Weekend preview - Friday 2nd/Saturday 3rd November 2018
Fri 2nd November 2018 | General | By Patrick Burke
It’s a busy weekend in the Hallmark Security League, with ten of our clubs hoping to move one step closer to Wembley in the Buildbase FA Vase 2nd Round, and important fixtures in all three divisions.
We’ll start with those in Vase action, beginning on Friday night as Vauxhall Motors clash with Runcorn Town in a local derby.
Vauxhalls are 12th in the First Division South and have lost their last three in all competitions, but have knocked out higher-ranked Seaham Red Star 4-0, thrashed Cheadle Town 6-0 and won at First Division North leaders Longridge Town in this competition.
As for the visitors, they travel 3rd in the Premier Division, and produced a fine replay victory in the North East at Guisborough Town in the last round, though lost at home to Burscough in the league last week.
We have two First Division North sides looking to cause upsets against Premier Division opposition.
3rd placed Avro have lost just one of their last eight as they entertain a Squires Gate side 13th in the higher tier after being beaten for the first time in five by Irlam midweek, whilst Prestwich Heys (8th in the North) lost their four match winning streak at the hands of Lower Breck last week, but will seek a fifth triumph over opponents from a higher league this term at home to Northwich Victoria.
Vics are 10th in the standings after a run of five wins on the spin was halted by Congleton Town last Saturday.
In addition, Garstang are at home to Sunderland RCA. The hosts are 13th in the North, but have won all five cup games they’ve played this term. They face perhaps their toughest test yet against an away side sitting 2nd in the Northern League First Division (their top tier)
Irlam moved up to 12th in the Premier Division after continuing their good form by winning 5-2 at Squires Gate on Tuesday, but have a tough looking home tie against a Hemsworth Miners Welfare side sitting 6th in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
Two other Premier Division sides face Northern League opposition. Last season’s semi-finalists 1874 Northwich make their bow in the competition this time around at Newcastle Benfield, with both teams 11th in their divisions and on five game unbeaten runs.
And Silsden remain 5th in the Premier Division despite just one victory from their last nine, so they will hope to get back to winning ways at home to a Bedlington Terriers team who are 13th in the Northern League Second Division.
Onto the Premier Division action, which begins on Friday night as 2nd placed Congleton Town travel to Ashton Athletic. The hosts have fell back to 16th after just one win from their last five, whilst the Bears will seek a fifth consecutive victory to keep the pressure on leaders City of Liverpool.
The Purps currently have a five point cushion at the summit after winning nine of their last ten league outings, and they are at home to Abbey Hey on Saturday, who are second bottom with just two league victories to their name.
Five wins from their last six has sprung life into Bootle’s campaign and lifted them to 4th going into an away fixture at Hanley Town. The Potteries Park outfit have slipped to 17th after losing their last six, but this is new manager Simon Bell’s first home game in charge.
After back-to-back defeats, 6th placed Barnoldswick Town will hope to get back to winning ways at home to West Didsbury & Chorlton, who are above the drop zone only on goal difference after seven successive losses.
An interesting sub-plot to the Burscough vs Charnock Richard fixture is that the sides played the reverse fixture on Tuesday night, with Charnock winning 4-1. That ended 15th placed Burscough’s run of three wins on the bounce, so they will hope for a measure of revenge on their own turf against opponents who are now 7th.
In 8th are Whitchurch Alport as two of the newly promoted sides clash when Litherland REMYCA visit Yockings Park. Alport have now won six of their last eight in the league, whilst REMY are 14th after just one win in their last five, but they did the double over their hosts last term.
Onto the First Division North, and Longridge Town extended their advantage at the top to five points by winning at closest challengers Carlisle City in midweek. They have now won 12 of their last 13 in the league, and next up is an away trip to 17th placed Nelson.
Carlisle’s six match league winning run was ended on Tuesday, but they are seven clear of Avro in 3rd going into an away fixture at Steeton. Roy Mason’s men are 10th, but only an injury time equaliser prevented them ended their five game winless run at AFC Liverpool last Friday.
Four victories from five in the league have seen Shelley climb to 4th as they visit AFC Blackpool, who are 11th with one win from four, although they have claimed back-to-back draws at high-flying Avro and Longridge and are unbeaten at home in the league.
Lower Breck have struck 20 goals in their last three games in all competitions, beating Atherton LR 8-2 on Tuesday to climb to 5th, so AFC Darwen will have to keep it tight when they visit. The away team remain 9th, but a 3-1 reverse at home to Daisy Hill on Wednesday means it’s just one win from their last seven.
After four wins from their last six in all competitions, Cleator Moor Celtic are 6th as they travel to Ashton Town, who notched a notable 3-1 success at AFC Liverpool on Wednesday to move up to 14th.
7th placed AFC will hope to bounce back and earn a first league win in five attempts away at Chadderton. David Fish’s men are 16th, but the 6-1 trouncing of Cleator Moor last week was an excellent way to pick up a first three points in seven matches.
A 4-0 victory at Nelson last Saturday made it three victories out of five for 12th placed Bacup Borough as they welcome Daisy Hill, who after waiting 13 games for a first league win have now triumphed in their last two against Garstang and Darwen, climbing to 18th in the process.
The pressure will be on the two sides below them – Atherton LR and Holker Old Boys – to close the four point gap with Daisy when they meet at Crilly Park. Both teams have won just once this season, although Holker’s saw them overcome this weekend’s opponents 5-0 at Rakesmoor.
Into the First Division South, and pace-setters Rylands travel to Eccleshall having lost just once in the league since August, their only points dropped coming at the Venue against St Martins (0-2) and FC Oswestry Town (0-0). The Eagles are 17th as they are without a win in seven in the league.
Wythenshawe Amateurs beat Maine Road 3-1 in their first match under the Hollyhedge Park floodlights on Tuesday, and a 10th point out of 12 lifted them to 2nd. They entertain 6th placed St Martins, who have lost just one of their last five in all competitions.
Wins in league and cup have seen Abbey Hulton United return to form and have them 3rd, just a point behind Rylands. They visit Cheadle Town this weekend, with the managerless hosts winning just one of their last six to sit 10th.
4th placed Cheadle Heath Nomads lost for the first time in seven at Macclesfield Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday, but they will hope to bounce back at FC Oswestry Town – their second game at the ground in the space of seven days having drawn 1-1 with St Martins last week.
The hosts are 8th but are in decent form, and have lost just once at home this season.
Wythenshawe Town climbed to 5th with a fourth victory from five at Cheadle Town on Wednesday, and they will hope to take that form into a journey to Stone Dominoes. Kyle Adams’ side are second bottom, but should be buoyed after ending their 12 game losing run by beating New Mills on Tuesday.
It’s Stone Old Alleynians’ turn to face the Millers on Saturday as they travel to Church Lane. The 7th placed visitors recently had their unbeaten league record ended at Oswestry, but bounced back with another excellent comeback 3-3 draw at Wythenshawe Amateurs.
New Mills are now 14th after an eight match winless run, although they claimed a very respectable point at Sandbach United last week.
Sandbach themselves moved up to 9th with a 4-1 victory at Eccleshall midweek, and have lost just one of their last eight as they travel to Maine Road. The hosts are third from bottom, but three wins from five has certainly delivered some optimism for Calum Sykes’ side.
11th placed Alsager Town have won back-to-back games in league and cup going into a home fixture against bottom side Ellesmere Rangers, who will want to avoid being cut adrift at the foot of the table as they are now nine points from safety.
And lastly is a tough encounter to call at Kirklands as Cammell Laird 1907 welcome Barnton.
Lairds are 15th, but have taken 13 points from the last 15 in the league following some decent cup success, whilst the Villagers sit two places higher; they have lost their last four, which comes off the back of a four match winning run which saw them bag 21 goals.
Another important round of fixtures; good luck to all of our sides in their Vase ties, and get down to your local club!
Weekend preview - Friday 2nd/Saturday 3rd November 2018
Fri 2nd November 2018 | General
By Patrick Burke
It’s a busy weekend in the Hallmark Security League, with ten of our clubs hoping to move one step closer to Wembley in the Buildbase FA Vase 2nd Round, and important fixtures in all three divisions.
We’ll start with those in Vase action, beginning on Friday night as Vauxhall Motors clash with Runcorn Town in a local derby.
Vauxhalls are 12th in the First Division South and have lost their last three in all competitions, but have knocked out higher-ranked Seaham Red Star 4-0, thrashed Cheadle Town 6-0 and won at First Division North leaders Longridge Town in this competition.
As for the visitors, they travel 3rd in the Premier Division, and produced a fine replay victory in the North East at Guisborough Town in the last round, though lost at home to Burscough in the league last week.
We have two First Division North sides looking to cause upsets against Premier Division opposition.
3rd placed Avro have lost just one of their last eight as they entertain a Squires Gate side 13th in the higher tier after being beaten for the first time in five by Irlam midweek, whilst Prestwich Heys (8th in the North) lost their four match winning streak at the hands of Lower Breck last week, but will seek a fifth triumph over opponents from a higher league this term at home to Northwich Victoria.
Vics are 10th in the standings after a run of five wins on the spin was halted by Congleton Town last Saturday.
In addition, Garstang are at home to Sunderland RCA. The hosts are 13th in the North, but have won all five cup games they’ve played this term. They face perhaps their toughest test yet against an away side sitting 2nd in the Northern League First Division (their top tier)
Irlam moved up to 12th in the Premier Division after continuing their good form by winning 5-2 at Squires Gate on Tuesday, but have a tough looking home tie against a Hemsworth Miners Welfare side sitting 6th in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
Two other Premier Division sides face Northern League opposition. Last season’s semi-finalists 1874 Northwich make their bow in the competition this time around at Newcastle Benfield, with both teams 11th in their divisions and on five game unbeaten runs.
And Silsden remain 5th in the Premier Division despite just one victory from their last nine, so they will hope to get back to winning ways at home to a Bedlington Terriers team who are 13th in the Northern League Second Division.
Onto the Premier Division action, which begins on Friday night as 2nd placed Congleton Town travel to Ashton Athletic. The hosts have fell back to 16th after just one win from their last five, whilst the Bears will seek a fifth consecutive victory to keep the pressure on leaders City of Liverpool.
The Purps currently have a five point cushion at the summit after winning nine of their last ten league outings, and they are at home to Abbey Hey on Saturday, who are second bottom with just two league victories to their name.
Five wins from their last six has sprung life into Bootle’s campaign and lifted them to 4th going into an away fixture at Hanley Town. The Potteries Park outfit have slipped to 17th after losing their last six, but this is new manager Simon Bell’s first home game in charge.
After back-to-back defeats, 6th placed Barnoldswick Town will hope to get back to winning ways at home to West Didsbury & Chorlton, who are above the drop zone only on goal difference after seven successive losses.
An interesting sub-plot to the Burscough vs Charnock Richard fixture is that the sides played the reverse fixture on Tuesday night, with Charnock winning 4-1. That ended 15th placed Burscough’s run of three wins on the bounce, so they will hope for a measure of revenge on their own turf against opponents who are now 7th.
In 8th are Whitchurch Alport as two of the newly promoted sides clash when Litherland REMYCA visit Yockings Park. Alport have now won six of their last eight in the league, whilst REMY are 14th after just one win in their last five, but they did the double over their hosts last term.
Onto the First Division North, and Longridge Town extended their advantage at the top to five points by winning at closest challengers Carlisle City in midweek. They have now won 12 of their last 13 in the league, and next up is an away trip to 17th placed Nelson.
Carlisle’s six match league winning run was ended on Tuesday, but they are seven clear of Avro in 3rd going into an away fixture at Steeton. Roy Mason’s men are 10th, but only an injury time equaliser prevented them ended their five game winless run at AFC Liverpool last Friday.
Four victories from five in the league have seen Shelley climb to 4th as they visit AFC Blackpool, who are 11th with one win from four, although they have claimed back-to-back draws at high-flying Avro and Longridge and are unbeaten at home in the league.
Lower Breck have struck 20 goals in their last three games in all competitions, beating Atherton LR 8-2 on Tuesday to climb to 5th, so AFC Darwen will have to keep it tight when they visit. The away team remain 9th, but a 3-1 reverse at home to Daisy Hill on Wednesday means it’s just one win from their last seven.
After four wins from their last six in all competitions, Cleator Moor Celtic are 6th as they travel to Ashton Town, who notched a notable 3-1 success at AFC Liverpool on Wednesday to move up to 14th.
7th placed AFC will hope to bounce back and earn a first league win in five attempts away at Chadderton. David Fish’s men are 16th, but the 6-1 trouncing of Cleator Moor last week was an excellent way to pick up a first three points in seven matches.
A 4-0 victory at Nelson last Saturday made it three victories out of five for 12th placed Bacup Borough as they welcome Daisy Hill, who after waiting 13 games for a first league win have now triumphed in their last two against Garstang and Darwen, climbing to 18th in the process.
The pressure will be on the two sides below them – Atherton LR and Holker Old Boys – to close the four point gap with Daisy when they meet at Crilly Park. Both teams have won just once this season, although Holker’s saw them overcome this weekend’s opponents 5-0 at Rakesmoor.
Into the First Division South, and pace-setters Rylands travel to Eccleshall having lost just once in the league since August, their only points dropped coming at the Venue against St Martins (0-2) and FC Oswestry Town (0-0). The Eagles are 17th as they are without a win in seven in the league.
Wythenshawe Amateurs beat Maine Road 3-1 in their first match under the Hollyhedge Park floodlights on Tuesday, and a 10th point out of 12 lifted them to 2nd. They entertain 6th placed St Martins, who have lost just one of their last five in all competitions.
Wins in league and cup have seen Abbey Hulton United return to form and have them 3rd, just a point behind Rylands. They visit Cheadle Town this weekend, with the managerless hosts winning just one of their last six to sit 10th.
4th placed Cheadle Heath Nomads lost for the first time in seven at Macclesfield Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday, but they will hope to bounce back at FC Oswestry Town – their second game at the ground in the space of seven days having drawn 1-1 with St Martins last week.
The hosts are 8th but are in decent form, and have lost just once at home this season.
Wythenshawe Town climbed to 5th with a fourth victory from five at Cheadle Town on Wednesday, and they will hope to take that form into a journey to Stone Dominoes. Kyle Adams’ side are second bottom, but should be buoyed after ending their 12 game losing run by beating New Mills on Tuesday.
It’s Stone Old Alleynians’ turn to face the Millers on Saturday as they travel to Church Lane. The 7th placed visitors recently had their unbeaten league record ended at Oswestry, but bounced back with another excellent comeback 3-3 draw at Wythenshawe Amateurs.
New Mills are now 14th after an eight match winless run, although they claimed a very respectable point at Sandbach United last week.
Sandbach themselves moved up to 9th with a 4-1 victory at Eccleshall midweek, and have lost just one of their last eight as they travel to Maine Road. The hosts are third from bottom, but three wins from five has certainly delivered some optimism for Calum Sykes’ side.
11th placed Alsager Town have won back-to-back games in league and cup going into a home fixture against bottom side Ellesmere Rangers, who will want to avoid being cut adrift at the foot of the table as they are now nine points from safety.
And lastly is a tough encounter to call at Kirklands as Cammell Laird 1907 welcome Barnton.
Lairds are 15th, but have taken 13 points from the last 15 in the league following some decent cup success, whilst the Villagers sit two places higher; they have lost their last four, which comes off the back of a four match winning run which saw them bag 21 goals.
Another important round of fixtures; good luck to all of our sides in their Vase ties, and get down to your local club!
