Weekend Local Non League Football

Weekend Local Non League Football

By Dave Johnson

Runcorn Linnets v Newcastle

A trip to the Apex Taxis Stadium isn’t something to look forward to these days, but that’s exactly where Newcastle Town will be heading this weekend.

Linnets are unbeaten in their last eight matches and have won each of their last five, including an impressive 2-0 victory over Leek Town last weekend.

Another win in midweek saw Runcorn leap-frog the Leek side and they now sit in second place, whilst Newcastle have a very different record.

Boss Robin Van Der Laan will be doing all he can to lift his players, who, with just one win in eight games, will be desperate to get their season going again.

Kidsgrove Athletic v Trafford

One defeat in six games sees Kidsgrove go into their home game against Trafford in a confident mood, and a win in this one could see them in the play-off places.

After several draws early on in the season, they seem to have found a way to win games and are clearly a team who are full of belief.

The Grove have only lost one home fixture this season, that was against a Hanley Town side who have won the same number of away games as leaders Macclesfield.

Saturday’s visitors are without a win in four games, but they have won three times on their travels and could well prove a tough test to their hosts this weekend.

 

City of Liverpool v Hanley Town

Hanley’s away form has been more than impressive this season, though they have lost their last two on the road – a 5-1 defeat at Witton Albion and a 4-3 loss to Clitheroe.

They finally picked up their first home point of the season last weekend when their game against Mossley finished all-square.

On Saturday they make the trip to Berry Street Garage Stadium in Bootle where they take on City of Liverpool FC, and they will be looking to avenge their defeat at the Potteries Park earlier this season.

Without a point on the board at that point, the Merseyside outfit took home the points with a 3-2 win. Can Hanley get their away form back in gear?

Prescot Cables v Leek Town

After suffering only their second defeat of the season last weekend, a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Runcorn Linnets, Leek will be looking to get back on track on Saturday.

That defeat, and Runcorn’s midweek win at home to Trafford, saw Leek slip down to fourth place in the table, though should they win their game in hand they could move back up to second.

Despite their loss last weekend, Leek are currently top of the form table over ten games and they will believe they can get the win against a Prescot Cables side who have won two games in seven.

Just to prove the old saying that you can present statistics in any way you wish, to your advantage, Cables have lost just one on their last four – this could prove a tough one for Neil Baker’s side.

 

Macclesfield v Ramsbottom United

The league table could have looked quite different last weekend had Leek Town not been beaten at home by Runcorn Linnets at the same time Macclesfield were dropping two points away at Colne.

Macclesfield will be looking to return to what has become more or less ‘normal’ this week when they take on a struggling Ramsbottom United.

Macclesfield still retain top spot, whilst the only thing keeping Ramsbottom off the foot of the table is a very slightly inferior goal difference to basement outfit Widnes.

Silkmen boss Dave McNabb will demand more from his side, who have won one of their last three games – Ramsbottom will be looking to build on their record of two wins in their last four away from home.

Congleton v Lower Breck (Macron Cup)

Congleton are back in cup action this weekend when they face Lower Breck in the third round of the Macron Cup, hoping to continue their remarkable home form.

The Bears’ nine consecutive home victories in all competitions will be something Saturday’s visitors will be well aware of, but can they change the trend?

It is up to Bears’ boss Richard Duffy to ensure his players don’t get complacent and drop their standards when the Merseysiders are in town on Saturday afternoon.

For those of you who will be going along to the Cleric Stadium to attend the game, please note that the kick off has been brought forward to 1pm because of the England game.

 

Bamber Bridge v Stafford Rangers

Despite being defeated in three of their last four matches, Stafford are still in with a shout of a play-off place, but they need to start kicking on before it all falls away from them.

With just one win from their last seven away fixtures, they know they must do better if they are to realise their ambitions, but they face a difficult task this weekend,

Saturday’s opponents Bamber Bridge are in a rich vein of form, especially when you look at their home form. They have been particularly strong at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.

They have lost just the one home game, a recent 3-1 loss at the hands of Radcliffe, a run of five consecutive home wins dented by that defeat.

 

Nantwich Town v Lancaster City

With six wins and a draw from their last seven games in all competitions, the turn-around produced by Nantwich has been quite remarkable, given their form going into this run.

After four consecutive defeats, they have suddenly become a team to be reckoned with, and their game against Lancaster at the Swansway Stadium looks mouth-watering, on paper at least.

Lancaster are another in-form side, having won four games in a row before a 3-1 home defeat to Marine last weekend.

The Dabbers squad have certainly bought into what Ritchie Sutton and Gary Taylor Fletcher are trying to achieve – hopefully that will continue this weekend.