Photo Credit: Alison Greenwood
Premier Division
With none of the top three in action fourth placed FC United of Manchester will be looking to leapfrog Wigan Athletic and close the gap to the top two this weekend when they welcome Accrington to Broadhurst Park (3G?). FC United have been in good form since their abandonment against Merseyrail having collected three consecutive wins in the League, County and League Cups. They face an Accrington side they defeated 4-2 in November and who will be looking to cause a shock in their bed to avoid the relegation zone.
Fleetwood Town, 6th, face Mossley Hill Athletic, 5th, with the winners potentially ending the weekend as high as third should FC United not beat Accrington. Bottom club Sir Tom Finney will be looking to try and lift themselves off the foot of the table when they face Merseyrail at home. The visitors are coming off the back off a hard fought 3-1 win at home to Altrincham in the Argyle Sports Cup.
Division One North
The undoubted game of the weekend in Division One North this weekend see’s Bury play their first game at the 11,000 capacity Gigg Lane as they take on league leaders Blackpool. Bury head into the game on the back of a narrow 2-1 loss to Premier Division side Stockport County in the Argyle Sports Cup and sit 12 points behind the Tangerines with three games in hand. A win for the Shakers on Sunday will see the title race return to their own destiny but they face a Blackpool side still undefeated in the league as well as a return meeting to come at Wyre Villa on 3rd March.
Blackburn Community welcome 7th place Penwortham Town looking to close the gap to second place. Blackburn currently sit five points behind Carlisle United, who are without a game this weekend, and will be looking for a repeat of their previous meeting which saw them run out 5-1 winners. Penwortham Town Juniors were the mascots for Thursday nights local derby which saw Blackburn Rovers defeat Fylde 3-0.
Division One South
3rd hosts 4th this weekend as Curzon Ashton will welcome Altrincham to Failsworth Sports Centre. Despite their Argyle Sports Cup exit last weekend Curzon remain one of the divisions form teams in 2019 as well as being the divisions scorers having scored eight, 12 and 15 in games since the turn of the year. County Cup aside Altrincham will be looking to arrest a run of form since the end of October which two wins, a penalty shoot-out win and four defeats which belies their start to the season which saw them win five of their first six league games. Three points for either side will keep them within touching distance of league leaders Liverpool Feds Reserves.
Leaders Liverpool Feds Reserves will hope to welcome City of Liverpool with 30 points separating the teams between first and 10th, albeit the Purps have six games in hand.
West Didsbury & Chorlton will be looking to complete a league double over promoted Chester at Brookburn Road. The two sides met in November with West running out 4-1 winners however Chester have consistently proven they’re no push overs having won 6 and drawn 1 of their last eight games having been denied a 7th win with their game against City of Liverpool abandoned at 10-0.
Argyle Sports Plate
The re-arranged fixtures of the Argyle Sports Plate take place this weekend are below. We covered most of the plate action last weekend and this can be read by clicking HERE.
Didsbury v Carlisle United (First Round)
Morecambe Reserves v Manchester Stingers
Preston North End v Leigh RMI
Stockport County Blues v Wythenshawe Amateurs
Stealing Five Yards 