Gameweek 8: Preview
Fri 13th September 2024 | Match Previews | By Ben Wilkinson
It's that time of the week again! As always, there's plenty of action over the coming seven days to keep you all occupied...
FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
Friday the 13th is unlucky for some but the four clubs in action tonight will be hoping that the superstition doesn't affect them. Abbey Hey, fresh off the back of a successful duo of home wins where they scored 10 goals, travel to Lower Breck, who themselves know that three points tonight will see them top the Premier Division table until at least Saturday afternoon. There's another Premier Division clash at Adie Moran Park where Prestwich Heys host Glossop North End. The two sides currently sit on seven and eight points respectively and will be looking to add three more to their tally before 10pm tonight.
SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
Saturday's headlines surely go to the three remaining NWCFL clubs left in the FA Cup, as the world's oldest cup competition reaches the Second Qualifying Round stage. West Didsbury & Chorlton welcome Darlington to the Step Places Stadium in what could well be the biggest game ever in the club's history, with a capacity crowd expected. The other two clubs are playing away from home, as Premier Division Club of the Month Bury FC make the journey north to Blyth Spartans and Barnoldswick Town visit Curzon Ashton. The Shakers are still yet to lose in any competition since last season's play-off final while it's been over a month since Barlick last tasted defeat. All three clubs are at this stage of the competition for the first time in their histories and will be hoping to cause some 'Cupsets' and continue their runs!
Back to the relative normality of the league, there are eight Premier Division fixtures taking place on Saturday. League leaders (at time of posting) Chadderton travel to Squires Gate hoping to continue their fantastic start to the season, though Gate won heavily during the week and are sure to make life difficult for Chaddy. Elsewhere, FC St Helens make the short journey up the M6 to Charnock Richard's Mossie Park. FC have taken to the Premier Division like a duck to water but will face a tough Charnock side who will be looking to bring their season to life after a middling start. Colne have had a rough time on the pitch of late and have a chance to put it right on home turf this weekend when Irlam come to town, with no fewer than four clubs directly above them and within touching distance should they get a positive result against the Salford side. Burscough look much improved from last season and Ramsbottom United will provide a challenge that the Linnets will no doubt rise to at The Community Stadium.
As you've come to expect by now, there's a full programme of fixtures in both First Divisions. In the First Division North, the pick of the bunch is derby day at the Brian Boys West View Stadium with Bacup Borough and Darwen FC going head-to-head. Both sides have blown hot and cold so far this season and the Salmoners begin life (again) without Leon Creech after the star striker completed a move to Barnoldswick Town earlier this week. There's an interesting match-up at Brantingham Road too as 6th-placed Maine Road host 7th-placed AFC Blackpool. The Mechs have been free-scoring thus far and Maine Road scored six without reply in their last game so there could be a goal or two in that one. Skelmersdale United are now the only club in the Counties yet to win a league game (after Runcorn Town's success last weekend) and they visit Daisy Hill hoping to finally pick up their first maximum of the season, with a chance to lift themselves off the foot of the table if they do so (and if Garstang fall to defeat at Ashton Town).
Down in the First Division South, Runcorn Town have a tough task to make it two wins on the bounce as they visit Barton Stadium to take on a Winsford United that have turned it around completely after struggling last season as they currently sit 3rd in the standings. Table toppers Stafford Town are on their travels as they go to Foley Meir looking to put some breathing space between them and 2nd-placed New Mills, who have also had a severe upturn in form over the summer; they head to Abbey Hulton United after suffering penalty heartbreak in the Edward Case Cup during the week. Rounding out Saturday's preview is an all-Stockport clash at Cromley Road, where Cheadle Heath Nomads visit to take on Stockport Georgians. Nomads will be looking to break into the top 5 while Georgians have struggled so far this term and sit second-bottom.
THE WEEK AHEAD...
There's no rest for the wicked once again this week, with eleven Premier Division clashes and some cup ties mixed in too. Chadderton are home-away-from-home again on Tuesday when Wythenshawe Town's Ericstan Park plays host to their home fixture against Abbey Hey, while its a big game at the top end of the table at the HWRS when Bury come to town hoping to leapfrog Ramsbottom United in the rankings. Three NWCFL clubs are in Lancashire Challenge Trophy action, but only two can progress as Euxton Villa and Daisy Hill face off at the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground. West Didsbury & Chorlton enjoy yet more cup action at home when they welcome Atherton Collieries of the NPL West.
FC Isle of Man are back on the mainland on Wednesday night when they go to Jericho Lane hoping to get the better of South Liverpool, while it's take two for Nelson and Garstang in the Edward Case Cup after the initial fixture became the first of the season to fall foul of the weather last week when a downpour caused the Daisy Arena pitch to become waterlogged.
Gameweek 8: Preview
Fri 13th September 2024 | Match Previews
By Ben Wilkinson
It's that time of the week again! As always, there's plenty of action over the coming seven days to keep you all occupied...
FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
Friday the 13th is unlucky for some but the four clubs in action tonight will be hoping that the superstition doesn't affect them. Abbey Hey, fresh off the back of a successful duo of home wins where they scored 10 goals, travel to Lower Breck, who themselves know that three points tonight will see them top the Premier Division table until at least Saturday afternoon. There's another Premier Division clash at Adie Moran Park where Prestwich Heys host Glossop North End. The two sides currently sit on seven and eight points respectively and will be looking to add three more to their tally before 10pm tonight.
SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
Saturday's headlines surely go to the three remaining NWCFL clubs left in the FA Cup, as the world's oldest cup competition reaches the Second Qualifying Round stage. West Didsbury & Chorlton welcome Darlington to the Step Places Stadium in what could well be the biggest game ever in the club's history, with a capacity crowd expected. The other two clubs are playing away from home, as Premier Division Club of the Month Bury FC make the journey north to Blyth Spartans and Barnoldswick Town visit Curzon Ashton. The Shakers are still yet to lose in any competition since last season's play-off final while it's been over a month since Barlick last tasted defeat. All three clubs are at this stage of the competition for the first time in their histories and will be hoping to cause some 'Cupsets' and continue their runs!
Back to the relative normality of the league, there are eight Premier Division fixtures taking place on Saturday. League leaders (at time of posting) Chadderton travel to Squires Gate hoping to continue their fantastic start to the season, though Gate won heavily during the week and are sure to make life difficult for Chaddy. Elsewhere, FC St Helens make the short journey up the M6 to Charnock Richard's Mossie Park. FC have taken to the Premier Division like a duck to water but will face a tough Charnock side who will be looking to bring their season to life after a middling start. Colne have had a rough time on the pitch of late and have a chance to put it right on home turf this weekend when Irlam come to town, with no fewer than four clubs directly above them and within touching distance should they get a positive result against the Salford side. Burscough look much improved from last season and Ramsbottom United will provide a challenge that the Linnets will no doubt rise to at The Community Stadium.
As you've come to expect by now, there's a full programme of fixtures in both First Divisions. In the First Division North, the pick of the bunch is derby day at the Brian Boys West View Stadium with Bacup Borough and Darwen FC going head-to-head. Both sides have blown hot and cold so far this season and the Salmoners begin life (again) without Leon Creech after the star striker completed a move to Barnoldswick Town earlier this week. There's an interesting match-up at Brantingham Road too as 6th-placed Maine Road host 7th-placed AFC Blackpool. The Mechs have been free-scoring thus far and Maine Road scored six without reply in their last game so there could be a goal or two in that one. Skelmersdale United are now the only club in the Counties yet to win a league game (after Runcorn Town's success last weekend) and they visit Daisy Hill hoping to finally pick up their first maximum of the season, with a chance to lift themselves off the foot of the table if they do so (and if Garstang fall to defeat at Ashton Town).
Down in the First Division South, Runcorn Town have a tough task to make it two wins on the bounce as they visit Barton Stadium to take on a Winsford United that have turned it around completely after struggling last season as they currently sit 3rd in the standings. Table toppers Stafford Town are on their travels as they go to Foley Meir looking to put some breathing space between them and 2nd-placed New Mills, who have also had a severe upturn in form over the summer; they head to Abbey Hulton United after suffering penalty heartbreak in the Edward Case Cup during the week. Rounding out Saturday's preview is an all-Stockport clash at Cromley Road, where Cheadle Heath Nomads visit to take on Stockport Georgians. Nomads will be looking to break into the top 5 while Georgians have struggled so far this term and sit second-bottom.
THE WEEK AHEAD...
There's no rest for the wicked once again this week, with eleven Premier Division clashes and some cup ties mixed in too. Chadderton are home-away-from-home again on Tuesday when Wythenshawe Town's Ericstan Park plays host to their home fixture against Abbey Hey, while its a big game at the top end of the table at the HWRS when Bury come to town hoping to leapfrog Ramsbottom United in the rankings. Three NWCFL clubs are in Lancashire Challenge Trophy action, but only two can progress as Euxton Villa and Daisy Hill face off at the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground. West Didsbury & Chorlton enjoy yet more cup action at home when they welcome Atherton Collieries of the NPL West.
FC Isle of Man are back on the mainland on Wednesday night when they go to Jericho Lane hoping to get the better of South Liverpool, while it's take two for Nelson and Garstang in the Edward Case Cup after the initial fixture became the first of the season to fall foul of the weather last week when a downpour caused the Daisy Arena pitch to become waterlogged.
