Division One Preview - Saturday 13th February 2016
Fri 12th February 2016 | General | By Andrew Crompton
There may be eight divisions separating the Barclays Premier League and the NWCFL Division One, however, nothing can separate the similarity that this weekend’s top fixtures have in store for us.
In the Premier League, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City all face one another as they compete for England’s top prize. However, just like the EPL top four, the Division One top four are all in action too.
Barnton, Hanley Town, Stockport Town and Cheadle Town aren’t thinking about England’s top prize when they face each other this weekend but they are all certainly thinking about promotion into the NWCFL’s very own Premier League.
Whether it be the Etihad Stadium or the Abzorbed Arena, this is a time when fans unite in their true passion for football and for their local clubs. No matter where you find yourself this weekend, in the EPL or the NWCFL, everyone will have one thing in common, football.
This weekend’s Division One fixtures sees eight of the top 10 face each other and here’s hoping, weather permitting, that we can get a full round of matches completed for the first time in a very long time.
The weekend’s stand-out fixture sees league leaders Barnton head to The Abzorbed Arena as they take on Hanley Town in a battle of the top two in Division One. A win for Leon Knight’s side could see them open up an eight point gap at the top, however a win for Hanley would see the gap reduced to just two points.
Barnton’s Kevin Towey will hope to add to his 18 league goals this season that sees him top of the pile in the goalscoring charts, with Hanley’s Theo Stair in joint fourth with 11 league goals. However, Stair will hope to close that individual gap as Hanley play catch up, with five games in hand on Barnton and Towey.
As the top two collide this weekend, so too do 3rd and 4th place in Division One. Cheadle Town host their local and playoff rivals Stockport Town and a win for either side could see them cut the gap at the top, depending on the result at Hanley.
The Lions slipped up at home last weekend against Holker Old Boys but manager Calum Sykes, will not be too disheartened, as his side travel to Park Road having already won 2-1 there this season in the Men United Cup First Round.
Terry Hincks’ Cheadle look to get their season back underway, having had their previous two matches postponed as the club still searches for their first victory since before Christmas.
Last week’s only home victors, Litherland REMYCA make the short trip to Ashton Town and both sides lie just outside the playoff places in 8th and 7th respectively.
Remy go into this game on the back of a convincing 4-1 win over Northwich Manchester Villa which now sees them just two points off 6th and the playoff places.
Ashton hope this fixture can go ahead after playing just three matches since the end of October last year, their last home match. Let’s hope the weather gives those at The MSO Stadium a break, and allows them to enjoy some football this weekend. It’s been long overdue.
The final head to head between teams in the top 10 sees Bacup Borough host Irlam at Brian Boys West View Stadium. Bacup go into this fixture having won just two of their last six, meanwhile Steve Nixon’s Irlam have won three of their last five in all competitions.
Irlam make the 28 mile journey north to Bacup in the hope that they can compete in just their fourth match since November. Bacup boss Brent Peters will hope his players can continue the positives from their last match, which was a 4-1 win away to Irlam.
A home win for Bacup could see them rise to 8th place in the league, meanwhile a 7th away win of the season for Irlam could see them build a gap between themselves and 7th placed Ashton Town.
In-form Holker Old Boys play host to Widnes at Rakesmoor as The Stags look to continue their unbeaten run in the league that stretches all the way back to September last year.
Old Boys, who currently occupy 5th place in the league, could leapfrog Cheadle Town into 4th with a win on Saturday as they hold a better goal difference.
Widnes, who haven't been affected too badly by the weather, have won just one of their last twelve matches in the league, however their last two victories have been 5-2 and 6-1 against Bacup Borough and Stockport Town respectively, so they can easily score on their day.
Steve Lloyd’s Eccleshall return to their home at the Adverc Stadium where they take on Northwich Manchester Villa.
Lloyd’s side sit third from bottom in Division One but still hold on to a number of games in hand on the teams above them, something which every Eagles fan will hope they will use to rise up the table.
Eccleshall have had a bumpy two weeks as they were defeated by St Helens Town and then fell 6-0 away to Stockport Town, only to travel to Whitchurch Alport last week and dismantle them in a 5-0 whitewash.
NMV make the near 60-mile journey south in the hope they can stop the rot that has seen them lose their last four league games in a row, with their last victory coming against Chadderton at the turn of the year.
Villa could create a healthy gap between themselves and Chadderton in the table if they can snatch an away win at the Adverc.
Playoff hopefuls St Helens Town make the hour-long trip to Whitchurch Alport at Yockings Park as the Saints look to make it four wins in a row after recent success over Cheadle Town, Eccleshall and Northwich Manchester Villa.
Bottom of the table Whitchurch will hope to put a stop to their goal drought that has seen them score just two goals in their last 10 matches in all competitions. Meanwhile Town will be looking to pile on the goals against a side that has shipped 67 goals already this season.
Andrew Gillespie will have his shooting boots on this Saturday for St Helens as he looks to add to his impressive 18 goals in all competitions this season, 13 of which have come in the league.
Daisy Hill host Chadderton with just two points separating both sides in 14th and 12th respectively. Hill have been traumatically affected by the recent weather disruptions as they have played just once since November and have seen their last seven matches postponed in a row.
Weather permitting on Saturday at New Sirs, Daisy Hill will look to get back to winning ways as a vital three points can see them leapfrog their visitors into 12th position. However Chadderton will have other things on their mind entirely as they look to make it back-to-back away wins after last weekend’s 2-0 success at Widnes.
Mark Canning’s Rochdale Town welcome Atherton LR to Mayfield Sports Centre as Town look to repeat their most recent home fixture, a convincing 5-0 victory over Chadderton who sit one place above them in the league.
Jonathon Thompson will hope that he can provide the goals once again this weekend after his hat-trick in that 5-0 win at the end of January, as well as practice for next week’s Reusch First Division Cup quarter final at home to Stockport Town.
Atherton go into this fixture with the hope that they can still climb the table as they play catch-up with their fixtures. Mathematically the Laburnums can still overtake Rochdale as they hold three games in hand over Town
Here’s hoping that the weather decides to subside for this weekend’s fixtures and that Johnny Nash’s ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ will be lyrics on people’s lips come 3pm on Saturday.
Safe travels to everyone this weekend across the North West and wrap up well as the rain may hold off, but the cold won’t be so forgiving. But ultimately, enjoy the football wherever you watch it from.
Division One Preview - Saturday 13th February 2016
Fri 12th February 2016 | General
By Andrew Crompton
There may be eight divisions separating the Barclays Premier League and the NWCFL Division One, however, nothing can separate the similarity that this weekend’s top fixtures have in store for us.
In the Premier League, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City all face one another as they compete for England’s top prize. However, just like the EPL top four, the Division One top four are all in action too.
Barnton, Hanley Town, Stockport Town and Cheadle Town aren’t thinking about England’s top prize when they face each other this weekend but they are all certainly thinking about promotion into the NWCFL’s very own Premier League.
Whether it be the Etihad Stadium or the Abzorbed Arena, this is a time when fans unite in their true passion for football and for their local clubs. No matter where you find yourself this weekend, in the EPL or the NWCFL, everyone will have one thing in common, football.
This weekend’s Division One fixtures sees eight of the top 10 face each other and here’s hoping, weather permitting, that we can get a full round of matches completed for the first time in a very long time.
The weekend’s stand-out fixture sees league leaders Barnton head to The Abzorbed Arena as they take on Hanley Town in a battle of the top two in Division One. A win for Leon Knight’s side could see them open up an eight point gap at the top, however a win for Hanley would see the gap reduced to just two points.
Barnton’s Kevin Towey will hope to add to his 18 league goals this season that sees him top of the pile in the goalscoring charts, with Hanley’s Theo Stair in joint fourth with 11 league goals. However, Stair will hope to close that individual gap as Hanley play catch up, with five games in hand on Barnton and Towey.
As the top two collide this weekend, so too do 3rd and 4th place in Division One. Cheadle Town host their local and playoff rivals Stockport Town and a win for either side could see them cut the gap at the top, depending on the result at Hanley.
The Lions slipped up at home last weekend against Holker Old Boys but manager Calum Sykes, will not be too disheartened, as his side travel to Park Road having already won 2-1 there this season in the Men United Cup First Round.
Terry Hincks’ Cheadle look to get their season back underway, having had their previous two matches postponed as the club still searches for their first victory since before Christmas.
Last week’s only home victors, Litherland REMYCA make the short trip to Ashton Town and both sides lie just outside the playoff places in 8th and 7th respectively.
Remy go into this game on the back of a convincing 4-1 win over Northwich Manchester Villa which now sees them just two points off 6th and the playoff places.
Ashton hope this fixture can go ahead after playing just three matches since the end of October last year, their last home match. Let’s hope the weather gives those at The MSO Stadium a break, and allows them to enjoy some football this weekend. It’s been long overdue.
The final head to head between teams in the top 10 sees Bacup Borough host Irlam at Brian Boys West View Stadium. Bacup go into this fixture having won just two of their last six, meanwhile Steve Nixon’s Irlam have won three of their last five in all competitions.
Irlam make the 28 mile journey north to Bacup in the hope that they can compete in just their fourth match since November. Bacup boss Brent Peters will hope his players can continue the positives from their last match, which was a 4-1 win away to Irlam.
A home win for Bacup could see them rise to 8th place in the league, meanwhile a 7th away win of the season for Irlam could see them build a gap between themselves and 7th placed Ashton Town.
In-form Holker Old Boys play host to Widnes at Rakesmoor as The Stags look to continue their unbeaten run in the league that stretches all the way back to September last year.
Old Boys, who currently occupy 5th place in the league, could leapfrog Cheadle Town into 4th with a win on Saturday as they hold a better goal difference.
Widnes, who haven't been affected too badly by the weather, have won just one of their last twelve matches in the league, however their last two victories have been 5-2 and 6-1 against Bacup Borough and Stockport Town respectively, so they can easily score on their day.
Steve Lloyd’s Eccleshall return to their home at the Adverc Stadium where they take on Northwich Manchester Villa.
Lloyd’s side sit third from bottom in Division One but still hold on to a number of games in hand on the teams above them, something which every Eagles fan will hope they will use to rise up the table.
Eccleshall have had a bumpy two weeks as they were defeated by St Helens Town and then fell 6-0 away to Stockport Town, only to travel to Whitchurch Alport last week and dismantle them in a 5-0 whitewash.
NMV make the near 60-mile journey south in the hope they can stop the rot that has seen them lose their last four league games in a row, with their last victory coming against Chadderton at the turn of the year.
Villa could create a healthy gap between themselves and Chadderton in the table if they can snatch an away win at the Adverc.
Playoff hopefuls St Helens Town make the hour-long trip to Whitchurch Alport at Yockings Park as the Saints look to make it four wins in a row after recent success over Cheadle Town, Eccleshall and Northwich Manchester Villa.
Bottom of the table Whitchurch will hope to put a stop to their goal drought that has seen them score just two goals in their last 10 matches in all competitions. Meanwhile Town will be looking to pile on the goals against a side that has shipped 67 goals already this season.
Andrew Gillespie will have his shooting boots on this Saturday for St Helens as he looks to add to his impressive 18 goals in all competitions this season, 13 of which have come in the league.
Daisy Hill host Chadderton with just two points separating both sides in 14th and 12th respectively. Hill have been traumatically affected by the recent weather disruptions as they have played just once since November and have seen their last seven matches postponed in a row.
Weather permitting on Saturday at New Sirs, Daisy Hill will look to get back to winning ways as a vital three points can see them leapfrog their visitors into 12th position. However Chadderton will have other things on their mind entirely as they look to make it back-to-back away wins after last weekend’s 2-0 success at Widnes.
Mark Canning’s Rochdale Town welcome Atherton LR to Mayfield Sports Centre as Town look to repeat their most recent home fixture, a convincing 5-0 victory over Chadderton who sit one place above them in the league.
Jonathon Thompson will hope that he can provide the goals once again this weekend after his hat-trick in that 5-0 win at the end of January, as well as practice for next week’s Reusch First Division Cup quarter final at home to Stockport Town.
Atherton go into this fixture with the hope that they can still climb the table as they play catch-up with their fixtures. Mathematically the Laburnums can still overtake Rochdale as they hold three games in hand over Town
Here’s hoping that the weather decides to subside for this weekend’s fixtures and that Johnny Nash’s ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ will be lyrics on people’s lips come 3pm on Saturday.
Safe travels to everyone this weekend across the North West and wrap up well as the rain may hold off, but the cold won’t be so forgiving. But ultimately, enjoy the football wherever you watch it from.
