Premier Division Preview - 11th March 2017
Fri 10th March 2017 | General | By Gary Langley
PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW
A slightly diluted fixture list in the Premier Division this weekend as there are also the quarter finals of the Macron Cup taking place. A few games missing doesn’t dilute the quality and drama of a round of fantastic matchups that the fixtures computer we like to call “John” has put in place this match day.
There is only one place to start and that is Pavilions where fifth placed Runcorn Town welcome League Leaders Atherton Collieries. There are nine points difference between these two clubs with Town having a game in hand on Colls and two on second placed Bootle. There was frustration for the home side in midweek as the downpours put paid to the said second placed side. With their last four fixtures having been postponed and having played only five competitive games this year, these are testing times for Chris Herbert and his squad.
Atherton Collieries are knocking the games out thick and fast and this has been reflected in their strong challenge. Their scheduled fixture at Winsford last weekend was a victim of the poor weather but prior to that they were on a run of four straight wins, three of those being 1-0 scorelines, demonstrating their clinical methods at the moment that are reaping the plaudits.
1874 Northwich welcome Runcorn Linnets to the St Lukes Barton Stadium on an unusual run of form for them, they go into this key game on three straight defeats which is their worst run of form this season. Not ideal when in-form Runcorn Linnets are next up to visit.
Linnets are unbeaten since the first week of January in any competition and go into this game coming off back to back home and away wins over Ashton Athletic. Runcorn Linnets are five points off the top spot, however they have played a few games more than the leaders.
Abbey Hey host Squires Gate at the Abbey Stadium this weekend with both clubs relatively comfortable in mid-table. Gate arguably still have a bit of work to do to make 100% sure of their Premier Division spot next season, however they have a reasonable looking run-in and are still capable of a strong finish high up the table. Likewise, Abbey Hey who despite a 3-0 midweek defeat to Barnoldswick in midweek can still have a big say in who does what this season. Both of these teams are capable of playing some decent football on their day and both certainly know where the goal is so this should be an easy game on the eye.
AFC Darwen are another club with work to do, however they are nine points clear of twentieth placed Nelson with a game in hand. They face Irlam at the Anchor Ground with the form table belying the clubs respective league positions. Darwen are seventh in the form table whilst Irlam bottom five at the moment. This is the second time these clubs have faced each other in a week with the fixtures finger of fate seeing the home and away games going back to back and as an indicator, Darwen travelled to Irlam last weekend and came away with an impressive looking 3-1 win.
New Mills welcome Winsford United to Church Road on Saturday knowing that if they are to pull off an increasingly difficult escape from a successive relegation that they have to start winning yesterday! This looks an increasingly tough ask as Winsford recorded a decent looking 6-1 win at home to Cammell Laird 1907 on Monday largely down to a demolition act by Jordan Johnson, who’s four goals in nineteen minutes.
On the subject of Cammell Laird, they try to look to recover from that defeat with a trip to Hanley Town this weekend. For an hour in the aforementioned game against Winsford, Lairds looked very capable of at least a point and maybe more but it just didn’t happen. Hanley have had a bit of a stutter in form of late, they have taken only one defeat in their last five games, however three of those results have been draws.
Fifteenth placed Congleton Town are likely safe and sound for next season but they have a major part to play in the likely ending of the season as they are due to face many of the sides looking to be promoted or embroiled in a relegation fight. That run of tough games is a theme this weekend as they face in-form Padiham who are currently in seventh spot. Padiham raised some eyebrows last weekend with an impressive 2-1 win away at 1874 Northwich and with a slightly better looking run-in than this weekend’s opponents they are still capable of a top five finish.
Barnton and West Didsbury & Chorlton face off at the Hinchliffe Holmes Stadium and both keen for the points. The home side are fourteen points clear of the drop zone, however the sides below them have up to five games in hand on them. For that reason there is still a likely element of over the shoulder looking, however a couple more wins should see them right. West Didsbury & Chorlton have a lot of work going on off the field developing the club and will be looking to match that off the park as they build for next season. They are without a win since the first week of January but have been hit with injuries and postponements, the addition this week of Josh Tinker from Maine Road certainly indicates strong intentions for a strong finish.
Premier Division Preview - 11th March 2017
Fri 10th March 2017 | General
By Gary Langley
PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW
A slightly diluted fixture list in the Premier Division this weekend as there are also the quarter finals of the Macron Cup taking place. A few games missing doesn’t dilute the quality and drama of a round of fantastic matchups that the fixtures computer we like to call “John” has put in place this match day.
There is only one place to start and that is Pavilions where fifth placed Runcorn Town welcome League Leaders Atherton Collieries. There are nine points difference between these two clubs with Town having a game in hand on Colls and two on second placed Bootle. There was frustration for the home side in midweek as the downpours put paid to the said second placed side. With their last four fixtures having been postponed and having played only five competitive games this year, these are testing times for Chris Herbert and his squad.
Atherton Collieries are knocking the games out thick and fast and this has been reflected in their strong challenge. Their scheduled fixture at Winsford last weekend was a victim of the poor weather but prior to that they were on a run of four straight wins, three of those being 1-0 scorelines, demonstrating their clinical methods at the moment that are reaping the plaudits.
1874 Northwich welcome Runcorn Linnets to the St Lukes Barton Stadium on an unusual run of form for them, they go into this key game on three straight defeats which is their worst run of form this season. Not ideal when in-form Runcorn Linnets are next up to visit.
Linnets are unbeaten since the first week of January in any competition and go into this game coming off back to back home and away wins over Ashton Athletic. Runcorn Linnets are five points off the top spot, however they have played a few games more than the leaders.
Abbey Hey host Squires Gate at the Abbey Stadium this weekend with both clubs relatively comfortable in mid-table. Gate arguably still have a bit of work to do to make 100% sure of their Premier Division spot next season, however they have a reasonable looking run-in and are still capable of a strong finish high up the table. Likewise, Abbey Hey who despite a 3-0 midweek defeat to Barnoldswick in midweek can still have a big say in who does what this season. Both of these teams are capable of playing some decent football on their day and both certainly know where the goal is so this should be an easy game on the eye.
AFC Darwen are another club with work to do, however they are nine points clear of twentieth placed Nelson with a game in hand. They face Irlam at the Anchor Ground with the form table belying the clubs respective league positions. Darwen are seventh in the form table whilst Irlam bottom five at the moment. This is the second time these clubs have faced each other in a week with the fixtures finger of fate seeing the home and away games going back to back and as an indicator, Darwen travelled to Irlam last weekend and came away with an impressive looking 3-1 win.
New Mills welcome Winsford United to Church Road on Saturday knowing that if they are to pull off an increasingly difficult escape from a successive relegation that they have to start winning yesterday! This looks an increasingly tough ask as Winsford recorded a decent looking 6-1 win at home to Cammell Laird 1907 on Monday largely down to a demolition act by Jordan Johnson, who’s four goals in nineteen minutes.
On the subject of Cammell Laird, they try to look to recover from that defeat with a trip to Hanley Town this weekend. For an hour in the aforementioned game against Winsford, Lairds looked very capable of at least a point and maybe more but it just didn’t happen. Hanley have had a bit of a stutter in form of late, they have taken only one defeat in their last five games, however three of those results have been draws.
Fifteenth placed Congleton Town are likely safe and sound for next season but they have a major part to play in the likely ending of the season as they are due to face many of the sides looking to be promoted or embroiled in a relegation fight. That run of tough games is a theme this weekend as they face in-form Padiham who are currently in seventh spot. Padiham raised some eyebrows last weekend with an impressive 2-1 win away at 1874 Northwich and with a slightly better looking run-in than this weekend’s opponents they are still capable of a top five finish.
Barnton and West Didsbury & Chorlton face off at the Hinchliffe Holmes Stadium and both keen for the points. The home side are fourteen points clear of the drop zone, however the sides below them have up to five games in hand on them. For that reason there is still a likely element of over the shoulder looking, however a couple more wins should see them right. West Didsbury & Chorlton have a lot of work going on off the field developing the club and will be looking to match that off the park as they build for next season. They are without a win since the first week of January but have been hit with injuries and postponements, the addition this week of Josh Tinker from Maine Road certainly indicates strong intentions for a strong finish.
