Weekend preview - Saturday 2nd February 2019
Fri 1st February 2019 | General | By Patrick Burke
Despite hitting a cold and rainy patch in the past week, which saw the majority of midweek matches called off, there is still a busy weekend in the Hallmark Security League to look forward to.
In the Premier Division, table-topping City of Liverpool had their lead cut to 11 points with a 2-1 home reverse to Silsden last weekend, so will look to get back on track away at Charnock Richard.
The hosts are 8th, and have lost only one of their last six after drawing 3-3 at Congleton Town last weekend.
With a game in hand on the leaders, 2nd placed Bootle are doing all they can to stay in the title race: last weekend’s injury-time winner at Abbey Hey made it nine on the spin, and they certainly have plenty of momentum with them.
They entertain 11th placed 1874 Northwich, who ended a four match losing streak in some style with a 5-1 thrashing of West Didsbury & Chorlton last Saturday. 1874 also triumphed 2-1 in the reverse fixture.
4th placed Barnoldswick Town have now won just one of their last five, although they are unbeaten in four after drawing 2-2 at Runcorn Town last weekend.
They visit 9th placed Burscough, who lost for the first time in 11 in the league to Ashton Athletic, but have now won only one of their last five.
There is just no stopping Athletic at the moment, as that 4-2 victory made it seven on the spin and lifted them to 5th. Next up is a home game against Runcorn Town, who sit 7th and appear to have stabilised their form with a couple of wins and that draw with Barlick from their last three.
Squires Gate’s form has been mixed of late, with one victory out of four keeping them in 10th place.
They host Litherland REMYCA, who sit 14th and had won back-to-back games prior to losing at Ashton Athletic a fortnight back.
It’s a reduced schedule in the top tier this weekend, but the final game is a hugely significant one at the bottom as Hanley Town take on Padiham.
Hanley are 19th, but encouraging results and performances under Micky Morton – including last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Squires Gate – mean they are just two points from safety.
The visitors are winless in the league since beating their opponents in October, dropping to 16th, although a point at Whitchurch Alport last time out ended a run of six straight defeats.
They are only three points ahead of their opponents, though do have games in hand, so will want to avoid getting dragged into a dogfight.
It’s a full schedule in the First Division North, with top hosting bottom as Longridge Town meet Atherton LR. Longridge are six points clear at the top, and dropped points for the first time in six matches by drawing 1-1 at AFC Blackpool last weekend.
LR’s position looks increasingly bleak as they are 12 points from safety having won only one of their last 19 outings.
2nd placed Avro have lifted themselves into title contention, as the 7-1 hammering of Carlisle City last weekend made it 34 points out of 36. They also have two games in hand on Longridge.
They face a tough looking trip to Garstang, who are 8th and lost for the first time in eight away at Nelson last week.
Avro beat Garstang 7-2 in the Macron Cup in December, and the sides meet again next Saturday in the First Division Cup quarter-finals.
AFC Liverpool are currently one of the division’s form sides, with six straight wins cementing 3rd place.
They travel to a resurgent Holker Old Boys, who moved four points clear of the bottom two by making it back-to-back wins in some style last weekend as they thrashed Lower Breck 6-2. They also triumphed 2-1 at AFC Liverpool in November.
Prestwich Heys bounced back from back-to-back defeats with a 3-0 victory at Steeton last weekend, moving them up to 4th.
They are on the road to Nelson this weekend, who sit 16th after recording a first victory in six against Garstang last Saturday.
The sides drew 1-1 at Prestwich in September, whilst Nelson knocked their opponents out of the Macron Cup in December.
Lower Breck in 5th will hope to respond to last week’s surprise set back at Holker back on home turf, where they have won 10 of their last 11 league matches.
The visitors are 11th placed Cleator Moor Celtic, who have triumphed in just one of their last five after drawing 3-3 at Garstang two weeks ago.
It’s now six losses out of seven for 6th placed Carlisle City, who will hope that a home fixture against AFC Blackpool can reignite their campaign.
The visitors are 14th, but their recent improvement was shown last weekend with the draw with Longridge making it just one defeat from six.
After losing four of their previous five, 7th placed AFC Darwen’s 7-1 trouncing of St Helens Town last weekend was just what the doctor ordered going into a trip to Bacup Borough.
The hosts are 9th, but went down to their third defeat from four at Ashton Town a week back. They have however won their last five home games.
10th placed Shelley went down 3-1 at AFC Liverpool last Saturday and have now won just one of their last eight.
They host 17th placed St Helens Town, who are winless in nine, although they earned a useful 2-2 draw against Shelley in December. With Town just four points above the bottom two, they will be keen for a result to try and create some more breathing space.
Steeton are 12th but winless in nine as they welcome Daisy Hill. The visitors are 19th and four points from safety having won just one of their last 11.
They earned a point at Chadderton last weekend, and will be hoping to go one better to boost their chances of climbing out of the bottom two.
Ashton Town remain 15th, but have now lost only one of their last six; last weekend’s impressive 6-2 victory over Bacup was their third maximum point haul during that time.
They entertain 13th placed Chadderton, who are in reasonable form with three wins, a draw and two defeats from their last six.
Into the unbelievably close First Division South, just one point separates the top five teams!
Rylands are just ahead of everyone else, but have been in mixed form of late going into Saturday’s home game against Eccleshall.
The visitors climbed to 14th with a superb 3-0 win over St Martins last weekend, so should travel full of confidence.
In 2nd are currently Stone Old Alleynians, who made it four wins from five away at Barnton last week. However they face a tough looking home fixture against FC Oswestry Town, who sit 8th having won six and lost just one of their last eight.
They also ended their opponents’ unbeaten start to the season towards the end of October with a 1-0 victory.
3rd placed Wythenshawe Amateurs haven’t played since 11th January, when their 3-0 triumph at Barnton made it just one loss from their last 15 league games.
They travel to 10th placed Cheadle Heath Nomads, who have lost their last three but did eliminate the Ammies from the First Division Cup in November.
Vauxhall Motors in 4th are not in action, but there is a big game between 5th and 6th as Abbey Hulton United host Sandbach United.
The home side won 4-1 at St Martins in their last match two weeks ago, whilst the away team made it back-to-back victories by hammering Stone Dominoes 6-0. They sit five points behind their opponents but with a game in hand.
Wythenshawe Town are 7th and level on points with Sandbach having won two of their last three. They host Cheadle Town on Saturday, with the visitors 11th despite winning just one of their last seven.
12th placed Barnton are winless in three, so will hope to return to form when they travel to Ellesmere Rangers.
The hosts are 19th, six points from safety having won just one of their last six. They gave Oswestry a scare last weekend before eventually going down 5-2.
Two in-form bottom half sides meet as Maine Road in 15th host Stockport Town in 13th.
The home side ran out 3-2 winners at Cheadle Town for their fourth straight victory under the management of Ray Barnett and Jeff Newman, whilst the Lions overcame Alsager Town 2-0 on their travels last Saturday to make it three successive wins.
Last but not least is an important clash as Cammell Laird 1907 in 18th welcome bottom side Stone Dominoes.
Lairds’ problem in the league has been too many draws (a division high of nine), whilst the Doms need to start picking up points to cut the 11 point gap with their opponents and kick-start Peter Griffiths’ reign.
A look at the forecast suggests the weather will almost inevitably play its part this weekend, but brave the cold and get down to your local club!
Weekend preview - Saturday 2nd February 2019
Fri 1st February 2019 | General
By Patrick Burke
Despite hitting a cold and rainy patch in the past week, which saw the majority of midweek matches called off, there is still a busy weekend in the Hallmark Security League to look forward to.
In the Premier Division, table-topping City of Liverpool had their lead cut to 11 points with a 2-1 home reverse to Silsden last weekend, so will look to get back on track away at Charnock Richard.
The hosts are 8th, and have lost only one of their last six after drawing 3-3 at Congleton Town last weekend.
With a game in hand on the leaders, 2nd placed Bootle are doing all they can to stay in the title race: last weekend’s injury-time winner at Abbey Hey made it nine on the spin, and they certainly have plenty of momentum with them.
They entertain 11th placed 1874 Northwich, who ended a four match losing streak in some style with a 5-1 thrashing of West Didsbury & Chorlton last Saturday. 1874 also triumphed 2-1 in the reverse fixture.
4th placed Barnoldswick Town have now won just one of their last five, although they are unbeaten in four after drawing 2-2 at Runcorn Town last weekend.
They visit 9th placed Burscough, who lost for the first time in 11 in the league to Ashton Athletic, but have now won only one of their last five.
There is just no stopping Athletic at the moment, as that 4-2 victory made it seven on the spin and lifted them to 5th. Next up is a home game against Runcorn Town, who sit 7th and appear to have stabilised their form with a couple of wins and that draw with Barlick from their last three.
Squires Gate’s form has been mixed of late, with one victory out of four keeping them in 10th place.
They host Litherland REMYCA, who sit 14th and had won back-to-back games prior to losing at Ashton Athletic a fortnight back.
It’s a reduced schedule in the top tier this weekend, but the final game is a hugely significant one at the bottom as Hanley Town take on Padiham.
Hanley are 19th, but encouraging results and performances under Micky Morton – including last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Squires Gate – mean they are just two points from safety.
The visitors are winless in the league since beating their opponents in October, dropping to 16th, although a point at Whitchurch Alport last time out ended a run of six straight defeats.
They are only three points ahead of their opponents, though do have games in hand, so will want to avoid getting dragged into a dogfight.
It’s a full schedule in the First Division North, with top hosting bottom as Longridge Town meet Atherton LR. Longridge are six points clear at the top, and dropped points for the first time in six matches by drawing 1-1 at AFC Blackpool last weekend.
LR’s position looks increasingly bleak as they are 12 points from safety having won only one of their last 19 outings.
2nd placed Avro have lifted themselves into title contention, as the 7-1 hammering of Carlisle City last weekend made it 34 points out of 36. They also have two games in hand on Longridge.
They face a tough looking trip to Garstang, who are 8th and lost for the first time in eight away at Nelson last week.
Avro beat Garstang 7-2 in the Macron Cup in December, and the sides meet again next Saturday in the First Division Cup quarter-finals.
AFC Liverpool are currently one of the division’s form sides, with six straight wins cementing 3rd place.
They travel to a resurgent Holker Old Boys, who moved four points clear of the bottom two by making it back-to-back wins in some style last weekend as they thrashed Lower Breck 6-2. They also triumphed 2-1 at AFC Liverpool in November.
Prestwich Heys bounced back from back-to-back defeats with a 3-0 victory at Steeton last weekend, moving them up to 4th.
They are on the road to Nelson this weekend, who sit 16th after recording a first victory in six against Garstang last Saturday.
The sides drew 1-1 at Prestwich in September, whilst Nelson knocked their opponents out of the Macron Cup in December.
Lower Breck in 5th will hope to respond to last week’s surprise set back at Holker back on home turf, where they have won 10 of their last 11 league matches.
The visitors are 11th placed Cleator Moor Celtic, who have triumphed in just one of their last five after drawing 3-3 at Garstang two weeks ago.
It’s now six losses out of seven for 6th placed Carlisle City, who will hope that a home fixture against AFC Blackpool can reignite their campaign.
The visitors are 14th, but their recent improvement was shown last weekend with the draw with Longridge making it just one defeat from six.
After losing four of their previous five, 7th placed AFC Darwen’s 7-1 trouncing of St Helens Town last weekend was just what the doctor ordered going into a trip to Bacup Borough.
The hosts are 9th, but went down to their third defeat from four at Ashton Town a week back. They have however won their last five home games.
10th placed Shelley went down 3-1 at AFC Liverpool last Saturday and have now won just one of their last eight.
They host 17th placed St Helens Town, who are winless in nine, although they earned a useful 2-2 draw against Shelley in December. With Town just four points above the bottom two, they will be keen for a result to try and create some more breathing space.
Steeton are 12th but winless in nine as they welcome Daisy Hill. The visitors are 19th and four points from safety having won just one of their last 11.
They earned a point at Chadderton last weekend, and will be hoping to go one better to boost their chances of climbing out of the bottom two.
Ashton Town remain 15th, but have now lost only one of their last six; last weekend’s impressive 6-2 victory over Bacup was their third maximum point haul during that time.
They entertain 13th placed Chadderton, who are in reasonable form with three wins, a draw and two defeats from their last six.
Into the unbelievably close First Division South, just one point separates the top five teams!
Rylands are just ahead of everyone else, but have been in mixed form of late going into Saturday’s home game against Eccleshall.
The visitors climbed to 14th with a superb 3-0 win over St Martins last weekend, so should travel full of confidence.
In 2nd are currently Stone Old Alleynians, who made it four wins from five away at Barnton last week. However they face a tough looking home fixture against FC Oswestry Town, who sit 8th having won six and lost just one of their last eight.
They also ended their opponents’ unbeaten start to the season towards the end of October with a 1-0 victory.
3rd placed Wythenshawe Amateurs haven’t played since 11th January, when their 3-0 triumph at Barnton made it just one loss from their last 15 league games.
They travel to 10th placed Cheadle Heath Nomads, who have lost their last three but did eliminate the Ammies from the First Division Cup in November.
Vauxhall Motors in 4th are not in action, but there is a big game between 5th and 6th as Abbey Hulton United host Sandbach United.
The home side won 4-1 at St Martins in their last match two weeks ago, whilst the away team made it back-to-back victories by hammering Stone Dominoes 6-0. They sit five points behind their opponents but with a game in hand.
Wythenshawe Town are 7th and level on points with Sandbach having won two of their last three. They host Cheadle Town on Saturday, with the visitors 11th despite winning just one of their last seven.
12th placed Barnton are winless in three, so will hope to return to form when they travel to Ellesmere Rangers.
The hosts are 19th, six points from safety having won just one of their last six. They gave Oswestry a scare last weekend before eventually going down 5-2.
Two in-form bottom half sides meet as Maine Road in 15th host Stockport Town in 13th.
The home side ran out 3-2 winners at Cheadle Town for their fourth straight victory under the management of Ray Barnett and Jeff Newman, whilst the Lions overcame Alsager Town 2-0 on their travels last Saturday to make it three successive wins.
Last but not least is an important clash as Cammell Laird 1907 in 18th welcome bottom side Stone Dominoes.
Lairds’ problem in the league has been too many draws (a division high of nine), whilst the Doms need to start picking up points to cut the 11 point gap with their opponents and kick-start Peter Griffiths’ reign.
A look at the forecast suggests the weather will almost inevitably play its part this weekend, but brave the cold and get down to your local club!
