January Preview
The tough-looking December was reduced to just two games thanks to the weather but we came out of those with a 100% return on league points.
Should the storms keep their distance a busy January awaits....
Saturday 2nd
Ashton Town (home)
NWCFL Division One
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
The reverse fixture back in mid-September proved to be a bit of a turning point for all the wrong reasons.
In absolute control of the game at 2-0 despite being down to ten men (thanks to a controversial red card), we inexplicably collapsed in the last ten minutes, allowing Ashton Town to snatch all three points at the death.
That result sent us into a bit of a tailspin and we weren't to win another game in all competitions for another month.
Ashton Town are still well-placed to make a challenge for the play-off places. Can we keep our good form going and start 2016 with a bang?
Last five seasons at Park Road:
2014-15: lost 1-2
2013-14: drew 1-1
2012-13: drew 1-1; drew 2-2 (LC1)
2011-12: drew 2-2
2010-11: won 5-1
Tuesday 12th
Tranmere Rovers (home)
Cheshire Senior Cup 2nd Round
What a fantastic draw we've landed here.
The Cheshire Senior Cup, draw pending, gives us the chance to pit our wits against higher-ranked opposition and so it has proven this time around.
There has already been a short article on our draw in this competition so there is nothing much more to say here, except to remind people of the slight change of date to Tuesday 12th (from the original date of Wednesday 13th).
Saturday 16th
Daisy Hill (away)
NWCFL Division One
Another re-arranged game. Of sorts.
This was due to be our final match of the season at the end of April but, assuming it is to assist Daisy Hill with a fixture backlog, has been brought forward.
Expect goals. As you can see from the previous five seasons' visits to New Sirs we haven't been shy of finding the net there.
That said, this still could prove testing as Daisy Hill have improved a little bit since we shovelled them aside by four goals to nil towards the start of the season.
Previous five seasons at New Sirs:
2014-15: lost 3-4
2013-14: won 2-0
2012-13: won 3-1
2011-12: won 2-1
2010-11: won 5-4
Saturday 23rd
Litherland REMYCA (home)
NWCFL Division One
Goals aplenty in this one last time around as we ran out 4-3 winners in a hectic match.
REMYCA are one of only three teams to have inflicted a league defeat on us this season as Chris Sherrington's goal wasn't enough to claim a result in the away fixture back in Autumn.
Previous five seasons at Park Road:
2014-15: won 4-3
2013-14: did not meet
2012-13: did not meet
2011-12: did not meet
2010-11: did not meet
Saturday 30th
St Helens Town (home)
NWCFL Division One
January 2016 ends with another home match, with St Helens Town making the trip to Park Road.
St Helens, having been relegated from the Premier Division last season, might have been most people's favourites to make the instant return but it hasn't worked out that way for them thus far. At the time of writing they are in mid-table and on a bad run of form.
No visits to Park Road in the last five seasons but yours truly does remember them coming at the start of the 07-08 season in the FA Vase and leaving with a 0-1 defeat. The same outcome will be welcome.
