Division One Preview - Saturday 2nd September 2017
Fri 1st September 2017 | Match Reviews | By Gary Langley
Following a busy midweek of fixtures, Gary Langley take's a look at this Saturday's Hallmark Security League Division One games.
With the theatre of TV’s much hyped Transfer deadline day that sees the TV Money passed from pillar to post it doesn’t take long to get either perturbed or just disappointed with the top level game at the moment.
As a product it stands up well but with attendances up over 40% across the board in the Hallmark Security league last season it’s easy to see why there is such a buzz around the games at the moment.
Like with almost every week at the moment, this weekend sees some great looking Hallmark Security League fixtures at a time when it looks from a couple of steps back like the table is starting to settle and certain clubs seem to be where you will expect them to be come April.
So, lots of games to look at so let us crack open the treasure trove of fixtures that await partisan, casual or neutral alike this weekend.
Alsager Town take on Atherton LR at the Woodpark Stadium with the home side in reasonable form and sitting sixth in the table. They have notched up three strong wins against Nelson, Cheadle and most recently last week against FC Oswestry, all by 2-1 scorelines.
Atherton LR will be happy with their progress, they have netted two successive wins against Cammell Laird 1907 and St Helens Town and currently sit eighth in the league table. It is the start of a testing few days for LR as they travel to Silsden in midweek.
Whitchurch Alport host Carlisle City at Yockings Park in the “M6 Derby” which sees 151 Miles between the two clubs which always attracts attention. However it’s the journey these two have made off the park that for many is more interesting.
Both clubs have come a long way in their relatively short tenures in the Hallmark Security League developing as community clubs and also developing on the pitch.
At the moment Whitchurch are flying, they’re second in the table on 13 points and have been solid so far this season, such is the expectation of the club that some raised eyebrows when they drew with Abbey Hulton Last weekend. City have won two, drew one and lost two but have an improved record than at the same point last season but will face a tough game this weekend.
High flying Bacup Borough take on Cammell Laird 1907 at the Brian Boys West View Stadium. Unbeaten Bacup have made the type of start one would probably expect of them but they are also winning games playing some good football.
They face a Lairds side who are still settling down after a hit and miss start and go into this game on the back of three straight defeats, most recently to Litherland Remyca (1-4) last Tuesday evening.
At Ruskin Drive, St Helens Town take on league-leading, Silsden who have been in excellent form and clinical so far with five wins from five. Silsden have been effective with three of those wins just by the one goal but will have been buoyed by a good performance against Chadderton in midweek where they came out of the game with a 2-0 win.
St Helens’ season hasn’t really started yet, three games, three defeats sees them sit 21st in the table and they really need a win from somewhere, even a 1-0 win with a fluke will do. However, they will have to graft and use home advantage as much as possible if they are to use this game as the catalyst to push on.
Litherland Remyca are also doing well at the moment and they travel to New Sirs to face Daisy Hill. It is five games without a win for Daisy Hill, three of which have been defeats all losses by the 2-1 scoreline. Recent defeats to Sandbach United and Carlisle have compounded their frustrations.
Remy have won four of their six games and had a good win in midweek winning 4-1 away against Cammell Lairds. There are normally goals in these games 22 in fact in the seven previous meetings between these clubs. True to previewing form though, the last game between these two finished goalless.
Sandbach United host neighbouring Cheadle Town at the Sandbach Community Football Centre with Sandbach having had a somewhat difficult start to the season, possibly down to the luck of the fixtures –or not as the case may be.
In their first three games they were beaten by Silsden, Litherland Remyca and drew at Alsager, all of whom are in the top six in the table. They have however won their last two games that have seen them climb quickly to tenth in the table and in sight of the top six so they are making good progress.
Anthony Trucca’s Cheadle Town have had mixed fortunes so far with two wins a draw and two losses, the most recent of which came in midweek when they were beaten 2-4 at home by Prestwich Heys. By all accounts this was a game of two halves for Cheadle so they will be looking for more of the play they had in the second half of that game but will face a stern challenge in Sandbach.
Eccleshall face Chadderton at Pershall Park in an intriguing looking game. I said on last week's Counties podcast that Eccleshall needed to go and get a win otherwise they could end up struggling again this season. They went and beat St Helens Town 3-2 but then got beat by the same scoreline at Stockport Town on Bank Holiday Monday.
Eccleshall are around the bottom six at the moment largely down to those three points gained last week but will face a tough test in Chadderton who currently have four points from their three games.
For Chaddy they will be looking to put their midweek 2-0 defeat to Silsden behind them. For the purposes of the minutes that game was held at the Kensite Stadium, home of Evo-Stik League side Atherton Collieries, this is due to improvement work being carried out at Andrew Street.
The reverse to Silsden is no disgrace given the superb start by the Cobbydalers, however, Chadderton are serially tipped to click into gear and challenge every season. For me, looking at their fixtures if they are to do so this season they will need to take nine points from their next twelve on offer if they are to be considered serious candidates this season, their point that they got at Remyca last Saturday certainly makes a statement.
Prestwich Heys are looking good at the moment and they welcome AFC Blackpool to Adie Moran Park. Last season these two sides won their respective away fixtures in this tie and both have proven to be good on the road.
Blackpool have got off to a better start this season after a summer of changes in the squad and Prestwich Heys are already back pretty much where they were for most of last season and that’s on the edge of the play-off area.
Blackpool got a win on the opening weekend against Oswestry Town but since then have lost their next three which have been against Silsden, Bacup and Whitchurch who largely occupy the top five at the moment and they played Holker in midweek of course. They will be hoping that their recent form dip is down to the fixtures computer who we like to call “John” and that their early season promise can be realised.
For the record both of these clubs played in midweek, Prestwich held on at Cheadle Town in Midweek, after going 3 goals ahead they ultimately won 4-2. AFC Blackpool they were also decent on the road, they won that game 3-0.
At the Venue it’s the “3G Derby” as FC Oswestry Town host Stockport Town with neither of these clubs really matching the pre-season expectations of them. Stockport Town’s start has been slightly better with seven points from their five games, however four of those came in the last two games with a draw at Abbey Hulton and a 3-2 midweek win over Eccleshall.
Oswestry have lost all five of their games and currently have a -8 goal difference and already things are looking tough for the border club who will really need to motor if they are not to get dragged in to a long battle to avoid the bottom six.
New Mills have got off to a good start and they will be looking to build on that as Holker Old Boys make the trip to Church Lane. New Mills have had a good start, currently sitting ninth in the league table and of their nine goals they have scored this season, eight have come from different scorers.
Holker go into this game after three successive losses and having failed to score in three of their five games. History doesn’t make good reading for the Cumbrians either, New Mills have won the last four games against Holker and last time these two met at Church Lane in the League, New Mills won the game 9-0.
Last in our previews today but certainly not least sees Abbey Hulton make the trip to Little Wembley to take on Nelson. Abbey Hulton are unbeaten so far and certainly caught attention last weekend holding Whitchurch Alport at their own ground to a 0-0 draw.
Nelson, who are under new management, have a solitary point in their total so far, that coming from a 2-2 draw at New Mills last week. They may well be suffering a hangover from last seasons relegation but will be looking to lose that hangover and press on and re-group.
Lots of big games this weekend, and let’s be honest the quality of the division at the moment means there are big games every week.
However, things do seem to be starting to settle and you can see the movers and shakers starting to position themselves towards the top as well as clubs that maybe starting to look a little over their shoulder at the other end. With FA Vase games next weekend, clubs will be keen to get the points on the board.
Division One Preview - Saturday 2nd September 2017
Fri 1st September 2017 | Match Reviews
By Gary Langley
Following a busy midweek of fixtures, Gary Langley take's a look at this Saturday's Hallmark Security League Division One games.
With the theatre of TV’s much hyped Transfer deadline day that sees the TV Money passed from pillar to post it doesn’t take long to get either perturbed or just disappointed with the top level game at the moment.
As a product it stands up well but with attendances up over 40% across the board in the Hallmark Security league last season it’s easy to see why there is such a buzz around the games at the moment.
Like with almost every week at the moment, this weekend sees some great looking Hallmark Security League fixtures at a time when it looks from a couple of steps back like the table is starting to settle and certain clubs seem to be where you will expect them to be come April.
So, lots of games to look at so let us crack open the treasure trove of fixtures that await partisan, casual or neutral alike this weekend.
Alsager Town take on Atherton LR at the Woodpark Stadium with the home side in reasonable form and sitting sixth in the table. They have notched up three strong wins against Nelson, Cheadle and most recently last week against FC Oswestry, all by 2-1 scorelines.
Atherton LR will be happy with their progress, they have netted two successive wins against Cammell Laird 1907 and St Helens Town and currently sit eighth in the league table. It is the start of a testing few days for LR as they travel to Silsden in midweek.
Whitchurch Alport host Carlisle City at Yockings Park in the “M6 Derby” which sees 151 Miles between the two clubs which always attracts attention. However it’s the journey these two have made off the park that for many is more interesting.
Both clubs have come a long way in their relatively short tenures in the Hallmark Security League developing as community clubs and also developing on the pitch.
At the moment Whitchurch are flying, they’re second in the table on 13 points and have been solid so far this season, such is the expectation of the club that some raised eyebrows when they drew with Abbey Hulton Last weekend. City have won two, drew one and lost two but have an improved record than at the same point last season but will face a tough game this weekend.
High flying Bacup Borough take on Cammell Laird 1907 at the Brian Boys West View Stadium. Unbeaten Bacup have made the type of start one would probably expect of them but they are also winning games playing some good football.
They face a Lairds side who are still settling down after a hit and miss start and go into this game on the back of three straight defeats, most recently to Litherland Remyca (1-4) last Tuesday evening.
At Ruskin Drive, St Helens Town take on league-leading, Silsden who have been in excellent form and clinical so far with five wins from five. Silsden have been effective with three of those wins just by the one goal but will have been buoyed by a good performance against Chadderton in midweek where they came out of the game with a 2-0 win.
St Helens’ season hasn’t really started yet, three games, three defeats sees them sit 21st in the table and they really need a win from somewhere, even a 1-0 win with a fluke will do. However, they will have to graft and use home advantage as much as possible if they are to use this game as the catalyst to push on.
Litherland Remyca are also doing well at the moment and they travel to New Sirs to face Daisy Hill. It is five games without a win for Daisy Hill, three of which have been defeats all losses by the 2-1 scoreline. Recent defeats to Sandbach United and Carlisle have compounded their frustrations.
Remy have won four of their six games and had a good win in midweek winning 4-1 away against Cammell Lairds. There are normally goals in these games 22 in fact in the seven previous meetings between these clubs. True to previewing form though, the last game between these two finished goalless.
Sandbach United host neighbouring Cheadle Town at the Sandbach Community Football Centre with Sandbach having had a somewhat difficult start to the season, possibly down to the luck of the fixtures –or not as the case may be.
In their first three games they were beaten by Silsden, Litherland Remyca and drew at Alsager, all of whom are in the top six in the table. They have however won their last two games that have seen them climb quickly to tenth in the table and in sight of the top six so they are making good progress.
Anthony Trucca’s Cheadle Town have had mixed fortunes so far with two wins a draw and two losses, the most recent of which came in midweek when they were beaten 2-4 at home by Prestwich Heys. By all accounts this was a game of two halves for Cheadle so they will be looking for more of the play they had in the second half of that game but will face a stern challenge in Sandbach.
Eccleshall face Chadderton at Pershall Park in an intriguing looking game. I said on last week's Counties podcast that Eccleshall needed to go and get a win otherwise they could end up struggling again this season. They went and beat St Helens Town 3-2 but then got beat by the same scoreline at Stockport Town on Bank Holiday Monday.
Eccleshall are around the bottom six at the moment largely down to those three points gained last week but will face a tough test in Chadderton who currently have four points from their three games.
For Chaddy they will be looking to put their midweek 2-0 defeat to Silsden behind them. For the purposes of the minutes that game was held at the Kensite Stadium, home of Evo-Stik League side Atherton Collieries, this is due to improvement work being carried out at Andrew Street.
The reverse to Silsden is no disgrace given the superb start by the Cobbydalers, however, Chadderton are serially tipped to click into gear and challenge every season. For me, looking at their fixtures if they are to do so this season they will need to take nine points from their next twelve on offer if they are to be considered serious candidates this season, their point that they got at Remyca last Saturday certainly makes a statement.
Prestwich Heys are looking good at the moment and they welcome AFC Blackpool to Adie Moran Park. Last season these two sides won their respective away fixtures in this tie and both have proven to be good on the road.
Blackpool have got off to a better start this season after a summer of changes in the squad and Prestwich Heys are already back pretty much where they were for most of last season and that’s on the edge of the play-off area.
Blackpool got a win on the opening weekend against Oswestry Town but since then have lost their next three which have been against Silsden, Bacup and Whitchurch who largely occupy the top five at the moment and they played Holker in midweek of course. They will be hoping that their recent form dip is down to the fixtures computer who we like to call “John” and that their early season promise can be realised.
For the record both of these clubs played in midweek, Prestwich held on at Cheadle Town in Midweek, after going 3 goals ahead they ultimately won 4-2. AFC Blackpool they were also decent on the road, they won that game 3-0.
At the Venue it’s the “3G Derby” as FC Oswestry Town host Stockport Town with neither of these clubs really matching the pre-season expectations of them. Stockport Town’s start has been slightly better with seven points from their five games, however four of those came in the last two games with a draw at Abbey Hulton and a 3-2 midweek win over Eccleshall.
Oswestry have lost all five of their games and currently have a -8 goal difference and already things are looking tough for the border club who will really need to motor if they are not to get dragged in to a long battle to avoid the bottom six.
New Mills have got off to a good start and they will be looking to build on that as Holker Old Boys make the trip to Church Lane. New Mills have had a good start, currently sitting ninth in the league table and of their nine goals they have scored this season, eight have come from different scorers.
Holker go into this game after three successive losses and having failed to score in three of their five games. History doesn’t make good reading for the Cumbrians either, New Mills have won the last four games against Holker and last time these two met at Church Lane in the League, New Mills won the game 9-0.
Last in our previews today but certainly not least sees Abbey Hulton make the trip to Little Wembley to take on Nelson. Abbey Hulton are unbeaten so far and certainly caught attention last weekend holding Whitchurch Alport at their own ground to a 0-0 draw.
Nelson, who are under new management, have a solitary point in their total so far, that coming from a 2-2 draw at New Mills last week. They may well be suffering a hangover from last seasons relegation but will be looking to lose that hangover and press on and re-group.
Lots of big games this weekend, and let’s be honest the quality of the division at the moment means there are big games every week.
However, things do seem to be starting to settle and you can see the movers and shakers starting to position themselves towards the top as well as clubs that maybe starting to look a little over their shoulder at the other end. With FA Vase games next weekend, clubs will be keen to get the points on the board.
