.
The same applies for St Helens Town vs Silsden, to be played at Ashton Town’s Edge Green Street. The perfect way to follow up three straight defeats is with three successive wins, and that’s exactly what the team now in 9th place achieved by overcoming Holker, Eccleshall and Daisy Hill in recent weeks.
15th placed Silsden claimed an excellent victory against Alsager last weekend, ending a run of four losses in a row. Form has on the whole picked up for the Cobbydalers over the past couple of months, so they will look to avenge a 4-1 defeat against Town in November.
Dave Wild has done a tremendous job of rebuilding 11th placed Stockport Town since taking charge, the Lions unbeaten in his five matches at the helm. That run includes very commendable draws at Widnes and Charnock Richard, and bottom side Ashton Town will now be in sight for Wild’s charges.
They have taken just one point from their last nine games and were beaten 5-1 at leaders Litherland REMYCA last weekend. However, John Brownrigg’s team are receiving plaudits for the way they are playing, so will hope that their luck can turn at Stockport Sports Village.
Yet another close match-up this weekend should be 13th placed Cheadle Town’s home fixture against a Carlisle City side sitting just one place below them. Cheadle have taken maximum points from five of their last seven, last weekend’s win against Holker a third on the spin at Park Road. The visitors edged this one in December up in Cumbria, though the Sky Blues have been inconsistent since then, with two victories and four losses.
Last but not least, Daisy Hill will hope to end a seven game winless streak against Eccleshall at New Sirs. The hosts’ recent run has seen them slip to 17th, but the goals keep coming for the division’s top scorer Ashley Stott – he is now up to 33 for the campaign after finding the net in last weekend’s defeat at St Helens Town. Eccleshall have won just one of their last eight, but that victory was on their last trip to this neck of the woods at Atherton LR.
It’s a difficult weekend to predict in the First Division as ever, but moving into the final quarter of most teams’ seasons, points are of paramount importance which can only provide even greater entertainment for supporters!
Division One Preview - Saturday 11th February 2017
Fri 10th February 2017 | General
By Patrick Burke
If you’re looking for a dictionary definition of the adjective ‘tight’, then look no further than our very own Hallmark Security League First Division this season!
Whether it’s at the top of the table, where just nine points plus games in hand separate the top six, in the race for the play-offs or in the battle to avoid the bottom two, nothing is set in stone yet. In light of this, another vital weekend of action is in the waiting.
Seven consecutive wins, or ten games unbeaten if you prefer, has built Litherland REMYCA a two point lead at the summit, and Phil Stafford’s side seek to take advantage of 2nd placed Whitchurch Alport’s inactivity at third-bottom AFC Blackpool on Saturday.
Eight points clear of the drop zone, the hosts will know that they are not clear of relegation danger yet, especially after losing on the road at Widnes and Sandbach United without scoring. However, they broke their home duck in their last match at the Mechanics Ground, beating Sandbach 2-1, so will still harbour hopes of stopping REMYCA in their tracks.
3rd placed City of Liverpool will aim to use their game in hand on Whitchurch to climb into the automatic promotion places. When the Purples are firing on all cylinders, they can be a frightening team to play against, winning 6-0 at Carlisle City last weekend to follow up 6-2, 10-0 and 6-1 victories in their last six.
Saturday’s trip to fourth-from-bottom Atherton LR is a 14:30 kick-off, and the home side will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their 8-0 defeat in the reverse fixture back in August. Shaun Lynch’s men should be buoyed after coming out on top in a massive six-pointer at Eccleshall last Saturday to end a run of five straight defeats, even though four of those were actually by the odd goal.
Alsager Town in 4th welcome Chadderton in 12th in what looks a real contender for game of the day. Both these teams are in great form. The Bullets, despite a narrow loss at Silsden in their last outing, have won five of their last seven, including a 3-1 triumph over Chadderton at the ARK Fleetech Stadium.
However, Mark Howard’s side have gone from strength to strength since then, drawing one and winning three, with Whitchurch Alport, Eccleshall and FC Oswestry Town all succumbing to defeat.
Another well-matched clash could be in Cheshire, where Charnock Richard visit Sandbach United as 6th plays 5th. Sandbach haven’t lost a home league game since August and have been victorious in four of their last five games to draw levels on points with their next opponents.
The visitors have won just one of their last four, but remain in a very commanding position: three points from all of their games in hand would in fact return them to the top of the table. This is a battle of two of the league’s newcomers, but both deserve huge credit for the way they have embraced the step up!
Hoping to continue their play-off push, 7th placed Widnes play an out of sorts Bacup Borough at Barnton’s Hinchcliffe Homes Stadium. Joey Dunn’s men haven’t lost in the league since October, and returned to winning ways by beating FC Oswestry Town 5-0 at Barnton in midweek, moving just four points off the top six with games in hand.
In contrast, just one point from a possible 24 sees last season’s losing play-off finalists occupying 18th place in the table. However, many of those eight games have been tight, and granting new signings time to bed into the squad could lead to an upturn in fortunes in the coming weeks.
8th placed Prestwich Heys will still believe that they can put a good run of results together to break into the top six, especially if they perform as they did in a 3-1 victory at Whitchurch Alport last weekend. Heys aim for a fifth win from seven with a trip to 16th placed Holker Old Boys on Saturday.
The hosts have won three and lost two of their last five, most recently suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Cheadle Town last Saturday. Their recent home record is good though, losing just one of their last seven at Rakesmoor, so this looks a tough one to call.
The same applies for St Helens Town vs Silsden, to be played at Ashton Town’s Edge Green Street. The perfect way to follow up three straight defeats is with three successive wins, and that’s exactly what the team now in 9th place achieved by overcoming Holker, Eccleshall and Daisy Hill in recent weeks.
15th placed Silsden claimed an excellent victory against Alsager last weekend, ending a run of four losses in a row. Form has on the whole picked up for the Cobbydalers over the past couple of months, so they will look to avenge a 4-1 defeat against Town in November.
Dave Wild has done a tremendous job of rebuilding 11th placed Stockport Town since taking charge, the Lions unbeaten in his five matches at the helm. That run includes very commendable draws at Widnes and Charnock Richard, and bottom side Ashton Town will now be in sight for Wild’s charges.
They have taken just one point from their last nine games and were beaten 5-1 at leaders Litherland REMYCA last weekend. However, John Brownrigg’s team are receiving plaudits for the way they are playing, so will hope that their luck can turn at Stockport Sports Village.
Yet another close match-up this weekend should be 13th placed Cheadle Town’s home fixture against a Carlisle City side sitting just one place below them. Cheadle have taken maximum points from five of their last seven, last weekend’s win against Holker a third on the spin at Park Road. The visitors edged this one in December up in Cumbria, though the Sky Blues have been inconsistent since then, with two victories and four losses.
Last but not least, Daisy Hill will hope to end a seven game winless streak against Eccleshall at New Sirs. The hosts’ recent run has seen them slip to 17th, but the goals keep coming for the division’s top scorer Ashley Stott – he is now up to 33 for the campaign after finding the net in last weekend’s defeat at St Helens Town. Eccleshall have won just one of their last eight, but that victory was on their last trip to this neck of the woods at Atherton LR.
It’s a difficult weekend to predict in the First Division as ever, but moving into the final quarter of most teams’ seasons, points are of paramount importance which can only provide even greater entertainment for supporters!
