Premier Division Preview - Saturday 30th April 2016
Fri 29th April 2016 | General | By Stewart Taylor
There has been much in the news this week regarding the celebrations relating to the 400th anniversary of the death of one of, if not the, greatest exponents of the English language, Mr. William Shakespeare.
I am not sure that we should be celebrating a death rather, perhaps, commemorating his quite remarkable life, but that might be considered to be a minor point.
With due respect to the Great Bard, I offer you this piece and, as often, ask a question.
There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.
Julius Caesar Act 4, scene 3, 218–224
We could go on for far too long in and attempt to write an A-level style dissertation on the meaning of this passage but let’s skip all of that and put it into a footballing context by asking what we can learn from this as the football season rapidly approaches the end?
The essence of the understanding of this piece rests with the last two lines. For those clubs who are still in the race for promotion and, equally, those striving to avoid relegation then, notwithstanding the Elizabethan style of English used by Shakespeare, those clubs can take inspiration from this.
In more modern parlance we could say, carpe diem – “seize the day”, or, in an even more modern style, “may the force be with you.”
As the season comes to its climax we have two clubs vying for the coveted single promotion slot.
Runcorn Linnets head to the seaside at Blackpool but their minds will be miles away from the delights of the Pleasure Beach and donkey rides as Squires Gate provide the opposition at the Royal British Legion Stadium.
The Tuesday night match at Bootle saw the opposite of what we have come to expect as it was their opponents who scored the decisive goal late in the match courtesy of Liam Loughlin.
Linnets supporters will consider that three points is essential on Saturday despite rivals Colne being restricted to one point at AFC Liverpool in midweek.
At the other end of the table, Squires Gate still need points to be sure of Premier Division football next season. With a full week to prepare for this match, Gate should come into it the fresher and in decent spirits as wins in the last two matches reversed what was becoming a worrying trend.
Both sides will be well up for this match and it should be a cracker.
Colne strengthened their side significantly at the end of March. The new signings have added to what was already an impressive squad and the push to the top of the League is in full swing.
Colne have known for quite some time that the fate of their season has been in their own hands despite playing catch-up with Linnets in terms of the number of matches played.
The midweek match away at AFC Liverpool looked as though it was going to be profitable for Colne but a last minute goal by Dimitri Christou meant that the points were shared.
Cammell Laird 1907 are the visitors to the XLCR Stadium this Saturday. Lairds sit comfortably in mid-table with nothing to play for except for the satisfaction of playing the match in the right way and, possibly, putting one over a high flying side.
Nothing to be taken for granted in this match.
At the other end of the table, a combination of the very wet weather and floodlight problems at the Mechanics Ground have left AFC Blackpool playing catch-up in terms of matches to be played.
The Tuesday night match at home to Alsager Town had all the makings of a six-pointer and it was the South Cheshire side which came away with a precious three points thanks to a late goal by former Norton United captain Jon Beaumont.
To follow that was another home match on Thursday night and a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Barnoldswick Town. Results elsewhere mean that the Mechanics come into the weekend at the bottom of the League table but with games in hand over the sides immediately above them.
A demanding week comes to an end with a visit to the Barton Stadium to face 1874 Northwich with points at an absolute premium.
1874 Northwich picked up their first ever trophy recently as they defeated Witton Albion in the final of the Mid Cheshire Senior Cup. 1874 will not want to let their standards drop as they come towards the end of what must be considered to be another season of progress for the fledgling club.
The long midweek journey to Silsden saw “the ‘74” go down to defeat despite yet another goal from the prolific Matthew Beadle.
Talk of Silsden takes us to the Marine Travel Arena where AFC Liverpool welcome the Yorkshiremen on Saturday.
That victory over 1874 Northwich in midweek was crucial for the Cobbydalers in their quest to retain Premier Division status but games are running out and the feeling must be that nothing less than three points on Saturday will do.
AFC Liverpool started the season well with goals coming regularly. However, their form has faded considerably as the season has progressed, not helped by the loss of several key players to fellow NWCFL clubs during the season.
The midweek match at home to Colne saw AFC Liverpool reduced to ten men and a goal behind but they battled well to equalise in injury time.
Two midweek matches are somewhat demanding and Atherton Collieries come into the match at home to Congleton Town on Saturday after such a punishing schedule.
By all accounts, Colls looked to be a bit jaded in the drawn match against Nelson on Monday night and a demanding season could well be taking its toll as a defeat at relegation threatened Alsager Town on Thursday followed that match.
Nevertheless, Colls have secured third place in the League table on their return to the Premier Division and that must count as a very satisfying outcome.
Congleton Town’s best form came too late in the season to mount a real challenge for the top spot but it’s always good to end the season on a positive note. The Tuesday night match against saw The Bears share the points with West Didsbury and Chorlton in an entertaining match at home.
The match between West Didsbury & Chorlton and Maine Road played eight days ago was notable not only for attracting the highest crowd seen for a competitive fixture at Brookburn Road, but also for the demographic of the 405 in attendance. It is great to see so many in the 18 – 30 age bracket supporting NWCFL football and testament to the efforts of West in attracting more supporters.
West travel to the Silentnight Stadium in Barnoldswick on Saturday, one of the many picturesque grounds in our League, to play a side which started the League season well but rather fell away during the winter months.
The loss of the influential Joe Gaughan to Colne will not have helped but current form is good with a 0-0 draw at home to Abbey Hey and that win away at AFC Blackpool moving Barlick up to 8th place in the League table..
AFC Darwen picked up a precious three points on Monday night as they overcame an out of sorts Runcorn Town side at the Pavilions.
Life has not been easy for AFC Darwen this season following promotion into the Premier Division via the play offs. March was a poor month but April has seen a few much needed wins.
Ashton Athletic make the journey to the WEC Group Anchor Ground on Saturday with a defeat at the hands of Padiham on Tuesday night fresh in their minds. The Yellows have had a steady season but, as with all of our clubs, will look to end the season on a positive note. Having said that, AFC Darwen will be well up for this match and Ashton Athletic will need to match that commitment.
Padiham returned to the NWCFL following two seasons in Evo-Stik Division One North this season and found the early part of the season somewhat challenging.
Experienced manager Steve Wilkes has steered a much changed side into good form recently and, barring the aberration of a 7-0 defeat at the hands of 1874 Northwich at the beginning of the month, have been undefeated since losing to Runcorn Linnets in early March. A 4-2 victory away at Ashton Athletic in midweek continued that positive trend.
Abbey Hey are the visitors to the YESSS Electrical Arena on Saturday and come into this match following a 0-0 draw away at Barnoldswick Town in midweek. A comfortable mid-table position for the East Manchester side in a season which has seen them play attractive football and achieve some notable wins.
Nothing to play for for either side in this match one may argue, but both sides will want to play and a competitive match between two evenly matched sides is in prospect.
Our final match this week takes us to Little Wembley where Nelson host Maine Road.
Nelson were in the lead for most of the Monday night match at Atherton Collieries but were pegged back, to end with a 3-3 draw, as a result of two goals in the last 15 minutes from Colls. The Admirals have had their fair share of disappointment this season but will look to finish the campaign strongly.
Maine Road come into the match on Saturday pretty fresh having not played since that 1-0 win at West Didsbury & Chorlton in the Friday night match referred to above. A mid-table position for Maine Road in the season when they celebrated their 60th anniversary is commendable for a side which does a lot to develop young players.
For reasons which escape me, I’ll be back with the Premier Division Preview next week and, who knows, we may yet again delve into Elizabethan poetry in search of inspiration.
Wherever you take in your fix of live football on Saturday, enjoy the match.
Premier Division Preview - Saturday 30th April 2016
Fri 29th April 2016 | General
By Stewart Taylor
There has been much in the news this week regarding the celebrations relating to the 400th anniversary of the death of one of, if not the, greatest exponents of the English language, Mr. William Shakespeare.
I am not sure that we should be celebrating a death rather, perhaps, commemorating his quite remarkable life, but that might be considered to be a minor point.
With due respect to the Great Bard, I offer you this piece and, as often, ask a question.
There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.
Julius Caesar Act 4, scene 3, 218–224
We could go on for far too long in and attempt to write an A-level style dissertation on the meaning of this passage but let’s skip all of that and put it into a footballing context by asking what we can learn from this as the football season rapidly approaches the end?
The essence of the understanding of this piece rests with the last two lines. For those clubs who are still in the race for promotion and, equally, those striving to avoid relegation then, notwithstanding the Elizabethan style of English used by Shakespeare, those clubs can take inspiration from this.
In more modern parlance we could say, carpe diem – “seize the day”, or, in an even more modern style, “may the force be with you.”
As the season comes to its climax we have two clubs vying for the coveted single promotion slot.
Runcorn Linnets head to the seaside at Blackpool but their minds will be miles away from the delights of the Pleasure Beach and donkey rides as Squires Gate provide the opposition at the Royal British Legion Stadium.
The Tuesday night match at Bootle saw the opposite of what we have come to expect as it was their opponents who scored the decisive goal late in the match courtesy of Liam Loughlin.
Linnets supporters will consider that three points is essential on Saturday despite rivals Colne being restricted to one point at AFC Liverpool in midweek.
At the other end of the table, Squires Gate still need points to be sure of Premier Division football next season. With a full week to prepare for this match, Gate should come into it the fresher and in decent spirits as wins in the last two matches reversed what was becoming a worrying trend.
Both sides will be well up for this match and it should be a cracker.
Colne strengthened their side significantly at the end of March. The new signings have added to what was already an impressive squad and the push to the top of the League is in full swing.
Colne have known for quite some time that the fate of their season has been in their own hands despite playing catch-up with Linnets in terms of the number of matches played.
The midweek match away at AFC Liverpool looked as though it was going to be profitable for Colne but a last minute goal by Dimitri Christou meant that the points were shared.
Cammell Laird 1907 are the visitors to the XLCR Stadium this Saturday. Lairds sit comfortably in mid-table with nothing to play for except for the satisfaction of playing the match in the right way and, possibly, putting one over a high flying side.
Nothing to be taken for granted in this match.
At the other end of the table, a combination of the very wet weather and floodlight problems at the Mechanics Ground have left AFC Blackpool playing catch-up in terms of matches to be played.
The Tuesday night match at home to Alsager Town had all the makings of a six-pointer and it was the South Cheshire side which came away with a precious three points thanks to a late goal by former Norton United captain Jon Beaumont.
To follow that was another home match on Thursday night and a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Barnoldswick Town. Results elsewhere mean that the Mechanics come into the weekend at the bottom of the League table but with games in hand over the sides immediately above them.
A demanding week comes to an end with a visit to the Barton Stadium to face 1874 Northwich with points at an absolute premium.
1874 Northwich picked up their first ever trophy recently as they defeated Witton Albion in the final of the Mid Cheshire Senior Cup. 1874 will not want to let their standards drop as they come towards the end of what must be considered to be another season of progress for the fledgling club.
The long midweek journey to Silsden saw “the ‘74” go down to defeat despite yet another goal from the prolific Matthew Beadle.
Talk of Silsden takes us to the Marine Travel Arena where AFC Liverpool welcome the Yorkshiremen on Saturday.
That victory over 1874 Northwich in midweek was crucial for the Cobbydalers in their quest to retain Premier Division status but games are running out and the feeling must be that nothing less than three points on Saturday will do.
AFC Liverpool started the season well with goals coming regularly. However, their form has faded considerably as the season has progressed, not helped by the loss of several key players to fellow NWCFL clubs during the season.
The midweek match at home to Colne saw AFC Liverpool reduced to ten men and a goal behind but they battled well to equalise in injury time.
Two midweek matches are somewhat demanding and Atherton Collieries come into the match at home to Congleton Town on Saturday after such a punishing schedule.
By all accounts, Colls looked to be a bit jaded in the drawn match against Nelson on Monday night and a demanding season could well be taking its toll as a defeat at relegation threatened Alsager Town on Thursday followed that match.
Nevertheless, Colls have secured third place in the League table on their return to the Premier Division and that must count as a very satisfying outcome.
Congleton Town’s best form came too late in the season to mount a real challenge for the top spot but it’s always good to end the season on a positive note. The Tuesday night match against saw The Bears share the points with West Didsbury and Chorlton in an entertaining match at home.
The match between West Didsbury & Chorlton and Maine Road played eight days ago was notable not only for attracting the highest crowd seen for a competitive fixture at Brookburn Road, but also for the demographic of the 405 in attendance. It is great to see so many in the 18 – 30 age bracket supporting NWCFL football and testament to the efforts of West in attracting more supporters.
West travel to the Silentnight Stadium in Barnoldswick on Saturday, one of the many picturesque grounds in our League, to play a side which started the League season well but rather fell away during the winter months.
The loss of the influential Joe Gaughan to Colne will not have helped but current form is good with a 0-0 draw at home to Abbey Hey and that win away at AFC Blackpool moving Barlick up to 8th place in the League table..
AFC Darwen picked up a precious three points on Monday night as they overcame an out of sorts Runcorn Town side at the Pavilions.
Life has not been easy for AFC Darwen this season following promotion into the Premier Division via the play offs. March was a poor month but April has seen a few much needed wins.
Ashton Athletic make the journey to the WEC Group Anchor Ground on Saturday with a defeat at the hands of Padiham on Tuesday night fresh in their minds. The Yellows have had a steady season but, as with all of our clubs, will look to end the season on a positive note. Having said that, AFC Darwen will be well up for this match and Ashton Athletic will need to match that commitment.
Padiham returned to the NWCFL following two seasons in Evo-Stik Division One North this season and found the early part of the season somewhat challenging.
Experienced manager Steve Wilkes has steered a much changed side into good form recently and, barring the aberration of a 7-0 defeat at the hands of 1874 Northwich at the beginning of the month, have been undefeated since losing to Runcorn Linnets in early March. A 4-2 victory away at Ashton Athletic in midweek continued that positive trend.
Abbey Hey are the visitors to the YESSS Electrical Arena on Saturday and come into this match following a 0-0 draw away at Barnoldswick Town in midweek. A comfortable mid-table position for the East Manchester side in a season which has seen them play attractive football and achieve some notable wins.
Nothing to play for for either side in this match one may argue, but both sides will want to play and a competitive match between two evenly matched sides is in prospect.
Our final match this week takes us to Little Wembley where Nelson host Maine Road.
Nelson were in the lead for most of the Monday night match at Atherton Collieries but were pegged back, to end with a 3-3 draw, as a result of two goals in the last 15 minutes from Colls. The Admirals have had their fair share of disappointment this season but will look to finish the campaign strongly.
Maine Road come into the match on Saturday pretty fresh having not played since that 1-0 win at West Didsbury & Chorlton in the Friday night match referred to above. A mid-table position for Maine Road in the season when they celebrated their 60th anniversary is commendable for a side which does a lot to develop young players.
For reasons which escape me, I’ll be back with the Premier Division Preview next week and, who knows, we may yet again delve into Elizabethan poetry in search of inspiration.
Wherever you take in your fix of live football on Saturday, enjoy the match.
