Premier Division Preview - 24th March 2018
Fri 23rd March 2018 | Match Reviews | By Gary Langley
With games happening thick and fast it is time for the serious promotion contenders to stand up and be counted. Whilst amateur mathematicians have been working out the points per game averages over recent weeks, there is still a good chance that the second promotion spot will be available irrespective of the averages due to clubs struggling elsewhere. Unfortunately for some clubs, the relegation trap door is starting to creak open with one or two clubs looking increasingly like dropping into what will be new look first Division(s) next season.
Eyes this weekend will also be on Witton Albion’s Wincham Park where 1874 Northwich are still in with a goood chance of reaching the FA Vase final if they can make ‘home’ advantage count. Good luck to them as they look to overturn the one goal deficit against Thatcham Town on Saturday.
With Runcorn Linnets without a game this weekend it is a chance for a number of the other clubs to try and close the gap. Starting this week’s preview with neighbours Runcorn Town who welcome Abbey Hey at Pavilions. Town’ currently sit fourth in. The league table and are eleven points behind second placed Widnes but still cannot get their early season consistency back. Their last game was a home defeat to Squires Gate on 14th March, indeed their last six game record reads three wins, two defeats and a draw. For Abbey Hey who currently sit 18th, they are still too close to the bottom for comfort and with this weekend’s game followed on Tuesday by a trip to 1874 Northwich as well as City of Liverpool on the horizon, they will be keen to clock up some quick points.
City of Liverpool hist Ashton Athletic at the TDP Solicitors Stadium and the Purps’ have found some form at the right time. They go into this game off the back of a last minute winner against Padiham in midweek and are unbeaten in their last five games. After this game they face 1874 Northwich, Runcorn Town and Landlords, Bootle in succession. If they are to break into that top six they are going to have to beat some tough opposition in the process.
Ashton Athletic sit in twelfth in the table but even as recently as a couple of weeks ago were still being mentioned as dark horses for the top three. Despite having games in hand on all of the clubs around them, they haven’t been able to make recent games count and are currently 19th in the form table with four defeats in their last six.
Squires Gate and Charnock Richard go head to head at The Brian Addison Stadium. Squires Gate’s recent good form of four wins in their last six games and rising to fourth in the form table has lifted them back to the cusp of the top ten again. Charnock Richard are not as potent at the moment with only one win in their last six and this currently sees them sixth in the table. The incentives are there for both clubs to get the points but when it comes to form this one is hard to predict.
Third placed Hanley Town host fifth placed Bootle at Potteries Park this weekend in one of the most eye-catching games of the day. Hanley are ten points behind Widnes but have three games in hand on the Halton side whilst Bootle are in-turn only two points behind Hanley with an additional game in hand on Widnes. Both clubs look strong in the table and both are in good form so this looks like a cracking game.
Barnoldswick Town welcome Maine Road to The Silentnight with the home side comfortable in mid-table (13th) and fairly solid at home. Maine Road currently sit in the drop zone, 20th in the table and are in the bottom two of the form table. These sides met as recently as 19th February when Barnoldswick won 0-3 at Brantingham Road.
Northwich Victoria take on Irlam at Townfield with both clubs on the up. The Vics’ go into this game unbeaten in their last three games and that includes their midweek 5-0 away win at AFC Darwen. Irlam are climbing up the table and are within touching distance of the lower reaches of mid-table. Michael Dodd’s side have a good recent run, only two defeats in their last six, draws with Hanley Town and City of Liverpool and wins over Ashton Athletic and FC Oswestry Town.
Padiham will look to pick themselves up and dust themselves down after the disappointment of conceding a last minute goal in their midweek defeat at City of Liverpool. They welcome Winsford United to the Ruby Civil Arena. Padiham have had a tough run of games of late, prior to the game at City of Liverpool they had defeated Charnock Richard, narrowly been beaten by Hanley Town and had been beaten by Widnes all within a few weeks. Winsford travel with their tails up, unbeaten in their last four games and that includes Wednesday evenings impressive Cheshire Senior Cup Quarter Final win over a strong Altrincham side.
The Divisions two bottom sides meet at the Anchor Ground as AFC Darwen host Barnton. It looks like both of these sides may well be looking at dropping into the all new Division One(s) next season but Barnton will want to finish on a flourish as they re-group for next season. Darwen still have hope for avoiding the drop but they have a total of 15points on the board but are seventeen behind nineteenth placed Irlam. Another side looking over their shoulder are AFC Liverpool and they travel to seventeenth place Burscough who are currently seven points clear of trouble. A win for either of these sides could mean a lot, especially to the home side who would be near that 40-45 points marker that normally means breathing space.
West Didsbury and Chorlton take on Congleton Town at The Recreation Ground with only three points separating West Didsbury and Chorlton in sixteenth and the visitors in fourteenth. Congleton travel with only one defeat in their last three games which was Tuesday evenings 2-0 home defeat to league leaders, Runcorn Linnets. West Didsbury are in reasonable condition themselves, only one defeat in their last five which was a 6-1 defeat at Padiham last Saturday, prior to that they had harvested six points from the previous four games which is a reasonable return for clubs looking to steer clear of any end of season issues.
Premier Division Preview - 24th March 2018
Fri 23rd March 2018 | Match Reviews
By Gary Langley
With games happening thick and fast it is time for the serious promotion contenders to stand up and be counted. Whilst amateur mathematicians have been working out the points per game averages over recent weeks, there is still a good chance that the second promotion spot will be available irrespective of the averages due to clubs struggling elsewhere. Unfortunately for some clubs, the relegation trap door is starting to creak open with one or two clubs looking increasingly like dropping into what will be new look first Division(s) next season.
Eyes this weekend will also be on Witton Albion’s Wincham Park where 1874 Northwich are still in with a goood chance of reaching the FA Vase final if they can make ‘home’ advantage count. Good luck to them as they look to overturn the one goal deficit against Thatcham Town on Saturday.
With Runcorn Linnets without a game this weekend it is a chance for a number of the other clubs to try and close the gap. Starting this week’s preview with neighbours Runcorn Town who welcome Abbey Hey at Pavilions. Town’ currently sit fourth in. The league table and are eleven points behind second placed Widnes but still cannot get their early season consistency back. Their last game was a home defeat to Squires Gate on 14th March, indeed their last six game record reads three wins, two defeats and a draw. For Abbey Hey who currently sit 18th, they are still too close to the bottom for comfort and with this weekend’s game followed on Tuesday by a trip to 1874 Northwich as well as City of Liverpool on the horizon, they will be keen to clock up some quick points.
City of Liverpool hist Ashton Athletic at the TDP Solicitors Stadium and the Purps’ have found some form at the right time. They go into this game off the back of a last minute winner against Padiham in midweek and are unbeaten in their last five games. After this game they face 1874 Northwich, Runcorn Town and Landlords, Bootle in succession. If they are to break into that top six they are going to have to beat some tough opposition in the process.
Ashton Athletic sit in twelfth in the table but even as recently as a couple of weeks ago were still being mentioned as dark horses for the top three. Despite having games in hand on all of the clubs around them, they haven’t been able to make recent games count and are currently 19th in the form table with four defeats in their last six.
Squires Gate and Charnock Richard go head to head at The Brian Addison Stadium. Squires Gate’s recent good form of four wins in their last six games and rising to fourth in the form table has lifted them back to the cusp of the top ten again. Charnock Richard are not as potent at the moment with only one win in their last six and this currently sees them sixth in the table. The incentives are there for both clubs to get the points but when it comes to form this one is hard to predict.
Third placed Hanley Town host fifth placed Bootle at Potteries Park this weekend in one of the most eye-catching games of the day. Hanley are ten points behind Widnes but have three games in hand on the Halton side whilst Bootle are in-turn only two points behind Hanley with an additional game in hand on Widnes. Both clubs look strong in the table and both are in good form so this looks like a cracking game.
Barnoldswick Town welcome Maine Road to The Silentnight with the home side comfortable in mid-table (13th) and fairly solid at home. Maine Road currently sit in the drop zone, 20th in the table and are in the bottom two of the form table. These sides met as recently as 19th February when Barnoldswick won 0-3 at Brantingham Road.
Northwich Victoria take on Irlam at Townfield with both clubs on the up. The Vics’ go into this game unbeaten in their last three games and that includes their midweek 5-0 away win at AFC Darwen. Irlam are climbing up the table and are within touching distance of the lower reaches of mid-table. Michael Dodd’s side have a good recent run, only two defeats in their last six, draws with Hanley Town and City of Liverpool and wins over Ashton Athletic and FC Oswestry Town.
Padiham will look to pick themselves up and dust themselves down after the disappointment of conceding a last minute goal in their midweek defeat at City of Liverpool. They welcome Winsford United to the Ruby Civil Arena. Padiham have had a tough run of games of late, prior to the game at City of Liverpool they had defeated Charnock Richard, narrowly been beaten by Hanley Town and had been beaten by Widnes all within a few weeks. Winsford travel with their tails up, unbeaten in their last four games and that includes Wednesday evenings impressive Cheshire Senior Cup Quarter Final win over a strong Altrincham side.
The Divisions two bottom sides meet at the Anchor Ground as AFC Darwen host Barnton. It looks like both of these sides may well be looking at dropping into the all new Division One(s) next season but Barnton will want to finish on a flourish as they re-group for next season. Darwen still have hope for avoiding the drop but they have a total of 15points on the board but are seventeen behind nineteenth placed Irlam. Another side looking over their shoulder are AFC Liverpool and they travel to seventeenth place Burscough who are currently seven points clear of trouble. A win for either of these sides could mean a lot, especially to the home side who would be near that 40-45 points marker that normally means breathing space.
West Didsbury and Chorlton take on Congleton Town at The Recreation Ground with only three points separating West Didsbury and Chorlton in sixteenth and the visitors in fourteenth. Congleton travel with only one defeat in their last three games which was Tuesday evenings 2-0 home defeat to league leaders, Runcorn Linnets. West Didsbury are in reasonable condition themselves, only one defeat in their last five which was a 6-1 defeat at Padiham last Saturday, prior to that they had harvested six points from the previous four games which is a reasonable return for clubs looking to steer clear of any end of season issues.
