Premier Division Preview - Saturday 17th March 2018
Fri 16th March 2018 | General | By Connor O`Neill
With just over seven weeks remaining of this Hallmark Security League season, the temperature is certainly rising, with teams chasing promotion and others looking to avoid the dreaded the drop.
And after a host of winter right offs each individual game will start to gain that little bit more importance as we hit the business end of the season.
To kick off this weekend’s preview, current table toppers Runcorn Linnets welcome City of Liverpool to the Millbank Linnets Stadium.
Michael Ellison’s side come into the game looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Widnes in their last outing. But Linnets will no doubt be in confident mood, especially considering they ran out comprehensive 5-1 winners in the reserve fixture back in September.
City of Liverpool meanwhile, come into this mouth-watering game on the back of two straight victories. After going four games without a win, the Purps responded with a 5-0 win over local-rivals AFC Liverpool, before hitting Banrton for eight without reply on Wednesday.
Seven points behind Linnets in second is Widnes, who welcome AFC Darwen to the Select Security Stadium. In a repeat of Monday’s Macron Cup tie, a game which the hosts ran out 2-1 winners, Kevin Towey and Steve Akrigg’s side will be looking to extend their winning run to five games, and have only beaten once in their eight outings.
Darwen, who currently find themselves in 22nd position, know it’s vital they begin to pick up points if they are avoid relegation and will be looking to extend their unbeaten league run to three games.
Another big games this weekend, sees Runcorn Town make the trip to Staffordshire to take on Hanley Town. Chris Herbert’s side currently sit in the third place in the league table and will be looking to get back to winning ways after being beaten by Squires Gate on Wednesday.
Town will no doubt be looking to Craig Cairns to continue his impressive goal scoring form – the hotshot forward has 31 for the season so far.
Hanley, meanwhile, sit just place below Runcorn in fourth. And after hitting Maine Road for 8 last Saturday, were held to a 3-3 draw at West Didsbury & Chorlton on Tuesday. A Hanley win would see Michael Edwards’ side leapfrog their visitors in the table.
And the big games don’t stop there, as sixth welcome fifth with Bootle hosting Charnock Richard at the TDP Solicitors Stadium. Joe Doran and Phil Stafford’s side are currently on an eight league game unbeaten run. After seven straight victories the Bucks were held by Runcorn Town in their last outing, with Liam Loughlin’s stoppage time penalty earning his side a point.
Sitting two points above the Bucks, Charnock come into the game on the back of 2-1 defeat at the hands of Padiham and most recently a 2-2 draw at home to AFC Liverpool. But will no doubt be looking to Carl Grimshaw to continue his impressive goal scoring form – the forward is on 36 for the season.
It’s not just at the top of the table where there are big fixtures as bottom side Barnton travel Burscough. Steve Lloyd’s side are currently cut adrift at the foot of the table on nine points and will be looking to respond after being heavily beaten in their last three outings.
Four points above the drops zone is Burscough, who booked a place in the Macron Cup quarter-finals in midweek, Dave Sutton’s side beating Prestwich Heys on penalties. But Sutton will know his side need to pick up more points if they are to be sure of avoiding the drop.
Third bottom AFC Liverpool welcome Congleton Town to the Marin Travel Arena. The Reds currently sit on 26 points and will be looking to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats, but will take promise after earning themselves a point in the reserve fixture back in September.
Congleton will be looking to make it back-to-back victories. After three consecutive defeats, Brian Pritchard’s side ran out 3-1 winners against Abbey Hey in their last outing last Saturday.
The final side occupying a place in the drop zone is Maine Road, who travel over to Cheshire to take on Northwich Victoria at Townfield. Road have had a torrid time of late, losing all of their last six matches, but are just a point from safety and ran 2-1 winners in the reserve fixture back September.
Steve Wilkes' side on the other hand, booked a spot in the Macron Challenge Cup in quarter-finals with a penalty shootout win over Cheadle on Wednesday, but will be looking to get back to winning ways league after winning just one of their last eight league games.
One place above the relegation zone is Irlam who welcome Ashton Athletic to the Ambitek Stadium. Michael Dodd’s side have suffered a frustrating time of late with four of their last five games being postponed. The last time Dodd’s side played was on March 6th in a 0-0 draw at home to Hanley.
Fresh from a Macron Cup victory over AFC Liverpool on Wednesday, Ashton will look to return to winning ways in the league after being 2-0 at 1874 Northwich in their last league outing. Ironically this is the first time these two sides have met this season.
One place above Irlam is Abbey Hey who welcome Squires Gate to the Abbey Stadium. After bowing out of the Macron Cup to Stockport Town on Monday, Hey will be looking to bounce back and avenge a 3-2 defeat in the reserve fixture back in January.
Gate on the other hand, produced one of the best results of week by beating Runcorn Town on Wednesday night. Goals from Gary Pett and Scott Harries helped Gate to a 2-1 win and end a two game losing run.
Elsewhere in the division this weekend, Barnoldswick Town welcome Winsford United to the Silentnight Stadium. Danny Craig’s side have suffered three consecutive postponements – and before that were beaten 4-1 by Runcorn Linnets. Craig’s side currently sit in eleventh on 40 points.
Winsford, meanwhile, come into this game on the back of two straight wins. After beating Barnton last Saturday, Lee Duckworth’s side knocked out tenants 1874 Northwich in the Macron Cup on Monday, running out 3-1 winners.
Finally to conclude this weekend’s preview, Padiham welcome West Didsbury & Chorlton to the Ruby Civil Arena. Liam Smith and Dixon Lambert’s side have been on the wrong end of five straight postponements – but ran out 2-1 winners against Charnock Richard in their last outing on the 24th February.
West will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games. Steve Settle’s side have drawn three and won one of their four matches, there most recent result being a 3-3 at home to Hanley on Tuesday.
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 17th March 2018
Fri 16th March 2018 | General
By Connor O`Neill
With just over seven weeks remaining of this Hallmark Security League season, the temperature is certainly rising, with teams chasing promotion and others looking to avoid the dreaded the drop.
And after a host of winter right offs each individual game will start to gain that little bit more importance as we hit the business end of the season.
To kick off this weekend’s preview, current table toppers Runcorn Linnets welcome City of Liverpool to the Millbank Linnets Stadium.
Michael Ellison’s side come into the game looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Widnes in their last outing. But Linnets will no doubt be in confident mood, especially considering they ran out comprehensive 5-1 winners in the reserve fixture back in September.
City of Liverpool meanwhile, come into this mouth-watering game on the back of two straight victories. After going four games without a win, the Purps responded with a 5-0 win over local-rivals AFC Liverpool, before hitting Banrton for eight without reply on Wednesday.
Seven points behind Linnets in second is Widnes, who welcome AFC Darwen to the Select Security Stadium. In a repeat of Monday’s Macron Cup tie, a game which the hosts ran out 2-1 winners, Kevin Towey and Steve Akrigg’s side will be looking to extend their winning run to five games, and have only beaten once in their eight outings.
Darwen, who currently find themselves in 22nd position, know it’s vital they begin to pick up points if they are avoid relegation and will be looking to extend their unbeaten league run to three games.
Another big games this weekend, sees Runcorn Town make the trip to Staffordshire to take on Hanley Town. Chris Herbert’s side currently sit in the third place in the league table and will be looking to get back to winning ways after being beaten by Squires Gate on Wednesday.
Town will no doubt be looking to Craig Cairns to continue his impressive goal scoring form – the hotshot forward has 31 for the season so far.
Hanley, meanwhile, sit just place below Runcorn in fourth. And after hitting Maine Road for 8 last Saturday, were held to a 3-3 draw at West Didsbury & Chorlton on Tuesday. A Hanley win would see Michael Edwards’ side leapfrog their visitors in the table.
And the big games don’t stop there, as sixth welcome fifth with Bootle hosting Charnock Richard at the TDP Solicitors Stadium. Joe Doran and Phil Stafford’s side are currently on an eight league game unbeaten run. After seven straight victories the Bucks were held by Runcorn Town in their last outing, with Liam Loughlin’s stoppage time penalty earning his side a point.
Sitting two points above the Bucks, Charnock come into the game on the back of 2-1 defeat at the hands of Padiham and most recently a 2-2 draw at home to AFC Liverpool. But will no doubt be looking to Carl Grimshaw to continue his impressive goal scoring form – the forward is on 36 for the season.
It’s not just at the top of the table where there are big fixtures as bottom side Barnton travel Burscough. Steve Lloyd’s side are currently cut adrift at the foot of the table on nine points and will be looking to respond after being heavily beaten in their last three outings.
Four points above the drops zone is Burscough, who booked a place in the Macron Cup quarter-finals in midweek, Dave Sutton’s side beating Prestwich Heys on penalties. But Sutton will know his side need to pick up more points if they are to be sure of avoiding the drop.
Third bottom AFC Liverpool welcome Congleton Town to the Marin Travel Arena. The Reds currently sit on 26 points and will be looking to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats, but will take promise after earning themselves a point in the reserve fixture back in September.
Congleton will be looking to make it back-to-back victories. After three consecutive defeats, Brian Pritchard’s side ran out 3-1 winners against Abbey Hey in their last outing last Saturday.
The final side occupying a place in the drop zone is Maine Road, who travel over to Cheshire to take on Northwich Victoria at Townfield. Road have had a torrid time of late, losing all of their last six matches, but are just a point from safety and ran 2-1 winners in the reserve fixture back September.
Steve Wilkes' side on the other hand, booked a spot in the Macron Challenge Cup in quarter-finals with a penalty shootout win over Cheadle on Wednesday, but will be looking to get back to winning ways league after winning just one of their last eight league games.
One place above the relegation zone is Irlam who welcome Ashton Athletic to the Ambitek Stadium. Michael Dodd’s side have suffered a frustrating time of late with four of their last five games being postponed. The last time Dodd’s side played was on March 6th in a 0-0 draw at home to Hanley.
Fresh from a Macron Cup victory over AFC Liverpool on Wednesday, Ashton will look to return to winning ways in the league after being 2-0 at 1874 Northwich in their last league outing. Ironically this is the first time these two sides have met this season.
One place above Irlam is Abbey Hey who welcome Squires Gate to the Abbey Stadium. After bowing out of the Macron Cup to Stockport Town on Monday, Hey will be looking to bounce back and avenge a 3-2 defeat in the reserve fixture back in January.
Gate on the other hand, produced one of the best results of week by beating Runcorn Town on Wednesday night. Goals from Gary Pett and Scott Harries helped Gate to a 2-1 win and end a two game losing run.
Elsewhere in the division this weekend, Barnoldswick Town welcome Winsford United to the Silentnight Stadium. Danny Craig’s side have suffered three consecutive postponements – and before that were beaten 4-1 by Runcorn Linnets. Craig’s side currently sit in eleventh on 40 points.
Winsford, meanwhile, come into this game on the back of two straight wins. After beating Barnton last Saturday, Lee Duckworth’s side knocked out tenants 1874 Northwich in the Macron Cup on Monday, running out 3-1 winners.
Finally to conclude this weekend’s preview, Padiham welcome West Didsbury & Chorlton to the Ruby Civil Arena. Liam Smith and Dixon Lambert’s side have been on the wrong end of five straight postponements – but ran out 2-1 winners against Charnock Richard in their last outing on the 24th February.
West will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games. Steve Settle’s side have drawn three and won one of their four matches, there most recent result being a 3-3 at home to Hanley on Tuesday.
