Saturday 23rd December 2017 (3pm), NWCFL Premier Division
Ashton Athletic v West
Brocstedes Park, WN4 0NR
£6 adults, £3 concessions, £1 under-12s
After ending their nightmare losing run with victory at Burscough last weekend, West will look to make it two wins from two when they travel to Ashton Athletic on Saturday.
West can leapfrog the hosts with a win, but a tough assignment is in prospect against a side who have only lost three of their 14 league games this season.
At a glance
| Yellows | v | West |
| 10th | Position | 14th |
| LWLLW | Form (all competitions) | LLLLW |
| 14 | Played | 19 |
| 8 | Won | 8 |
| 3 | Drawn | 1 |
| 3 | Lost | 10 |
| 27 | Points | 25 |
| 36 | Goals for | 41 |
| 15 | Goals against | 52 |
| Dale Korie-Butler (22) | Top scorer (all competitions) | Tom Bailey (23) |
| West v Yellows (NWCFL era): P8 W1 D2 L5 F8 A20 |
The Yellows
As we approach the half-way point of the season, Ashton Athletic are one of a number of teams who have seen their league campaigns take a back seat at the expense of cup exploits. Only 1874 Northwich have played fewer Premier Division games than the Yellows as extended runs in the FA Cup and FA Vase gobbled up league fixtures. They are now able to focus more fully on league affairs, as they were knocked out of the Cup by National League North Chorley in front of the BBC camera (singular) and the Vase by 1874 Northwich, and they find themselves in an excellent position as 2018 appears on the horizon. Despite only playing 14 league games – six fewer than Barnoldswick Town, below the Yellows on goal difference – they are in the top half of the table with a points-per-game ratio that should see them seriously challenge the top six once the division balances itself out.
Key to the Yellows’ success has been striker Dale Korie-Butler, who has the best strike rate in the Premier Division this season. Korie-Butler has registered 22 times in just 19 games in all competitions, including four in his last two and four in one game against Northwich Victoria in October.
Last time – West 2-5 Ashton Athletic, Saturday 5th November 2016
The visitors scored four times in the final seven minutes as West slumped to defeat at Brookburn Road. Carlos Mendes Gomes and Ash Woods had put West two ahead at the break, but Stephen Kay, Matty Reid and an Adam Gilchrist hat-trick in the second period ensured the Yellows took home all three points.
Read the match report from November’s meeting.
Getting to Brocstedes Park
By car
The quickest route from Chorlton to Ashton-in-Makerfield is via the M62, and takes around 35 to 55 minutes. Please check travel news before you set off.
By public transport
Bryn station is around a mile from Brocstedes Park. From Piccadilly, change at Wigan North Western. Check the National Rail website for times.
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