Division One preview - Saturday 18th November 2017
Fri 17th November 2017 | General | By Martin Wild
Is the First Division title wrapped up in mid-November? Sounds fanciful, doesn’t it? It’s not that long ago since Widnes roared to the First Division title with 14 straight wins in their final run in.
But fast forward six months or so and Silsden have already usurped that with 17 out of 17 after a 4-0 romp at closest challengers Prestwich Heys in midweek.
This weekend, the league leaders are on their travels as they visit Rakesmoor Lane to take on Holker Old Boys, and they might not have it all their own way in Cumbria. Holker held promotion hopefuls Alsager a fortnight ago and were narrowly defeated against Sandbach last weekend with the visitors reliant on a late winner.
But in Joe Gaughan, the Cobbydalers have a striker rich in form – he plundered another hat-trick at Heys - so the shackles will need to be kept on him one feels.
There’s an intriguing affair on Merseyside where Cammell Laird host Prestwich who had been keeping the pressure on Silsden with a series of eye-catching results before the two met on Tuesday night.
Lairds took a little time to settle into the First Division following last season’s relegation, but they’re formidable on home soil and will look to take something from the game. But Heys are the division’s top scorers so the home defenders will need to be right at the top of their game if the proverbial spanner is to be thrown into the works.
At the time of writing this preview, Litherland REMYCA have only suffered one defeat this season and take their 100% away record up to Gillford Park where Carlisle City lie in wait. City are much improved this term and a recent 3-1 home victory over Whitchurch Alport suggests that Remy will have their work cut out if they want to take another three points back down the M6 with them.
But they will have been disappointed to have let a 3-1 lead at home to Atherton LR slip last week, so City will doubtless be fearful of a backlash.
Alsager Town are another side who have put together a consistent run and that’s enabled the Cheshire outfit to stay amongst the leading pack. They will fancy their chances of accounting for New Mills at their Wood Park home, but the managerless Millers on their day are capable of beating anyone – a 2-1 win at Litherland testimony of what they can do when they do fire on all cylinders.
Alsager do have the advantage of a win already against the Derbyshire club though, having beaten them on their way to the Quarter Finals of the League Cup.
Last season’s play-off semi finalists, Sandbach United and Whitchurch Alport meet at the Community Centre in Sandbach. Both are tucked in amongst the chasing pack and this looks a tough one to call although Alport will be fresher than their opponents.
Incredibly, United have played FOUR times since the Yockings Park side last kicked a ball in earnest! Whitchurch recently appointed former Market Drayton Town boss, Martyn Davies, as joint manager, and his experience and contacts should help bolster Luke Goddard’s already impressive squad.
The Reds know that consistency is key to getting their promotion hopes back on track, but Sandbach will be a formidable test as they will be right up for this one and are in the middle of a very impressive run of results - save for the 0-6 reverse against Prestwich in their last home game a few weeks ago.
Two more teams that shouldn’t be discounted from the end of season play-offs meet at the Mechanics Ground. AFC Blackpool take on Stockport Town on the Fylde Coast and a 4-0 demolition job on Silsden in a League Cup tie a couple of weeks ago will have given Dave Worthington’s men some much needed belief.
They’ve been better on their travels but if they can rectify a sketchy home form, the chances of cementing a play-off place will increase considerably. Town can blow hot and cold too so perhaps the first goal in this game could prove crucial.
FC Oswestry Town have finally started to show some form but they have what looks like a tricky fixture at Crilly Park, where Atherton LR will look to add more points as they blaze their way up the First Division table. That spirited fightback at Litherland might have raised a few eyebrows but LR aren’t the kind of side that rolls over and has their bellies tickled anymore.
They’re scoring plenty of goals and are brimming with confidence but so are their opponents. Shaun Lynch’s men might just shade this one but Town are well capable of nicking a point, if not all three on current form.
Abbey Hulton United have been wobbling a bit of late but they won well at home last Saturday before slipping to a 4-2 home defeat to Alsager on Tuesday. They travel to Chadderton who by their own admission will have been somewhat disappointed with their own campaign to date.
The 2-0 home success over Cheadle Town seven days ago gave them confidence going into the Monday night clash at Stockport but a 4-2 defeat underlined their inconsistent tendencies. Victory over the newbies though could well spark their campaign into life finally.
Daisy Hill are struggling for points and they will feel that they must take something from the visit of Eccleshall. But the Staffordshire side are flying and will be confident of getting something on the outskirts of Bolton. Since a 5-0 walloping at Silsden, Dave Dale’s men have won three and drawn one of their last four in the league, and he will have to make sure that complacency doesn’t creep into his side.
Daisy have picked up a miserly point from their last 12 in the league and another defeat at New Sirs will keep them in deep trouble.
St Helens Town entertain Bacup Borough who are without an away victory since the end of August. With seven straight losses away from their East Lancashire base, they will be hoping to capitalise against a Town side that’s on a pretty miserable run of their own.
Prior to last night’s home clash with Holker, Town had lost five on the bounce at their Ruskin Drive home, with just one victory to savour thus far in their new surroundings.
Nelson still prop up the table with just one win all season. Visitors to Little Wembley are Cheadle Town who did everything but score when the sides met 5 weeks ago. They won’t need reminding that they lost that game 2-0 and they’ll be keen to take revenge in Lancashire.
That was the only clean sheet, and victory, that Nelson can boast in the league and even a point might be enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.
Division One preview - Saturday 18th November 2017
Fri 17th November 2017 | General
By Martin Wild
Is the First Division title wrapped up in mid-November? Sounds fanciful, doesn’t it? It’s not that long ago since Widnes roared to the First Division title with 14 straight wins in their final run in.
But fast forward six months or so and Silsden have already usurped that with 17 out of 17 after a 4-0 romp at closest challengers Prestwich Heys in midweek.
This weekend, the league leaders are on their travels as they visit Rakesmoor Lane to take on Holker Old Boys, and they might not have it all their own way in Cumbria. Holker held promotion hopefuls Alsager a fortnight ago and were narrowly defeated against Sandbach last weekend with the visitors reliant on a late winner.
But in Joe Gaughan, the Cobbydalers have a striker rich in form – he plundered another hat-trick at Heys - so the shackles will need to be kept on him one feels.
There’s an intriguing affair on Merseyside where Cammell Laird host Prestwich who had been keeping the pressure on Silsden with a series of eye-catching results before the two met on Tuesday night.
Lairds took a little time to settle into the First Division following last season’s relegation, but they’re formidable on home soil and will look to take something from the game. But Heys are the division’s top scorers so the home defenders will need to be right at the top of their game if the proverbial spanner is to be thrown into the works.
At the time of writing this preview, Litherland REMYCA have only suffered one defeat this season and take their 100% away record up to Gillford Park where Carlisle City lie in wait. City are much improved this term and a recent 3-1 home victory over Whitchurch Alport suggests that Remy will have their work cut out if they want to take another three points back down the M6 with them.
But they will have been disappointed to have let a 3-1 lead at home to Atherton LR slip last week, so City will doubtless be fearful of a backlash.
Alsager Town are another side who have put together a consistent run and that’s enabled the Cheshire outfit to stay amongst the leading pack. They will fancy their chances of accounting for New Mills at their Wood Park home, but the managerless Millers on their day are capable of beating anyone – a 2-1 win at Litherland testimony of what they can do when they do fire on all cylinders.
Alsager do have the advantage of a win already against the Derbyshire club though, having beaten them on their way to the Quarter Finals of the League Cup.
Last season’s play-off semi finalists, Sandbach United and Whitchurch Alport meet at the Community Centre in Sandbach. Both are tucked in amongst the chasing pack and this looks a tough one to call although Alport will be fresher than their opponents.
Incredibly, United have played FOUR times since the Yockings Park side last kicked a ball in earnest! Whitchurch recently appointed former Market Drayton Town boss, Martyn Davies, as joint manager, and his experience and contacts should help bolster Luke Goddard’s already impressive squad.
The Reds know that consistency is key to getting their promotion hopes back on track, but Sandbach will be a formidable test as they will be right up for this one and are in the middle of a very impressive run of results - save for the 0-6 reverse against Prestwich in their last home game a few weeks ago.
Two more teams that shouldn’t be discounted from the end of season play-offs meet at the Mechanics Ground. AFC Blackpool take on Stockport Town on the Fylde Coast and a 4-0 demolition job on Silsden in a League Cup tie a couple of weeks ago will have given Dave Worthington’s men some much needed belief.
They’ve been better on their travels but if they can rectify a sketchy home form, the chances of cementing a play-off place will increase considerably. Town can blow hot and cold too so perhaps the first goal in this game could prove crucial.
FC Oswestry Town have finally started to show some form but they have what looks like a tricky fixture at Crilly Park, where Atherton LR will look to add more points as they blaze their way up the First Division table. That spirited fightback at Litherland might have raised a few eyebrows but LR aren’t the kind of side that rolls over and has their bellies tickled anymore.
They’re scoring plenty of goals and are brimming with confidence but so are their opponents. Shaun Lynch’s men might just shade this one but Town are well capable of nicking a point, if not all three on current form.
Abbey Hulton United have been wobbling a bit of late but they won well at home last Saturday before slipping to a 4-2 home defeat to Alsager on Tuesday. They travel to Chadderton who by their own admission will have been somewhat disappointed with their own campaign to date.
The 2-0 home success over Cheadle Town seven days ago gave them confidence going into the Monday night clash at Stockport but a 4-2 defeat underlined their inconsistent tendencies. Victory over the newbies though could well spark their campaign into life finally.
Daisy Hill are struggling for points and they will feel that they must take something from the visit of Eccleshall. But the Staffordshire side are flying and will be confident of getting something on the outskirts of Bolton. Since a 5-0 walloping at Silsden, Dave Dale’s men have won three and drawn one of their last four in the league, and he will have to make sure that complacency doesn’t creep into his side.
Daisy have picked up a miserly point from their last 12 in the league and another defeat at New Sirs will keep them in deep trouble.
St Helens Town entertain Bacup Borough who are without an away victory since the end of August. With seven straight losses away from their East Lancashire base, they will be hoping to capitalise against a Town side that’s on a pretty miserable run of their own.
Prior to last night’s home clash with Holker, Town had lost five on the bounce at their Ruskin Drive home, with just one victory to savour thus far in their new surroundings.
Nelson still prop up the table with just one win all season. Visitors to Little Wembley are Cheadle Town who did everything but score when the sides met 5 weeks ago. They won’t need reminding that they lost that game 2-0 and they’ll be keen to take revenge in Lancashire.
That was the only clean sheet, and victory, that Nelson can boast in the league and even a point might be enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.
