Division One Preview - 16th December 2017
Fri 15th December 2017 | General | By Gary Langley
Following a fortnight of disruption caused by weather conditions, the forecast is a tad more optimistic for this weekend, although as we know that's not always a 100% guarentee for fair football conditions. Either way, we take a look at this weekends fixtures and as always the fixture list throws up a plethora of cracking fixtures.
Abbey Hulton United host Whitchurch Alport at Birches Head Road this weekend, these two sides. Last met in late August when a tactical battle took place at Yockings Park which ended in a 0-0 draw. Abbey Hulton have a record of one win and seven losses in their last eight games and slid down the table having failed to build on what had been a good start to life in the Hallmark Security League. It’s not all doom and gloom though, the play-off spots are still a reachable target if they can turn their form around. Whitchurch Alport still sit nicely in the said zone, however, they have only racked up 16 league games so far. If Alport win their games in hand they could be as high as third and pushing Remyca for second place, given the way the club has progressed over the last 18 months or so, you wouldn’t put it past them to do that. They just need to get games in and are likely to be pressing Michael Fish on social media in the run up to this game looking for positive weather vibes!
Silsden look to keep their momentum going as they travel to Crilly Park to take on Atherton LR. Both of these sides are in good form at the moment with both only sustaining one defeat in their last four respective fixtures. Silsden’s lead at the top of the table is currently thirteen points whilst LR remain nine off the play-off spots.
Bacup Borough host Stockport Town at the Brian Boys West View Stadium with Brent Peters’ side hoping to ping off some games, it’s difficult not to mention the difficult conditions Bacup face with regards to the weather situation there on the high ground, however you can’t help but notice that their fixtures are starting to pile up having played only fourteen league games thus far. Stockport are only three points off a play-off spot and in good form too, only one defeat in their last six in all competitions which was away at AFC Blackpool who are in the top two of the form table at present.
Chadderton welcome Daisy Hill to the ARK Fleetech Stadium and games between these clubs are generally decent affairs with goals aplenty. The last five fixtures between these clubs have seen 27 goals scored in them at an average of 5.18 goals a game. Omens aren’t good for the away side either as there has only been one away win in the last twelve times this fixture has been played. Daisy Hill will be keen to escape the bottom two of the table whilst keeping half an eye on clubs like Chadderton who are only a few places above them. Such is the fickle nature of the table at the moment, a win for Chadderton could see them on the cusp of the top half of the table.
Only four points separate fifteenth placed Cheadle Town and Eccleshall who currently sit nineteenth and those two go head-to-head at Park Road. Cheadle Town has been steadily improving until the poor weather hit and have had only two defeats in their last six whilst Eccleshall have slipped back a bit due to other clubs around them managing to get at least the odd one or two games on. Both clubs could certainly do with the points that’s for sure.
Holker Old Boys take on Prestwich Heys at Rakesmoor this weekend and will be looking towards their decent home form, particularly against sides in the top half of the table to get them some leverage against one of the leading promotion candidates. For their part, Prestwich travel well and lead the Division One goalscoring charts, averaging 2.7 goals a game whilst not being too generous at the back either, having one of the four tightest defences in the Division.
On the subject of leading promotion candidates, Litherland Remyca take on Nelson at Litherland Sports Park. The Remy’ will be keen to keep the pressure on the sides both above and below them as they look to consolidate the automatic promotion spot. Remyca have been in good form at home all season and like The aforementioned Prestwich Heys, they know where the net is too being on that top three of leading scoring clubs. Nelson’s season has been disappointing so far as they currently prop up the Division One table and will still have the reverse fixture fresh in the memory from a month back where The Remy ran out 0-6 winners at Little Wembley.
Alsager will be looking to continue piling the pressure on the top two as they travel to Chirch Road talking on New Mills this weekend. Alsager have only taken two wins in their last eight in all competitions but are in the same boat as a number of the challenging clubs by way of having a couple of games where they have not managed to take all of the points. New Mills travelled to Alsager back on the 18th November where they left with an impressive looking 3-2 win on the day, however games have been in short supply due to the weather and they have only played twice since then.
Sandbach face FC Oswestry Town at the Sandbach Community Football Stadium and are looking to maintain their own promotion challenge. At present they go into the game in good form with only one defeat in their last six in all competitions but like so many others, getting to play games has been an issue as they haven’t kicked a ball in anger yet this month. When it comes to form, no team has done better of late than FC Oswestry Town, after a difficult start they top the form table and have climbed to twelfth in the table and are now considered serious challengers in the pack for those top six spots come the spring.
St Helens Town take on Carlisle City at Ruskin Drive with St Helens Town still looking for that stroke of luck or event that will kick start their season. Things seemed to be on the up with the recent away win at Nelson a fortnight ago, however last weekend’s defeat at home to Daisy Hill may have dampened the joy somewhat. With more heritage boards going in at the new facility the place is starting to take shape off the park so Town’ will be keen to translate that to the eleven on the field.
Carlisle City are still very much in the thick of things at the other end of the table, recent league wins against Litherland Remyca and Atherton LR sees them in eleventh spot, six points off the play-offs but with up to four games in hand on some of their near rivals. If they are to take anything from this game they are going to have to change their travelling luck though as their form on the road this season has not been great.
Division One Preview - 16th December 2017
Fri 15th December 2017 | General
By Gary Langley
Following a fortnight of disruption caused by weather conditions, the forecast is a tad more optimistic for this weekend, although as we know that's not always a 100% guarentee for fair football conditions. Either way, we take a look at this weekends fixtures and as always the fixture list throws up a plethora of cracking fixtures.
Abbey Hulton United host Whitchurch Alport at Birches Head Road this weekend, these two sides. Last met in late August when a tactical battle took place at Yockings Park which ended in a 0-0 draw. Abbey Hulton have a record of one win and seven losses in their last eight games and slid down the table having failed to build on what had been a good start to life in the Hallmark Security League. It’s not all doom and gloom though, the play-off spots are still a reachable target if they can turn their form around. Whitchurch Alport still sit nicely in the said zone, however, they have only racked up 16 league games so far. If Alport win their games in hand they could be as high as third and pushing Remyca for second place, given the way the club has progressed over the last 18 months or so, you wouldn’t put it past them to do that. They just need to get games in and are likely to be pressing Michael Fish on social media in the run up to this game looking for positive weather vibes!
Silsden look to keep their momentum going as they travel to Crilly Park to take on Atherton LR. Both of these sides are in good form at the moment with both only sustaining one defeat in their last four respective fixtures. Silsden’s lead at the top of the table is currently thirteen points whilst LR remain nine off the play-off spots.
Bacup Borough host Stockport Town at the Brian Boys West View Stadium with Brent Peters’ side hoping to ping off some games, it’s difficult not to mention the difficult conditions Bacup face with regards to the weather situation there on the high ground, however you can’t help but notice that their fixtures are starting to pile up having played only fourteen league games thus far. Stockport are only three points off a play-off spot and in good form too, only one defeat in their last six in all competitions which was away at AFC Blackpool who are in the top two of the form table at present.
Chadderton welcome Daisy Hill to the ARK Fleetech Stadium and games between these clubs are generally decent affairs with goals aplenty. The last five fixtures between these clubs have seen 27 goals scored in them at an average of 5.18 goals a game. Omens aren’t good for the away side either as there has only been one away win in the last twelve times this fixture has been played. Daisy Hill will be keen to escape the bottom two of the table whilst keeping half an eye on clubs like Chadderton who are only a few places above them. Such is the fickle nature of the table at the moment, a win for Chadderton could see them on the cusp of the top half of the table.
Only four points separate fifteenth placed Cheadle Town and Eccleshall who currently sit nineteenth and those two go head-to-head at Park Road. Cheadle Town has been steadily improving until the poor weather hit and have had only two defeats in their last six whilst Eccleshall have slipped back a bit due to other clubs around them managing to get at least the odd one or two games on. Both clubs could certainly do with the points that’s for sure.
Holker Old Boys take on Prestwich Heys at Rakesmoor this weekend and will be looking towards their decent home form, particularly against sides in the top half of the table to get them some leverage against one of the leading promotion candidates. For their part, Prestwich travel well and lead the Division One goalscoring charts, averaging 2.7 goals a game whilst not being too generous at the back either, having one of the four tightest defences in the Division.
On the subject of leading promotion candidates, Litherland Remyca take on Nelson at Litherland Sports Park. The Remy’ will be keen to keep the pressure on the sides both above and below them as they look to consolidate the automatic promotion spot. Remyca have been in good form at home all season and like The aforementioned Prestwich Heys, they know where the net is too being on that top three of leading scoring clubs. Nelson’s season has been disappointing so far as they currently prop up the Division One table and will still have the reverse fixture fresh in the memory from a month back where The Remy ran out 0-6 winners at Little Wembley.
Alsager will be looking to continue piling the pressure on the top two as they travel to Chirch Road talking on New Mills this weekend. Alsager have only taken two wins in their last eight in all competitions but are in the same boat as a number of the challenging clubs by way of having a couple of games where they have not managed to take all of the points. New Mills travelled to Alsager back on the 18th November where they left with an impressive looking 3-2 win on the day, however games have been in short supply due to the weather and they have only played twice since then.
Sandbach face FC Oswestry Town at the Sandbach Community Football Stadium and are looking to maintain their own promotion challenge. At present they go into the game in good form with only one defeat in their last six in all competitions but like so many others, getting to play games has been an issue as they haven’t kicked a ball in anger yet this month. When it comes to form, no team has done better of late than FC Oswestry Town, after a difficult start they top the form table and have climbed to twelfth in the table and are now considered serious challengers in the pack for those top six spots come the spring.
St Helens Town take on Carlisle City at Ruskin Drive with St Helens Town still looking for that stroke of luck or event that will kick start their season. Things seemed to be on the up with the recent away win at Nelson a fortnight ago, however last weekend’s defeat at home to Daisy Hill may have dampened the joy somewhat. With more heritage boards going in at the new facility the place is starting to take shape off the park so Town’ will be keen to translate that to the eleven on the field.
Carlisle City are still very much in the thick of things at the other end of the table, recent league wins against Litherland Remyca and Atherton LR sees them in eleventh spot, six points off the play-offs but with up to four games in hand on some of their near rivals. If they are to take anything from this game they are going to have to change their travelling luck though as their form on the road this season has not been great.
