Division One Play-Off Semi-Final Weekend Preview
Fri 5th May 2017 | General | By Gary Langley
Weekend Play-off Previews
With the regular season having reached its dramatic climax last week it is now time for the first division to take centre stage as the highly popular, yet über tense play-off games commence. Four of the divisions strongest sides throughout the season find themselves subject to the drama, tension and lottery elements that the structure of the end of season decider.
The two single leg semi-finals take place this Saturday with Litherland REMYCA who finished third in the table, hosting Sandbach United whilst in the other semi-final, City of Liverpool who finished fourth welcome Whitchurch Alport who ended up finishing fifth. We take a look at the two games and preview the fixtures.
Starting at Litherland Sports Park, Litherland REMYCA have home advantage but have ironically been slightly stronger away from home with only two defeats on the road all season. In all fairness their home form hasn't been too shabby either and Phil Stafford's side have been effective averaging just under three goals per game at home. The Remy' are still without goalkeeper Sean Lake who was injured in an earlier league game at Sandbach but have a near full strength squad to call on.
Sandbach United have lost three of their last five in all competitions but like Litherland they travel reasonably well. The recent 1-0 defeat to City of Liverpool in the final of the Reusch First Division Cup final was as close as the score suggests with the Cheshire side giving a fine account of themselves in the process.
United’ had always been there or thereabouts in the table and had been in the top six pretty much since November and whilst a number of clubs had knocked on the door of the top six in the process, Sandbach always looked solid contenders.
When these sides met in the League they drew 1-1 at the same venue and then last month Remyca travelled to Sandbach and came away with a 0-2 win with the goals coming from Alex Ryan and Lennon Whewell.
FORM GUIDE (Last 6 in all comps) –
Litherland Remyca – W D W W W L
Sandbach United – L L W W L W
The other semi-final sees friendly rivals City of Liverpool host Whitchurch Alport in a game that sees two of the divisions strongest sides for most of the season go head to head. These two clubs have enjoyed a good relationship off the field but for one game that may have to be on hiatus for 90 minutes as the stake are high.
The Purps’ will be on a high having lifted the Reusch Division One Cup on Monday in a great final which was packed full of colour and support. This is in effect their second cup final-esque game of potentially four with having the Reusch in the bag if they can progress over the next two games and be promoted that will be another creditable success for them. They have also reached the Hallmark Security Leagues flagship cup competition but I’m sure Simon Burton’s side will worry about the Macron Cup final once league business is sorted.
City of Liverpool go into the play-offs with the best goal difference across both divisions with an impressive +74 and only one defeat in their last six. Like Whitchurch, City of Liverpool had held the top spot for a number of weeks, however eventual winners Widnes always had a number of games in hand and just pipped them at the post at the end but they still finished in excellent form with only three defeats in all competitions in the calendar year.
Whitchurch went really close themselves but will look at a slight dip in form at the turn of the year when in January and February they played a spell of six games and lost three of them, drawing one. They had a similar spell in their last six games, winning two, losing one but drawing three. Luke Goddard and Carl Everall have had Alport purring though considering their massive turnaround from last season, they have played passing football with fluid movement around the park and they know where the goal is with Mike Blundell and Simon Everall bagging 58 goals between them in all competitions.
City of Liverpool also have some firepower with four players in the top 20 goalscorers, David Forbes leads the way for them on 25 goals in all comps whilst John Connolly (19), Thomas Peterson and Daley Woods on 18 apiece also feature.
As far as the head-to-head results go, Whitchurch travelled to the Delta Taxis Stadium in late September and came away with a highly creditable 3-2 win but then The Purps’ visited Yockings Park in mid-November and returned the favour by winning 2-1 on the road.
FORM GUIDE (Last 6 in all comps)
City of Liverpool – W W D W W L
Whitchurch Alport – W D D L D W
So there you have it, two great games, four good quality teams and the stage is set for a dramatic super Saturday on Merseyside as the Hallmark Security League reaches a dramatic final couple of weeks.
Division One Play-Off Semi-Final Weekend Preview
Fri 5th May 2017 | General
By Gary Langley
Weekend Play-off Previews
With the regular season having reached its dramatic climax last week it is now time for the first division to take centre stage as the highly popular, yet über tense play-off games commence. Four of the divisions strongest sides throughout the season find themselves subject to the drama, tension and lottery elements that the structure of the end of season decider.
The two single leg semi-finals take place this Saturday with Litherland REMYCA who finished third in the table, hosting Sandbach United whilst in the other semi-final, City of Liverpool who finished fourth welcome Whitchurch Alport who ended up finishing fifth. We take a look at the two games and preview the fixtures.
Starting at Litherland Sports Park, Litherland REMYCA have home advantage but have ironically been slightly stronger away from home with only two defeats on the road all season. In all fairness their home form hasn't been too shabby either and Phil Stafford's side have been effective averaging just under three goals per game at home. The Remy' are still without goalkeeper Sean Lake who was injured in an earlier league game at Sandbach but have a near full strength squad to call on.
Sandbach United have lost three of their last five in all competitions but like Litherland they travel reasonably well. The recent 1-0 defeat to City of Liverpool in the final of the Reusch First Division Cup final was as close as the score suggests with the Cheshire side giving a fine account of themselves in the process.
United’ had always been there or thereabouts in the table and had been in the top six pretty much since November and whilst a number of clubs had knocked on the door of the top six in the process, Sandbach always looked solid contenders.
When these sides met in the League they drew 1-1 at the same venue and then last month Remyca travelled to Sandbach and came away with a 0-2 win with the goals coming from Alex Ryan and Lennon Whewell.
FORM GUIDE (Last 6 in all comps) –
Litherland Remyca – W D W W W L
Sandbach United – L L W W L W
The other semi-final sees friendly rivals City of Liverpool host Whitchurch Alport in a game that sees two of the divisions strongest sides for most of the season go head to head. These two clubs have enjoyed a good relationship off the field but for one game that may have to be on hiatus for 90 minutes as the stake are high.
The Purps’ will be on a high having lifted the Reusch Division One Cup on Monday in a great final which was packed full of colour and support. This is in effect their second cup final-esque game of potentially four with having the Reusch in the bag if they can progress over the next two games and be promoted that will be another creditable success for them. They have also reached the Hallmark Security Leagues flagship cup competition but I’m sure Simon Burton’s side will worry about the Macron Cup final once league business is sorted.
City of Liverpool go into the play-offs with the best goal difference across both divisions with an impressive +74 and only one defeat in their last six. Like Whitchurch, City of Liverpool had held the top spot for a number of weeks, however eventual winners Widnes always had a number of games in hand and just pipped them at the post at the end but they still finished in excellent form with only three defeats in all competitions in the calendar year.
Whitchurch went really close themselves but will look at a slight dip in form at the turn of the year when in January and February they played a spell of six games and lost three of them, drawing one. They had a similar spell in their last six games, winning two, losing one but drawing three. Luke Goddard and Carl Everall have had Alport purring though considering their massive turnaround from last season, they have played passing football with fluid movement around the park and they know where the goal is with Mike Blundell and Simon Everall bagging 58 goals between them in all competitions.
City of Liverpool also have some firepower with four players in the top 20 goalscorers, David Forbes leads the way for them on 25 goals in all comps whilst John Connolly (19), Thomas Peterson and Daley Woods on 18 apiece also feature.
As far as the head-to-head results go, Whitchurch travelled to the Delta Taxis Stadium in late September and came away with a highly creditable 3-2 win but then The Purps’ visited Yockings Park in mid-November and returned the favour by winning 2-1 on the road.
FORM GUIDE (Last 6 in all comps)
City of Liverpool – W W D W W L
Whitchurch Alport – W D D L D W
So there you have it, two great games, four good quality teams and the stage is set for a dramatic super Saturday on Merseyside as the Hallmark Security League reaches a dramatic final couple of weeks.
