Division One Preview - Saturday 30th December 2017
Fri 29th December 2017 | General | By Ian Templeman
As the final weekend of First Division fixtures in 2017 approaches, the year ends with Silsden AFC looking like champions-elect.
A 6-0 win over Chadderton on Boxing Day extended the table topping Yorkshiremens’ lead at the top of the table to twelve points, and Saturday sees Sandbach United faced with the problem of halting the irresistible force that is the Cobbydalers.
United have posted just one win in the last five games, but sit only a few points away from a play off place and will be looking to put a spoke in the wheel of the runaway league leaders.
Litherland REMYCA sit in second place and will head down the M6 to Eccleshall in good spirits, having dealt a rare setback to Silsden on the Saturday before Christmas with a 3-0 win at the LSP.
They will start as favourites against a home side who will be hoping to end a run of five straight defeats, albeit four of those were away from home.
Prestwich Heys are in third place, and will be looking to complete a league double over Bacup Borough at Adie Moran Park. Heys ended a run of form that had been disappointing by their own high standards with a 3-0 win at Carlisle City on the Satutrday before Christmas, and Borough will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to bottom club Nelson on Boxing Day.
One of the games of the day is likely to be at the Wood Park Stadium, where fourth placed Alsager Town host an AFC Blackpool side who will leapfrog over the Bullets if they win.
Alsager’s form has been disappointing by their own high standards recently, although they did win last time out against Eccleshall, while the Tangerines are one of the form sides in the division with five wins in the last six, including a 5-1 home win over Saturday’s opponents at the start of the month.
The final play off spot is occupied by Whitchurch Alport, whose win in the Boxing Day Shropshire derby over FC Oswestry Town will have set them up nicely for the visit of St Helens Town, who had the boost of a fine 3-2 win over Sandbach United in their last outing.
Cammell Laird 1907 sit just outside the play off places, although they will have to overcome a tricky looking trip to Cheadle Town if they are to close in on the top six. Four wins in the last six should have Lairds in confident mood for the trip, but Cheadle will be champing at the bit to see some action, as their last outing was as long ago as the 2nd December.
Two games that should survive any adverse weather conditions are those on artificial surfaces at Stockport and Oswestry.
Stockport Town host Carlisle City at the Stockport Sports Village, and the Lions will be in confident mood, going into the game on the back of a good run that sees them third in the division’s form table.
However, City have been in good nick themselves recently, especially on the road, and this is one that could be closer fought than most over the weekend.
FC Oswestry Town host the kick off to the weekend action in the division on Friday night, when New Mills visit the Venue. This has the look of a decent game, with both sides having posted wins in recent weeks and goals have rarely been in short supply on other side.
Abbey Hulton United opened up their inaugural season in the league with an opening day win at Daisy Hill on a sunny August afternoon, and the teams now face up to one another again down in Staffordshire.
Daisy are one of the form sides in the division at the moment, with Wednesday night’s win over Atherton LR making it three on the bounce, but their hosts will also not be lacking in confidence after two good wins either side of Christmas.
The afore mentioned Atherton LR are in action at Crilly Park once again, with this time Holker Old Boys providing the opposition.
The Cumbrians will have been bemoaning the wintry conditions of late as they have played just twice in December, and had been on a good run with just one defeat in six games, so they will be anxious to pick up from where they left off before the weather intervened.
It’s been a season largely bereft of cheer so far for Nelson, but there have been signs of recovery under recently appointed manager Steve Cunningham. A win and a draw in their last two games has provided an unexpected boost to the Admirals, and the visit of Chadderton to Little Wembley gives them the chance to round off the calendar year on a positive note.
Division One Preview - Saturday 30th December 2017
Fri 29th December 2017 | General
By Ian Templeman
As the final weekend of First Division fixtures in 2017 approaches, the year ends with Silsden AFC looking like champions-elect.
A 6-0 win over Chadderton on Boxing Day extended the table topping Yorkshiremens’ lead at the top of the table to twelve points, and Saturday sees Sandbach United faced with the problem of halting the irresistible force that is the Cobbydalers.
United have posted just one win in the last five games, but sit only a few points away from a play off place and will be looking to put a spoke in the wheel of the runaway league leaders.
Litherland REMYCA sit in second place and will head down the M6 to Eccleshall in good spirits, having dealt a rare setback to Silsden on the Saturday before Christmas with a 3-0 win at the LSP.
They will start as favourites against a home side who will be hoping to end a run of five straight defeats, albeit four of those were away from home.
Prestwich Heys are in third place, and will be looking to complete a league double over Bacup Borough at Adie Moran Park. Heys ended a run of form that had been disappointing by their own high standards with a 3-0 win at Carlisle City on the Satutrday before Christmas, and Borough will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to bottom club Nelson on Boxing Day.
One of the games of the day is likely to be at the Wood Park Stadium, where fourth placed Alsager Town host an AFC Blackpool side who will leapfrog over the Bullets if they win.
Alsager’s form has been disappointing by their own high standards recently, although they did win last time out against Eccleshall, while the Tangerines are one of the form sides in the division with five wins in the last six, including a 5-1 home win over Saturday’s opponents at the start of the month.
The final play off spot is occupied by Whitchurch Alport, whose win in the Boxing Day Shropshire derby over FC Oswestry Town will have set them up nicely for the visit of St Helens Town, who had the boost of a fine 3-2 win over Sandbach United in their last outing.
Cammell Laird 1907 sit just outside the play off places, although they will have to overcome a tricky looking trip to Cheadle Town if they are to close in on the top six. Four wins in the last six should have Lairds in confident mood for the trip, but Cheadle will be champing at the bit to see some action, as their last outing was as long ago as the 2nd December.
Two games that should survive any adverse weather conditions are those on artificial surfaces at Stockport and Oswestry.
Stockport Town host Carlisle City at the Stockport Sports Village, and the Lions will be in confident mood, going into the game on the back of a good run that sees them third in the division’s form table.
However, City have been in good nick themselves recently, especially on the road, and this is one that could be closer fought than most over the weekend.
FC Oswestry Town host the kick off to the weekend action in the division on Friday night, when New Mills visit the Venue. This has the look of a decent game, with both sides having posted wins in recent weeks and goals have rarely been in short supply on other side.
Abbey Hulton United opened up their inaugural season in the league with an opening day win at Daisy Hill on a sunny August afternoon, and the teams now face up to one another again down in Staffordshire.
Daisy are one of the form sides in the division at the moment, with Wednesday night’s win over Atherton LR making it three on the bounce, but their hosts will also not be lacking in confidence after two good wins either side of Christmas.
The afore mentioned Atherton LR are in action at Crilly Park once again, with this time Holker Old Boys providing the opposition.
The Cumbrians will have been bemoaning the wintry conditions of late as they have played just twice in December, and had been on a good run with just one defeat in six games, so they will be anxious to pick up from where they left off before the weather intervened.
It’s been a season largely bereft of cheer so far for Nelson, but there have been signs of recovery under recently appointed manager Steve Cunningham. A win and a draw in their last two games has provided an unexpected boost to the Admirals, and the visit of Chadderton to Little Wembley gives them the chance to round off the calendar year on a positive note.
