Premier Division Preview - 31st March 2018
Fri 30th March 2018 | Match Reviews | By Gary Johansen
City of Liverpool Media Director, Gary Johansen (@gary_johansen) has taken time out from his busy club schedule to have a look at this weekend's Hallmark Security League Premier Division games.
The Easter holidays usually bring with them a great deal of excitement and anticipation were football is concerned, and the Premier Division fixtures this Easter weekend certainly do enough to whet the appetite.
We start on Good Friday, which brings us a couple of humdinger ties.
The League leaders Runcorn Linnets are the visitors to the TDP Solicitors Stadium as they take on Bootle. Both sides picked up a point in midweek, Bootle's coming from an injury time equaliser in a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to AFC Liverpool, and the hosts will be hoping that they can do themselves and the chasing teams a favour by taking the 3 points and reducing Linnets’ lead at the top. Linnets have stumbled slightly of late with just 3 wins from their last 7 games. However, with both clubs being the top 2 goalscoring sides in the Division this season, goals are certainly expected in this match.
At Pavilions, Runcorn Town take on one of the current top form sides in City of Liverpool. Town are fresh from a 3-1 home victory over Ashton Athletic on Wednesday evening which maintained their ambitions for a top 2 finish. The visitors on the other hand are on an excellent run at the moment, unbeaten in their last 7 matches and scoring 24 goals. The Purps will be hoping to extend that run of good form as they look to close the gap on the top 5.
So, we move to Saturday's fixtures, and we start at AFC Darwen who will be taking on Macron Cup Semi Finalists Irlam. The hosts are struggling in the relegation zone and have won only 1 of their last 7 matches, however, that victory was a 5-3 win away at their visitors in February, so they'll be hoping for a much welcome double. Irlam have been in good goalscoring form of late and they'll be looking for revenge from that earlier home loss.
At the Silentnight Stadium, Barnoldswick Town host the Divisions second place side Widnes. Widnes are on a great run, top of the form guide and winning their last 7 league matches as well as booking a place in the Macron Cup Semi Final. Barlick currently sit in 14th and come into this match on the back of 3 defeats after having won their previous 3 matches, so this will be an interesting fixture.
Barnton face Abbey Hey at Townfield having been mathematically relegated to the new Division One set up next season following their 0-7 home defeat to Squires Gate on Wednesday night. It's been a difficult season for the hosts, they've certainly not lacked in the goalscoring department, but hopefully they'll be able to regroup for next season. Abbey Hey on the other hand picked up a valuable point away at 1874 Northwich in midweek as they look to keep themselves out of the relegation zone.
Charnock Richard go into the weekend fixtures sitting in 6th place on a bit of a bad run, winning only 2 of their last 10 games in all competitions. They'll be looking to get back to winning ways against West Didsbury & Chorlton who themselves are on a decent run, having lost only 1 of their last 6 matches, however, West will be looking over their shoulder hoping they won't be dragged into a relegation battle with the teams just below them in the table.
At the Richborough Estates Stadium, Congleton Town host Burscough, looking to improve on their home form which has seen them win only 2 of their last 10 home matches in all competitions. Visitors Burscough will be delighted to have booked a Macron Cup Semi Final place after beating Northwich Victoria in midweek. They are still sitting just above the relegation places however, and so will be looking to take their Cup form into their league matches as they seek to avoid the drop.
Hanley Town currently sit in 3rd place after a late winner at home to AFC Darwen on Wednesday night, and they'll be looking to cement their promotion prospects as they take on FA Vase Semi Finalists 1874 Northwich. Hanley have only suffered 1 defeat in 2018, so are in excellent form. 1874 meanwhile, due to their Cup Competition exploits, are now having to play catch up at an alarming rate. They are a very good strong side though, who could certainly have a say in the promotion race come the end of the season.
Maine Road host Squires Gate at Brantingham Road with the visitors in buoyant mood after an excellent 7-0 victory away at Barnton on Wednesday evening. Gates’ victory has moved them up to a very respectable 8th place in the division having won their last 4 league matches in which they've scored 15 goals. Maine Road currently find themselves in a relegation battle and on a dreadful run of only 1 win in their last 10 matches. Due to the postponements this season, this is the first league fixture between the two sides so far, and the home side will be hoping to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later.
AFC Liverpool are the visitors to the Ruby Civil Arena as hosts Padiham will be looking to stop a run of 3 matches without a win. A good point away at Runcorn Linnets will no doubt give Padiham some confidence going into this game against AFC, who themselves were extremely unlucky not to take all 3 points at Bootle on Tuesday night when a 94th minute equaliser saw the match finish all square. New signing, ex Purp, Elliott Nevitt, scored a brace on his AFC debut and they'll be looking to his fire power to try and lift them out of the bottom 4. Padiham won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in October, so will be looking to do the league double over their visitors this weekend.
And finally, Macron Cup Semi Finalists Winsford United take on beaten Quarter Finalists Ashton Athletic at St Luke's, looking to maintain their run of excellent form. Both sides sit in mid table, and Winsford have lost only 1 of their last 9 matches in all competitions, a run which has seen them beat both Warrington Town and Altrincham from the National League North. Ashton Athletic meanwhile will be hoping to halt a dreadful run which has seen them lose their last 5 matches, and they will no doubt be looking to avenge a 0-2 home defeat against United from December last year.
Gary Johansen
@gary_johansen
Premier Division Preview - 31st March 2018
Fri 30th March 2018 | Match Reviews
By Gary Johansen
City of Liverpool Media Director, Gary Johansen (@gary_johansen) has taken time out from his busy club schedule to have a look at this weekend's Hallmark Security League Premier Division games.
The Easter holidays usually bring with them a great deal of excitement and anticipation were football is concerned, and the Premier Division fixtures this Easter weekend certainly do enough to whet the appetite.
We start on Good Friday, which brings us a couple of humdinger ties.
The League leaders Runcorn Linnets are the visitors to the TDP Solicitors Stadium as they take on Bootle. Both sides picked up a point in midweek, Bootle's coming from an injury time equaliser in a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to AFC Liverpool, and the hosts will be hoping that they can do themselves and the chasing teams a favour by taking the 3 points and reducing Linnets’ lead at the top. Linnets have stumbled slightly of late with just 3 wins from their last 7 games. However, with both clubs being the top 2 goalscoring sides in the Division this season, goals are certainly expected in this match.
At Pavilions, Runcorn Town take on one of the current top form sides in City of Liverpool. Town are fresh from a 3-1 home victory over Ashton Athletic on Wednesday evening which maintained their ambitions for a top 2 finish. The visitors on the other hand are on an excellent run at the moment, unbeaten in their last 7 matches and scoring 24 goals. The Purps will be hoping to extend that run of good form as they look to close the gap on the top 5.
So, we move to Saturday's fixtures, and we start at AFC Darwen who will be taking on Macron Cup Semi Finalists Irlam. The hosts are struggling in the relegation zone and have won only 1 of their last 7 matches, however, that victory was a 5-3 win away at their visitors in February, so they'll be hoping for a much welcome double. Irlam have been in good goalscoring form of late and they'll be looking for revenge from that earlier home loss.
At the Silentnight Stadium, Barnoldswick Town host the Divisions second place side Widnes. Widnes are on a great run, top of the form guide and winning their last 7 league matches as well as booking a place in the Macron Cup Semi Final. Barlick currently sit in 14th and come into this match on the back of 3 defeats after having won their previous 3 matches, so this will be an interesting fixture.
Barnton face Abbey Hey at Townfield having been mathematically relegated to the new Division One set up next season following their 0-7 home defeat to Squires Gate on Wednesday night. It's been a difficult season for the hosts, they've certainly not lacked in the goalscoring department, but hopefully they'll be able to regroup for next season. Abbey Hey on the other hand picked up a valuable point away at 1874 Northwich in midweek as they look to keep themselves out of the relegation zone.
Charnock Richard go into the weekend fixtures sitting in 6th place on a bit of a bad run, winning only 2 of their last 10 games in all competitions. They'll be looking to get back to winning ways against West Didsbury & Chorlton who themselves are on a decent run, having lost only 1 of their last 6 matches, however, West will be looking over their shoulder hoping they won't be dragged into a relegation battle with the teams just below them in the table.
At the Richborough Estates Stadium, Congleton Town host Burscough, looking to improve on their home form which has seen them win only 2 of their last 10 home matches in all competitions. Visitors Burscough will be delighted to have booked a Macron Cup Semi Final place after beating Northwich Victoria in midweek. They are still sitting just above the relegation places however, and so will be looking to take their Cup form into their league matches as they seek to avoid the drop.
Hanley Town currently sit in 3rd place after a late winner at home to AFC Darwen on Wednesday night, and they'll be looking to cement their promotion prospects as they take on FA Vase Semi Finalists 1874 Northwich. Hanley have only suffered 1 defeat in 2018, so are in excellent form. 1874 meanwhile, due to their Cup Competition exploits, are now having to play catch up at an alarming rate. They are a very good strong side though, who could certainly have a say in the promotion race come the end of the season.
Maine Road host Squires Gate at Brantingham Road with the visitors in buoyant mood after an excellent 7-0 victory away at Barnton on Wednesday evening. Gates’ victory has moved them up to a very respectable 8th place in the division having won their last 4 league matches in which they've scored 15 goals. Maine Road currently find themselves in a relegation battle and on a dreadful run of only 1 win in their last 10 matches. Due to the postponements this season, this is the first league fixture between the two sides so far, and the home side will be hoping to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later.
AFC Liverpool are the visitors to the Ruby Civil Arena as hosts Padiham will be looking to stop a run of 3 matches without a win. A good point away at Runcorn Linnets will no doubt give Padiham some confidence going into this game against AFC, who themselves were extremely unlucky not to take all 3 points at Bootle on Tuesday night when a 94th minute equaliser saw the match finish all square. New signing, ex Purp, Elliott Nevitt, scored a brace on his AFC debut and they'll be looking to his fire power to try and lift them out of the bottom 4. Padiham won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in October, so will be looking to do the league double over their visitors this weekend.
And finally, Macron Cup Semi Finalists Winsford United take on beaten Quarter Finalists Ashton Athletic at St Luke's, looking to maintain their run of excellent form. Both sides sit in mid table, and Winsford have lost only 1 of their last 9 matches in all competitions, a run which has seen them beat both Warrington Town and Altrincham from the National League North. Ashton Athletic meanwhile will be hoping to halt a dreadful run which has seen them lose their last 5 matches, and they will no doubt be looking to avenge a 0-2 home defeat against United from December last year.
Gary Johansen
@gary_johansen
