Why should I watch..?

To see if 1874 Northwich can avenge a 3-0 defeat against the same opponents little more than a week ago.

That victory, Ashton Athletic’s first of the campaign after defeats in six of their first seven matches, has been followed by two more – both of them without conceding a goal.

A 2-0 win in last season’s corresponding fixture was 1874’s first at Brocstedes Park at the fifth attempt, and they return boosted by a notable victory at Congleton in midweek.

If they can repeat that trick they could climb into the North West Counties League Premier Division’s top eight for the first time this season.

There is encouragement from recording four wins, and a draw, from their past seven games.

What they’ve said

“There wasn’t a lot that went wrong when we played Ashton last time, although the score-line suggests otherwise.

“We were perhaps disorganised at key moments, certainly at one or two set-pieces, and that proved costly.

“If we can concentrate better in both boxes, we’ll be less vulnerable to those mistakes.”

Wayne Goodison, 1874 Northwich co-manager

Numbers game

Ashton Athletic are seeking to win four successive matches in the North West Counties League for the first time in almost a year.

They won five in a row last October.

Man to keep an eye on…

Mark Jones

Has filled in as a defender in each of the past two matches while Danny Thomas nurses a calf injury.

It’s a role he can carry out with physical authority and positional intelligence, and he may be called upon to do so again behind captain Matthew Woolley and Jack Irlam.

1874 team news

Management duo Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison will consider naming an unchanged starting line-up for a third successive game.

Danny Thomas (calf) is fit again, but Sam Freakes and Ryan Jackson (both knee) are both longer-term injury absentees.

Ryan Mitchell is still unavailable because of work commitments, while Lucas Weir is in America.

The visitors are also hoping to include one new signing, a central midfielder, in the match-day squad.

Form guide (past six league games)

Ashton W W W L L L

1874 W D L W W L

Last season’s meetings

Ashton 0-2 1874 (March 6, 2018)

1874 1-2 Ashton (February 13, 2018)

Essential information

When Saturday, October 13

Kick-off 3pm

Address Brocstedes Park, Downall Green, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire WN4 0NR

Admission Adults £6, Concessions £3, Accompanied under 12s £1

Parking Approximately 100 spaces for cars at the ground