Division One Preview - Saturday 30th September 2017
Fri 29th September 2017 | General | By Stewart Taylor
Some attention will quite rightly be focussed on the fortunes of our two surviving Premier Division teams in the Emirates FA Cup this Saturday, but there is much to play for in the First Division with a full set of fixtures to choose from.
Current leaders Silsden are on the road on Saturday as they seek to extend their 100% record in the League so far this season.
The only defeat this term came in the Buildbase FA Vase at the hands of Ebac Northern League side, and favourites for that competition this season in the eyes of many, West Auckland Town.
A fine August for Joe Gaughan culminated in the award of First Division Player of the Month, and he has continued in excellent form into September, picking up a hat trick in the latest League match at home to Cheadle Town.
Next up to try to take the wind from the sails of the Cobbydalers are Stockport Town.
The Lions are looking to make something of a stronghold of their home at Lambeth Grove this season and have started the season well. Ashley Stott joined the side from Daisy Hill for the beginning of the season and has continued his good goalscoring record.
With contributions from the well travelled Ben Halfacre, the side are rarely short of goals and are the division’s second highest goalscorers.
However, the goal against column shows that defending is perhaps not their strongpoint so far this season. We can only imagine that there will be goals in this match and will provide some fine entertainment.
Litherland REMYCA finished last season in a play off position and have continued that fine form into the new season.
A busy start has seen the side in action in the Emirates FA Cup and the Buildbase FA Vase as well as League matches, and that looks to continue as they look forward to travelling to a very strong Pontefract Collieries side in the next round of the Buildbase FA Vase later in October.
Before that there are League matches and a LWC Drinks First Division Cup match to be played as they seek to maintain the pressure on leaders Silsden. With leading scorer Lennon Whewell having departed the LSP for Bootle, Remy will need to look to others to fill any potential scoring gap. The quest continues on Saturday in the excellent surroundings of The Venue in Oswestry.
It was 9th time lucky for FC Oswestry Town last Saturday as they picked up their first points of the season with a win away at Cheadle Town. Having said that, I’m not sure that lucky is the right word, as the side worked hard to achieve those precious three points.
Maybe now that particular monkey is off their collective backs they can relax a little and move forward in a more positive frame of mind. However, the challenge on Saturday could hardly be much more severe against one of the Division's form teams.
It’s far too early in the season to start talking about a scramble for play off places but, as the season settles down, the strong sides from last season are making their presence felt towards the top of the table.
One such side is Sandbach United who have overcome a rather sticky start to the season by moving into good form as witnessed by a 7-1 win over Bacup Borough a fortnight ago.
Having said that, the first two League matches of the season were against the sides currently sitting in first and second place in the table so a tougher start would have been difficult to envisage.
Disappointment last week in the Buildbase FA Vase in defeat at the hands of AFC Emley of the Northern Counties East League will be rapidly put behind them as they welcome AFC Blackpool to the Sandbach Community Football Centre.
It’s been great to see the Tin Hut Brigade on the road supporting AFC Blackpool this season and they can be expected to be a presence at this match – with their drum! We would all like to think that such away support brings a response from the players and although it’s been a bit patchy so far this season it looks like at least some of the woes of last season have been left behind.
Four wins and four defeats in League matches this season is the return for the Mechanics so far and they will need to work very hard to get that balance back onto the positive side at the end of this match.
Adie Moran Park in Prestwich sees an interesting match up on Saturday as Prestwich Heys host Abbey Hulton United.
Heys had a good first season in the First Division last year finishing in a very creditable 8th position following their promotion as Manchester League Premier Division Champions.
Abbey Hulton United joined the NWCFL for the first time at the beginning of this season following their promotion as Champions of the Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division.
Heys have a side which is peppered with players with experience of playing at higher level. Goals aplenty this season has made for some entertaining matches with no fewer than 15 coming from the three most recent League matches.
Abbey Hulton United started their League campaign with three away matches and would have been more than pleased with a return of 7 points from those matches. The side have perhaps “gone off the boil” a little bit since that heady start. The goals have dried up a bit since August turned to September, but they are a competitive side and this match will be a good challenge.
Alsager Town make the trip up the M6 to Gillford Park to take on a Carlisle City side which has yet to find any really consistent form so far this season.
The Cumbrians were narrowly defeated by Thornaby of the Ebac Northern League Second Division in the Buildbase FA Vase last Saturday. This followed a reversal at the hands of their nearest (geographically) League rivals Holker Old Boys in the previous midweek. Room for improvement for James Tose and his side on Saturday but Alsager Town will provide a tough test.
The Bullets head north in very good spirits. Unbeaten in the month of September, and currently top of the form table, the side look to be strong this season.
Two fine wins in the Qualifying Rounds of the Buildbase FA Vase have set them up for a home tie against current Premier Division leaders Runcorn Town in the First Round Proper next month.
Before that, the next three League matches are at home and the side will be anxious to make home advantage count in their bid to secure the points which will keep them high in the table.
We continue our theme of matches involving sides who were high in the table last season by looking at Whitchurch Alport.
August was a positive month for Alport having overcome the disappointment of a defeat to Walsall Wood in the Emirates FA Cup on the first day of the season. It has been generally forward since then with the side going undefeated in League matches until losing narrowly to Litherland REMYCA a fortnight ago.
New Mills are the visitors to Yockings Park on Saturday and bring with them some indifferent form. Our only Derbyshire based side have found it quite tough going since coming into the First Division at the start of this season.
The Millers have had some good wins so far but also too many defeats. A draw away at Chadderton in midweek brought the first away League point of the season to the Church Lane side.
Coming into the First Division alongside New Mills at the start of this season were Cammell Laird 1907. Much like New Mills, Lairds have not found it easy in the First Division.
A pretty even record of wins and defeats so far this season puts them in a mid-table position. One of those defeats earlier in the season came at Atherton LR who are the visitors to Kirklands this Saturday in the reverse League fixture.
LR had a real struggle last season and were no doubt relieved to finish the season in 20th position having picked up some valuable League points towards the end. Changes both on and off the field at Crilly Park this season has brought a more positive feel to the club and results are showing signs of improvement.
A series of defeats in the first matches in September came against some strong sides. That trend was emphatically reversed last Saturday with a good win away at New Mills. A repeat of that home win against Saturday’s opponents earlier in the season will provide another upward tick.
The third relegated side at the end of last season was Nelson and, true to the experiences of the other two relegated sides, the Admirals have not found it easy in what is a competitive division.
Just a single point from 7 League matches sees the side in 22nd spot. To say that it has been a difficult season at Nelson must be considered as a complete understatement. Changes in the managerial, coaching and playing staff would be unsettling at any club and the effects are usually manifest in the results.
We can be sure that all associated with the club will be looking to turn the corner starting with the visit of Eccleshall to Little Wembley on Saturday.
Last season was something of a struggle for Eccleshall. “Played well but no points” was a frequent refrain as the side finished the season in 21st place in the League table.
Changes in the closed season and pretty soon it’s August again, and away we go hoping for better. No joy in the first three matches and then a win to bring a smile to the faces of the Staffordshire lads. It still seems to be a struggle but the match on Saturday sees a battle between two clubs in the bottom five in the League table.
It’s early in the season, but this one does have the makings of an important game if only to provide a platform to move forward from.
Two other sides currently occupying places in the last five in the League table meet at New Sirs as Daisy Hill entertain St Helens Town.
The home side for this match are looking to fill the gap left by the resignation of Manager Craig Thomas following heavy defeats in League matches against Alsager Town and Prestwich Heys.
Senior players Craig Haynes and Matty Knowles stepped into the breech for the narrow defeat at Holker Old Boys last Saturday. The Cutters will need to take encouragement from the performance if not the result of that match and to push on against a St Helens Town side who themselves have not had a good start to the season.
It is good to see St Helens Town back in St Helens after a somewhat nomadic existence in recent years. The Ruskin Drive complex differs significantly from the notion of a traditional non-league football ground, but, nevertheless, it is an excellent facility and, most importantly, it is in St Helens.
Just one win in the League so far this season will by no means have satisfied the ambition of the club at the start of the season so there is much to play for in terms of both confidence and points in this match.
Chadderton played their first match of the season at their ARK Fleetech Stadium home in midweek following the laying of a new pitch and improvements to the floodlights.
A decent crowd were there to watch a youthful side gain a point in a 1-1 draw against visitors New Mills with Mike Moss bagging his 6th goal in nine games as Chaddy equalised having gone behind early in the match. Saturday sees another home match, and an opportunity to get some points in the bag, as Holker Old Boys make the trip from South Lakeland.
It is perhaps more than useful that Holker Old Boys are collecting points from home matches as their return from away matches so far this season has been nil. A third consecutive home win came in midweek in a 3-1 victory over Bacup Borough in the Lancashire FA Partners Foundation Challenge Trophy.
The challenge now is to reverse that trend of losing away matches and the side will see this match as an opportunity to do exactly that although nothing is easy in this competitive Division.
Our final match this Saturday takes us to the Brian Boys West View Stadium as Bacup Borough host Cheadle Town.
Bacup Borough started the season well being unbeaten in the month of August gaining 11 points from a possible 15 with Wayne Morrison contributing 5 goals in those 5 games.
However, things have not gone at all well in September with four consecutive defeats including bowing out of the Buildbase FA Vase at the hands of Premier Division side Charnock Richard last Saturday and the Lancashire FA Partners Foundation Challenge Trophy against Holker Old Boys in midweek.
Cheadle Town’s form could perhaps be best described as patchy so far this season. No real pattern has emerged from the early matches and it would be difficult to make any predictions about this match.
The Park Road side would have been disappointed to lose at home to FC Oswestry Town last Saturday and the side will look for a positive reaction to that defeat.
That’s all folks for this Saturday in the First Division, and wherever you take in your live football this weekend, enjoy the match.
Division One Preview - Saturday 30th September 2017
Fri 29th September 2017 | General
By Stewart Taylor
Some attention will quite rightly be focussed on the fortunes of our two surviving Premier Division teams in the Emirates FA Cup this Saturday, but there is much to play for in the First Division with a full set of fixtures to choose from.
Current leaders Silsden are on the road on Saturday as they seek to extend their 100% record in the League so far this season.
The only defeat this term came in the Buildbase FA Vase at the hands of Ebac Northern League side, and favourites for that competition this season in the eyes of many, West Auckland Town.
A fine August for Joe Gaughan culminated in the award of First Division Player of the Month, and he has continued in excellent form into September, picking up a hat trick in the latest League match at home to Cheadle Town.
Next up to try to take the wind from the sails of the Cobbydalers are Stockport Town.
The Lions are looking to make something of a stronghold of their home at Lambeth Grove this season and have started the season well. Ashley Stott joined the side from Daisy Hill for the beginning of the season and has continued his good goalscoring record.
With contributions from the well travelled Ben Halfacre, the side are rarely short of goals and are the division’s second highest goalscorers.
However, the goal against column shows that defending is perhaps not their strongpoint so far this season. We can only imagine that there will be goals in this match and will provide some fine entertainment.
Litherland REMYCA finished last season in a play off position and have continued that fine form into the new season.
A busy start has seen the side in action in the Emirates FA Cup and the Buildbase FA Vase as well as League matches, and that looks to continue as they look forward to travelling to a very strong Pontefract Collieries side in the next round of the Buildbase FA Vase later in October.
Before that there are League matches and a LWC Drinks First Division Cup match to be played as they seek to maintain the pressure on leaders Silsden. With leading scorer Lennon Whewell having departed the LSP for Bootle, Remy will need to look to others to fill any potential scoring gap. The quest continues on Saturday in the excellent surroundings of The Venue in Oswestry.
It was 9th time lucky for FC Oswestry Town last Saturday as they picked up their first points of the season with a win away at Cheadle Town. Having said that, I’m not sure that lucky is the right word, as the side worked hard to achieve those precious three points.
Maybe now that particular monkey is off their collective backs they can relax a little and move forward in a more positive frame of mind. However, the challenge on Saturday could hardly be much more severe against one of the Division's form teams.
It’s far too early in the season to start talking about a scramble for play off places but, as the season settles down, the strong sides from last season are making their presence felt towards the top of the table.
One such side is Sandbach United who have overcome a rather sticky start to the season by moving into good form as witnessed by a 7-1 win over Bacup Borough a fortnight ago.
Having said that, the first two League matches of the season were against the sides currently sitting in first and second place in the table so a tougher start would have been difficult to envisage.
Disappointment last week in the Buildbase FA Vase in defeat at the hands of AFC Emley of the Northern Counties East League will be rapidly put behind them as they welcome AFC Blackpool to the Sandbach Community Football Centre.
It’s been great to see the Tin Hut Brigade on the road supporting AFC Blackpool this season and they can be expected to be a presence at this match – with their drum! We would all like to think that such away support brings a response from the players and although it’s been a bit patchy so far this season it looks like at least some of the woes of last season have been left behind.
Four wins and four defeats in League matches this season is the return for the Mechanics so far and they will need to work very hard to get that balance back onto the positive side at the end of this match.
Adie Moran Park in Prestwich sees an interesting match up on Saturday as Prestwich Heys host Abbey Hulton United.
Heys had a good first season in the First Division last year finishing in a very creditable 8th position following their promotion as Manchester League Premier Division Champions.
Abbey Hulton United joined the NWCFL for the first time at the beginning of this season following their promotion as Champions of the Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division.
Heys have a side which is peppered with players with experience of playing at higher level. Goals aplenty this season has made for some entertaining matches with no fewer than 15 coming from the three most recent League matches.
Abbey Hulton United started their League campaign with three away matches and would have been more than pleased with a return of 7 points from those matches. The side have perhaps “gone off the boil” a little bit since that heady start. The goals have dried up a bit since August turned to September, but they are a competitive side and this match will be a good challenge.
Alsager Town make the trip up the M6 to Gillford Park to take on a Carlisle City side which has yet to find any really consistent form so far this season.
The Cumbrians were narrowly defeated by Thornaby of the Ebac Northern League Second Division in the Buildbase FA Vase last Saturday. This followed a reversal at the hands of their nearest (geographically) League rivals Holker Old Boys in the previous midweek. Room for improvement for James Tose and his side on Saturday but Alsager Town will provide a tough test.
The Bullets head north in very good spirits. Unbeaten in the month of September, and currently top of the form table, the side look to be strong this season.
Two fine wins in the Qualifying Rounds of the Buildbase FA Vase have set them up for a home tie against current Premier Division leaders Runcorn Town in the First Round Proper next month.
Before that, the next three League matches are at home and the side will be anxious to make home advantage count in their bid to secure the points which will keep them high in the table.
We continue our theme of matches involving sides who were high in the table last season by looking at Whitchurch Alport.
August was a positive month for Alport having overcome the disappointment of a defeat to Walsall Wood in the Emirates FA Cup on the first day of the season. It has been generally forward since then with the side going undefeated in League matches until losing narrowly to Litherland REMYCA a fortnight ago.
New Mills are the visitors to Yockings Park on Saturday and bring with them some indifferent form. Our only Derbyshire based side have found it quite tough going since coming into the First Division at the start of this season.
The Millers have had some good wins so far but also too many defeats. A draw away at Chadderton in midweek brought the first away League point of the season to the Church Lane side.
Coming into the First Division alongside New Mills at the start of this season were Cammell Laird 1907. Much like New Mills, Lairds have not found it easy in the First Division.
A pretty even record of wins and defeats so far this season puts them in a mid-table position. One of those defeats earlier in the season came at Atherton LR who are the visitors to Kirklands this Saturday in the reverse League fixture.
LR had a real struggle last season and were no doubt relieved to finish the season in 20th position having picked up some valuable League points towards the end. Changes both on and off the field at Crilly Park this season has brought a more positive feel to the club and results are showing signs of improvement.
A series of defeats in the first matches in September came against some strong sides. That trend was emphatically reversed last Saturday with a good win away at New Mills. A repeat of that home win against Saturday’s opponents earlier in the season will provide another upward tick.
The third relegated side at the end of last season was Nelson and, true to the experiences of the other two relegated sides, the Admirals have not found it easy in what is a competitive division.
Just a single point from 7 League matches sees the side in 22nd spot. To say that it has been a difficult season at Nelson must be considered as a complete understatement. Changes in the managerial, coaching and playing staff would be unsettling at any club and the effects are usually manifest in the results.
We can be sure that all associated with the club will be looking to turn the corner starting with the visit of Eccleshall to Little Wembley on Saturday.
Last season was something of a struggle for Eccleshall. “Played well but no points” was a frequent refrain as the side finished the season in 21st place in the League table.
Changes in the closed season and pretty soon it’s August again, and away we go hoping for better. No joy in the first three matches and then a win to bring a smile to the faces of the Staffordshire lads. It still seems to be a struggle but the match on Saturday sees a battle between two clubs in the bottom five in the League table.
It’s early in the season, but this one does have the makings of an important game if only to provide a platform to move forward from.
Two other sides currently occupying places in the last five in the League table meet at New Sirs as Daisy Hill entertain St Helens Town.
The home side for this match are looking to fill the gap left by the resignation of Manager Craig Thomas following heavy defeats in League matches against Alsager Town and Prestwich Heys.
Senior players Craig Haynes and Matty Knowles stepped into the breech for the narrow defeat at Holker Old Boys last Saturday. The Cutters will need to take encouragement from the performance if not the result of that match and to push on against a St Helens Town side who themselves have not had a good start to the season.
It is good to see St Helens Town back in St Helens after a somewhat nomadic existence in recent years. The Ruskin Drive complex differs significantly from the notion of a traditional non-league football ground, but, nevertheless, it is an excellent facility and, most importantly, it is in St Helens.
Just one win in the League so far this season will by no means have satisfied the ambition of the club at the start of the season so there is much to play for in terms of both confidence and points in this match.
Chadderton played their first match of the season at their ARK Fleetech Stadium home in midweek following the laying of a new pitch and improvements to the floodlights.
A decent crowd were there to watch a youthful side gain a point in a 1-1 draw against visitors New Mills with Mike Moss bagging his 6th goal in nine games as Chaddy equalised having gone behind early in the match. Saturday sees another home match, and an opportunity to get some points in the bag, as Holker Old Boys make the trip from South Lakeland.
It is perhaps more than useful that Holker Old Boys are collecting points from home matches as their return from away matches so far this season has been nil. A third consecutive home win came in midweek in a 3-1 victory over Bacup Borough in the Lancashire FA Partners Foundation Challenge Trophy.
The challenge now is to reverse that trend of losing away matches and the side will see this match as an opportunity to do exactly that although nothing is easy in this competitive Division.
Our final match this Saturday takes us to the Brian Boys West View Stadium as Bacup Borough host Cheadle Town.
Bacup Borough started the season well being unbeaten in the month of August gaining 11 points from a possible 15 with Wayne Morrison contributing 5 goals in those 5 games.
However, things have not gone at all well in September with four consecutive defeats including bowing out of the Buildbase FA Vase at the hands of Premier Division side Charnock Richard last Saturday and the Lancashire FA Partners Foundation Challenge Trophy against Holker Old Boys in midweek.
Cheadle Town’s form could perhaps be best described as patchy so far this season. No real pattern has emerged from the early matches and it would be difficult to make any predictions about this match.
The Park Road side would have been disappointed to lose at home to FC Oswestry Town last Saturday and the side will look for a positive reaction to that defeat.
That’s all folks for this Saturday in the First Division, and wherever you take in your live football this weekend, enjoy the match.
