Atherton Collieries will aim to secure a swift return to winning ways on Saturday as they host Trafford at the Dreams2Reality Stadium in part two of a home triple-header.
The Colls saw their unbeaten run halted at four matches last time out, slipping to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Chasetown in a game that was decided by a 90th minute winner.
The disappointment of such a late loss was compounded by a subsequent return to a bottom four (albeit only on goal difference) that Michael Clegg’s men had briefly escaped through their prior positive form.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s visitors arrive in Atherton without a loss in their last five, a stretch which included four straight wins before a 1-1 draw with Wythenshawe Town in their most recent outing.
That all means Trafford sit eighth in the Northern Premier League Division One West table heading into this latest round of fixtures, with their overall tally of 52 points from 33 matches leaving them sat just four points adrift of the play-off places.
Three points this weekend could offer a significant boost to both teams’ aims for the rest of the campaign, then, and indeed the two meetings between the pair so far this season did produce one win apiece.
Kielen Adams grabbed the only goal of the game as the Stripes secured victory in November’s reverse league fixture, whilst another trip to Shawe View ended in a 3-1 FA Trophy defeat back in September.
One of the scorers on that day was former Collsmon Jordan Fagbola and he will be looking to haunt his previous side once more this time around, as will Toba Obitayo having made the identical switch in January.
A potentially significant absentee, however, will be the division’s leading goalscorer Rio Clegg who is set to serve a suspension having been sent off in that aforementioned draw with Wythenshawe Town.
In any case, with potential ramifications at both ends of the table, Saturday’s game promises to be a tightly-contested affair and an occasion not to be missed.
And for those planning on attending this weekend’s fixture, entry will be available via our cash and card turnstiles, priced as follows:
Adults: £10
Concessions/students: £7
Under 18s: £4
Accompanied Under 11s/1916 Club members: Free.
