Division One Preview - Saturday 9th December 2017
Fri 8th December 2017 | Match Reviews | By Kieran Ford
St Helens Town Media Officer, Kieran Ford (@kieranford99 ) has cast his eye across this weekend's Hallmark Security League Division One games.
First Division Preview – 9th December 2017
Although the festive season is well and truly in full swing, any Christmas shopping will have to be put on hold this Saturday. There are more important games in store at both the top and bottom of the table in yet another intriguing round of Hallmark Security League Division One fixtures.
Prestwich Heys vs New Mills
The action starts on Friday night at Aide Moran Park as 3rd placed Prestwich Heys host New Mills. Prestwich have lost their previous 4 games (Including a cup penalty defeat to Nelson) despite their strong league position. They have the joint best goalscoring record in the league along with REMYCA and Silsden, so will be hoping to get back on track against a New Mills side that beat Tideswell United in the Derbyshire Senior Cup in midweek to avenge a surprise 5-1 home defeat to Daisy Hill last weekend.
Abbey Hulton United vs Cheadle Town
Birches Head Road plays host to a mid-table clash between newly promoted Abbey Hulton and Cheadle Town. The home side sit 1 place above their visitors in 14th, with both teams on 21 points so far. However, Cheadle do have 3 games in hands over their opponents. Abbey Hulton are indifferent form, losing 5 of their last 6 games, whereas Cheadle only have been beaten once in their previous 4, can Abbey Hulton turn it around on Saturday?
Carlisle City vs AFC Blackpool
Promotion chasing AFC Blackpool make the long trip to Carlisle on Saturday to face the midtable sky blues. Blackpool, vastly improved from last season, have one defeat in 6, culminating in an impressive 5-1 victory over playoff rivals Alsager Town on Saturday last. Carlisle followed up their surprise victory over Litherland REMYCA with a win over Atherton LR. They have also beaten Whitchurch Alport at home in recent weeks to make Gillford Park a fortress, can they do the same on Saturday?
Chadderton vs Bacup Borough
Another clash between 2 teams in the tight mid table group can be found at the ARK Fleetech Stadium. Chadderton have won their previous 2 home matches so will be in a confident mood when hosting Bacup who only have a victory over St Helens Town to their name since playing Chadderton at their home ground just over a month ago.
Eccleshall vs Atherton LR
Eccleshall will be looking to move into the midtable pack and within 3 points of Saturday’s opponents Atherton LR with a win at Pershall Park. Both sides have lost against Oswestry Town in recent weeks, which is no big concern with their form lately, LR come off the back of a 4-1 defeat to Carlisle City last week whereas Eccleshall lost 4-0 to Oswestry last in the league. Can either side turn their form around?
FC Oswestry Town vs Silsden
An intriguing game is on offer at the venue as Oswestry host league leaders Silsden. FC Oswestry Town lost their opening 8 league matches but are now the form side in the division, collecting 15 points from a possible 19, propelling them to 12th in the table. Silsden won their opening 17 matches before losing to Holker 3 weeks ago. They got back on track in the league by beating bottom club Nelson 1-0, but with 2 weeks of inactivity, could the in-form side from Shropshire pounce?
Nelson vs Holker Old Boys
After being unlucky to come up short against St Helens Town at Little Wembley last week, bottom side Nelson managed to beat Prestwich Heys on penalties in the Macron Challenge Cup 2nd round in midweek. However, they face another tough test in facing an in-form Holker side that have managed to rise to 9th in the table in recent weeks, and inflicted league leaders Silsden’s first defeat of the season in that time. Nelson are 9 points from safety, can they reduce that gap with a good result?
Sandbach United vs Cammell Laird 1907
Sandbach United have come through a difficult spell in recent weeks with games against Whitchurch, Alsager, and REMYCA included. They’ve come out of this run relatively unscathed leaving them just outside the play off places. They face Cammell Laird who are only a point below them in 8th. The Lairds beat Chadderton in the league last week before knocking Premier Division side Northwich Victoria out of the Macron Challenge Cup. With a place in the play offs up for grabs, this could be one of the games of the weekend.
St Helens Town vs Daisy Hill
After 3rd bottom St Helens Town narrowly beat bottom side Nelson 2-1 last week, they now face 2nd from bottom Daisy Hill at Ruskin Drive in another relegation 6 pointer. St Helens found their 1st win in 11 matches last week, and beat Daisy Hill by the odd goal in 7 when the sides met in September. Daisy Hill can narrow the gap to 1 point with a victory on Saturday, and will be in confident mood after thrashing New Mills 5-1 away in the previous outing.
Whitchurch Alport vs Litherland REMYCA
Yockings Park plays host to another clash between 2 teams at the top of the table as 6th place Whitchurch host 2nd place Litherland REMYCA. Both teams are looking for promotion this year after coming so close to the Premier Division last year, and this will surely be a big game in the promotion hopes of both sides. The league’s best defence of Alport have conceded 7 goals in their previous 6 games, which could be something REMYCA could take confidence out of. However, Remy have lost 2 of their previous 3 league games meaning its all to play for at the Alport.
Division One Preview - Saturday 9th December 2017
Fri 8th December 2017 | Match Reviews
By Kieran Ford
St Helens Town Media Officer, Kieran Ford (@kieranford99 ) has cast his eye across this weekend's Hallmark Security League Division One games.
First Division Preview – 9th December 2017
Although the festive season is well and truly in full swing, any Christmas shopping will have to be put on hold this Saturday. There are more important games in store at both the top and bottom of the table in yet another intriguing round of Hallmark Security League Division One fixtures.
Prestwich Heys vs New Mills
The action starts on Friday night at Aide Moran Park as 3rd placed Prestwich Heys host New Mills. Prestwich have lost their previous 4 games (Including a cup penalty defeat to Nelson) despite their strong league position. They have the joint best goalscoring record in the league along with REMYCA and Silsden, so will be hoping to get back on track against a New Mills side that beat Tideswell United in the Derbyshire Senior Cup in midweek to avenge a surprise 5-1 home defeat to Daisy Hill last weekend.
Abbey Hulton United vs Cheadle Town
Birches Head Road plays host to a mid-table clash between newly promoted Abbey Hulton and Cheadle Town. The home side sit 1 place above their visitors in 14th, with both teams on 21 points so far. However, Cheadle do have 3 games in hands over their opponents. Abbey Hulton are indifferent form, losing 5 of their last 6 games, whereas Cheadle only have been beaten once in their previous 4, can Abbey Hulton turn it around on Saturday?
Carlisle City vs AFC Blackpool
Promotion chasing AFC Blackpool make the long trip to Carlisle on Saturday to face the midtable sky blues. Blackpool, vastly improved from last season, have one defeat in 6, culminating in an impressive 5-1 victory over playoff rivals Alsager Town on Saturday last. Carlisle followed up their surprise victory over Litherland REMYCA with a win over Atherton LR. They have also beaten Whitchurch Alport at home in recent weeks to make Gillford Park a fortress, can they do the same on Saturday?
Chadderton vs Bacup Borough
Another clash between 2 teams in the tight mid table group can be found at the ARK Fleetech Stadium. Chadderton have won their previous 2 home matches so will be in a confident mood when hosting Bacup who only have a victory over St Helens Town to their name since playing Chadderton at their home ground just over a month ago.
Eccleshall vs Atherton LR
Eccleshall will be looking to move into the midtable pack and within 3 points of Saturday’s opponents Atherton LR with a win at Pershall Park. Both sides have lost against Oswestry Town in recent weeks, which is no big concern with their form lately, LR come off the back of a 4-1 defeat to Carlisle City last week whereas Eccleshall lost 4-0 to Oswestry last in the league. Can either side turn their form around?
FC Oswestry Town vs Silsden
An intriguing game is on offer at the venue as Oswestry host league leaders Silsden. FC Oswestry Town lost their opening 8 league matches but are now the form side in the division, collecting 15 points from a possible 19, propelling them to 12th in the table. Silsden won their opening 17 matches before losing to Holker 3 weeks ago. They got back on track in the league by beating bottom club Nelson 1-0, but with 2 weeks of inactivity, could the in-form side from Shropshire pounce?
Nelson vs Holker Old Boys
After being unlucky to come up short against St Helens Town at Little Wembley last week, bottom side Nelson managed to beat Prestwich Heys on penalties in the Macron Challenge Cup 2nd round in midweek. However, they face another tough test in facing an in-form Holker side that have managed to rise to 9th in the table in recent weeks, and inflicted league leaders Silsden’s first defeat of the season in that time. Nelson are 9 points from safety, can they reduce that gap with a good result?
Sandbach United vs Cammell Laird 1907
Sandbach United have come through a difficult spell in recent weeks with games against Whitchurch, Alsager, and REMYCA included. They’ve come out of this run relatively unscathed leaving them just outside the play off places. They face Cammell Laird who are only a point below them in 8th. The Lairds beat Chadderton in the league last week before knocking Premier Division side Northwich Victoria out of the Macron Challenge Cup. With a place in the play offs up for grabs, this could be one of the games of the weekend.
St Helens Town vs Daisy Hill
After 3rd bottom St Helens Town narrowly beat bottom side Nelson 2-1 last week, they now face 2nd from bottom Daisy Hill at Ruskin Drive in another relegation 6 pointer. St Helens found their 1st win in 11 matches last week, and beat Daisy Hill by the odd goal in 7 when the sides met in September. Daisy Hill can narrow the gap to 1 point with a victory on Saturday, and will be in confident mood after thrashing New Mills 5-1 away in the previous outing.
Whitchurch Alport vs Litherland REMYCA
Yockings Park plays host to another clash between 2 teams at the top of the table as 6th place Whitchurch host 2nd place Litherland REMYCA. Both teams are looking for promotion this year after coming so close to the Premier Division last year, and this will surely be a big game in the promotion hopes of both sides. The league’s best defence of Alport have conceded 7 goals in their previous 6 games, which could be something REMYCA could take confidence out of. However, Remy have lost 2 of their previous 3 league games meaning its all to play for at the Alport.
