Local Non-League Pre-Match Reports – 11.02.23
Written by Hitmix Local News on 10 February 2023
Local Non-League Pre-Match Reports – 11.02.23
By Dave Johnson
FA Vase Fifth Round
Old Wulfurnians v Congleton Town –
Congleton make the trip to Wolverhampton this weekend where they take on Old Wulfurnians in the 5th round of the FA Vase.
Members of the Midland Football League, The Wulfs currently sit in 9th place having won twelve and lost ten of their 27 fixtures.
In the fourth round of the competition, they beat Anstey Nomads to set up a home game against the Bears, who were 4-0 victors over Pinchbeck United.
Congleton’s opponents this weekend are in a decent run of form, having been beaten just the once in the eight matches played since the turn of the year,
If they are to progress further in the competition the Bears must keep a close eye on striker Aaron Bishop, who has 14 goals to his name.
Of course, Congleton have goal threats of their own and they won’t have any fears going into the game.
They have lost just one of their last ten games in all competitions, though with three consecutive draws they will be keen to get back to winning ways.
Onto the league fixtures ….
Runcorn Linnets v Newcastle Town
After a disappointing 2-0 defeat to 1874 Northwich in midweek, Newcastle now have a tough fixture away to Runcorn Linnets where they hope to prevent the home side from completing a double over them.
First half goals from top goalscorer Jamie Rainford, who now has 20 goals to his name, and Ryan Brooke gave Linnets a 2-0 win back in October.
Despite their current league position – they sit in fifth place – their form has suffered of late having won just two of their last nine games.
But Castle know that won’t mean this will be an easy game for them, but they must do something quite quickly about their league position – they are in danger of being in deep trouble if they don’t turn things around real soon.
Kidsgrove Athletic v Trafford
With the play-offs still a possibility, Kidsgrove know a run of favourable results could make all the difference to their season, but with just one win in seven they need to pick things up soon, before time runs out for them.
A narrow home defeat to Leek Town in their last game is no disgrace, and they came within a whisker of earning a point from the game, but they have to be looking at winning games now.
Trafford have picked up the full three points just once in their last ten league games and surely, despite their own form lately not being the best, Grove will go into this one with confidence.
Despite losing their last two away fixtures, Kidsgrove won three of their previous four on their travels, proving they can get the results away from home – a further away win will do them the world of good.
City of Liverpool v Hanley Town
After finally winning on home soil for the first time this season in midweek, Hanley will be cock-a-hoop as they prepare to take on City of Liverpool on Saturday.
Beaten at home by the Merseyside outfit earlier in the season, Hanley will be keen to not only avenge that defeat, but to revive their away form which has taken a knock lately.
After having the best away record in the league earlier in the season, they have picked up a single point in their last five away fixtures.
Given ‘The Purps’ recent run of five wins and a draw from their last eight games says something about the task Hanley face, but unbeaten in six games themselves, they will believe they can come away with a positive result.
Prescot Cables v Leek Town
After a late win at Kidsgrove in the week, Leek’s threat to leaders Macclesfield increased slightly after the Silkmen were held at home by Witton Albion.
It is still a tall order for Neil Baker’s men to make an assault on the title, but they know they have to keep up the pressure hoping Macclesfield will drop further points.
Saturday’s opponents, Prescot Cables, have ambitions themselves, being two places below the play-offs and after three consecutive defeats they will be determined to halt their bad run.
Leek know that they are more than capable of adding another three points to their total and should be able to do the business at The Joseph Russell Stadium
Guisley v Stafford Rangers
After being fixture free in midweek, Stafford go into their game at Guisley with fresh legs, hoping that can make a difference as they look to get their season back on track.
With six defeats in their last seven games Stafford know they won’t have it easy at Nethermoor Park against a side just four points better off than themselves.
They lost to a goal conceded in the 90th minute away to FC United of Manchester in midweek, but prior to that they had won six in eight games.
A glance at the league table says Stafford are comfortable ly placed in mid-table, but further scrutiny reveals they could be in trouble should the team below them take full advantage of their games in hand,
Liversedge v Nantwich Town
After following up their most welcome win over Atherton Collieries last weekend with a disappointing home defeat against Matlock Town, Nantwich travel to bottom-of-the-table Liversege on Saturday.
They will see it as a great opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the bottom four, three of whom could overtake the Dabbers should they win their games in hand.
The West Yorkshire outfit have lost five of their last six league games and will surely be low on confidence going into the game, but this is a fixture both sides will feel they can win.
The Dabbers have only been beaten twice in their last seven on the road and Ritchie Sutton will be drilling that self-belief into his players ahead of the game.
