NWCFL Matchday Preview 2019/20 #50
Fri 7th February 2020 | Match Previews | By Martin Fallon
PREMIER DIVISION
With the the end of the season fast approaching, there are crucial games taking place this weekend at the top and bottom of the Premier Division.
Leaders 1874 Northwich travel to Hanley Town and on paper there only looks like one winner in this game. 1874 Northwich lost at Warrington Town in the Cheshire Cup midweek but in the Premier Division we have to go back to the start of November for their last loss, that coming at Longridge Town. Of the 12 games since then in the league, they have won ten and drew two. As for Hanley, they have lost their last four league games, and have won just one of their last 16 games in all competitions, that win coming on Boxing Day.
Bootle have been in great form lately winning nine of their last ten games. That one defeat though was in their last home game when they lost heavily to Ashton Athletic. The Bucks are at home this weekend to Rylands and it should prove an interesting encounter with Rylands also doing well of late. The Warrington based side have won their last five games in the Premier Division and six of their last seven, a run one that has propelled them up to third in the league, just three points behind Bootle.
Top of the form guide at present are Ashton Athletic, who have won their last six games and seven out of their last eight. Their last loss came on Boxing Day. They host 17th place Padiham, with the the Lancashire side having won just three three of their last 13 games in all competitions.
With Longridge Town in FA Vase action, Charnock Richard have the opportunity to pull clear of them as they travel to Northwich Victoria. Charnock have won five of their last seven games, but they were defeated last time out at home to Burscough. Opponents Northwich Victoria lie in 11th place at present and were unbeaten in 2020 until their last two games, both of which ended in defeat.
Runcorn Town are in seventh and in good form as they host Winsford United at home. Runcorn have lost just once in 2020 and they they have won five of their last six games, picking up up 16 points from a possible 18. As for Winsford, they have won just one of their last 12 games, that coming before Christmas, although they are proving tricky to beat of late having drew three out of their last five games.
Irlam are in 8th place in the table, and they travel to Skelmersdale United this weekend. After a great start, Irlam have lost 9 of their last 11 games in all competitions, although they were victorious in their last league game at home to Hanley Town last Saturday. Skem have won three and lost three of their last six games, two of them at their new home at JMO Sports Park where they had won their previous three games.
At the other end of the table Litherland REMYCA could climb off the bottom with a win away at Squires Gate. REMYCA won 1-0 at Avro last Saturday, that been the second win in their last five games having previously not one in the league since November. Squires Gate will prove tough opponents though. They have lost their last two games which were both away from home, but at home they are unbeaten in six games, picking up 16 points from 18 available.
Also securing a vital win last week were Burscough and they will look to repeat this this as they host Avro. The Linnets have won three of their last five games to move out of the bottom two, and they are currently unbeaten in three games. As for Avro, they have won just one one of their last seven games since Boxing Day, a run that has seen them slip to 10th in the league table.
The final Premier Divisoin game sees Congleton Town host Barnoldswick Town, 14th vs 16th in the league. The Bears have won just once from their eight games in 2020 although they have picked up four points from their last two games. They maybe be there for relieved to face Barnoldswick this weekend, the East Lancs side losing five of their last six games since beating Burscough at the start of December.
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The Promotion race in the First Division North shows no sign of slowing down, although the current top four in the league are guaranteed to be there are at the end of this weekend.
Leaders Lower Breck travel to Cumbria to face Holker Old Boys. After failing to win in five games around Christmas and New Year, Breck have bounced back to form with four successive victories to move them five points clear at the top of the table. They will find it tough at 8th place Holker though, with the home side also winning their last four games, scoring 10 goals without reply in their last two home games.
With second place Emley and third place AFC Liverpool in Cup action, fourth place Shelley can take advantage as they travel to Steeton. Shelley have been in magnificent form since Christmas, with eight wins from ten league games, picking up 25 points from a possible 30. Steeton need the points though for other reasons as they sit bottom of the table at present. They have won two of their last six games but have lost their last three in the league.
Hunting down the top four and one of the promotion spots is a plethora of clubs, with just FOUR points separating 5th place Ashton Town from 13th place AFC Darwen!
Ashton had a fine win midweek away at Cleator Moor Celtic and that was the third win from their last six games. Ashton have suffered more than most with the weather, with 13 games postponed so far this season including three of their last four scheduled home games. They will be thankful therefore they are away at Garstang this weekend with the home side also needing points for different reasons. They sit just a point outside the bottom two and after having a revival around Christmas where they won three successive games, they have now lost the last five on the run.
Sixth place Pilkington had a slow start to life in the First Division North, but they have done well since the turn of the year. They have lost just two of the last eight games in the league and travel to AFC Blackpool on the back of a 4-1 win last weekend. Blackpool are 12th but could actually go above Pilks with a win although Martin Baird's side have lost five of their last six league games including the last four.
Seventh place Prestwich Heys without a game while 9th place Daisy Hill could climb as high as fifth with a win as they travel to AFC Darwen. The Cutters have being hit-and-miss of late winning just three of their last ten games. They are a bit Jekyll and Hyde though with an 8-0 loss followed up by an 8-3 win - that doesn't happen every day! AFC Darwen have been in good form since the end of November, winning eight out of twelve games, although they have won just one of their last four. They are taking advantage of the new 3G surface at home though, where they have won their last six games.
Coming into the weekend games, St Helens Town are in the bottom two at present but they could climb out of the bottom two with a win as they host Nelson at home. St Helens have lost their last five games in the league and won just one of their last ten. Nelson though are not in great form themselves having won just two of their last eight games in the league, although both of those games were away from home.
Also struggling for points are Atherton LR who are just a point above St Helens. Atherton had a great start to the season but we have to look back to November for the last win from them, and they have recorded four draws and seven losses from their last eleven games. They travel to Bacup Borough this weekend with Brent Peters' side winning two of their last six games which puts them 15th in the league table.
In the final game, our January Club of the Month Golcar United make the long journey to Cleator Moor Celtic. Golcar sit in 10th place in the table and have won their last four games in the league. And despite a 320 mile+ round trip, they will fancy their chances at a Cleator Moor side who have won just two of their last 11 games in the league.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
With six First Division South sides making up the Quarter Finalists in the PlayerMatch.com Cup, it's a limited program in the First Division South this week.
There are just four games taking place with none of the top eight in the league in action, and perhaps the biggest game of the day is at the bottom end of the table as the bottom two face off.
St. Martins are currently bottom of the table having won just four games in the league this season. Unbelievably they won their first three games of the season, but have since won just once in their last 22 league games and are coming to this game having lost their last four games. They travel to Barnton who are one place and seven points above them, and Barnton come into this game on the back of a 2-1 away Victory at Cheadle Heath Nomads last Saturday. That win halted a run of five successive losses although they did subsequently lose midweek at Wythenshawe Town.
Sitting just two points above the bottom two are Abbey Hulton United and they travel to Wythenshawe Amateurs this weekend. Abbey Hulton are having a torrid time of late having lost nine of their last ten games in the league, with the last win coming mid-January when they beat Barnton. As for Wythenshawe, they currently sit in 11th place in the league however they have lost only one of the six games they have played since the turn of the year. They have also won their last three games coming into this match, scoring 12 goals without conceding.
Alsager Town sit in 16th place and they host Cheadle Heath Nomads. Alsager have lost just two of their last seven games in the league and are coming to this game unbeaten in their last three games. Cheadle Heath Nomads cannot find a win lately and have lost nine of their last ten games in all competitions, their last win coming at Abbey Hey at the start of January.
The final game sees New Mills host Maine Road. The Millers lie in 14th place in the table but have won six of their last nine games in all competitions. They have won their last two games, scoring eleven goals in the process, although they also conceded six. Maine Road are the highest placed team playing this weekend, sitting 9th in the table, and they would climb one place with a win. They are also in good form, losing just two of their last 13 games, with their only loss in the last five coming at the hands of league leaders Vauxhall Motors.
NWCFL Matchday Preview 2019/20 #50
Fri 7th February 2020 | Match Previews
By Martin Fallon
PREMIER DIVISION
With the the end of the season fast approaching, there are crucial games taking place this weekend at the top and bottom of the Premier Division.
Leaders 1874 Northwich travel to Hanley Town and on paper there only looks like one winner in this game. 1874 Northwich lost at Warrington Town in the Cheshire Cup midweek but in the Premier Division we have to go back to the start of November for their last loss, that coming at Longridge Town. Of the 12 games since then in the league, they have won ten and drew two. As for Hanley, they have lost their last four league games, and have won just one of their last 16 games in all competitions, that win coming on Boxing Day.
Bootle have been in great form lately winning nine of their last ten games. That one defeat though was in their last home game when they lost heavily to Ashton Athletic. The Bucks are at home this weekend to Rylands and it should prove an interesting encounter with Rylands also doing well of late. The Warrington based side have won their last five games in the Premier Division and six of their last seven, a run one that has propelled them up to third in the league, just three points behind Bootle.
Top of the form guide at present are Ashton Athletic, who have won their last six games and seven out of their last eight. Their last loss came on Boxing Day. They host 17th place Padiham, with the the Lancashire side having won just three three of their last 13 games in all competitions.
With Longridge Town in FA Vase action, Charnock Richard have the opportunity to pull clear of them as they travel to Northwich Victoria. Charnock have won five of their last seven games, but they were defeated last time out at home to Burscough. Opponents Northwich Victoria lie in 11th place at present and were unbeaten in 2020 until their last two games, both of which ended in defeat.
Runcorn Town are in seventh and in good form as they host Winsford United at home. Runcorn have lost just once in 2020 and they they have won five of their last six games, picking up up 16 points from a possible 18. As for Winsford, they have won just one of their last 12 games, that coming before Christmas, although they are proving tricky to beat of late having drew three out of their last five games.
Irlam are in 8th place in the table, and they travel to Skelmersdale United this weekend. After a great start, Irlam have lost 9 of their last 11 games in all competitions, although they were victorious in their last league game at home to Hanley Town last Saturday. Skem have won three and lost three of their last six games, two of them at their new home at JMO Sports Park where they had won their previous three games.
At the other end of the table Litherland REMYCA could climb off the bottom with a win away at Squires Gate. REMYCA won 1-0 at Avro last Saturday, that been the second win in their last five games having previously not one in the league since November. Squires Gate will prove tough opponents though. They have lost their last two games which were both away from home, but at home they are unbeaten in six games, picking up 16 points from 18 available.
Also securing a vital win last week were Burscough and they will look to repeat this this as they host Avro. The Linnets have won three of their last five games to move out of the bottom two, and they are currently unbeaten in three games. As for Avro, they have won just one one of their last seven games since Boxing Day, a run that has seen them slip to 10th in the league table.
The final Premier Divisoin game sees Congleton Town host Barnoldswick Town, 14th vs 16th in the league. The Bears have won just once from their eight games in 2020 although they have picked up four points from their last two games. They maybe be there for relieved to face Barnoldswick this weekend, the East Lancs side losing five of their last six games since beating Burscough at the start of December.
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The Promotion race in the First Division North shows no sign of slowing down, although the current top four in the league are guaranteed to be there are at the end of this weekend.
Leaders Lower Breck travel to Cumbria to face Holker Old Boys. After failing to win in five games around Christmas and New Year, Breck have bounced back to form with four successive victories to move them five points clear at the top of the table. They will find it tough at 8th place Holker though, with the home side also winning their last four games, scoring 10 goals without reply in their last two home games.
With second place Emley and third place AFC Liverpool in Cup action, fourth place Shelley can take advantage as they travel to Steeton. Shelley have been in magnificent form since Christmas, with eight wins from ten league games, picking up 25 points from a possible 30. Steeton need the points though for other reasons as they sit bottom of the table at present. They have won two of their last six games but have lost their last three in the league.
Hunting down the top four and one of the promotion spots is a plethora of clubs, with just FOUR points separating 5th place Ashton Town from 13th place AFC Darwen!
Ashton had a fine win midweek away at Cleator Moor Celtic and that was the third win from their last six games. Ashton have suffered more than most with the weather, with 13 games postponed so far this season including three of their last four scheduled home games. They will be thankful therefore they are away at Garstang this weekend with the home side also needing points for different reasons. They sit just a point outside the bottom two and after having a revival around Christmas where they won three successive games, they have now lost the last five on the run.
Sixth place Pilkington had a slow start to life in the First Division North, but they have done well since the turn of the year. They have lost just two of the last eight games in the league and travel to AFC Blackpool on the back of a 4-1 win last weekend. Blackpool are 12th but could actually go above Pilks with a win although Martin Baird's side have lost five of their last six league games including the last four.
Seventh place Prestwich Heys without a game while 9th place Daisy Hill could climb as high as fifth with a win as they travel to AFC Darwen. The Cutters have being hit-and-miss of late winning just three of their last ten games. They are a bit Jekyll and Hyde though with an 8-0 loss followed up by an 8-3 win - that doesn't happen every day! AFC Darwen have been in good form since the end of November, winning eight out of twelve games, although they have won just one of their last four. They are taking advantage of the new 3G surface at home though, where they have won their last six games.
Coming into the weekend games, St Helens Town are in the bottom two at present but they could climb out of the bottom two with a win as they host Nelson at home. St Helens have lost their last five games in the league and won just one of their last ten. Nelson though are not in great form themselves having won just two of their last eight games in the league, although both of those games were away from home.
Also struggling for points are Atherton LR who are just a point above St Helens. Atherton had a great start to the season but we have to look back to November for the last win from them, and they have recorded four draws and seven losses from their last eleven games. They travel to Bacup Borough this weekend with Brent Peters' side winning two of their last six games which puts them 15th in the league table.
In the final game, our January Club of the Month Golcar United make the long journey to Cleator Moor Celtic. Golcar sit in 10th place in the table and have won their last four games in the league. And despite a 320 mile+ round trip, they will fancy their chances at a Cleator Moor side who have won just two of their last 11 games in the league.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
With six First Division South sides making up the Quarter Finalists in the PlayerMatch.com Cup, it's a limited program in the First Division South this week.
There are just four games taking place with none of the top eight in the league in action, and perhaps the biggest game of the day is at the bottom end of the table as the bottom two face off.
St. Martins are currently bottom of the table having won just four games in the league this season. Unbelievably they won their first three games of the season, but have since won just once in their last 22 league games and are coming to this game having lost their last four games. They travel to Barnton who are one place and seven points above them, and Barnton come into this game on the back of a 2-1 away Victory at Cheadle Heath Nomads last Saturday. That win halted a run of five successive losses although they did subsequently lose midweek at Wythenshawe Town.
Sitting just two points above the bottom two are Abbey Hulton United and they travel to Wythenshawe Amateurs this weekend. Abbey Hulton are having a torrid time of late having lost nine of their last ten games in the league, with the last win coming mid-January when they beat Barnton. As for Wythenshawe, they currently sit in 11th place in the league however they have lost only one of the six games they have played since the turn of the year. They have also won their last three games coming into this match, scoring 12 goals without conceding.
Alsager Town sit in 16th place and they host Cheadle Heath Nomads. Alsager have lost just two of their last seven games in the league and are coming to this game unbeaten in their last three games. Cheadle Heath Nomads cannot find a win lately and have lost nine of their last ten games in all competitions, their last win coming at Abbey Hey at the start of January.
The final game sees New Mills host Maine Road. The Millers lie in 14th place in the table but have won six of their last nine games in all competitions. They have won their last two games, scoring eleven goals in the process, although they also conceded six. Maine Road are the highest placed team playing this weekend, sitting 9th in the table, and they would climb one place with a win. They are also in good form, losing just two of their last 13 games, with their only loss in the last five coming at the hands of league leaders Vauxhall Motors.
