After a stop, start, stop, start opening to the season, with North Lancs One games seemingly only being played every other week (it feels like that anyway!) Garstang travel to Thornton Cleveleys on Saturday at the beginning of a crucial period of three consecutive league games before the Christmas hibernation.
If results from last season, when both sides narrowly won their home fixture, and performance so far this season, with both sides having won four and lost four, are anything to go by this game is lined up to be another finely balanced contest.
Since returning to North Lancs One TC have acquitted themselves well with a very solid season last time out and they are having a similar season this year, although with the progress they have made over the past three or four years they probably have even higher aspirations.
Garstang’s opening to the season has been solid but they have been decidedly lacklustre on the road and they are yet to record a win in four attempts. Here’s hoping that the short journey to our nearest rivals will not be too much for the team and that they can break their away day hoodoo.
Elsewhere, in the league it would be surprising if the top two of Oldham and Littleborough do not take maximum points as they are in action against the bottom two sides of North Manchester and St Edward’s OB respectively.
Ashton-under-Lyne will be hopeful that they will be able to maintain their strong start to the season but it will be by no means a foregone conclusion against a strong Burnley XV.
The other game is between Trafford MV and Didsbury Toc H, who will both be disappointed that they are not nearer to the top of the table after both suffering the same fate as Garstang with five point deductions.
Birchfield are the odd team out this week so they must suffer a dot weekend.
North Lancs One Fixtures:
Ashton-under-Lyne vs Burnley
Oldham vs North Manchester
St Edward’s OB vs Littleborough
Thornton Cleveleys vs Garstang
Trafford MV vs Didsbury Toc-H
The Blues will be hoping that they can get a bit of consistency into their season on Saturday when they take on Leigh 4ths at home in the 2nd Round of the Brooke Edgley Specialist Technical Services Shield. With a lack of games for both teams this season a cup run would be most welcome!