Premier Division Preview - 6th and 7th April 2018
Fri 6th April 2018 | General | By Gary Langley
Premier Division Preview
With games starting to happen with reasonable regularity, give or take the occasional April complete washout, The Hallmark Security League Premier Division is starting to take its final shape as we head into the last few weeks (or more) of a season that will live long in the memory.
This weekend, if all goes to plan there are a number of high profile games as the wheat and the chaff part their ways and the real contenders for promotion and indeed survival meet to show their hands.
Starting with Friday evenings games as Abbey Hey meet West Didsbury and Chorlton at the Abbey Stadium as the two local rivals battle it out. Abbey Hey in eighteenth place will be looking for a win that will give their survival hopes a massive boost as they are currently six points clear of Maine Road who occupy the last relegation spot. West Didsbury are eleven points clear of the drop zone and have re-discovered form at the right time as they are nearly safe already and go into this game with only one defeat in their last seven games.
Already relegated Barnton host Ashton Athletic at Townfield as they look to finish the season with their heads high. They face an Ashton Athletic side who have lost their way a bit of late, no wins in their last six and five of those were defeats so they will be looking to regroup at the very least.
City of Liverpool take on Burscough at the TDP Solicitors Stadium in the “A59 Derby” as the Linnets travel down the well beaten trading path to meet The Purps. Burscough are three points and one place above the drop zone but a look at their seasons results shows they have a canny knack of winning one then losing one and repeat. City of Liverpool are in an different type of knack at the moment and that is the knack of winning. With five wins in their last seven games and the other two of those being draws, you still wouldn’t write off a late surge from Simon Burton’s side for the top three.
Moving on now to the games taking place on Saturday -Maine Road host league leaders Runcorn Linnets at Brantingham Road. Linnets are on countdown at the moment, they are ten points clear and recent results for and around them have gone their way. This season the aura around Linnets seems slightly more homed, not that it hasn’t been in recent seasons but there just seems to be more of an understanding of where that finish line is and that is likely just down to experience.
Maine Road are also very conscious of where that finish line is but they need to try and get in amongst the group of three or four clubs above them that seem to yo-yo below and over that finish line. Maine Road recently ended a run of eight straight defeats and have managed to take four points from their last two games so they are by no means out of it yet and do represent a chance of a possible coupon buster.
Runcorn Town look to keep their promotion campaign on target as they welcome AFC Darwen to Pavilions. Despite a battering winter which decimated their form and results, Town’ are looking like the main rivals to Widnes at the moment for that second spot. With one defeat in their last eight they have returned to form at just the right time. Darwen really need championship winning form to try and escape the drop but when you look at their next six games they face not just Town but they also have 1874, Widnes, City of Liverpool and in form Squires Gate looming. It’s not over until it’s over but they will be keen to show some fight in the process.
Hanley Town in third place host Barnoldswick Town at Potteries Park looking to keep the pressure on all of the sides around them as the final month of games approaches. Like with fellow promotion chasers, Runcorn Town, Hanley have returned to form at exactly the right time. Before the new year they had been struggling, including a run of seven straight defeats but in 2018 they have only one defeat in all competitions and are very much back in the promotion chase. Barnoldswick stunned most people last weekend with their impressive 6-1 home win over second placed Widnes and proved that on their day they can beat anyone.... and beat them well! Barlick’ are mid-table and all but safe but also have potential to build for next season.
Second placed Widnes welcome AFC Liverpool to the Select Security Stadium. After last week’s surprise away defeat at Barlick’ they will be keen to finish the season off with another good run of wins. Looking at their run-in you wouldn’t be surprised if they went through unbeaten given the form they are in. For AFC Liverpool recent results have been more encouraging as they look to escape the drop. Only one defeat in their last three games and scoring ten goals in the process mean that the Non-League reds represent a real challenge to Widnes.
Charnock Richard have gone off the boil in recent weeks and Congleton at Mossie Park this weekend in what seems a must-win for them as they look to try and climb back towards the top four. Only one win in their last nine games has seen Charnock Richard slip to sixth in the table and slightly off the pace at the moment. Congleton in thirteenth tend not to travel too well but their last game saw them record a decent looking 4-2 home win over Burscough in 31st March so they know where the goal is and may well fancy their chances this weekend.
Irlam and 1874 Northwich face each other at The Ambitek Arena. These sides met as recently as 29th March at St Lukes and it was Irlam who won that one as they came away with a 2-1 win. The Manchester side are flying at the moment when it comes to form and are upwardly mobile in the league. For 1874 their run of fixture continues apace but they have come off the boil since mid-March but are still very much in the mix if they can arrest that dip in form sooner rather than later.
Bootle are still in with a shout of promotion but face a tough challenge this weekend as they travel to Padiham. Only one win in their last seven games has seen Joe Doran’s side needing to really hammer in the wins if they are to mount a late challenge. Padiham have had some tough fixtures of late but have managed to knock some goals in and will be looking for a strong finish.
Winsford United and Northwich Victoria meet at the Barton Stadium with only a point separating these two sides in lower-mid table. Despite their league position, Winsford are actually in good form, one defeat in their last ten games in all competitions and are still challenging in three cup competitions. For The Vics’ they are rebuilding on and off the pitch and will be keen, like many to finish strong to build that platform for 2019.
Premier Division Preview - 6th and 7th April 2018
Fri 6th April 2018 | General
By Gary Langley
Premier Division Preview
With games starting to happen with reasonable regularity, give or take the occasional April complete washout, The Hallmark Security League Premier Division is starting to take its final shape as we head into the last few weeks (or more) of a season that will live long in the memory.
This weekend, if all goes to plan there are a number of high profile games as the wheat and the chaff part their ways and the real contenders for promotion and indeed survival meet to show their hands.
Starting with Friday evenings games as Abbey Hey meet West Didsbury and Chorlton at the Abbey Stadium as the two local rivals battle it out. Abbey Hey in eighteenth place will be looking for a win that will give their survival hopes a massive boost as they are currently six points clear of Maine Road who occupy the last relegation spot. West Didsbury are eleven points clear of the drop zone and have re-discovered form at the right time as they are nearly safe already and go into this game with only one defeat in their last seven games.
Already relegated Barnton host Ashton Athletic at Townfield as they look to finish the season with their heads high. They face an Ashton Athletic side who have lost their way a bit of late, no wins in their last six and five of those were defeats so they will be looking to regroup at the very least.
City of Liverpool take on Burscough at the TDP Solicitors Stadium in the “A59 Derby” as the Linnets travel down the well beaten trading path to meet The Purps. Burscough are three points and one place above the drop zone but a look at their seasons results shows they have a canny knack of winning one then losing one and repeat. City of Liverpool are in an different type of knack at the moment and that is the knack of winning. With five wins in their last seven games and the other two of those being draws, you still wouldn’t write off a late surge from Simon Burton’s side for the top three.
Moving on now to the games taking place on Saturday -Maine Road host league leaders Runcorn Linnets at Brantingham Road. Linnets are on countdown at the moment, they are ten points clear and recent results for and around them have gone their way. This season the aura around Linnets seems slightly more homed, not that it hasn’t been in recent seasons but there just seems to be more of an understanding of where that finish line is and that is likely just down to experience.
Maine Road are also very conscious of where that finish line is but they need to try and get in amongst the group of three or four clubs above them that seem to yo-yo below and over that finish line. Maine Road recently ended a run of eight straight defeats and have managed to take four points from their last two games so they are by no means out of it yet and do represent a chance of a possible coupon buster.
Runcorn Town look to keep their promotion campaign on target as they welcome AFC Darwen to Pavilions. Despite a battering winter which decimated their form and results, Town’ are looking like the main rivals to Widnes at the moment for that second spot. With one defeat in their last eight they have returned to form at just the right time. Darwen really need championship winning form to try and escape the drop but when you look at their next six games they face not just Town but they also have 1874, Widnes, City of Liverpool and in form Squires Gate looming. It’s not over until it’s over but they will be keen to show some fight in the process.
Hanley Town in third place host Barnoldswick Town at Potteries Park looking to keep the pressure on all of the sides around them as the final month of games approaches. Like with fellow promotion chasers, Runcorn Town, Hanley have returned to form at exactly the right time. Before the new year they had been struggling, including a run of seven straight defeats but in 2018 they have only one defeat in all competitions and are very much back in the promotion chase. Barnoldswick stunned most people last weekend with their impressive 6-1 home win over second placed Widnes and proved that on their day they can beat anyone.... and beat them well! Barlick’ are mid-table and all but safe but also have potential to build for next season.
Second placed Widnes welcome AFC Liverpool to the Select Security Stadium. After last week’s surprise away defeat at Barlick’ they will be keen to finish the season off with another good run of wins. Looking at their run-in you wouldn’t be surprised if they went through unbeaten given the form they are in. For AFC Liverpool recent results have been more encouraging as they look to escape the drop. Only one defeat in their last three games and scoring ten goals in the process mean that the Non-League reds represent a real challenge to Widnes.
Charnock Richard have gone off the boil in recent weeks and Congleton at Mossie Park this weekend in what seems a must-win for them as they look to try and climb back towards the top four. Only one win in their last nine games has seen Charnock Richard slip to sixth in the table and slightly off the pace at the moment. Congleton in thirteenth tend not to travel too well but their last game saw them record a decent looking 4-2 home win over Burscough in 31st March so they know where the goal is and may well fancy their chances this weekend.
Irlam and 1874 Northwich face each other at The Ambitek Arena. These sides met as recently as 29th March at St Lukes and it was Irlam who won that one as they came away with a 2-1 win. The Manchester side are flying at the moment when it comes to form and are upwardly mobile in the league. For 1874 their run of fixture continues apace but they have come off the boil since mid-March but are still very much in the mix if they can arrest that dip in form sooner rather than later.
Bootle are still in with a shout of promotion but face a tough challenge this weekend as they travel to Padiham. Only one win in their last seven games has seen Joe Doran’s side needing to really hammer in the wins if they are to mount a late challenge. Padiham have had some tough fixtures of late but have managed to knock some goals in and will be looking for a strong finish.
Winsford United and Northwich Victoria meet at the Barton Stadium with only a point separating these two sides in lower-mid table. Despite their league position, Winsford are actually in good form, one defeat in their last ten games in all competitions and are still challenging in three cup competitions. For The Vics’ they are rebuilding on and off the pitch and will be keen, like many to finish strong to build that platform for 2019.
