Central welcome Boothstown in search of Division One win

Manchester Central host Boothstown in their penultimate home game in Division One as they seek for a return to the winning column.

Central will look to move on from their tough outing at Govan last weekend when they return to Seashell’s Trust on Saturday afternoon. Although the prospect of promotion seems near enough impossible at this stage, boss Chris Tomkinson and his side will be in desperate need of a positive result, with their last victory coming in January.

Those in the black and white strip will however look to end their campaign at Seashell’s Trust on a positive note, having enjoyed general success at their home ground this season.

The visitors however come into the game unbeaten in their last three, having picked up consecutive away wins over Avenue and Hindley Juniors. Boothstown have endured an indifferent away campaign in 2022/23 but have managed to pick up at least a point in four of their seven trips this season.

This weekend’s fixture will be the first meeting between the two sides this season, as both continue to look to climb up the table in a tight midfield pack in Division One.

In what will be only their fourth home game in 2023, Central will look to add to their solid home record this campaign, having won six of their eleven played at Seashell’s Trust.

However, Central are looking for their first win at home since they beat Hindley 3-2 in January, albeit having only played once at home since then, which was a 1-0 defeat to Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

As mentioned Boothstown have enjoyed a recent spurt of away form in 2023, having gone unbeaten in their last three trips, whilst four of their five fixtures this year have come away from home, in which they are yet to face defeat.

Central’s opponents however have struggled in front of goal this season in Division One, sitting bottom of the goals scored chart having only netted 29 times. And despite their recent form, Boothstown have only scored more than once in two of their five fixtures this year.

Central, whilst typically known for their forward play, have also struggled for goals, more so in recent times. At the end of 2022, Central ranked in the top five for goals scored in Division One, but a poor run of form since defeat at Bolton Lads and Girls Club has seen them go scoreless in their last four league fixtures.

However, Central will be pleased that this fixture will be their first against an opponent below them in the table since their last win where they ran riot at East Manchester. Their record against sides below them in Division One is in their favour, having won five of their seven fixtures.

Meanwhile, Boothstown have typically struggled against those above them in Division One this season, losing six of their nine games. However, these records may hold no weight heading into the weekend, with this being the first meeting between these sides this season.

A win for the visitors would see the gap to Central close to three points in the standings, whilst they also could leapfrog Tintwistle Athletic in ninth depending on other results going their way.

Three points for Central on Saturday could see them close the gap to seventh placed side Altrincham Hale to four points, whilst keeping two games in hand.