Premier Division Preview - 15th and 16th April 2017
Fri 14th April 2017 | Match Reviews | By Gary Langley
PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW 15th April
As the runners and riders hit the final furlong of what has been a fantastic season there are a number of permutations still to sort and odds are that many of the issues will go right to the wire. With the Groundhop taking place this weekend, some of the fixtures are spread out but with a number of games still to be played over the coming weeks there is still room for more twists and turns.
There’s only one place to start as we review this weekend’s games and that is at the St Lukes Barton Stadium where 1874 Northwich host Atherton Collieries. What a game this promises to be with Colls’ seemingly striding towards step four, they have been in solid form of late and winning games by just enough but having played with solid defending rather than trying to score five because the opposition score three. Michael Clegg’s side have won their last three games which have been against AFC Liverpool, Barnoldswick and most recently in midweek against Winsford all by the same scoreline of 2-1.
This is likely to be Colls’ toughest test of the run-in off the park, not allowing for the nerves factor of course. Up until only a couple of weeks back, 1874 were mounting their own title challenge and whilst this has faded away very recently they are still a strong side and likely to give a fine account of themselves as they look to build for a likely busy season next time out.
Runcorn Linnets have home advantage as they face Maine Road at the Millbank Linnets Stadium. Michael Ellison’s Linnets are in superb form and this is reflected by the fact they top the form table and still in with a shout of the title. In their last six games they have beaten 1874 Northwich, Bootle and Atherton Collieries and whether they run out of games just ahead of the finish line or not, they are still very much in this race and early signs are good whatever happens for next season. Mid-table Maine Road have a busy weekend as they will feature in the Groundhop on Monday evening too, hosting Abbey Hey. Their form has been fair to middling and on their day they can give anyone a game with their exciting young side.
Bootle host Nelson at the Delta Taxis Stadium with the club still one of the likely clubs who can catch Atherton Collieries although it will be a tough ask. With Atherton in a tough game this weekend anything can still happen, Bootle defeated Barnoldswick 6-1 in their last league game in midweek and go into the game in good form. Nelson’s season has been a difficult one although they have had peaks but this maybe a difficult one to take points from with the home side still in the title race and scoring freely.
Congleton Town prop up the form table at the moment so are likely not too enthused about having second in the form charts, Irlam visiting the Richborough Estates Stadium this Saturday. Congleton are safe for another season but occupy a place in the bottom third of the table, an unusual perch for the club who are usually challenging at the top end. However, without a win since a 3-0 win over Abbey Hey at the beginning of February tells a story in itself so they will be looking to dust themselves down and go again. Irlam are in superb form with only one defeat in their last seven games, the rest of those were wins, Steve Nixon has got Irlam purring and a top six finish is still a realistic aim.
Whilst nothing was sorted over the midweek games with regards to promotion, relegation of safety, AFC Darwen could all but secure their place in the Premier Division next season with or without a win against Hanley Town. A win at the WEC Group Anchor Ground will see Darwen likely safe although the status could be achieved with results elsewhere so the incentive is there for the Lancashire Club. For Hanley, Mike Edwards side will be looking for the points to consolidate sixth spot in the table. They are in good form and however the next couple of weeks go can look back on what has been a fine first season at Step five for the potteries side.
Barnoldswick Town will look to recover swiftly from their 6-1 away defeat at Bootle in the league on Tuesday as they face West Didsbury & Chorlton at the Silentnight Stadium. Both of these sides are in relatively good form at the moment and occupy places in the top six of the form table, West Didsbury are 6th in the form rankings whilst Barnoldswick are in third. With both sides in mid-table and the last meeting between these sides being a 3-3 thriller, this is likely to be a great game for fans and neutrals alike.
Cammell Laird 1907 welcome New Mills to the North West Construction Stadium with New Mills in a perilous position. It is not a new situation for New Mills but if results go a certain way this week their successive relegation could be confirmed. Lairds have already had their relegation fate sealed a short while back, however since then Mick McGraa’s side have completely reversed their form and go into the game unbeaten in their last four matches, giving them their highest position in the form table this season (13th). I was at their 2-2 draw against AFC Liverpool in midweek and they are a free-flowing attacking side and are likely to be a much different prospect next season.
On Sunday, two Premier Division games are involved in the NWCFL Ground-Hop and the first takes place at 1130am Sunday morning as Ashton Athletic face Squires Gate at Brocstedes Park in the first game of the day. Ashton Athletic are in good spirits at the moment having recently secured the Lancashire Cup and they also put in a strong performance in midweek taking a point at home to Runcorn Town, a result that likely ended Town’s own title challenge. Squires Gate are in 18th position in the table and they could well be safe by the time this game is played, however they will still be keen to put some more daylight between themselves and that trap door.
The last game on Sunday sees Runcorn Town host Barnton with a 6pm kick off at Pavilions. It has been an interesting week for Town, up until midweek they, like Bootle were still candidates for the title, their midweek draw at Ashton Athletic though likely puts them in the outsiders category now but they will still want to fight until the end. Barnton are all but safe now and with a ground grading secured they will view the progress on and off the field as a successful season.
Here's to an exciting weekend where issues top and bottom may become a lot clearer as well as visitors from afar taking in their first games in our league. It’s all happening!
Premier Division Preview - 15th and 16th April 2017
Fri 14th April 2017 | Match Reviews
By Gary Langley
PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW 15th April
As the runners and riders hit the final furlong of what has been a fantastic season there are a number of permutations still to sort and odds are that many of the issues will go right to the wire. With the Groundhop taking place this weekend, some of the fixtures are spread out but with a number of games still to be played over the coming weeks there is still room for more twists and turns.
There’s only one place to start as we review this weekend’s games and that is at the St Lukes Barton Stadium where 1874 Northwich host Atherton Collieries. What a game this promises to be with Colls’ seemingly striding towards step four, they have been in solid form of late and winning games by just enough but having played with solid defending rather than trying to score five because the opposition score three. Michael Clegg’s side have won their last three games which have been against AFC Liverpool, Barnoldswick and most recently in midweek against Winsford all by the same scoreline of 2-1.
This is likely to be Colls’ toughest test of the run-in off the park, not allowing for the nerves factor of course. Up until only a couple of weeks back, 1874 were mounting their own title challenge and whilst this has faded away very recently they are still a strong side and likely to give a fine account of themselves as they look to build for a likely busy season next time out.
Runcorn Linnets have home advantage as they face Maine Road at the Millbank Linnets Stadium. Michael Ellison’s Linnets are in superb form and this is reflected by the fact they top the form table and still in with a shout of the title. In their last six games they have beaten 1874 Northwich, Bootle and Atherton Collieries and whether they run out of games just ahead of the finish line or not, they are still very much in this race and early signs are good whatever happens for next season. Mid-table Maine Road have a busy weekend as they will feature in the Groundhop on Monday evening too, hosting Abbey Hey. Their form has been fair to middling and on their day they can give anyone a game with their exciting young side.
Bootle host Nelson at the Delta Taxis Stadium with the club still one of the likely clubs who can catch Atherton Collieries although it will be a tough ask. With Atherton in a tough game this weekend anything can still happen, Bootle defeated Barnoldswick 6-1 in their last league game in midweek and go into the game in good form. Nelson’s season has been a difficult one although they have had peaks but this maybe a difficult one to take points from with the home side still in the title race and scoring freely.
Congleton Town prop up the form table at the moment so are likely not too enthused about having second in the form charts, Irlam visiting the Richborough Estates Stadium this Saturday. Congleton are safe for another season but occupy a place in the bottom third of the table, an unusual perch for the club who are usually challenging at the top end. However, without a win since a 3-0 win over Abbey Hey at the beginning of February tells a story in itself so they will be looking to dust themselves down and go again. Irlam are in superb form with only one defeat in their last seven games, the rest of those were wins, Steve Nixon has got Irlam purring and a top six finish is still a realistic aim.
Whilst nothing was sorted over the midweek games with regards to promotion, relegation of safety, AFC Darwen could all but secure their place in the Premier Division next season with or without a win against Hanley Town. A win at the WEC Group Anchor Ground will see Darwen likely safe although the status could be achieved with results elsewhere so the incentive is there for the Lancashire Club. For Hanley, Mike Edwards side will be looking for the points to consolidate sixth spot in the table. They are in good form and however the next couple of weeks go can look back on what has been a fine first season at Step five for the potteries side.
Barnoldswick Town will look to recover swiftly from their 6-1 away defeat at Bootle in the league on Tuesday as they face West Didsbury & Chorlton at the Silentnight Stadium. Both of these sides are in relatively good form at the moment and occupy places in the top six of the form table, West Didsbury are 6th in the form rankings whilst Barnoldswick are in third. With both sides in mid-table and the last meeting between these sides being a 3-3 thriller, this is likely to be a great game for fans and neutrals alike.
Cammell Laird 1907 welcome New Mills to the North West Construction Stadium with New Mills in a perilous position. It is not a new situation for New Mills but if results go a certain way this week their successive relegation could be confirmed. Lairds have already had their relegation fate sealed a short while back, however since then Mick McGraa’s side have completely reversed their form and go into the game unbeaten in their last four matches, giving them their highest position in the form table this season (13th). I was at their 2-2 draw against AFC Liverpool in midweek and they are a free-flowing attacking side and are likely to be a much different prospect next season.
On Sunday, two Premier Division games are involved in the NWCFL Ground-Hop and the first takes place at 1130am Sunday morning as Ashton Athletic face Squires Gate at Brocstedes Park in the first game of the day. Ashton Athletic are in good spirits at the moment having recently secured the Lancashire Cup and they also put in a strong performance in midweek taking a point at home to Runcorn Town, a result that likely ended Town’s own title challenge. Squires Gate are in 18th position in the table and they could well be safe by the time this game is played, however they will still be keen to put some more daylight between themselves and that trap door.
The last game on Sunday sees Runcorn Town host Barnton with a 6pm kick off at Pavilions. It has been an interesting week for Town, up until midweek they, like Bootle were still candidates for the title, their midweek draw at Ashton Athletic though likely puts them in the outsiders category now but they will still want to fight until the end. Barnton are all but safe now and with a ground grading secured they will view the progress on and off the field as a successful season.
Here's to an exciting weekend where issues top and bottom may become a lot clearer as well as visitors from afar taking in their first games in our league. It’s all happening!
