Premier Division preview: High-flyers do battle, milestone for Rylands boss

Matt Hill’s side have started the season strongly, with victories over Bamber Bridge and Atherton Collieries. They have also scored six goals thus far - more than any other side in the division.

Hot on their tails, Warrington Town will travel to basement side Belper Town, who were heavily beaten 4-1 at home by FC United of Manchester in midweek.

Marine’s credentials will also be tested when Kevin Phillips brings full-time South Shields to Rossett Park in the so-called ‘Battle of the Mariners’.

Manager Neil Young has called on his players to rise to the occasion and put their best foot forward.

"They're a very good side with some excellent players, favourites to win the league, but it's just a game of football,” he said.

"It'll be another test. They'll keep the ball a lot and move us around, so it's how we deal with it."

Radcliffe and Marske United both put their unbeaten starts on the line when they meet at Stainton Park, while Warrington Rylands boss Dave McNabb takes charge of his side for the 150th time as they visit Ashton United.

Speaking ahead of the landmark occasion, McNabb says he is confident in his side’s abilities to turn performances into points.

“Tuesday [a 2-2 draw away at Nantwich Town] was a decent point – I thought we did enough to win the game but it just wasn’t to be," he told the Warrington Guardian.

“We’ll take confidence from the performance, particularly the first half, and try to take it into Saturday.

“We have a number of injuries to contend with at the moment, but we fully believe in the squad as a whole and back the lads to get a positive result on Saturday.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, Atherton Collieries will welcome Hyde United to the Skuna Stadium, Liversedge travel to face a Bamber Bridge side still looking for their first win of the new season, and Matlock Town visit Morpeth Town - both of whom were beaten in midweek.

Guiseley - victors over Morpeth on Tuesday - are on their travels again at Nantwich Town, while FC United of Manchester head to the Yorkshire coast to take on Whitby Town, who are without a point so far this season.

And in the weekend’s only other Premier Division clash, winless duo Stalybridge Celtic and Lancaster City will lock horns at Bower Fold.

Featured photo Credit: Mark Percy

Fixtures - Saturday 20 August

Ashton United vs Warrington Rylands
Atherton Collieries vs Hyde United
Bamber Bridge vs Liversedge
Belper Town vs Warrington Town
Gainsborough Trinity vs Stafford Rangers
Marine vs South Shields
Morpeth Town vs Matlock Town
Nantwich Town vs Guiseley
Radcliffe vs Marske United
Stalybridge Celtic vs Lancaster City
Whitby Town vs FC United of Manchester