Weekend preview - Saturday 27th April 2019
Fri 26th April 2019 | General | By Patrick Burke
A typically unpredictable season in the Hallmark Security League draws to a close on Saturday with issues still to be settled.
That includes at the top and bottom of the Premier Division, where one mistake at this stage could prove costly and one moment of brilliance could produce a hero.
The Hallmark Security League has been led for the majority of the campaign by City of Liverpool, but that all changed on Easter Monday.
Bootle incredibly made it 20 wins on the bounce by beating the Purps 1-0 to leapfrog them on goal difference.
What the Bucks have done since that run began in November has been extraordinary, and they have held their nerve so far with five straight clean sheets at the business end of the campaign. But there is still a job to do at home to Northwich Victoria.
Buildbase FA Vase semi-finalists Vics will finish the season in 4th place, but threw away a two goal lead to draw at Silsden on Wednesday which means they have won just one of their last five.
However their quality means they will inevitably pose a threat as they seek to gate crash the party at the TDP Solicitors Stadium.
If Bootle slip up, then City of Liverpool will be champions if they better their result away at Irlam.
Michael Dodd’s team are 13th in the table, but last weekend’s impressive 1-0 victory at Northwich Vics was a third from five games and shows they are keen to finish on a high. The Purps have been strong all season, and in their 11 games prior to the Bootle defeat had won ten and drawn one.
They will simply look to win their game and see where it takes them, and also have the Macron Cup Final against 1874 Northwich to look forward to next weekend.
Seven straight league wins have secured Congleton Town their best finish since returning to the League in 2001 of 3rd.
The Bears will seek another at home to 8th placed Squires Gate, who have also had a strong campaign but have lost their last three and won only one of their last six.
5th placed Runcorn Town looked set to pose a title challenge in the first half of the campaign, but dropped off the pace as their form turned more inconsistent, shown over the Easter weekend with a draw against Northwich Vics followed by a 1-0 reverse at Whitchurch Alport.
They travel to 1874 Northwich, who may have one eye on the Macron Cup Final after three defeats and a draw in the four games prior to Thursday’s fixture against Whitchurch Alport.
1874 will hope to secure a top half finish in their last home game at St Luke’s Barton Stadium before groundsharing with Barnton next term.
It is also the end of an era for 7th placed Charnock Richard, for whom Andy Westwell takes charge of his final game after 18 highly successful years in charge at home to Whitchurch Alport.
The 5-2 triumph over Squires Gate on Monday means they could finish as high as 5th. Opponents Alport are 14th in their debut Premier Division campaign, and responded to last weekend’s 3-0 home defeat to Winsford United in perfect fashion by seeing off Runcorn Town 1-0 two days later.
9th placed Silsden took the momentum from last term’s First Division title success into the start of this campaign as they were the early front-runners, and although they suffered a mid-season slump, they have been back at their best of late with just one defeat in their last seven.
They welcome 11th placed Burscough, who can still finish in the top ten but have won just one of their last six and lost four of those.
It’s been a strange campaign for 10th placed Barnoldswick Town, who were the team to beat around the Christmas period with nine consecutive wins pushing them into title contention, but they have struggled for form since the turn of the year.
They have lost four of their last five, although did claim an excellent 3-0 victory at Ashton Athletic last Saturday. Barlick take on Abbey Hey. The division’s bottom club have endured a difficult season, but will hope to end a run of nine successive losses.
With Abbey Hey already down, there is an intriguing three-way battle to avoid 19th place.
Hanley Town are 17th and a point above the dotted line, and their only defeat from their last four came on Monday as they lost 4-0 at home to Congleton Town.
Three points at Litherland REMYCA would secure Hanley’s safety, otherwise they will be at the mercy of results elsewhere, especially as they (marginally) have the worst goal difference of the three teams at risk of going down.
REMYCA are 15th, and secured their survival in their first Premier Division campaign on Wednesday by beating Burscough 2-0, ending a run of eight straight defeats.
Back-to-back wins against Whitchurch and 1874 Northwich clinched safety for 16th placed Winsford United. However they will still have a say in the relegation battle on the final day as they travel to Padiham.
The Storks are 18th and above the drop zone only on goal difference. Just one point from their last six games, and only two wins from the start of November, leave Padiham with a job to do.
They will be safe with three points (assuming West Didsbury & Chorlton don’t win by two more goals than them, or Hanley drop points), or with a draw if Hanley lose or West don’t win.
Three straight wins against Irlam, Litherland REMYCA and Abbey Hey have second-bottom West in with a chance on the last day.
However they have a tough game at home to 6th placed Ashton Athletic, who ended a three game winless run by beating Padiham on Monday.
West will be safe if they win and one of their two rivals drop points (or if Padiham win but West win by two more goal than them), or if they draw and one of their rivals lose.
They will be down if they lose, unless Padiham lose by two more goals than them.
In a nutshell, it’s going to be close in the fight to avoid the drop!
In the First Division North, the table had been headed by Longridge Town for most of the campaign, but Avro went a point clear of them on Wednesday by coming from behind to beat AFC Darwen 5-1.
Avro have lost only one of their last ten in the league, and taken 13 points from their last 15 going into an away game at AFC Liverpool.
They also have the First Division Cup Final to look forward to against Sandbach United on 6th May, and can go into that as champions by matching Longridge’s result. AFC Liverpool are 4th, and the 4-2 defeat to Lower Breck on Monday was a first in 16 league games.
Their six games prior had seen them win five and draw with Longridge, so they are clearly no pushovers.
Longridge have suffered a minor blip by their standards as a 1-1 draw at Garstang on Monday made it just one win from four going into a home game against Holker Old Boys.
The visitors are 18th, but now clear of any relegation danger after back-to-back 3-0 and 5-0 home wins over Chadderton and AFC Blackpool.
Both Avro and Longridge have had exceptional debut seasons at this level, and their points per game ratios mean whoever finishes 2nd could be promoted anyway.
Lower Breck have also had a brilliant campaign, sitting 3rd on 76 points. They have won their last 13 home league games, and bounced back from a shock 4-1 reverse at Daisy Hill by beating AFC Liverpool on Easter Monday.
They welcome Carlisle City, who will finish 6th after four wins from their last five. City have had a fine campaign, and the only frustration will be being unable to maintain their exceptional form in the first half of the campaign which had them going toe-to-toe with Longridge at the top.
They also had a superb 3-0 win at Lower Breck in the First Division Cup in October.
Prestwich Heys have had another campaign competing at the top end of the table as they will finish 5th, and have won six of their last seven going into a trip to AFC Blackpool. The home side are 13th after losing five and winning just one of their last seven.
Garstang’s 1-1 draw with Longridge means they have lost just one of their last five, and they will want to secure 7th place away at Shelley.
The hosts have been in the top half for most of the campaign, but a six game winless streak has seen them drop down to 12th.
Back-to-back away wins at Steeton and Cleator Moor Celtic for Bacup Borough have all but secured 8th place as a minimum going into a trip to Atherton LR.
The home side have endured a tough season, and will finish bottom after losing their last four and winning only one of their last 17.
A top half finish would represent a good first season back for Ashton Town, and that’s what they stand in line for as successive victories over AFC Blackpool and St Helens Town have them 10th going into a home fixture against Chadderton.
The visitors sit 16th having won just one of their last ten, although they did draw 1-1 with Avro on Saturday.
Four defeats from five prior to Thursday’s visit to Carlisle leave Cleator Moor Celtic in 11th. They host Daisy Hill in their final game of the season, who will finish second bottom but performed admirably over the Easter period with impressive 4-1 triumphs over Lower Breck and Atherton LR.
After relegation last term, AFC Darwen have stabilised and sit 9th, despite winning just one of their last seven and losing their last three. They travel to 14th placed Steeton, who have won only one of their last five.
It’s just one win in six for 15th placed Nelson as they finish their campaign at home to St Helens Town. The visitors will finish 17th, but had won three of the four games before losing 2-1 to Ashton Town on Monday.
In the First Division South, Rylands secured the title last Saturday with a 5-0 thrashing of Stone Old Alleynians, and Monday’s 4-0 triumph over Maine Road made it six wins on the spin.
They welcome Sandbach United, who are 7th but can finish as high as 3rd. Sandbach are in the First Division Cup Final against Avro on 6th May, and have responded well to rare back-to-back defeats by taking seven points from nine on offer.
Vauxhall Motors secured 2nd place on Monday with a 4-1 victory at Cammell Laird 1907, extending their impressive form to 12 wins, two draws and only one defeat in their last 15.
Whether that is enough for promotion remains to be seen. Mick McGraa’s men travel to bottom side Stone Dominoes, who have struggled this campaign with 22 defeats from their last 23 outings.
However there were positives to take from their 2-1 derby reverse against Stone Old Alleynians on Monday.
Wythenshawe Amateurs moved back up to 3rd as they ended their run of back-to-back defeats with a 1-0 victory at Wythenshawe Town on Monday.
They will hope to secure 3rd at home to Barnton, who sit 12th but can still finish in the top half after losing only one of their last five.
It’s been a solid season for Stone Old Alleynians, who are 4th following their three points on derby day after back-to-back defeats.
They travel to Cheadle Heath Nomads, who are 8th and finishing the season as one of the form teams with seven wins from their last eight.
Wythenshawe Town slipped to 5th on Monday after their first defeat in nine against Wythenshawe Amateurs, but they will hope to finish on a high at 9th placed Abbey Hulton United.
The hosts led the way for much of the first half of the campaign, but have been more inconsistent in the second half and lost four and won only one of their last six.
6th placed FC Oswestry Town are on course for their best finish since joining the Hallmark Security League, and have lost just one of their last four as they travel to Eccleshall. The Eagles have risen to 13th after three consecutive victories against Stone Dominoes, Ellesmere Rangers and New Mills.
A 98th minute equaliser for New Mills on Monday may have denied 10th placed Stockport Town a third straight win, but they will still seek to end the campaign on an unbeaten run as they host Cheadle Town.
The visitors were early leaders of the table, but four successive losses and just one win since the turn of the year leaves them 15th.
St Martins began the campaign fighting it out at the top of the table, but six defeats from seven leave them 11th going into a final day fixture at home to Alsager Town.
The Bullets are 16th but are finishing strongly after just one defeat in five and impressive wins over Easter against Wythenshawe Amateurs and Abbey Hulton United.
Maine Road’s resurgence under Ray Barnett and Jeff Newman has been one of the stories of the season as the pair have lifted them away from any danger into 14th place.
They have however lost four of their last five going into a trip to Cammell Laird 1907. Lairds are 17th and have had a frustrating season, but gave a great account of themselves in the Cheshire Senior Cup Final on Wednesday before eventually losing 5-2 to Nantwich Town.
New Mills were another side who topped the table early on, but just one win from eight has left them in 18th place. They host Ellesmere Rangers, who will finish 19th after their recent resurgence was ended by Easter defeats by the odd goal against Vauxhall Motors and Eccleshall.
It’s been a ground-breaking season with three divisions in the Hallmark Security League, and all three have been ultra-competitive. There are still things to play for on the last day, so get down to your local club!
Weekend preview - Saturday 27th April 2019
Fri 26th April 2019 | General
By Patrick Burke
A typically unpredictable season in the Hallmark Security League draws to a close on Saturday with issues still to be settled.
That includes at the top and bottom of the Premier Division, where one mistake at this stage could prove costly and one moment of brilliance could produce a hero.
The Hallmark Security League has been led for the majority of the campaign by City of Liverpool, but that all changed on Easter Monday.
Bootle incredibly made it 20 wins on the bounce by beating the Purps 1-0 to leapfrog them on goal difference.
What the Bucks have done since that run began in November has been extraordinary, and they have held their nerve so far with five straight clean sheets at the business end of the campaign. But there is still a job to do at home to Northwich Victoria.
Buildbase FA Vase semi-finalists Vics will finish the season in 4th place, but threw away a two goal lead to draw at Silsden on Wednesday which means they have won just one of their last five.
However their quality means they will inevitably pose a threat as they seek to gate crash the party at the TDP Solicitors Stadium.
If Bootle slip up, then City of Liverpool will be champions if they better their result away at Irlam.
Michael Dodd’s team are 13th in the table, but last weekend’s impressive 1-0 victory at Northwich Vics was a third from five games and shows they are keen to finish on a high. The Purps have been strong all season, and in their 11 games prior to the Bootle defeat had won ten and drawn one.
They will simply look to win their game and see where it takes them, and also have the Macron Cup Final against 1874 Northwich to look forward to next weekend.
Seven straight league wins have secured Congleton Town their best finish since returning to the League in 2001 of 3rd.
The Bears will seek another at home to 8th placed Squires Gate, who have also had a strong campaign but have lost their last three and won only one of their last six.
5th placed Runcorn Town looked set to pose a title challenge in the first half of the campaign, but dropped off the pace as their form turned more inconsistent, shown over the Easter weekend with a draw against Northwich Vics followed by a 1-0 reverse at Whitchurch Alport.
They travel to 1874 Northwich, who may have one eye on the Macron Cup Final after three defeats and a draw in the four games prior to Thursday’s fixture against Whitchurch Alport.
1874 will hope to secure a top half finish in their last home game at St Luke’s Barton Stadium before groundsharing with Barnton next term.
It is also the end of an era for 7th placed Charnock Richard, for whom Andy Westwell takes charge of his final game after 18 highly successful years in charge at home to Whitchurch Alport.
The 5-2 triumph over Squires Gate on Monday means they could finish as high as 5th. Opponents Alport are 14th in their debut Premier Division campaign, and responded to last weekend’s 3-0 home defeat to Winsford United in perfect fashion by seeing off Runcorn Town 1-0 two days later.
9th placed Silsden took the momentum from last term’s First Division title success into the start of this campaign as they were the early front-runners, and although they suffered a mid-season slump, they have been back at their best of late with just one defeat in their last seven.
They welcome 11th placed Burscough, who can still finish in the top ten but have won just one of their last six and lost four of those.
It’s been a strange campaign for 10th placed Barnoldswick Town, who were the team to beat around the Christmas period with nine consecutive wins pushing them into title contention, but they have struggled for form since the turn of the year.
They have lost four of their last five, although did claim an excellent 3-0 victory at Ashton Athletic last Saturday. Barlick take on Abbey Hey. The division’s bottom club have endured a difficult season, but will hope to end a run of nine successive losses.
With Abbey Hey already down, there is an intriguing three-way battle to avoid 19th place.
Hanley Town are 17th and a point above the dotted line, and their only defeat from their last four came on Monday as they lost 4-0 at home to Congleton Town.
Three points at Litherland REMYCA would secure Hanley’s safety, otherwise they will be at the mercy of results elsewhere, especially as they (marginally) have the worst goal difference of the three teams at risk of going down.
REMYCA are 15th, and secured their survival in their first Premier Division campaign on Wednesday by beating Burscough 2-0, ending a run of eight straight defeats.
Back-to-back wins against Whitchurch and 1874 Northwich clinched safety for 16th placed Winsford United. However they will still have a say in the relegation battle on the final day as they travel to Padiham.
The Storks are 18th and above the drop zone only on goal difference. Just one point from their last six games, and only two wins from the start of November, leave Padiham with a job to do.
They will be safe with three points (assuming West Didsbury & Chorlton don’t win by two more goals than them, or Hanley drop points), or with a draw if Hanley lose or West don’t win.
Three straight wins against Irlam, Litherland REMYCA and Abbey Hey have second-bottom West in with a chance on the last day.
However they have a tough game at home to 6th placed Ashton Athletic, who ended a three game winless run by beating Padiham on Monday.
West will be safe if they win and one of their two rivals drop points (or if Padiham win but West win by two more goal than them), or if they draw and one of their rivals lose.
They will be down if they lose, unless Padiham lose by two more goals than them.
In a nutshell, it’s going to be close in the fight to avoid the drop!
In the First Division North, the table had been headed by Longridge Town for most of the campaign, but Avro went a point clear of them on Wednesday by coming from behind to beat AFC Darwen 5-1.
Avro have lost only one of their last ten in the league, and taken 13 points from their last 15 going into an away game at AFC Liverpool.
They also have the First Division Cup Final to look forward to against Sandbach United on 6th May, and can go into that as champions by matching Longridge’s result. AFC Liverpool are 4th, and the 4-2 defeat to Lower Breck on Monday was a first in 16 league games.
Their six games prior had seen them win five and draw with Longridge, so they are clearly no pushovers.
Longridge have suffered a minor blip by their standards as a 1-1 draw at Garstang on Monday made it just one win from four going into a home game against Holker Old Boys.
The visitors are 18th, but now clear of any relegation danger after back-to-back 3-0 and 5-0 home wins over Chadderton and AFC Blackpool.
Both Avro and Longridge have had exceptional debut seasons at this level, and their points per game ratios mean whoever finishes 2nd could be promoted anyway.
Lower Breck have also had a brilliant campaign, sitting 3rd on 76 points. They have won their last 13 home league games, and bounced back from a shock 4-1 reverse at Daisy Hill by beating AFC Liverpool on Easter Monday.
They welcome Carlisle City, who will finish 6th after four wins from their last five. City have had a fine campaign, and the only frustration will be being unable to maintain their exceptional form in the first half of the campaign which had them going toe-to-toe with Longridge at the top.
They also had a superb 3-0 win at Lower Breck in the First Division Cup in October.
Prestwich Heys have had another campaign competing at the top end of the table as they will finish 5th, and have won six of their last seven going into a trip to AFC Blackpool. The home side are 13th after losing five and winning just one of their last seven.
Garstang’s 1-1 draw with Longridge means they have lost just one of their last five, and they will want to secure 7th place away at Shelley.
The hosts have been in the top half for most of the campaign, but a six game winless streak has seen them drop down to 12th.
Back-to-back away wins at Steeton and Cleator Moor Celtic for Bacup Borough have all but secured 8th place as a minimum going into a trip to Atherton LR.
The home side have endured a tough season, and will finish bottom after losing their last four and winning only one of their last 17.
A top half finish would represent a good first season back for Ashton Town, and that’s what they stand in line for as successive victories over AFC Blackpool and St Helens Town have them 10th going into a home fixture against Chadderton.
The visitors sit 16th having won just one of their last ten, although they did draw 1-1 with Avro on Saturday.
Four defeats from five prior to Thursday’s visit to Carlisle leave Cleator Moor Celtic in 11th. They host Daisy Hill in their final game of the season, who will finish second bottom but performed admirably over the Easter period with impressive 4-1 triumphs over Lower Breck and Atherton LR.
After relegation last term, AFC Darwen have stabilised and sit 9th, despite winning just one of their last seven and losing their last three. They travel to 14th placed Steeton, who have won only one of their last five.
It’s just one win in six for 15th placed Nelson as they finish their campaign at home to St Helens Town. The visitors will finish 17th, but had won three of the four games before losing 2-1 to Ashton Town on Monday.
In the First Division South, Rylands secured the title last Saturday with a 5-0 thrashing of Stone Old Alleynians, and Monday’s 4-0 triumph over Maine Road made it six wins on the spin.
They welcome Sandbach United, who are 7th but can finish as high as 3rd. Sandbach are in the First Division Cup Final against Avro on 6th May, and have responded well to rare back-to-back defeats by taking seven points from nine on offer.
Vauxhall Motors secured 2nd place on Monday with a 4-1 victory at Cammell Laird 1907, extending their impressive form to 12 wins, two draws and only one defeat in their last 15.
Whether that is enough for promotion remains to be seen. Mick McGraa’s men travel to bottom side Stone Dominoes, who have struggled this campaign with 22 defeats from their last 23 outings.
However there were positives to take from their 2-1 derby reverse against Stone Old Alleynians on Monday.
Wythenshawe Amateurs moved back up to 3rd as they ended their run of back-to-back defeats with a 1-0 victory at Wythenshawe Town on Monday.
They will hope to secure 3rd at home to Barnton, who sit 12th but can still finish in the top half after losing only one of their last five.
It’s been a solid season for Stone Old Alleynians, who are 4th following their three points on derby day after back-to-back defeats.
They travel to Cheadle Heath Nomads, who are 8th and finishing the season as one of the form teams with seven wins from their last eight.
Wythenshawe Town slipped to 5th on Monday after their first defeat in nine against Wythenshawe Amateurs, but they will hope to finish on a high at 9th placed Abbey Hulton United.
The hosts led the way for much of the first half of the campaign, but have been more inconsistent in the second half and lost four and won only one of their last six.
6th placed FC Oswestry Town are on course for their best finish since joining the Hallmark Security League, and have lost just one of their last four as they travel to Eccleshall. The Eagles have risen to 13th after three consecutive victories against Stone Dominoes, Ellesmere Rangers and New Mills.
A 98th minute equaliser for New Mills on Monday may have denied 10th placed Stockport Town a third straight win, but they will still seek to end the campaign on an unbeaten run as they host Cheadle Town.
The visitors were early leaders of the table, but four successive losses and just one win since the turn of the year leaves them 15th.
St Martins began the campaign fighting it out at the top of the table, but six defeats from seven leave them 11th going into a final day fixture at home to Alsager Town.
The Bullets are 16th but are finishing strongly after just one defeat in five and impressive wins over Easter against Wythenshawe Amateurs and Abbey Hulton United.
Maine Road’s resurgence under Ray Barnett and Jeff Newman has been one of the stories of the season as the pair have lifted them away from any danger into 14th place.
They have however lost four of their last five going into a trip to Cammell Laird 1907. Lairds are 17th and have had a frustrating season, but gave a great account of themselves in the Cheshire Senior Cup Final on Wednesday before eventually losing 5-2 to Nantwich Town.
New Mills were another side who topped the table early on, but just one win from eight has left them in 18th place. They host Ellesmere Rangers, who will finish 19th after their recent resurgence was ended by Easter defeats by the odd goal against Vauxhall Motors and Eccleshall.
It’s been a ground-breaking season with three divisions in the Hallmark Security League, and all three have been ultra-competitive. There are still things to play for on the last day, so get down to your local club!
