Premier Division Preview - 6th January 2018
Fri 5th January 2018 | General | By Gary Langley
With a wet and miserable end to 2017 came a surprising burst of fixtures being played so league business is starting to take Centre stage again. It is somewhat surprising to look at the amount of games played compared to this time last season where an average of just 17 games had been completed per club compared to an average of just over 20 as things stand at the moment. For many, the first league games of the New Year bring renewed hope and optimism, no club are out of things yet but likewise one or two are more than aware of the need for some quick points to veer away from that bottom six.
We preview this weekend’s fixtures, starting at the Abbey Stadium where Abbey Hey host Charnock Richard with both sides suffering defeat in their last league games. Abbey Hey were turned over 4-0 at home by a much improving Maine Road last Saturday whilst Charnock Richard also stuttered at home with City of Liverpool coming away from West Lancs with a resounding 4-1 win in the road. Both clubs need league points for differing reasons, Charnock Richard are running out of games in hand to try and close the gap on the two Runcorn sides at the top whilst Abbey Hey sit sixth from bottom.
Winsford United host league leaders Runcorn Linnets at the St Lukes Barton Stadium with the visitors in fine form at present and looking to consolidate their place at the summit. Winsford currently sit eighth in the table on 33 points and have only one defeat in their last five games in all competitions, that was against the massively in-form Widnes back in mid-December so they may well fancy their chances on their own ground.
Linnets has a very handy festive season with three straight wins that has lifted them five points clear at the top of the table at present. Those wins were against Barnton at home on 23/12, then came the rampant 5-0 away win away at Runcorn Town in the Derby game on Boxing Day that sent them top and that was rounded off with a 2-0 win at home over much fancied Hanley on 29/12. All in all it was a very, very happy Christmas for them.
Runcorn Town look to try and put the pressure on their neighbours as they welcome Barnoldswick Town to Pavilions. With only one win in their last five league games they have lost their place at the top spot and just need to keep perhaps half an eye over their shoulder as other clubs regroup and see what Linnets have achieved by clawing their way over them. Barlick’ sit 12th comfortably in mid table but maybe lacking a bit of match practice having played only three league games since the third week of November, however that didn’t show back in their last league game on 23/12 when they defeated Irlam 3-0 at home.
City of Liverpool and West Didsbury & Chorlton meet for the first time in a competitive game at the TDP Solicitors Stadium this weekend with The Purps’ making a statement in their last league outing on 23/12 when they travelled to promotion candidates Charnock Richard and came away with that 4-1 win. They have a number of games in hand on many around them and are still in the mix albeit with a bit of work to do if they are to upset the apple cart come May.
West Didsbury also have some work to do with their recent 5-4 away with at Burscough being their only win in their last twelve games in all competitions, the other eleven games were defeats and that includes their 7-1 reverse at Ashton Athletic and 2-1 Derby defeat at Maine Road on Boxing Day.
AFC Darwen and Northwich Victoria go head to head at the Anchor Ground which is another first meeting. AFC Darwen look in an increasingly difficult situation at the moment as they are 22nd in the table, thirteen points off fifth bottom and fourteen off seventh bottom which to some is the perceived safety line this season. Whilst the latter may or may not prove to be the case they need a dramatic upturn in form befitting of any Xmas edition of a soap opera.
Vics’ have been upwardly mobile and currently sit month on 32 points, their ship has been steadied by the new-ish management team and they have certainly gained momentum and look a tough prospect for any opposition at the moment. Northwich Victoria do travel well and with consecutive wins at Barnton (4-0) and an eye catching 3-2 win over Hanley Town back on 23/12 they look like strong contenders to finish in the top six if they can maintain their form.
Maine Road take on Irlam in a Manchester Derby at Brantingham Road with a much improved run of form seeing the home side climb out of the bottom four. That run of form includes an important Derby day win over West Didsbury and Chorlton and a milestone of their 500th North West Counties League game in their 0-4 away win at Abbey Hey last week. Irlam are still looking to get players off their injury list and games played as well, they had a postponement-hit December and only managed a few games of which only two were in the league competition. Their last game was a 0-3 reverse at Barnoldswick.
Hanley Town and Bootle face each other at Potteries Park with both looking for much needed points to bolster their respective promotion campaigns. Hanley currently sit fourth on 41 points but having played 22 games and this sees them six points behind second placed Runcorn Town. Up until a few weeks ago Hanley were flying and had been in the top six of the form table since late August and with games in hand were many people’s prime candidates to challenge the Runcorn sides. However recent missed opportunities in games have seen them stutter in and around their current league position and their form is reflected in the form-table which sees them joint bottom of it.
Bootle are currently sixth, they’ve played the same amount of games as Hanley but have four points less. The Bucks’ current form is also a bit patchy at present with two wins and three losses in all comps from their last five, however with most teams around them in the same boat there will always be hope if they can stitch a few results together.
AFC Liverpool host Squires Gate at the Marine Travel Arena this weekend with both clubs looking to try and claw back recently lost ground in the standings. The Non-League reds recent 2-1 defeat at Burscough saw them drop back into the bottom four and the following day saw Chris Stammers leave his position as manager after a relatively short tenure at the helm. AFC Liverpool may well have a new man in charge by the tile his Preview goes live and he (or indeed she) will have a relatively solid foundation to build on. For Squires Gate one win in their last six has seen them lose a bit of their recent momentum gain as they currently sit fourteenth in the table so they will be keen to take advantage of any possible managerial upheaval and take the points back to the Fylde coast.
Two of the Divisions form clubs meet as Ashton Athletic take on Padiham at Brocstedes Park. Ashton Athletic are currently eleventh in the table but have seven games in hand on the top sides and in their last two league games which were at home against Abbey Hey and West Didsbury and Chorlton they have knocked in ten goals as they climb the table slowly but surely. Padiham, they currently find themselves in seventh spot with twenty games played and 33 points in the board so they are still in with an outside shout but will need to start doing better against the sides in the top half of the table.
Burscough host Widnes at Victoria Park with the Lancashire Linnets in fine league form at present. Only one defeat in their last four which was that loss by the odd goal in nine to West Didsbury and Chorlton and the other results have been wins against Squires Gate, AFC Liverpool and Northwich Victoria so they are looking ok at the moment. Widnes, they need to keep the pressure on the top two but are also in splendid form themselves with nine straight wins going into this match. They are third in the table, level on points with Runcorn Town but have played a number of games more. However, Widnes will argue that they have the points on the board and it is up to the other clubs to fend them off. This looks like a cracking game as one of many in what is a fascinating set of fixtures this weekend.
Premier Division Preview - 6th January 2018
Fri 5th January 2018 | General
By Gary Langley
With a wet and miserable end to 2017 came a surprising burst of fixtures being played so league business is starting to take Centre stage again. It is somewhat surprising to look at the amount of games played compared to this time last season where an average of just 17 games had been completed per club compared to an average of just over 20 as things stand at the moment. For many, the first league games of the New Year bring renewed hope and optimism, no club are out of things yet but likewise one or two are more than aware of the need for some quick points to veer away from that bottom six.
We preview this weekend’s fixtures, starting at the Abbey Stadium where Abbey Hey host Charnock Richard with both sides suffering defeat in their last league games. Abbey Hey were turned over 4-0 at home by a much improving Maine Road last Saturday whilst Charnock Richard also stuttered at home with City of Liverpool coming away from West Lancs with a resounding 4-1 win in the road. Both clubs need league points for differing reasons, Charnock Richard are running out of games in hand to try and close the gap on the two Runcorn sides at the top whilst Abbey Hey sit sixth from bottom.
Winsford United host league leaders Runcorn Linnets at the St Lukes Barton Stadium with the visitors in fine form at present and looking to consolidate their place at the summit. Winsford currently sit eighth in the table on 33 points and have only one defeat in their last five games in all competitions, that was against the massively in-form Widnes back in mid-December so they may well fancy their chances on their own ground.
Linnets has a very handy festive season with three straight wins that has lifted them five points clear at the top of the table at present. Those wins were against Barnton at home on 23/12, then came the rampant 5-0 away win away at Runcorn Town in the Derby game on Boxing Day that sent them top and that was rounded off with a 2-0 win at home over much fancied Hanley on 29/12. All in all it was a very, very happy Christmas for them.
Runcorn Town look to try and put the pressure on their neighbours as they welcome Barnoldswick Town to Pavilions. With only one win in their last five league games they have lost their place at the top spot and just need to keep perhaps half an eye over their shoulder as other clubs regroup and see what Linnets have achieved by clawing their way over them. Barlick’ sit 12th comfortably in mid table but maybe lacking a bit of match practice having played only three league games since the third week of November, however that didn’t show back in their last league game on 23/12 when they defeated Irlam 3-0 at home.
City of Liverpool and West Didsbury & Chorlton meet for the first time in a competitive game at the TDP Solicitors Stadium this weekend with The Purps’ making a statement in their last league outing on 23/12 when they travelled to promotion candidates Charnock Richard and came away with that 4-1 win. They have a number of games in hand on many around them and are still in the mix albeit with a bit of work to do if they are to upset the apple cart come May.
West Didsbury also have some work to do with their recent 5-4 away with at Burscough being their only win in their last twelve games in all competitions, the other eleven games were defeats and that includes their 7-1 reverse at Ashton Athletic and 2-1 Derby defeat at Maine Road on Boxing Day.
AFC Darwen and Northwich Victoria go head to head at the Anchor Ground which is another first meeting. AFC Darwen look in an increasingly difficult situation at the moment as they are 22nd in the table, thirteen points off fifth bottom and fourteen off seventh bottom which to some is the perceived safety line this season. Whilst the latter may or may not prove to be the case they need a dramatic upturn in form befitting of any Xmas edition of a soap opera.
Vics’ have been upwardly mobile and currently sit month on 32 points, their ship has been steadied by the new-ish management team and they have certainly gained momentum and look a tough prospect for any opposition at the moment. Northwich Victoria do travel well and with consecutive wins at Barnton (4-0) and an eye catching 3-2 win over Hanley Town back on 23/12 they look like strong contenders to finish in the top six if they can maintain their form.
Maine Road take on Irlam in a Manchester Derby at Brantingham Road with a much improved run of form seeing the home side climb out of the bottom four. That run of form includes an important Derby day win over West Didsbury and Chorlton and a milestone of their 500th North West Counties League game in their 0-4 away win at Abbey Hey last week. Irlam are still looking to get players off their injury list and games played as well, they had a postponement-hit December and only managed a few games of which only two were in the league competition. Their last game was a 0-3 reverse at Barnoldswick.
Hanley Town and Bootle face each other at Potteries Park with both looking for much needed points to bolster their respective promotion campaigns. Hanley currently sit fourth on 41 points but having played 22 games and this sees them six points behind second placed Runcorn Town. Up until a few weeks ago Hanley were flying and had been in the top six of the form table since late August and with games in hand were many people’s prime candidates to challenge the Runcorn sides. However recent missed opportunities in games have seen them stutter in and around their current league position and their form is reflected in the form-table which sees them joint bottom of it.
Bootle are currently sixth, they’ve played the same amount of games as Hanley but have four points less. The Bucks’ current form is also a bit patchy at present with two wins and three losses in all comps from their last five, however with most teams around them in the same boat there will always be hope if they can stitch a few results together.
AFC Liverpool host Squires Gate at the Marine Travel Arena this weekend with both clubs looking to try and claw back recently lost ground in the standings. The Non-League reds recent 2-1 defeat at Burscough saw them drop back into the bottom four and the following day saw Chris Stammers leave his position as manager after a relatively short tenure at the helm. AFC Liverpool may well have a new man in charge by the tile his Preview goes live and he (or indeed she) will have a relatively solid foundation to build on. For Squires Gate one win in their last six has seen them lose a bit of their recent momentum gain as they currently sit fourteenth in the table so they will be keen to take advantage of any possible managerial upheaval and take the points back to the Fylde coast.
Two of the Divisions form clubs meet as Ashton Athletic take on Padiham at Brocstedes Park. Ashton Athletic are currently eleventh in the table but have seven games in hand on the top sides and in their last two league games which were at home against Abbey Hey and West Didsbury and Chorlton they have knocked in ten goals as they climb the table slowly but surely. Padiham, they currently find themselves in seventh spot with twenty games played and 33 points in the board so they are still in with an outside shout but will need to start doing better against the sides in the top half of the table.
Burscough host Widnes at Victoria Park with the Lancashire Linnets in fine league form at present. Only one defeat in their last four which was that loss by the odd goal in nine to West Didsbury and Chorlton and the other results have been wins against Squires Gate, AFC Liverpool and Northwich Victoria so they are looking ok at the moment. Widnes, they need to keep the pressure on the top two but are also in splendid form themselves with nine straight wins going into this match. They are third in the table, level on points with Runcorn Town but have played a number of games more. However, Widnes will argue that they have the points on the board and it is up to the other clubs to fend them off. This looks like a cracking game as one of many in what is a fascinating set of fixtures this weekend.
