Division One preview - Saturday 7th April 2018
Fri 6th April 2018 | General | By Stewart Taylor
With four of our First Division sides engaged in LWC Drinks Cup action on Saturday, we have eight league matches to look forward to, as we enter the final furlong of the race to see who will have cause to look back on the season with fond memories, and who will want to put this one behind them and regroup for the new season.
We start on the coast in what we hope will be a sunny Blackpool as FC Oswestry Town will try not to be distracted by the bright lights of the Golden Mile as they visit AFC Blackpool.
A play off place at the end of the season may be a bridge too far for the visitors but that is certainly not the case for the home side. The Mechanics have some make or break fixtures just around the corner as three sides currently above them in the League table await.
It would do the confidence no harm at all to enter into this crucial phase of the season on the back of three points on Saturday afternoon.
However, FC Oswestry Town will have other ideas although we have to go back to the beginning of January to find the last time they put three points on the board. That might sound to be a long time ago but not too many games have been played during that time and, as we all know, form can be a fickle beast.
There have been some dramatic pictures of the pitch at the Brian Boys West View Stadium posted on social media this week. Snow covered to flooded in little over 12 hours on Monday indicates the extent of the uncivilised weather in the highest reaches of our region.
Bacup Borough have the most League matches yet to play amongst all of our First Division clubs – 14 in total. It goes without saying that the side will be busy in the last month but have the opportunity to move quite rapidly up the League table with some positive results.
Recent form has been poor in terms of results but the matches have been close run affairs which will have given valuable match experience to a young side. The side are always well prepared for matches and will hope to make those matches in hand count starting on Saturday afternoon as Stockport Town are the visitors.
The Lions have had a recent change in Management as the previous incumbent moved onwards and upwards to manage in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League. Not ideal timing one could say with the side still eyeing up a possible play off place but there we are and three points away at Cheadle Town in midweek, with striker Ben Halfacre adding two goals to his already impressive total, is encouraging.
Average form over quite a period of the season has meant that the side are not as close to the play off places as they would like but there is still everything to play for as sides above them will drop points during the run in. Three points in Lancashire would be a good springboard towards achieving what must have been a pre-season target but Bacup Borough will try to go one better that they did last Saturday when they came away from the reverse fixture with the points shared.
It’s north v. south in our next match as Carlisle City get ready to entertain Eccleshall.
This match at the Gilford Park Stadium may, in season’s gone by, have been considered to be a mid-table match between two sides who have little to play for except pride.
Not so now as the home side may yet have ambitions to fill a play off position come the end of the League season. That might be considered to be a very tall order, particularly as current form is not great, but with optimism foremost, three points on Saturday is all but essential. Get over that first hurdle and then who knows what that might lead to.
For Eccleshall, this season has turned out to be a bit more comfortable than the last one. Let’s be fair, 18th in the League table is not great but it does show progress since last season when the side were anchored in the bottom two for most of the season.
The reverse fixture ended in a win for Eccleshall at Pershall Park back in November and we can be sure that the team will be working hard to make it a double over their Cumbrian rivals.
The closest of our clubs, geographically, to Carlisle City is Holker Old Boys and they too have home advantage as Whitchurch Alport are the visitors to Rakesmoor.
The Old Boys are another side on the fringes of the play off positions. With 30 League points still available this season then some hopes can be justified. It’s the old argument of putting a good run together and seeing where it takes you.
It won’t be all in their own hands of course with some tough games on the horizon but their form is pretty good. The match today could well be described as a “must win” for the home side but that will be quite a task against a Whitchurch Alport side currently lying in 3rd place in the League table and anxious to push on to an automatic promotion slot if they can.
There has been much development at Yockings Park this season and the improvements made would be significantly added to by achieving Premier Division status next season. Current form is decent although there does seem to be a tendency to drop points against sides high up in the table. Lots to play for in this match.
Litherland REMYCA moved to the top of the League table following the victory away at New Mills on Thursday evening and we can be sure that they will be trying their best to keep it that way until the end of the season.
Current form is very good as positive results have been maintained through this weather dominated period. Keep that going through the remaining matches of the League season and the prize will be theirs.
Remy are at home on Saturday as they welcome Abbey Hulton United to the Litherland Sports Park. The visitors from Staffordshire have done well in their first season in the Hallmark Security League.
The ambition of most clubs as they join a new League is to settle down, have a good look round and acquit themselves well. Abbey Hulton can tick all of those boxes as a comfortable mid-table position will testify. As to this match, nothing comes easily to visitors to the LSP but they are sure to give it a good go.
Our next match takes us to Nelson where Alsager Town are the visitors to Little Wembley.
The home side in this match are another of our sides who have seen a change of management in mid season. Since the arrival of Steve Cunningham in November the side have improved, picking up 15 of their total of 20 points from the last 16 matches.
There are still a fair few matches to go for the East Lancashire side and these matches could be useful in building for the future. Having said that, the 11 on the field will always give of their best and present a challenge to any opposition.
That opposition on Saturday is Alsager Town. The Bullets are up towards the business end of the table and currently lie in the final play off place albeit 7 points behind but with a couple of games in hand over Sandbach United who lie 5th.
Their form has dropped a little in recent times but now is the time to get back to the levels of consistency which saw the side pick up the Macron First Division Club of the Month award back in September.
There are some tough looking fixtures ahead and the destiny of the Cheshire side may well depend upon how they handle the home and away fixtures against Litherland REMYCA later this month.
Silsden had been League leaders until Litherland REMYCA took advantage of having a midweek match to overtake their long time rivals. However, Silsden have a game in hand and lie just one point behind so making the run in most interesting when it comes to deciding who will be the champion club.
The gap the top two have over third placed Prestwich Heys is significant and the Cobbydalers will be working hard to keep it that way as New Mills are the visitors to The Cobbydale Construction Stadium.
Our only representative from Derbyshire have had a season which could be described as a Curate’s Egg – good in parts. The Millers have had some good successes including a good run in the Derbyshire Senior Cup winning three matches before succumbing to a strong Alfreton Town side at the Quarter Final stage.
As with all of our teams, postponements have affected the continuity but recent form is decent and the side give the impression that they could beat anyone on their day.
Following the Thursday night defeat to Litherland REMYCA it doesn’t get any easier and a stern test awaits at Silsden. With 3 other top 6 clubs to play in the next matches the mettle of the side will be severely tested.
Our final match takes us to the synthetic surface of the Arcoframe Stadium where St Helens Town welcome Atherton LR. That synthetic surface has seen the home side for this match play more matches than any other side in the division.
Just 6 matches to go after this one and a chance to consolidate their position. Town put in a spirited performance against Cammell Laird 1907 last Saturday in taking a share of the points having been reduced to 10 men by injuries after about an hour of play. The atmosphere in the stadium on matchdays is good and the crowds are increasing giving the place a positive vibe.
Visitors Atherton LR have had a much improved season compared with last time out when they finished in 20th position. Realistically, they are too far away from the play off places but will finish comfortably mid table and have a strong base to build from for next season.
But before that there are some attractive matches coming up in the remainder of the season and a chance to test themselves again against several of the top sides when they will certainly striving to acquit themselves well.
Eight matches covering a large area of the League footprint to look forward to so where ever you watch your live football this Saturday – enjoy the match!
Division One preview - Saturday 7th April 2018
Fri 6th April 2018 | General
By Stewart Taylor
With four of our First Division sides engaged in LWC Drinks Cup action on Saturday, we have eight league matches to look forward to, as we enter the final furlong of the race to see who will have cause to look back on the season with fond memories, and who will want to put this one behind them and regroup for the new season.
We start on the coast in what we hope will be a sunny Blackpool as FC Oswestry Town will try not to be distracted by the bright lights of the Golden Mile as they visit AFC Blackpool.
A play off place at the end of the season may be a bridge too far for the visitors but that is certainly not the case for the home side. The Mechanics have some make or break fixtures just around the corner as three sides currently above them in the League table await.
It would do the confidence no harm at all to enter into this crucial phase of the season on the back of three points on Saturday afternoon.
However, FC Oswestry Town will have other ideas although we have to go back to the beginning of January to find the last time they put three points on the board. That might sound to be a long time ago but not too many games have been played during that time and, as we all know, form can be a fickle beast.
There have been some dramatic pictures of the pitch at the Brian Boys West View Stadium posted on social media this week. Snow covered to flooded in little over 12 hours on Monday indicates the extent of the uncivilised weather in the highest reaches of our region.
Bacup Borough have the most League matches yet to play amongst all of our First Division clubs – 14 in total. It goes without saying that the side will be busy in the last month but have the opportunity to move quite rapidly up the League table with some positive results.
Recent form has been poor in terms of results but the matches have been close run affairs which will have given valuable match experience to a young side. The side are always well prepared for matches and will hope to make those matches in hand count starting on Saturday afternoon as Stockport Town are the visitors.
The Lions have had a recent change in Management as the previous incumbent moved onwards and upwards to manage in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League. Not ideal timing one could say with the side still eyeing up a possible play off place but there we are and three points away at Cheadle Town in midweek, with striker Ben Halfacre adding two goals to his already impressive total, is encouraging.
Average form over quite a period of the season has meant that the side are not as close to the play off places as they would like but there is still everything to play for as sides above them will drop points during the run in. Three points in Lancashire would be a good springboard towards achieving what must have been a pre-season target but Bacup Borough will try to go one better that they did last Saturday when they came away from the reverse fixture with the points shared.
It’s north v. south in our next match as Carlisle City get ready to entertain Eccleshall.
This match at the Gilford Park Stadium may, in season’s gone by, have been considered to be a mid-table match between two sides who have little to play for except pride.
Not so now as the home side may yet have ambitions to fill a play off position come the end of the League season. That might be considered to be a very tall order, particularly as current form is not great, but with optimism foremost, three points on Saturday is all but essential. Get over that first hurdle and then who knows what that might lead to.
For Eccleshall, this season has turned out to be a bit more comfortable than the last one. Let’s be fair, 18th in the League table is not great but it does show progress since last season when the side were anchored in the bottom two for most of the season.
The reverse fixture ended in a win for Eccleshall at Pershall Park back in November and we can be sure that the team will be working hard to make it a double over their Cumbrian rivals.
The closest of our clubs, geographically, to Carlisle City is Holker Old Boys and they too have home advantage as Whitchurch Alport are the visitors to Rakesmoor.
The Old Boys are another side on the fringes of the play off positions. With 30 League points still available this season then some hopes can be justified. It’s the old argument of putting a good run together and seeing where it takes you.
It won’t be all in their own hands of course with some tough games on the horizon but their form is pretty good. The match today could well be described as a “must win” for the home side but that will be quite a task against a Whitchurch Alport side currently lying in 3rd place in the League table and anxious to push on to an automatic promotion slot if they can.
There has been much development at Yockings Park this season and the improvements made would be significantly added to by achieving Premier Division status next season. Current form is decent although there does seem to be a tendency to drop points against sides high up in the table. Lots to play for in this match.
Litherland REMYCA moved to the top of the League table following the victory away at New Mills on Thursday evening and we can be sure that they will be trying their best to keep it that way until the end of the season.
Current form is very good as positive results have been maintained through this weather dominated period. Keep that going through the remaining matches of the League season and the prize will be theirs.
Remy are at home on Saturday as they welcome Abbey Hulton United to the Litherland Sports Park. The visitors from Staffordshire have done well in their first season in the Hallmark Security League.
The ambition of most clubs as they join a new League is to settle down, have a good look round and acquit themselves well. Abbey Hulton can tick all of those boxes as a comfortable mid-table position will testify. As to this match, nothing comes easily to visitors to the LSP but they are sure to give it a good go.
Our next match takes us to Nelson where Alsager Town are the visitors to Little Wembley.
The home side in this match are another of our sides who have seen a change of management in mid season. Since the arrival of Steve Cunningham in November the side have improved, picking up 15 of their total of 20 points from the last 16 matches.
There are still a fair few matches to go for the East Lancashire side and these matches could be useful in building for the future. Having said that, the 11 on the field will always give of their best and present a challenge to any opposition.
That opposition on Saturday is Alsager Town. The Bullets are up towards the business end of the table and currently lie in the final play off place albeit 7 points behind but with a couple of games in hand over Sandbach United who lie 5th.
Their form has dropped a little in recent times but now is the time to get back to the levels of consistency which saw the side pick up the Macron First Division Club of the Month award back in September.
There are some tough looking fixtures ahead and the destiny of the Cheshire side may well depend upon how they handle the home and away fixtures against Litherland REMYCA later this month.
Silsden had been League leaders until Litherland REMYCA took advantage of having a midweek match to overtake their long time rivals. However, Silsden have a game in hand and lie just one point behind so making the run in most interesting when it comes to deciding who will be the champion club.
The gap the top two have over third placed Prestwich Heys is significant and the Cobbydalers will be working hard to keep it that way as New Mills are the visitors to The Cobbydale Construction Stadium.
Our only representative from Derbyshire have had a season which could be described as a Curate’s Egg – good in parts. The Millers have had some good successes including a good run in the Derbyshire Senior Cup winning three matches before succumbing to a strong Alfreton Town side at the Quarter Final stage.
As with all of our teams, postponements have affected the continuity but recent form is decent and the side give the impression that they could beat anyone on their day.
Following the Thursday night defeat to Litherland REMYCA it doesn’t get any easier and a stern test awaits at Silsden. With 3 other top 6 clubs to play in the next matches the mettle of the side will be severely tested.
Our final match takes us to the synthetic surface of the Arcoframe Stadium where St Helens Town welcome Atherton LR. That synthetic surface has seen the home side for this match play more matches than any other side in the division.
Just 6 matches to go after this one and a chance to consolidate their position. Town put in a spirited performance against Cammell Laird 1907 last Saturday in taking a share of the points having been reduced to 10 men by injuries after about an hour of play. The atmosphere in the stadium on matchdays is good and the crowds are increasing giving the place a positive vibe.
Visitors Atherton LR have had a much improved season compared with last time out when they finished in 20th position. Realistically, they are too far away from the play off places but will finish comfortably mid table and have a strong base to build from for next season.
But before that there are some attractive matches coming up in the remainder of the season and a chance to test themselves again against several of the top sides when they will certainly striving to acquit themselves well.
Eight matches covering a large area of the League footprint to look forward to so where ever you watch your live football this Saturday – enjoy the match!
