Monday Night Preview: Atherton Colls

It's take two as the Holy Blues plan to tackle Atherton Collieries away on Tuesday night. After heavy overnight rain left the Skuna Stadium pitch unplayable earlier in the season, Tom Shaw's Holy Blues now have a North West double header to contend with, starting with this midweek challenge. Shaw's side move on to the game against the Colls following a goal-less draw at home to Nantwich Town, while the opposition are back on home turf again, having narrowly lost to play-off chasing Scarborough Athletic by two goals to one. Elliot Rokka equalising after the Seadogs had gone one up, only for the playoff hopefuls to restore their advantage and depart the Skuna with all three points.

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Despite Saturday seeing the Holy Blues drop into the relegation play-off spot confidence is still high in the camp with only three points separating Trinity in twentieth and Basford United in 14th. For the record, one team from the four Step 3 divisions, made up of the The Northern Premier League, The Isthmian League Premier, The Southern League Premier Central and The Southern League Premier South will be relegated, in addition to the sides finishing in the bottom two. This is decided on a points per game (PPG) ratio, of which we do not even fall into the bottom three with, courtesy of our game in hand over Saturday's opponents Hyde United, with a comparable goal difference.

Onto the next game though, and The Colls have been working hard to ensure their surface is improved, and the combination of a sand based pitch and brighter, drier weather, there should be little concerns regards Tuesday night's clash. Atherton, who play their home game in black and white stripes, have had a middle of the road campaign in regards their home form with seven wins and three draws in their sixteen games at the Skuna, but past records are of little consolation as it's the next game on the horizon for Tom Shaw’s men, and the target, surely a three point maximum to settle the end of season run in nerves!

Those looking to travel in support of the Holy Blues, the address for the ground is The Skuna Stadium, Alder St, Atherton, Manchester M46 9EY. Please be advised that prices for the fixture are £10 adults, £6 concessions, U18s £4, with U11s Free. Average attendances in the North West have seen crowds of approximately 364 with Trinity's closer to 500. It is my intention to bring you full match commentary of the game from the Skuna, so please subscribe to the Mixlr channel, in the following link, switch on your notifications and be sure to never miss a kick of the action.

Together let's keep fighting, and wherever you choose to join us, whether online or at the game, the players and management really appreciate it. In it together. Let's keep on fighting together...

Preview, as ever brought to you by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)