Premier Division Preview - 18th March 2017
Fri 17th March 2017 | General | By Gary Langley
As the Premier Division heads into the Spring and starts sorting the contenders from the pretenders, it’s easy to forget that there are only eight weeks of the season left. As games between the top sides start becoming the preverbal ‘Six pointers’ it is time for the real candidates to put their foot down and aim for the finish line.
Looking at this weekend's fixture there are a number of great games to keep an eye on and the action starts on Friday night as Runcorn Town host Barnoldswick Town at Pavilions with a 7.45pm Kick Off.
Runcorn Town’s own Championship credentials had looked to have got back on track last week with an impressive win against leaders, Atherton Collieries but a 2-1 away defeat to Irlam in midweek must have felt like a blow. Town are still very much in the Championship hunt but they have a lot of work to do.
Barlick’ go into this game in decent form, unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions including three straight wins which includes defeating Division high flyers, Widnes in the Macron Cup to secure a semi-final tie against Bootle. They are no pushovers at the moment and despite being sixteenth in the table they have up to seven games in hand on the clubs around them so could still finish in the top half of the table.
Leaders Atherton Collieries will look to put their defeat at Runcorn Town last week behind them as they travel to Brantinham Road to face Maine Road.
That defeat last weekend was Colls’ first league defeat since September but rather than read a riot act, Manager Michael Clegg took his side out for a meal earlier in the week and took his side to Division One leaders, Litherland Remyca for a friendly game to sharpen his players up. Maine Road currently sit in twelfth and go into this game with consecutive wins at home to New Mills and away at Nelson.
Runcorn Linnets welcome Congleton Town to the Millbank Linnets Stadium riding high in the table, currently second placed and with many observers starting to take note of a very serious title challenge. Linnets are only defeated once in league action this calender year and that was to Hanley just after new year. Three straight wins going into this game including the comprehensive 4-1 win at 1874 Northwich last weekend.
Congleton drew 2-2 at home to in-form Padiham last weekend which was notable as Congleton had conceded eight goals in their previous two league games. They are currently low mid-table but well clear of any danger.
Bootle face Abbey Hey at the Delta Taxis Stadium looking to keep up the pressure on Atherton Collieries at the top of the table. Bootle are in good shape at the moment, only one defeat in their last six games which was away at their title rivals. They have netted a semi-final place against Barlick’ in the Macron Cup and as for goals, thirty goals in those six competitive games suggests that they will be favorites for this game.
Abbey Hey face a big ask this week, Bootle this Saturday then they travel to leaders Atherton Collieries on Monday night, and a trip to fellow Greater Manchester side, West Didsbury next weekend. Currently in eighth position in the table Abbey Hey have been solid this season and have reasonable form against sides in the top six so it’s unlikely to faze them.
1874 Northwich begin life post Ian Street with a difficult looking trip to near neighbours, Barnton. 1874 have had three successive League defeats which has made their route to a title campaign a lot more difficult than it was perhaps a fortnight ago and whilst not completely out of the race they will have a lot of work to do if they are to re-ignite their challenge.
Barnton, whilst not completely clear of danger seem to rack up points when they need to and whilst the sides below them are looking up at Barnton, Steve Lloyd’s men seem to be more concentrated on the sides above them rather than below.
Padiham and AFC Liverpool are in sixth and seventh place respectively in the table, both in decent form and there is only a point between them at the moment. These two rivals who have had many a heated, yet competitive battle over the years go head to head at the YESSS Electrical Arena this weekend.
Padiham are unbeaten in their last three games although two of them were draws whilst AFC are unbeaten in their last four, three of those were wins. Too close to call this one but it should be a decent game for the neutral.
Winsford United host Nelson at the St Lukes Barton looking to finish on a flourish. They fought out a decent 3-3 draw away at Squires Gate in midweek to help put their defeat at New Mills last week behind them. Worth noting that the Winsford United run-in is really tough, they face Atherton Colls’ twice, Runcorn Town, Bootle and 1874 Northwich, all clubs in the top five looking for promotion so indirectly United have a large part to play in the destination of the title.
Nelson also have a tough run-in and being ten points from safety at the moment they look to have a tough ask to stay up, however they did show signs of recovery recently with a run of games that saw them with only one defeat in five so recovery is not lost yet but they will need something from this game.
Hanley Town and Ashton Athletic go head to head at Potteries Park with both sides comfortable in an upper-mid position. Hanley have only one defeat in their last six and are in decent form whilst Ashton Athletic had been on a run of four games unbeaten until they came up against a double header against Runcorn Linnets when they were defeated in both games.
Squires Gate host West Didsbury & Chorlton at the Brian Addison Stadium. These sides have met twice this season both at West Didsbury in an FA Cup and League game with Squires Gate coming out as 3-2 winners on both occasions. West Didsbury & Chorlton are currently in tenth spot in the table whilst Gate are in seventeenth position but fifteen points clear of any sort of trouble.
New Mills will be looking to keep their survival hopes alive as they host Irlam at Church Lane. Buoyed by an impressive looking 2-1 home win over Winsford United last weekend, New Mills have a chance of survival despite their recent form but still have a lot of work to do. Irlam Manager Steve Nixon spoke to the League Website in midweek and stated that he was happy with the progress that Irlam have made since being promoted. They currently sit comfortably midway in both the League and form tables.
Anything bar a win for Cammell Laird against AFC Darwen this weekend will see the inevitable happen and see the club relegated to Division One. This is a tough looking game between two clubs who have been looking over their shoulder for a large part of the season and the permutations are very different for both sides. As mentioned, defeat or a draw will see Lairds down, whilst a win for AFC Darwen will go a long way to securing their Premier Division status for another season.
Premier Division Preview - 18th March 2017
Fri 17th March 2017 | General
By Gary Langley
As the Premier Division heads into the Spring and starts sorting the contenders from the pretenders, it’s easy to forget that there are only eight weeks of the season left. As games between the top sides start becoming the preverbal ‘Six pointers’ it is time for the real candidates to put their foot down and aim for the finish line.
Looking at this weekend's fixture there are a number of great games to keep an eye on and the action starts on Friday night as Runcorn Town host Barnoldswick Town at Pavilions with a 7.45pm Kick Off.
Runcorn Town’s own Championship credentials had looked to have got back on track last week with an impressive win against leaders, Atherton Collieries but a 2-1 away defeat to Irlam in midweek must have felt like a blow. Town are still very much in the Championship hunt but they have a lot of work to do.
Barlick’ go into this game in decent form, unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions including three straight wins which includes defeating Division high flyers, Widnes in the Macron Cup to secure a semi-final tie against Bootle. They are no pushovers at the moment and despite being sixteenth in the table they have up to seven games in hand on the clubs around them so could still finish in the top half of the table.
Leaders Atherton Collieries will look to put their defeat at Runcorn Town last week behind them as they travel to Brantinham Road to face Maine Road.
That defeat last weekend was Colls’ first league defeat since September but rather than read a riot act, Manager Michael Clegg took his side out for a meal earlier in the week and took his side to Division One leaders, Litherland Remyca for a friendly game to sharpen his players up. Maine Road currently sit in twelfth and go into this game with consecutive wins at home to New Mills and away at Nelson.
Runcorn Linnets welcome Congleton Town to the Millbank Linnets Stadium riding high in the table, currently second placed and with many observers starting to take note of a very serious title challenge. Linnets are only defeated once in league action this calender year and that was to Hanley just after new year. Three straight wins going into this game including the comprehensive 4-1 win at 1874 Northwich last weekend.
Congleton drew 2-2 at home to in-form Padiham last weekend which was notable as Congleton had conceded eight goals in their previous two league games. They are currently low mid-table but well clear of any danger.
Bootle face Abbey Hey at the Delta Taxis Stadium looking to keep up the pressure on Atherton Collieries at the top of the table. Bootle are in good shape at the moment, only one defeat in their last six games which was away at their title rivals. They have netted a semi-final place against Barlick’ in the Macron Cup and as for goals, thirty goals in those six competitive games suggests that they will be favorites for this game.
Abbey Hey face a big ask this week, Bootle this Saturday then they travel to leaders Atherton Collieries on Monday night, and a trip to fellow Greater Manchester side, West Didsbury next weekend. Currently in eighth position in the table Abbey Hey have been solid this season and have reasonable form against sides in the top six so it’s unlikely to faze them.
1874 Northwich begin life post Ian Street with a difficult looking trip to near neighbours, Barnton. 1874 have had three successive League defeats which has made their route to a title campaign a lot more difficult than it was perhaps a fortnight ago and whilst not completely out of the race they will have a lot of work to do if they are to re-ignite their challenge.
Barnton, whilst not completely clear of danger seem to rack up points when they need to and whilst the sides below them are looking up at Barnton, Steve Lloyd’s men seem to be more concentrated on the sides above them rather than below.
Padiham and AFC Liverpool are in sixth and seventh place respectively in the table, both in decent form and there is only a point between them at the moment. These two rivals who have had many a heated, yet competitive battle over the years go head to head at the YESSS Electrical Arena this weekend.
Padiham are unbeaten in their last three games although two of them were draws whilst AFC are unbeaten in their last four, three of those were wins. Too close to call this one but it should be a decent game for the neutral.
Winsford United host Nelson at the St Lukes Barton looking to finish on a flourish. They fought out a decent 3-3 draw away at Squires Gate in midweek to help put their defeat at New Mills last week behind them. Worth noting that the Winsford United run-in is really tough, they face Atherton Colls’ twice, Runcorn Town, Bootle and 1874 Northwich, all clubs in the top five looking for promotion so indirectly United have a large part to play in the destination of the title.
Nelson also have a tough run-in and being ten points from safety at the moment they look to have a tough ask to stay up, however they did show signs of recovery recently with a run of games that saw them with only one defeat in five so recovery is not lost yet but they will need something from this game.
Hanley Town and Ashton Athletic go head to head at Potteries Park with both sides comfortable in an upper-mid position. Hanley have only one defeat in their last six and are in decent form whilst Ashton Athletic had been on a run of four games unbeaten until they came up against a double header against Runcorn Linnets when they were defeated in both games.
Squires Gate host West Didsbury & Chorlton at the Brian Addison Stadium. These sides have met twice this season both at West Didsbury in an FA Cup and League game with Squires Gate coming out as 3-2 winners on both occasions. West Didsbury & Chorlton are currently in tenth spot in the table whilst Gate are in seventeenth position but fifteen points clear of any sort of trouble.
New Mills will be looking to keep their survival hopes alive as they host Irlam at Church Lane. Buoyed by an impressive looking 2-1 home win over Winsford United last weekend, New Mills have a chance of survival despite their recent form but still have a lot of work to do. Irlam Manager Steve Nixon spoke to the League Website in midweek and stated that he was happy with the progress that Irlam have made since being promoted. They currently sit comfortably midway in both the League and form tables.
Anything bar a win for Cammell Laird against AFC Darwen this weekend will see the inevitable happen and see the club relegated to Division One. This is a tough looking game between two clubs who have been looking over their shoulder for a large part of the season and the permutations are very different for both sides. As mentioned, defeat or a draw will see Lairds down, whilst a win for AFC Darwen will go a long way to securing their Premier Division status for another season.
