Macron Cup Quarter Final Preview
Fri 10th March 2017 | Macron Cup | By Gary Langley
The Macron Cup Quarter Finals Preview
As well as a massive weekend of league action in and around the Hallmark Security Leagues two divisions, there are a number of high profile cup ties to be played as The Leagues Flagship Cup Competition, The Macron Cup enters it’s quarter final stages. The road to a high profile and prestigious football stadium in the North West is nearing the end and with semi-final places up for grabs it is very much all to play for as the remaining clubs get within touching distance.
For many, some will cite the clubs that have not made it to this stage as much as the clubs that have, however that is the luck of the draw, as we hit the quarter finals all of these clubs are here on merit and there are still many big names and high profile clubs there within.
So, lets have a look at the games taking place and as you would expect, they are all mouth-watering ties. Starting at Brocstedes Park, we have the only all Premier Division game as Ashton Athletic host Bootle. Whilst their league form has been hit and miss at times, Ashton’s cup form has been solid and they have reached these quarter finals despatching some top quality opposition which includes both of the Runcorn sides who are also challenging for promotion at the moment.
Bootle are one of the clubs that are in with a real shout of winning the league at present and they will have their eye on a possible double, facing a tough ask at the moment though. AFC Liverpool and St Helens Town are amongst the sides sent out by Joe Doran’s side who have been scoring for fun in League action, as a form indicator Bootle have won both of the league games between these sides winning 3-0 at this weekend’s venue and 6-0 at home.
Nelson haven’t had too much to cheer about this season, currently 20th and nine points adrift of safety in the Premier Division, they host Chadderton at Little Wembley with the cup providing some light relief to a tough campaign. In their last six games in all competitions they have two wins, two draws and two defeats but they’ve averaged two goals a game. A notable 3-0 home win against Atherton Collieries in the last round shows that they can beat anyone on their day.
Chadderton have been on the road for their appearances in this cup so far but have beaten Maine Road and Holker netting nine goals in the process. An away trip this weekend obviously wont phase them and they will look to their good cup form, combined with their good form at the turn of the year for inspiration despite their league position being relatively solid.
The strength of this seasons competition has been demonstrated by the performances of Division One sides and the fact that half of the sides are from each Division shows the balance achieved this season as well as the strength of clubs across the two divisions. Silsden and City of Liverpool are two examples of this as they go head to head at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium. Silsdens League form has happened in waves this campaign, they tend to win and lose a few at a time then go the other way. At the moment they have won three of their last four games and in this competition have netted two of the more eye catching results, an 8-2 away win at New Mills in Round Two then seeing off 1874 Northwich in extra time in the last round.
City of Liverpool are also in fine form, unbeaten since a 4-2 home defeat to Litherland Remyca back in mid-January. They are doing well on all fronts at the moment, second in the Division One table, in the semi-final of the Reusch Division One Cup as well of course as reaching this point of the Macron Cup, so they are going for a treble. Their five game winning streak was ended in mid-week when Sandbach held out for a creditable draw at the Delta Taxis Stadium on Tuesday. As an early indicator, these sides met a fortnight ago and City of Liverpool won 2-1 in a tough encounter by all accounts.
Widnes and Barnoldswick Town meet at the Select Security Stadium with Barnoldswick fifth from bottom of the Premier Division whilst Widnes are currently fifth in Division One. Barlick’ have some pressing League issues at the moment, however a 3-0 win at home to Abbey Hey in midweek combined with a 1-1 draw at Congleton before that has in all likelihood secured their Premier Division Status.
Widnes will have been buoyed by finally getting enough games played and points racked up to finally break into the play-off places last week, a situation that they had been threatening for the last few months. Their form has been superb under Joey Dunne since taking over earlier in the season and he has good pedigree in this competition.
Four good fixtures, eight very capable sides, one fantastic day of games making it a really tough Macron Cup to win. It’s a brave person who predicts a winner even at this late stage.
Macron Cup Quarter Final Preview
Fri 10th March 2017 | Macron Cup
By Gary Langley
The Macron Cup Quarter Finals Preview
As well as a massive weekend of league action in and around the Hallmark Security Leagues two divisions, there are a number of high profile cup ties to be played as The Leagues Flagship Cup Competition, The Macron Cup enters it’s quarter final stages. The road to a high profile and prestigious football stadium in the North West is nearing the end and with semi-final places up for grabs it is very much all to play for as the remaining clubs get within touching distance.
For many, some will cite the clubs that have not made it to this stage as much as the clubs that have, however that is the luck of the draw, as we hit the quarter finals all of these clubs are here on merit and there are still many big names and high profile clubs there within.
So, lets have a look at the games taking place and as you would expect, they are all mouth-watering ties. Starting at Brocstedes Park, we have the only all Premier Division game as Ashton Athletic host Bootle. Whilst their league form has been hit and miss at times, Ashton’s cup form has been solid and they have reached these quarter finals despatching some top quality opposition which includes both of the Runcorn sides who are also challenging for promotion at the moment.
Bootle are one of the clubs that are in with a real shout of winning the league at present and they will have their eye on a possible double, facing a tough ask at the moment though. AFC Liverpool and St Helens Town are amongst the sides sent out by Joe Doran’s side who have been scoring for fun in League action, as a form indicator Bootle have won both of the league games between these sides winning 3-0 at this weekend’s venue and 6-0 at home.
Nelson haven’t had too much to cheer about this season, currently 20th and nine points adrift of safety in the Premier Division, they host Chadderton at Little Wembley with the cup providing some light relief to a tough campaign. In their last six games in all competitions they have two wins, two draws and two defeats but they’ve averaged two goals a game. A notable 3-0 home win against Atherton Collieries in the last round shows that they can beat anyone on their day.
Chadderton have been on the road for their appearances in this cup so far but have beaten Maine Road and Holker netting nine goals in the process. An away trip this weekend obviously wont phase them and they will look to their good cup form, combined with their good form at the turn of the year for inspiration despite their league position being relatively solid.
The strength of this seasons competition has been demonstrated by the performances of Division One sides and the fact that half of the sides are from each Division shows the balance achieved this season as well as the strength of clubs across the two divisions. Silsden and City of Liverpool are two examples of this as they go head to head at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium. Silsdens League form has happened in waves this campaign, they tend to win and lose a few at a time then go the other way. At the moment they have won three of their last four games and in this competition have netted two of the more eye catching results, an 8-2 away win at New Mills in Round Two then seeing off 1874 Northwich in extra time in the last round.
City of Liverpool are also in fine form, unbeaten since a 4-2 home defeat to Litherland Remyca back in mid-January. They are doing well on all fronts at the moment, second in the Division One table, in the semi-final of the Reusch Division One Cup as well of course as reaching this point of the Macron Cup, so they are going for a treble. Their five game winning streak was ended in mid-week when Sandbach held out for a creditable draw at the Delta Taxis Stadium on Tuesday. As an early indicator, these sides met a fortnight ago and City of Liverpool won 2-1 in a tough encounter by all accounts.
Widnes and Barnoldswick Town meet at the Select Security Stadium with Barnoldswick fifth from bottom of the Premier Division whilst Widnes are currently fifth in Division One. Barlick’ have some pressing League issues at the moment, however a 3-0 win at home to Abbey Hey in midweek combined with a 1-1 draw at Congleton before that has in all likelihood secured their Premier Division Status.
Widnes will have been buoyed by finally getting enough games played and points racked up to finally break into the play-off places last week, a situation that they had been threatening for the last few months. Their form has been superb under Joey Dunne since taking over earlier in the season and he has good pedigree in this competition.
Four good fixtures, eight very capable sides, one fantastic day of games making it a really tough Macron Cup to win. It’s a brave person who predicts a winner even at this late stage.
