Division One Preview - 31st March 2018
Fri 30th March 2018 | General | By Kieran Ford
St Helens Town Committee Member and Media Officer Kieran Ford @kieranford99 has taken time away from his studies to cast an eye over this weekends Hallmark Security League Division One games.
First Division Preview – 31st March 2018
A busy Easter period of 2 games in 48 hours for all Hallmark Security League Division 1 sides kicks off on Saturday, with it still all to play for at both the top and bottom of the table as the season enters the home stretch.
AFC Blackpool (8th) vs Prestwich Heys (3rd)
Although sitting 10 points off an automatic promotion place, Prestwich Heys can reduce that gap to 1 if they win their 3 games in hand. They travel to the coast to face AFC Blackpool on Saturday, who themselves are in the hunt for a play off place. A spell of no wins in 5 has saw the tangerines slip out of the play off places, but they will be looking to pull off a huge victory against the division’s in form side, who have won their previous 6.
Atherton LR (13th) vs Litherland REMYCA (2nd)
After defeat to Prestwich Heys (1-3) on Monday night, Atherton LR face another tough test on Saturday in the shape of 2nd place Litherland REMYCA. LR sit comfortably in mid table but will look to notch up an impressive performance against a REMYCA side that have won 7 of their previous 8 matches. Last season’s beaten play off finalists are still vying for promotion and the championship itself and will look to carry on applying the pressure on league leader’s Silsden on Saturday.
Carlisle City (11th) vs New Mills (14th)
Although both sides are stuck in mid table, they will both want to put a halt to mid-season blips on Saturday. Carlisle have entered a worrying won of 1 win in 6 games which appears to have put an end to their play off hopes. New Mills sit 3 points off their opponents having lost their previous 2 matches with an aggregate score of 0-5. With this being the first meeting between the sides this season, they will both want to gain the upper hand ahead of the return meeting in a months’ time.
Cheadle Town (16th) vs Silsden (1st)
Cheadle appear to be in no danger of relegation, being 12 points above the drop with multiple games in hand, but a run of no wins in 4 in the league has saw them slide down the table. They face potentially their toughest test of the season in the shape of league leaders Silsden, who are favourites from promotion. The visitors are unbeaten since January and would very much take a repeat performance of their 5-2 victory over Cheadle in September.
Daisy Hill (22nd) vs Whitchurch Alport (4th)
Whitchurch Alport still have an eye on automatic promotion and will be hoping to narrow the gap with a victory over bottom place Daisy Hill at New Sirs. Daisy Hill lost a crucial relegation 6 pointer against Nelson on Monday which leaves them 5 points from safety. Alport have been inconsistent in recent weeks, and only an upturn in form will maintain their charge for the top 2.
Eccleshall (17th) vs Alsager Town (7th)
Eccleshall have notched up a couple of wins in recent games which has saw them pull clear of the relegation battle. Tuesday’s victory over Chadderton cemented this, but they will face a tough test on Saturday against an Alsager side within touching distance of the play off places. They come off the back of an impressive result of their own, defeating play off rivals AFC Blackpool 4-1 on Tuesday evening. The Bullets will look to continue their play off push with a victory on Saturday.
Oswestry Town (15th) vs Abbey Hulton United (12th)
Oswestry Town host Abbey Hulton looking to improve their worrying run of form in recent weeks. They have collected 1 point from a possible 15 available in the league, however this was an impressive draw against Silsden at home. Abbey Hulton look to consolidate mid table in their 1st season in the division and will hope to continue their good performances this week against New Mills (1-0) and Cheadle Town (3-0) with a 3rd successive win on Saturday.
Holker Old Boys (9th) vs Chadderton (18th)
Holker have launched themselves into play off contention with a great run of results in 2018. They’ve won both of their games this week, with the most recent coming on Wednesday night against St Helens Town. Holker face a Chadderton side who have certainly provided spectator entertainment in the previous 6 games, despite not maintaining the best form with 1 win in this time. Chaddy matches have provided 34 goals in their last 6, can this continue Saturday with another high scoring affair?
Nelson (21st) vs Sandbach United (5th)
Nelson put to an end a poor run of results with a massive 2-0 victory over Daisy Hill which took them off the bottom of the table. However, they face Sandbach who look to continue their push for the play offs, in which they sit comfortably. Nelson will find Little Wembley even more familiar in the next few weeks, as this contest is the 2nd of 5 successive home matches for the blues.
St Helens Town (19th) vs Cammell Laird 1907 (6th)
St Helens Town have dragged themselves away from the bottom 2 with 2 victories in their previous 5 matches since their 4-0 humbling at Cammell Laird just under a month ago. They face a Laird’s side that are one of the in form in the division, which has saw them sneak into the final play off spot. Their 5 wins in 6 games can only be bettered by Prestwich Heys and will fill them with confidence ahead of their 1st visit to the Arcoframe Stadium.
Stockport Town (10th) vs Bacup Borough (20th)
Bacup have succumbed to an alarming slide towards the bottom 2 after a 3-2 defeat to St Helens Town last Saturday saw them move below their opponents. Although they have multiple games in hand, momentum is not with the Borough as they sit bottom of the form table. They face mid table Stockport Town who’s form of 3 wins and 3 defeats matches their middle of the pack position. After 3 wins on the bounce Stockport have lost their previous 2, can they reclaim some of that good form on Saturday?
Division One Preview - 31st March 2018
Fri 30th March 2018 | General
By Kieran Ford
St Helens Town Committee Member and Media Officer Kieran Ford @kieranford99 has taken time away from his studies to cast an eye over this weekends Hallmark Security League Division One games.
First Division Preview – 31st March 2018
A busy Easter period of 2 games in 48 hours for all Hallmark Security League Division 1 sides kicks off on Saturday, with it still all to play for at both the top and bottom of the table as the season enters the home stretch.
AFC Blackpool (8th) vs Prestwich Heys (3rd)
Although sitting 10 points off an automatic promotion place, Prestwich Heys can reduce that gap to 1 if they win their 3 games in hand. They travel to the coast to face AFC Blackpool on Saturday, who themselves are in the hunt for a play off place. A spell of no wins in 5 has saw the tangerines slip out of the play off places, but they will be looking to pull off a huge victory against the division’s in form side, who have won their previous 6.
Atherton LR (13th) vs Litherland REMYCA (2nd)
After defeat to Prestwich Heys (1-3) on Monday night, Atherton LR face another tough test on Saturday in the shape of 2nd place Litherland REMYCA. LR sit comfortably in mid table but will look to notch up an impressive performance against a REMYCA side that have won 7 of their previous 8 matches. Last season’s beaten play off finalists are still vying for promotion and the championship itself and will look to carry on applying the pressure on league leader’s Silsden on Saturday.
Carlisle City (11th) vs New Mills (14th)
Although both sides are stuck in mid table, they will both want to put a halt to mid-season blips on Saturday. Carlisle have entered a worrying won of 1 win in 6 games which appears to have put an end to their play off hopes. New Mills sit 3 points off their opponents having lost their previous 2 matches with an aggregate score of 0-5. With this being the first meeting between the sides this season, they will both want to gain the upper hand ahead of the return meeting in a months’ time.
Cheadle Town (16th) vs Silsden (1st)
Cheadle appear to be in no danger of relegation, being 12 points above the drop with multiple games in hand, but a run of no wins in 4 in the league has saw them slide down the table. They face potentially their toughest test of the season in the shape of league leaders Silsden, who are favourites from promotion. The visitors are unbeaten since January and would very much take a repeat performance of their 5-2 victory over Cheadle in September.
Daisy Hill (22nd) vs Whitchurch Alport (4th)
Whitchurch Alport still have an eye on automatic promotion and will be hoping to narrow the gap with a victory over bottom place Daisy Hill at New Sirs. Daisy Hill lost a crucial relegation 6 pointer against Nelson on Monday which leaves them 5 points from safety. Alport have been inconsistent in recent weeks, and only an upturn in form will maintain their charge for the top 2.
Eccleshall (17th) vs Alsager Town (7th)
Eccleshall have notched up a couple of wins in recent games which has saw them pull clear of the relegation battle. Tuesday’s victory over Chadderton cemented this, but they will face a tough test on Saturday against an Alsager side within touching distance of the play off places. They come off the back of an impressive result of their own, defeating play off rivals AFC Blackpool 4-1 on Tuesday evening. The Bullets will look to continue their play off push with a victory on Saturday.
Oswestry Town (15th) vs Abbey Hulton United (12th)
Oswestry Town host Abbey Hulton looking to improve their worrying run of form in recent weeks. They have collected 1 point from a possible 15 available in the league, however this was an impressive draw against Silsden at home. Abbey Hulton look to consolidate mid table in their 1st season in the division and will hope to continue their good performances this week against New Mills (1-0) and Cheadle Town (3-0) with a 3rd successive win on Saturday.
Holker Old Boys (9th) vs Chadderton (18th)
Holker have launched themselves into play off contention with a great run of results in 2018. They’ve won both of their games this week, with the most recent coming on Wednesday night against St Helens Town. Holker face a Chadderton side who have certainly provided spectator entertainment in the previous 6 games, despite not maintaining the best form with 1 win in this time. Chaddy matches have provided 34 goals in their last 6, can this continue Saturday with another high scoring affair?
Nelson (21st) vs Sandbach United (5th)
Nelson put to an end a poor run of results with a massive 2-0 victory over Daisy Hill which took them off the bottom of the table. However, they face Sandbach who look to continue their push for the play offs, in which they sit comfortably. Nelson will find Little Wembley even more familiar in the next few weeks, as this contest is the 2nd of 5 successive home matches for the blues.
St Helens Town (19th) vs Cammell Laird 1907 (6th)
St Helens Town have dragged themselves away from the bottom 2 with 2 victories in their previous 5 matches since their 4-0 humbling at Cammell Laird just under a month ago. They face a Laird’s side that are one of the in form in the division, which has saw them sneak into the final play off spot. Their 5 wins in 6 games can only be bettered by Prestwich Heys and will fill them with confidence ahead of their 1st visit to the Arcoframe Stadium.
Stockport Town (10th) vs Bacup Borough (20th)
Bacup have succumbed to an alarming slide towards the bottom 2 after a 3-2 defeat to St Helens Town last Saturday saw them move below their opponents. Although they have multiple games in hand, momentum is not with the Borough as they sit bottom of the form table. They face mid table Stockport Town who’s form of 3 wins and 3 defeats matches their middle of the pack position. After 3 wins on the bounce Stockport have lost their previous 2, can they reclaim some of that good form on Saturday?
