Division One Preview - Saturday 21st October 2017
Fri 20th October 2017 | Match Reviews | By Patrick Burke
With the table tight at both ends and games taking on greater significance as the weeks pass by, it’s an exciting time to be involved in the Hallmark Security League First Division.
Buildbase FA Vase ties for Litherland REMYCA and Alsager Town slightly cut Saturday’s schedule down to ten games, but with lots riding on all of them, there is still plenty of choice for supporters!
We start at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium, where leaders Silsden will have their 100% league record put to the test by in-form Carlisle City. Danny Forrest’s team won 5-0 at Eccleshall last Saturday to make it 12 wins from 12 in the First Division, but a much-changed side were defeated 3-0 by Premier Division Burscough in the Macron Cup on Tuesday.
Visitors Carlisle enjoyed a much better night in that competition, beating Atherton LR 4-0 to make it four victories on the spin in all competitions, though they were to lose 2-1 to the same opponent in the LWC Drinks Cup on Thursday. James Tose’s side may sit 11th in the table, but they are currently riding high in 3rd in the form guide, so you sense this could be as close as the reverse fixture in August, which Silsden edged by the odd goal.
One of the more eye-catching clashes this Saturday sees 5th placed Whitchurch Alport host 2nd placed Prestwich Heys.
Alport have only lost once in the league this campaign, and had won their previous four home games before losing a penalty shoot-out against Northwich Victoria on Tuesday in Macron Cup action. They are just five points behind their opponents but with games in hand on all of the sides above them, so this gives Luke Goddard’s men a chance to put themselves in a great position.
That window of opportunity is also open to Prestwich, who are unbeaten in their last seven and have scored 28 goals in that period, making them the division’s high scorers and the division’s in-form side. This fixture could prove crucial come the end of the campaign.
6th placed Sandbach United will be hoping to close the gap on the sides above them and consolidate their top-six spot when they travel to Eccleshall.
Despite some promising signs, including the 3-0 win at Uttoxeter Town in the Staffordshire Senior Cup last week, the hosts have struggled for form this season, and last Saturday’s defeat to Silsden leaves them in 20th place. This will be another tough test for them, as Sandbach had won three on the spin before losing narrowly to Irlam in the week in the Macron Cup. Andy Hockenhull’s side have also won their last four away matches.
There is a decent-looking encounter at the Mechanics Ground as AFC Blackpool look to keep up the pressure on the top six against Atherton LR.
Four victories from their last five in the First Division have lifted the hosts up to 7th, but they were eliminated from the Macron Cup on penalties by Nelson on Tuesday. They will want a return to winning ways here.
LR have lost eight of their last nine in all competitions to sit 17th, but they are a good footballing outfit whose results will undoubtedly improve – most of their losses have been by narrow margins, so they should turn things around in the coming weeks.
Stockport Town will also want to remain in play-off contention when they welcome St Helens Town.
The 7-1 Macron Cup triumph over a higher-ranked Maine Road side was a warning shot to their divisional rivals, and their only defeat in their last five league outings came against Silsden, placing them 8th in the standings. After a slow start, St Helens appeared to have found their feet this season: they had won three on the bounce before going down narrowly to AFC Blackpool last Saturday and losing at Prestwich in cup action in midweek.
They are 18th in the league, but their recent form puts them closer towards mid-table, so this will be a difficult fixture to call.
There’s also an important clash at the North West Construction Stadium on Saturday, with Cammell Laird 1907 in 9th and their opponents Abbey Hulton United just one place behind.
Lairds have won their last four on their own turf, including a dramatic late victory with ten men over Congleton Town in the Macron Cup on Tuesday. Their away form has been a little patchier, but they ground out a 4-3 victory at Daisy Hill last Saturday.
Abbey Hulton will be making their first ever visit to the Wirral, buoyed by a fine 4-1 success over Bacup Borough in their last match. It ended a run of seven winless games, though a 2-2 draw at Prestwich in that run showed that they can compete with the best in the division. This will be a good test for both teams.
One team who are impossible to predict at the minute are 12th placed New Mills. Having recently hammered AFC Kilburn 10-1 in the Derbyshire Senior Cup and won 2-1 at Litherland REMYCA to hand them their first league defeat of the season, the Millers went down 4-0 at home to FC Oswestry Town last Saturday.
Manager Calum Sykes will be hoping his side are at their fluent best when they travel to Bacup Borough on Saturday. After a promising start to the season, Brent Peters’ Bacup have faded of late and come into this one on a five match losing streak which puts them in 16th spot. However, they have played fewer league fixtures than anyone else and have only lost once at home.
A tight affair should be in prospect up in Cumbria, with Holker Old Boys and Cheadle Town separated only by goal difference. Four wins from five made the hosts one of the division’s form sides, but they have since gone out of the LWC Drinks Cup to St Helens Town and lost 6-0 at Litherland REMYCA last Saturday. They sit 14th.
Cheadle have gone 11 days without a game, but will hope that the 1-0 victory at Chadderton in the cup last time out can spark a revival; Anthony Trucca’s team began very well, but a run of four league games without a win puts them in 13th place.
Chadderton are 15th in the table having lost their last four in all competitions, including a 2-1 reverse in the Macron Cup at Oswestry on Tuesday. However, new manager David Fish will be looking to kick-start his reign ahead of his first home league match in charge against Nelson.
They may be able to take inspiration from their visitors, who picked up their first win of the season at Cheadle a fortnight back, and have since given a great account of themselves in a cup defeat to West Didsbury & Chorlton and in Tuesday’s victory on penalties at AFC Blackpool. They still languish 21st in the table, however, so will look to pick up where they left off this Saturday.
And finally, a crucial match-up sees 19th placed FC Oswestry Town welcome bottom side Daisy Hill. Recent league wins away at Cheadle and New Mills, and a first home victory of the season in the cup against Chadderton on Tuesday suggest that the hosts have recovered well after their early season woes, and they will be eyeing up another three points here.
However, they can expect a tricky test against Phil Roberts’ improving Daisy Hill. Their last two matches, 4-3 and 6-3 losses to Cammell Laird 1907 and Ashton Athletic, suggest that there are always goals where the Daisies are involved, and the LWC Drinks Cup triumph over Litherland REMYCA shows that they can beat anyone on their day. They have still won just once in the First Division though, so will be looking for that to change here.
It really is a terrific schedule this weekend, so it would be well worth getting down to one of the games to give our clubs your support!
Division One Preview - Saturday 21st October 2017
Fri 20th October 2017 | Match Reviews
By Patrick Burke
With the table tight at both ends and games taking on greater significance as the weeks pass by, it’s an exciting time to be involved in the Hallmark Security League First Division.
Buildbase FA Vase ties for Litherland REMYCA and Alsager Town slightly cut Saturday’s schedule down to ten games, but with lots riding on all of them, there is still plenty of choice for supporters!
We start at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium, where leaders Silsden will have their 100% league record put to the test by in-form Carlisle City. Danny Forrest’s team won 5-0 at Eccleshall last Saturday to make it 12 wins from 12 in the First Division, but a much-changed side were defeated 3-0 by Premier Division Burscough in the Macron Cup on Tuesday.
Visitors Carlisle enjoyed a much better night in that competition, beating Atherton LR 4-0 to make it four victories on the spin in all competitions, though they were to lose 2-1 to the same opponent in the LWC Drinks Cup on Thursday. James Tose’s side may sit 11th in the table, but they are currently riding high in 3rd in the form guide, so you sense this could be as close as the reverse fixture in August, which Silsden edged by the odd goal.
One of the more eye-catching clashes this Saturday sees 5th placed Whitchurch Alport host 2nd placed Prestwich Heys.
Alport have only lost once in the league this campaign, and had won their previous four home games before losing a penalty shoot-out against Northwich Victoria on Tuesday in Macron Cup action. They are just five points behind their opponents but with games in hand on all of the sides above them, so this gives Luke Goddard’s men a chance to put themselves in a great position.
That window of opportunity is also open to Prestwich, who are unbeaten in their last seven and have scored 28 goals in that period, making them the division’s high scorers and the division’s in-form side. This fixture could prove crucial come the end of the campaign.
6th placed Sandbach United will be hoping to close the gap on the sides above them and consolidate their top-six spot when they travel to Eccleshall.
Despite some promising signs, including the 3-0 win at Uttoxeter Town in the Staffordshire Senior Cup last week, the hosts have struggled for form this season, and last Saturday’s defeat to Silsden leaves them in 20th place. This will be another tough test for them, as Sandbach had won three on the spin before losing narrowly to Irlam in the week in the Macron Cup. Andy Hockenhull’s side have also won their last four away matches.
There is a decent-looking encounter at the Mechanics Ground as AFC Blackpool look to keep up the pressure on the top six against Atherton LR.
Four victories from their last five in the First Division have lifted the hosts up to 7th, but they were eliminated from the Macron Cup on penalties by Nelson on Tuesday. They will want a return to winning ways here.
LR have lost eight of their last nine in all competitions to sit 17th, but they are a good footballing outfit whose results will undoubtedly improve – most of their losses have been by narrow margins, so they should turn things around in the coming weeks.
Stockport Town will also want to remain in play-off contention when they welcome St Helens Town.
The 7-1 Macron Cup triumph over a higher-ranked Maine Road side was a warning shot to their divisional rivals, and their only defeat in their last five league outings came against Silsden, placing them 8th in the standings. After a slow start, St Helens appeared to have found their feet this season: they had won three on the bounce before going down narrowly to AFC Blackpool last Saturday and losing at Prestwich in cup action in midweek.
They are 18th in the league, but their recent form puts them closer towards mid-table, so this will be a difficult fixture to call.
There’s also an important clash at the North West Construction Stadium on Saturday, with Cammell Laird 1907 in 9th and their opponents Abbey Hulton United just one place behind.
Lairds have won their last four on their own turf, including a dramatic late victory with ten men over Congleton Town in the Macron Cup on Tuesday. Their away form has been a little patchier, but they ground out a 4-3 victory at Daisy Hill last Saturday.
Abbey Hulton will be making their first ever visit to the Wirral, buoyed by a fine 4-1 success over Bacup Borough in their last match. It ended a run of seven winless games, though a 2-2 draw at Prestwich in that run showed that they can compete with the best in the division. This will be a good test for both teams.
One team who are impossible to predict at the minute are 12th placed New Mills. Having recently hammered AFC Kilburn 10-1 in the Derbyshire Senior Cup and won 2-1 at Litherland REMYCA to hand them their first league defeat of the season, the Millers went down 4-0 at home to FC Oswestry Town last Saturday.
Manager Calum Sykes will be hoping his side are at their fluent best when they travel to Bacup Borough on Saturday. After a promising start to the season, Brent Peters’ Bacup have faded of late and come into this one on a five match losing streak which puts them in 16th spot. However, they have played fewer league fixtures than anyone else and have only lost once at home.
A tight affair should be in prospect up in Cumbria, with Holker Old Boys and Cheadle Town separated only by goal difference. Four wins from five made the hosts one of the division’s form sides, but they have since gone out of the LWC Drinks Cup to St Helens Town and lost 6-0 at Litherland REMYCA last Saturday. They sit 14th.
Cheadle have gone 11 days without a game, but will hope that the 1-0 victory at Chadderton in the cup last time out can spark a revival; Anthony Trucca’s team began very well, but a run of four league games without a win puts them in 13th place.
Chadderton are 15th in the table having lost their last four in all competitions, including a 2-1 reverse in the Macron Cup at Oswestry on Tuesday. However, new manager David Fish will be looking to kick-start his reign ahead of his first home league match in charge against Nelson.
They may be able to take inspiration from their visitors, who picked up their first win of the season at Cheadle a fortnight back, and have since given a great account of themselves in a cup defeat to West Didsbury & Chorlton and in Tuesday’s victory on penalties at AFC Blackpool. They still languish 21st in the table, however, so will look to pick up where they left off this Saturday.
And finally, a crucial match-up sees 19th placed FC Oswestry Town welcome bottom side Daisy Hill. Recent league wins away at Cheadle and New Mills, and a first home victory of the season in the cup against Chadderton on Tuesday suggest that the hosts have recovered well after their early season woes, and they will be eyeing up another three points here.
However, they can expect a tricky test against Phil Roberts’ improving Daisy Hill. Their last two matches, 4-3 and 6-3 losses to Cammell Laird 1907 and Ashton Athletic, suggest that there are always goals where the Daisies are involved, and the LWC Drinks Cup triumph over Litherland REMYCA shows that they can beat anyone on their day. They have still won just once in the First Division though, so will be looking for that to change here.
It really is a terrific schedule this weekend, so it would be well worth getting down to one of the games to give our clubs your support!
