Premier Division Preview - 10th March 2018
Fri 9th March 2018 | General | By Gary Langley
At some point the clubs will have to enter the so-called home straight. Ok it’s a bit of a cliche but when you look at the calendar the season finishes at the back end of next month and because of the major structural reorganisation taking place around the English Non-League pyramid there is no chance of an extension. So in theory, having survived the Beast from the East, Storm Emma and the subsequent big thaw, this could be the start of it!
So let us take a look at this weekend’s games and we start at Ashton Athletic where leaders Runcorn Linnets look to continue their promotion push at Brocstedes Park. Linnets has a slight setback in Monday’s El-Classitoll Derby when they were beaten by a last minute Widnes winner, a Ben Hopkinson penalty separating the sides in the night. Linnets still have plenty of daylight between themselves and the rest, however they won’t want to get into bad habits. Ashton Athletic are still outsiders in the race for the top two and they themselves took one on the chin in midweek as promotion rivals 1874 Northwich beat them 2-0 at home.
1874 Northwich take on AFC Darwen at the Barton Stadium and will likely be favourites for this game. Stamina will be the key for them as their fixture list for the next seven weeks is at best described as ‘intense’. They are in good form though and if they keep that up this weekend they could deal a likely hammer blow to Darwen’s survival hopes.
Burscough host Runcorn Town at Victoria Park with the Lancashire Linnets looking to keep as much daylight as possible between themselves and the bottom four. They are four points clear of the drop zone but with son many clubs in a similar position they will be keen for points on the board. For Runcorn Town, they need a spark from somewhere, their midweek draw at Bootle looks good on paper, however only two wins in their last eight less so. Like with Bootle & Charnock Richard in the chasing pack there are only so many points you can let slip before you realise you have too much work to do.
On the subject of Bootle they take on Barnoldswick Town at the TDP Solicitors Stadium. They are in decent form and unbeaten in their last eight and this has re-ignited their promotion push and they go into the run-in buoyed by momentum. A win this weekend will certainly have the likes of Charnock Richard and Widnes looking over their shoulders.
Charnock Richard don’t have an easy task this weekend as Northwich Victoria are the visitors Mossie Park. Charnock Richard have slipped off the pace a bit of late and have only one win in their last five games in all competitions so they will be keen to get back to winning ways. They were held at home by AFC Liverpool in midweek. The Vics’ generally travel well but have only one win in their last seven games to their name and as a result have slipped back into the relative comfort of mid-table. Their form in the run up to Christmas did suggest that they could be dark horses to shake up the pack, however, they have consolidated well in a strong division and will be keen to finish on a flourish.
Padiham take on Irlam with both sides keen for a result. Padiham have been one of the divisions strong teams this campaign and on their day can beat anyone, they have just been left a bit short by their difficult start to the season. Irlam have had no luck with injuries and still find themselves in the bottom six. I have said before in these previews that I expect them to get out of trouble and I stand by that. They have games in hand as well as a squad starting to re-group after a busy time for the physio team early on.
Squires Gate take West Didsbury and Chorlton at The Brian Addison Stadium. Squires Gate have kicked on of late and have good form in their last five league games, this has seen them consolidate in mid-table and looking solid as we hit the final stretch of games. West Didsbury & Chorlton still have work to do, they are still too close to the bottom for their own liking after what for them has been an out of sorts season. These games tend to have goals in them, there is an average of three per game in their nine competitive meetings and there have been no draws, Squires Gate lead the head to heads 5-4.
Maine Road take on Hanley Town at Brantingham Road hoping to use their home form as an advantage as they look to try and claw their way out of the bottom four. Hanley will be looking to keep the pressure on the top five with only a few points between themselves in sixth spot and third place. Hanley have sured up their form record recently with only one defeat in their last seven games and they look to be back in the race for second.
Congleton take on Abbey Hey with Congleton in mid-table and Ilkley to stay there or thereabouts, however they are strong at home and if they can fall back on that over the next few weeks they could be upwardly mobile. Abbey Hey are just about the bottom four and despite having games in hand on three of those sides they will be keen to convert them into some sort of points to stay above that line.
Barnton host Winsford United at Townfield but for them it’s beginning to look like time has ran out on their stint in The Premier Division, it has been a tough season for them and despite playing good football the results just haven’t gone their way. Similar could be said for Winsford who for long periods o the season looked like top six contenders, however they may need to cast a cursory eye over their shoulder if they don’t get a couple of wins under their belt. A win this weekend should go a long way to ease any slight concerns they may have.
Premier Division Preview - 10th March 2018
Fri 9th March 2018 | General
By Gary Langley
At some point the clubs will have to enter the so-called home straight. Ok it’s a bit of a cliche but when you look at the calendar the season finishes at the back end of next month and because of the major structural reorganisation taking place around the English Non-League pyramid there is no chance of an extension. So in theory, having survived the Beast from the East, Storm Emma and the subsequent big thaw, this could be the start of it!
So let us take a look at this weekend’s games and we start at Ashton Athletic where leaders Runcorn Linnets look to continue their promotion push at Brocstedes Park. Linnets has a slight setback in Monday’s El-Classitoll Derby when they were beaten by a last minute Widnes winner, a Ben Hopkinson penalty separating the sides in the night. Linnets still have plenty of daylight between themselves and the rest, however they won’t want to get into bad habits. Ashton Athletic are still outsiders in the race for the top two and they themselves took one on the chin in midweek as promotion rivals 1874 Northwich beat them 2-0 at home.
1874 Northwich take on AFC Darwen at the Barton Stadium and will likely be favourites for this game. Stamina will be the key for them as their fixture list for the next seven weeks is at best described as ‘intense’. They are in good form though and if they keep that up this weekend they could deal a likely hammer blow to Darwen’s survival hopes.
Burscough host Runcorn Town at Victoria Park with the Lancashire Linnets looking to keep as much daylight as possible between themselves and the bottom four. They are four points clear of the drop zone but with son many clubs in a similar position they will be keen for points on the board. For Runcorn Town, they need a spark from somewhere, their midweek draw at Bootle looks good on paper, however only two wins in their last eight less so. Like with Bootle & Charnock Richard in the chasing pack there are only so many points you can let slip before you realise you have too much work to do.
On the subject of Bootle they take on Barnoldswick Town at the TDP Solicitors Stadium. They are in decent form and unbeaten in their last eight and this has re-ignited their promotion push and they go into the run-in buoyed by momentum. A win this weekend will certainly have the likes of Charnock Richard and Widnes looking over their shoulders.
Charnock Richard don’t have an easy task this weekend as Northwich Victoria are the visitors Mossie Park. Charnock Richard have slipped off the pace a bit of late and have only one win in their last five games in all competitions so they will be keen to get back to winning ways. They were held at home by AFC Liverpool in midweek. The Vics’ generally travel well but have only one win in their last seven games to their name and as a result have slipped back into the relative comfort of mid-table. Their form in the run up to Christmas did suggest that they could be dark horses to shake up the pack, however, they have consolidated well in a strong division and will be keen to finish on a flourish.
Padiham take on Irlam with both sides keen for a result. Padiham have been one of the divisions strong teams this campaign and on their day can beat anyone, they have just been left a bit short by their difficult start to the season. Irlam have had no luck with injuries and still find themselves in the bottom six. I have said before in these previews that I expect them to get out of trouble and I stand by that. They have games in hand as well as a squad starting to re-group after a busy time for the physio team early on.
Squires Gate take West Didsbury and Chorlton at The Brian Addison Stadium. Squires Gate have kicked on of late and have good form in their last five league games, this has seen them consolidate in mid-table and looking solid as we hit the final stretch of games. West Didsbury & Chorlton still have work to do, they are still too close to the bottom for their own liking after what for them has been an out of sorts season. These games tend to have goals in them, there is an average of three per game in their nine competitive meetings and there have been no draws, Squires Gate lead the head to heads 5-4.
Maine Road take on Hanley Town at Brantingham Road hoping to use their home form as an advantage as they look to try and claw their way out of the bottom four. Hanley will be looking to keep the pressure on the top five with only a few points between themselves in sixth spot and third place. Hanley have sured up their form record recently with only one defeat in their last seven games and they look to be back in the race for second.
Congleton take on Abbey Hey with Congleton in mid-table and Ilkley to stay there or thereabouts, however they are strong at home and if they can fall back on that over the next few weeks they could be upwardly mobile. Abbey Hey are just about the bottom four and despite having games in hand on three of those sides they will be keen to convert them into some sort of points to stay above that line.
Barnton host Winsford United at Townfield but for them it’s beginning to look like time has ran out on their stint in The Premier Division, it has been a tough season for them and despite playing good football the results just haven’t gone their way. Similar could be said for Winsford who for long periods o the season looked like top six contenders, however they may need to cast a cursory eye over their shoulder if they don’t get a couple of wins under their belt. A win this weekend should go a long way to ease any slight concerns they may have.
