Premier Division Preview - 8th April 2017
Fri 7th April 2017 | General | By Gary Langley
As the stagehands prepare the final curtain for the end of the season, the key players in the cast are still all battling for the star billing. The Premier Division is still a four horse race even at this late stage and none of the top four seem likely to drop out of the race yet.
In what is possibly a defining weekend of the season the action starts as early as this evening when table toppers Atherton Collieries look to consolidate their recently reclaimed top spot as they travel to AFC Liverpool. A large crowd is expected at the Marine Travel Arena as the normally solid home support will enhanced by casuals that may drift over from the Aintree Race meeting and will be bolstered by a travelling supporters coach from Atherton.
AFC are looking to complete the double over the Colls but go into the game following two consecutive defeats including a 5-1 home reverse by Nelson last week. Atherton Collieries have won four of their last six and quickly recovered from last weeks defeat to Runcorn Linnets by recording a decent looking 2-1 win at Barnoldswick in midweek. Should be a great start to a good weekend of football.
On Saturday Runcorn Linnets travel to Darwen, the Linnets are by no means out of the race but will likely need to win all of their remaining games and rely one a couple of other results if they are to take the title, however, their recent form suggests that you can’t rule them out. Darwen in 19th place have started picking up a number of points of late and currently sit tenth in the form table, you can’t rule them out of this game with recent form and should they win the game that would likely go a long way to securing their place in the Premier Division for next season.
Winsford United host Runcorn Town in the first of four consecutive games against sides in the current top four. Following the Town game they will face Atherton Collieries (Twice) as well as their tenants, 1874 Northwich in between in what is one of the toughest looking run-ins across the Division. They are a long way from trouble though but will be looking to finish on a flourish. Runcorn Town, like their neighbours, Linnets will likely need to win all of their remaining games as well as rely on results elsewhere if they are to resurrect their title challenge. Having had a March with all of the consistency of a lava lamp they have been solid so far this month with consecutive wins over Darwen, Nelson and New Mills.
On the subject of Nelson, they face already relegated Cammell Laird 1907 and know that nothing but a win will do if they are not to join Laird in Division One next term. Their chances were dented in their last game when New Mills who are just a place above them turned them over 2-1 in midweek, however, some of Nelson’s better results this season have been at home. Mick McGraa’s Lairds side have been somewhat rejuvenated of late and go into this game at Little Wembley on the back of two straight wins against Hanley and AFC Darwen, perhaps displaying what can be achieved when the pressure drops a wee bit. With the club looking to rebuild for next season they will be looking to end the campaign avoiding the wooden spoon so s result this weekend would certainly help.
Abbey Hey host 1874 Northwich at the Abbey Stadium with Luke Gibson’s side still in with a shout of finishing in the top half of the table, this despite a few inconsistent results of late. Northwich have also been a little inconsistent by their own high standards of late although they did come out with a creditable 1-1 draw against Bootle last time out.
Squires Gate welcome Congleton to the Brian Addison Stadium with neither side in any sort of form at the moment. Gate are currently 21st in the form table, propped up only by their opponents so both will be looking for improvement although both should be safe enough for next season at this level.
Barnton host Barnoldswick Town at the Hinchliffe Holmes Stadium and both sides looking to finish strongly. Barnton will take heart from recent events off the field when their hard work on their stadiums infrastructure was rewarded by confirmation of a strong ground grade award from the FA’s grading Committee. Steve Lloyd will be looking for that to act as a catalyst for improvement on the field as his club go into the game on the back of three straight defeats and with quite a tough run-in, securing the required points to keep the heat off is a priority. Barlick’ sit third in the form table and 15th in the league table so will have no concerns about their divisional status for next season. A first leg win over Bootle in the Macron Cup Semi-Final first leg sees them going into this game with strong momentum behind them.
Speaking of good cup performances, midweek cup heroes Ashton Athletic travel to the Ambitek Stadium to face Irlam. The Lancashire Cup winners are likely to be still on a high from their superb win over Radcliffe Borough at the Macron Stadium but despite being eleventh in the league table, so close are the sides in that zone that a strong finish could see them finish considerably higher. Irlam are flying at the moment, eighth in the table but second in the form table, Steve Nixon’s side have played some quality football in the process of notching up five consecutive wins and have been particularly good at home this campaign.
Just above Irlam in seventh spot are Hanley Town who welcome Padiham to the Potteries Stadium this Saturday. Despite losing 1-0 to Barnoldswick last time out, Hanley are also in splendid form sitting in the top five in the form table and having won four of their last six games. Padiham have had a good week with a couple of successive wins, a 4-2 win last weekend over New Mills was added to with a 3-1 win over West Didsbury and Chorlton in midweek.
Premier Division Preview - 8th April 2017
Fri 7th April 2017 | General
By Gary Langley
As the stagehands prepare the final curtain for the end of the season, the key players in the cast are still all battling for the star billing. The Premier Division is still a four horse race even at this late stage and none of the top four seem likely to drop out of the race yet.
In what is possibly a defining weekend of the season the action starts as early as this evening when table toppers Atherton Collieries look to consolidate their recently reclaimed top spot as they travel to AFC Liverpool. A large crowd is expected at the Marine Travel Arena as the normally solid home support will enhanced by casuals that may drift over from the Aintree Race meeting and will be bolstered by a travelling supporters coach from Atherton.
AFC are looking to complete the double over the Colls but go into the game following two consecutive defeats including a 5-1 home reverse by Nelson last week. Atherton Collieries have won four of their last six and quickly recovered from last weeks defeat to Runcorn Linnets by recording a decent looking 2-1 win at Barnoldswick in midweek. Should be a great start to a good weekend of football.
On Saturday Runcorn Linnets travel to Darwen, the Linnets are by no means out of the race but will likely need to win all of their remaining games and rely one a couple of other results if they are to take the title, however, their recent form suggests that you can’t rule them out. Darwen in 19th place have started picking up a number of points of late and currently sit tenth in the form table, you can’t rule them out of this game with recent form and should they win the game that would likely go a long way to securing their place in the Premier Division for next season.
Winsford United host Runcorn Town in the first of four consecutive games against sides in the current top four. Following the Town game they will face Atherton Collieries (Twice) as well as their tenants, 1874 Northwich in between in what is one of the toughest looking run-ins across the Division. They are a long way from trouble though but will be looking to finish on a flourish. Runcorn Town, like their neighbours, Linnets will likely need to win all of their remaining games as well as rely on results elsewhere if they are to resurrect their title challenge. Having had a March with all of the consistency of a lava lamp they have been solid so far this month with consecutive wins over Darwen, Nelson and New Mills.
On the subject of Nelson, they face already relegated Cammell Laird 1907 and know that nothing but a win will do if they are not to join Laird in Division One next term. Their chances were dented in their last game when New Mills who are just a place above them turned them over 2-1 in midweek, however, some of Nelson’s better results this season have been at home. Mick McGraa’s Lairds side have been somewhat rejuvenated of late and go into this game at Little Wembley on the back of two straight wins against Hanley and AFC Darwen, perhaps displaying what can be achieved when the pressure drops a wee bit. With the club looking to rebuild for next season they will be looking to end the campaign avoiding the wooden spoon so s result this weekend would certainly help.
Abbey Hey host 1874 Northwich at the Abbey Stadium with Luke Gibson’s side still in with a shout of finishing in the top half of the table, this despite a few inconsistent results of late. Northwich have also been a little inconsistent by their own high standards of late although they did come out with a creditable 1-1 draw against Bootle last time out.
Squires Gate welcome Congleton to the Brian Addison Stadium with neither side in any sort of form at the moment. Gate are currently 21st in the form table, propped up only by their opponents so both will be looking for improvement although both should be safe enough for next season at this level.
Barnton host Barnoldswick Town at the Hinchliffe Holmes Stadium and both sides looking to finish strongly. Barnton will take heart from recent events off the field when their hard work on their stadiums infrastructure was rewarded by confirmation of a strong ground grade award from the FA’s grading Committee. Steve Lloyd will be looking for that to act as a catalyst for improvement on the field as his club go into the game on the back of three straight defeats and with quite a tough run-in, securing the required points to keep the heat off is a priority. Barlick’ sit third in the form table and 15th in the league table so will have no concerns about their divisional status for next season. A first leg win over Bootle in the Macron Cup Semi-Final first leg sees them going into this game with strong momentum behind them.
Speaking of good cup performances, midweek cup heroes Ashton Athletic travel to the Ambitek Stadium to face Irlam. The Lancashire Cup winners are likely to be still on a high from their superb win over Radcliffe Borough at the Macron Stadium but despite being eleventh in the league table, so close are the sides in that zone that a strong finish could see them finish considerably higher. Irlam are flying at the moment, eighth in the table but second in the form table, Steve Nixon’s side have played some quality football in the process of notching up five consecutive wins and have been particularly good at home this campaign.
Just above Irlam in seventh spot are Hanley Town who welcome Padiham to the Potteries Stadium this Saturday. Despite losing 1-0 to Barnoldswick last time out, Hanley are also in splendid form sitting in the top five in the form table and having won four of their last six games. Padiham have had a good week with a couple of successive wins, a 4-2 win last weekend over New Mills was added to with a 3-1 win over West Didsbury and Chorlton in midweek.
