Weekend preview - Saturday 6th October 2018
Fri 5th October 2018 | General | By Patrick Burke
As September turns to October, we have a full schedule in the Premier Division to look forward to on top of 16 ties in the First Division Cup Second Round (as well as a handful of games in both the North and South divisions).
Starting at the summit of the Hallmark Security League, City of Liverpool had to settle for a point at Silsden on Tuesday after seven straight wins, so they will be eager for all three as West Didsbury & Chorlton visit.
Last Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Squires Gate was an important one for 15th placed West, although they have now lost five of their last six after going down to Barnoldswick Town in midweek.
The Purps’ two closest challengers meet in West Yorkshire as Silsden host Runcorn Town. The visitors leapfrogged their opponents on Wednesday night as they overcame Congleton Town 3-1 for a fourth win from five, but Danny Forrest’s reigning First Division champions have only lost once in the league (last weekend at Northwich Victoria).
Matt Barnes has made a terrific start as Barnoldswick boss – his side reaching 4th after winning seven of their last eight league outings – and they look to take that form into a home fixture against Irlam, who have slipped to 16th after four straight losses in league and cup.
Back-to-back defeats have ended Congleton Town’s 100% Premier Division record, so they will hope to bounce back at home to a Padiham side who sit just a place below them.
Elsewhere, 7th placed Northwich Vics returned to winning ways in style with that triumph over Silsden last Saturday, so they will hope to follow that up away at Squires Gate, who are only two places below them but have seen their strong start fade into five defeats from their last six in all competitions.
A four game unbeaten streak has seen Hanley Town sneak up to 8th going into their match against 17th placed Litherland REMYCA at Potteries Park. The newly promoted Merseysiders are four without victory in the league, denied at the death by Bootle on Wednesday.
Matty Coughlan’s injury time equaliser was enough to keep the Bucks in the top half as they travel to bottom side Ashton Athletic, who have in fairness played the joint-fewest league games and recorded a morale boosting 3-0 triumph at 1874 Northwich in the week.
This is the Yellows’ first match at Brocstedes Park since the tragic news of the passing of Taffy Roberts, and designating the fixture as ‘Taffy’s Day’ is a superb touch.
Charnock Richard’s lack of consistency this term has them in 11th place as they visit an improving Winsford United (18th), and Whitchurch Alport (12th) also seem to be on the up after taking 10 points from an available 12; they go to second bottom Abbey Hey.
And lastly, only a place separates Burscough and 1874 Northwich in the bottom half as the pair meet at Victoria Park hoping to taste success in the form of maximum points as experienced prior to midweek setbacks.
24 teams join the eight winners from the First Round of the First Division Cup in an open draw across the two divisions.
Longridge Town moved to the summit in the North on Tuesday as they thrashed Atherton LR 6-0 for an eighth consecutive victory; visiting Garstang, who are 10th, will need to display the kind of resoluteness which has seen them lose just one of their last six.
A possible contender for tie of the round is Abbey Hulton United vs Rylands as 1st meets 3rd in the South.
Since going down 6-0 at this weekend’s opponents in the league, the home side have won five on the spin (including an impressive 4-0 dispatching of Cheadle Heath Nomads last week); Rylands matched that sequence until losing at 2nd placed St Martins last Saturday.
Lower Breck vs Carlisle City also has the look of a contest between two quality sides from the North; the hosts are 7th after seeing a five match winning streak ended by Avro, whilst City are above them in 2nd, underlining their promotion credentials with four straight league victories against teams either doing very well or tipped to do well.
Fresh from last Saturday’s win and a midweek draw against Bacup Borough, Avro will hope to carry the performances which have them 3rd in the North into a home tie with Stone Dominoes, who have fallen to 18th in the South after losing their last seven.
4th placed AFC Liverpool’s 4-0 reverse in Cumbria last weekend ended their run of seven wins on the spin, so they will aim to bounce back at home to a Cleator Moor Celtic side sitting not far behind them in 8th.
Wythenshawe Amateurs are 4th in the South division as they travel to Ashton Town, who sit 15th in the North after going three without defeat.
For 5th placed Cheadle Town, it’s an all-South affair as they visit Sandbach United, who are 13th but recently triumphed 7-0 away at their opponents as part of an excellent September.
Town’s position is mirrored by Steeton in the other division, but they will be tested at home to 13th placed Bacup Borough, who drew 3-3 at Avro on Wednesday (having led 3-0 with just 15 minutes to play).
Stone Old Alleynians are the only side with an unbeaten league record in our second tier, and they climbed to 6th in the week after defeating Alsager Town 4-0.
Next up is a trip to Ellesmere Rangers, who prop up the South division but did hold their opponents to a 1-1 draw recently in the league fixture.
It should be said that the action starts on Friday night with a local derby between Vauxhall Motors and Cammell Laird 1907. This tie looked inevitable as soon as Mick McGraa made the move down the A41 to the Syncreon Arena in the summer, and his Vauxhalls side are 7th and unbeaten in nine, whilst Lairds (runners-up in this competition last term) are 15th but top the form guide after six wins on the bounce.
Back to Saturday, and Cheadle Heath Nomads are 8th in the South going into a home tie against St Helens Town (14th in the North), both sides looking to progress to put what had looked to be promising campaigns back on track.
It’s also North vs South as 9th placed AFC Blackpool – who claimed one of the results of the last round at Wythenshawe Town – host a Stockport Town side who are 14th after back-to-back wins.
FC Oswestry Town are 10th in the South having claimed five useful away points from their last three, and they are on their travels again to Maine Road, who could do with a lift after losing their last five to slip into the bottom two.
The current holders Prestwich Heys are 11th in the North after their three match winning run was halted by Shelley midweek; they host 2016 winners Barnton, who are 16th in the South but should be buoyed as they eye-catchingly beat New Mills 5-2 last weekend.
The final two ties are inter-division clashes between clubs in the bottom halves of their tables – Chadderton entertain Alsager Town, and Eccleshall meet Nelson.
The league action in the First Division North sees 11th placed Shelley looking to build on their midweek victory against Prestwich at home to winless Daisy Hill, and Holker Old Boys and Atherton LR will both target the points from their clash at Rakesmoor with the teams 20th and 18th respectively.
And there’s one game in the South, where St Martins can go top if they claim the spoils at 9th placed New Mills.
Some cracking looking fixtures await us, so get down and support your local club this weekend!
Weekend preview - Saturday 6th October 2018
Fri 5th October 2018 | General
By Patrick Burke
As September turns to October, we have a full schedule in the Premier Division to look forward to on top of 16 ties in the First Division Cup Second Round (as well as a handful of games in both the North and South divisions).
Starting at the summit of the Hallmark Security League, City of Liverpool had to settle for a point at Silsden on Tuesday after seven straight wins, so they will be eager for all three as West Didsbury & Chorlton visit.
Last Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Squires Gate was an important one for 15th placed West, although they have now lost five of their last six after going down to Barnoldswick Town in midweek.
The Purps’ two closest challengers meet in West Yorkshire as Silsden host Runcorn Town. The visitors leapfrogged their opponents on Wednesday night as they overcame Congleton Town 3-1 for a fourth win from five, but Danny Forrest’s reigning First Division champions have only lost once in the league (last weekend at Northwich Victoria).
Matt Barnes has made a terrific start as Barnoldswick boss – his side reaching 4th after winning seven of their last eight league outings – and they look to take that form into a home fixture against Irlam, who have slipped to 16th after four straight losses in league and cup.
Back-to-back defeats have ended Congleton Town’s 100% Premier Division record, so they will hope to bounce back at home to a Padiham side who sit just a place below them.
Elsewhere, 7th placed Northwich Vics returned to winning ways in style with that triumph over Silsden last Saturday, so they will hope to follow that up away at Squires Gate, who are only two places below them but have seen their strong start fade into five defeats from their last six in all competitions.
A four game unbeaten streak has seen Hanley Town sneak up to 8th going into their match against 17th placed Litherland REMYCA at Potteries Park. The newly promoted Merseysiders are four without victory in the league, denied at the death by Bootle on Wednesday.
Matty Coughlan’s injury time equaliser was enough to keep the Bucks in the top half as they travel to bottom side Ashton Athletic, who have in fairness played the joint-fewest league games and recorded a morale boosting 3-0 triumph at 1874 Northwich in the week.
This is the Yellows’ first match at Brocstedes Park since the tragic news of the passing of Taffy Roberts, and designating the fixture as ‘Taffy’s Day’ is a superb touch.
Charnock Richard’s lack of consistency this term has them in 11th place as they visit an improving Winsford United (18th), and Whitchurch Alport (12th) also seem to be on the up after taking 10 points from an available 12; they go to second bottom Abbey Hey.
And lastly, only a place separates Burscough and 1874 Northwich in the bottom half as the pair meet at Victoria Park hoping to taste success in the form of maximum points as experienced prior to midweek setbacks.
24 teams join the eight winners from the First Round of the First Division Cup in an open draw across the two divisions.
Longridge Town moved to the summit in the North on Tuesday as they thrashed Atherton LR 6-0 for an eighth consecutive victory; visiting Garstang, who are 10th, will need to display the kind of resoluteness which has seen them lose just one of their last six.
A possible contender for tie of the round is Abbey Hulton United vs Rylands as 1st meets 3rd in the South.
Since going down 6-0 at this weekend’s opponents in the league, the home side have won five on the spin (including an impressive 4-0 dispatching of Cheadle Heath Nomads last week); Rylands matched that sequence until losing at 2nd placed St Martins last Saturday.
Lower Breck vs Carlisle City also has the look of a contest between two quality sides from the North; the hosts are 7th after seeing a five match winning streak ended by Avro, whilst City are above them in 2nd, underlining their promotion credentials with four straight league victories against teams either doing very well or tipped to do well.
Fresh from last Saturday’s win and a midweek draw against Bacup Borough, Avro will hope to carry the performances which have them 3rd in the North into a home tie with Stone Dominoes, who have fallen to 18th in the South after losing their last seven.
4th placed AFC Liverpool’s 4-0 reverse in Cumbria last weekend ended their run of seven wins on the spin, so they will aim to bounce back at home to a Cleator Moor Celtic side sitting not far behind them in 8th.
Wythenshawe Amateurs are 4th in the South division as they travel to Ashton Town, who sit 15th in the North after going three without defeat.
For 5th placed Cheadle Town, it’s an all-South affair as they visit Sandbach United, who are 13th but recently triumphed 7-0 away at their opponents as part of an excellent September.
Town’s position is mirrored by Steeton in the other division, but they will be tested at home to 13th placed Bacup Borough, who drew 3-3 at Avro on Wednesday (having led 3-0 with just 15 minutes to play).
Stone Old Alleynians are the only side with an unbeaten league record in our second tier, and they climbed to 6th in the week after defeating Alsager Town 4-0.
Next up is a trip to Ellesmere Rangers, who prop up the South division but did hold their opponents to a 1-1 draw recently in the league fixture.
It should be said that the action starts on Friday night with a local derby between Vauxhall Motors and Cammell Laird 1907. This tie looked inevitable as soon as Mick McGraa made the move down the A41 to the Syncreon Arena in the summer, and his Vauxhalls side are 7th and unbeaten in nine, whilst Lairds (runners-up in this competition last term) are 15th but top the form guide after six wins on the bounce.
Back to Saturday, and Cheadle Heath Nomads are 8th in the South going into a home tie against St Helens Town (14th in the North), both sides looking to progress to put what had looked to be promising campaigns back on track.
It’s also North vs South as 9th placed AFC Blackpool – who claimed one of the results of the last round at Wythenshawe Town – host a Stockport Town side who are 14th after back-to-back wins.
FC Oswestry Town are 10th in the South having claimed five useful away points from their last three, and they are on their travels again to Maine Road, who could do with a lift after losing their last five to slip into the bottom two.
The current holders Prestwich Heys are 11th in the North after their three match winning run was halted by Shelley midweek; they host 2016 winners Barnton, who are 16th in the South but should be buoyed as they eye-catchingly beat New Mills 5-2 last weekend.
The final two ties are inter-division clashes between clubs in the bottom halves of their tables – Chadderton entertain Alsager Town, and Eccleshall meet Nelson.
The league action in the First Division North sees 11th placed Shelley looking to build on their midweek victory against Prestwich at home to winless Daisy Hill, and Holker Old Boys and Atherton LR will both target the points from their clash at Rakesmoor with the teams 20th and 18th respectively.
And there’s one game in the South, where St Martins can go top if they claim the spoils at 9th placed New Mills.
Some cracking looking fixtures await us, so get down and support your local club this weekend!
