Who will Central face this season?
- Rob Mackenzie
- Jun 26, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 3, 2023
Nearly four weeks after the dramatic end to the season, which saw Central gain promotion in the last minute, the dust seems to have finally settled, and the boys are back in training and preparing for a big season in Division 1. Therefore, we will be giving a quick run down on each team Central will face this season, in alphabetical order.
AFC Monton
AFC Monton finished 3rd in the league last season in Division 2, just 3 points behind title winners Bolton United. However, they may feel they already deserve to be playing their games in Division 1. Having been very unlucky in the 19-20 season that the league got cancelled due to Covid, they sat one point off the top of the league with three games in hand. There were 15 goals in the two games between Central and Monton last season, a 5-2 home win for a central and a 5-3 home win for Monton. Central know this will be a challenging fixture, but also know they are capable of taking the points if they are up to standard on the day.
Altrincham Hale
Altrincham Hale played their games in Division 1 last season and struggled, losing twice as many games as they won whilst finishing with a -24 goal difference. But, they finished 3rd in Division 1 in 2019, straight after winning Division 2 in 2018. Therefore, they will be hoping they can return to the standard they were at three years ago.
Despite playing in the Division above Central last season, they did come up against each other in the cup. Central lost 4-1 in a game where the result may have been a bit harsh. However, it sets a good precedent for the standard of the teams in Division 1.
Avenue
Avenue is based up in Heywood and played in Division 2 with Central last season, finishing just 3 points behind Central and gaining late promotion to Division 1 due to league restructure with several new teams entering the Manchester League Divison 2. Central and Avenue enjoyed two more entertaining games of football last season, with 16 goals being scored and each team taking 3 points. In their first meeting, Central ended up on the right side of a 5-4 thriller away from home. However, just six weeks later, Monton came to Wright Robinson college and got revenge with a 5-2 victory. Therefore, like every game in Division 1, Central know they will have two challenging games. Nevertheless, it is another two games Central know they can win.
Avro Reserves
Avro is a team that most people would not have expected to see on this list after (looking like) losing out on promotion in the last minute last season. They gained promotion to Division two in 2018 after finishing 3rd in Division three. Therefore, the club will be happy with the upwards trajectory over the last few years. Both were tightly contested in the two games between Central and Avro last season. With the first being a 4-3 away win for Manchester Central. And the second game needs no introduction. However, if you were unaware, Central needed to win to gain promotion at the time, and Avro needed just a point or more. The game was 2-2 going into injury time until the last minute when Kasali netted a late winner, which saw jubilant scenes at Wright Robinson College. Despite the fact the result did not affect much in hindsight, Central will take great confidence in knowing they took 6 points off Avro last season.
Bolton Borough
Bolton Borough is another team which played alongside Central in Division 2 last season. They finished 2nd with an impressive 59 points and just four losses, whilst missing out on the title by 1 point. Central struggled to find the back of the net in their two games last season, scoring just once in 2 games. However, they only lost 2-1 and 1-0, and both the games were before November. Therefore, with Central's best form coming second half of the season, they know if they keep their standards up, they could win both games.
Bolton Lads and Girls Club
Bolton Lads and Girls showed last season that they are a good side and will no doubt be setting their sights on promotion next season. They finished 5th in Division 1, winning 10 of their 20 games and having plenty of experience in the Division, having been playing in Division 1 since they gained promotion in 2018 after finishing 3rd in Division 2. Therefore, as every game will be in Division 1, Central know they will be challenging games but also a great test against an established Division 1 side.
Bolton United
Bolton United completed a hattrick of Bolton teams who will be competing in Division 1 next season. They could be a team to look out for after winning Division 2 last season with 60 points from 26 games. They also looked impressive in 20-21, winning 7 out of 8 before Covid again resulted in the season being cancelled. Central lost both games last season to Bolton United, but both were tightly contested. The first was a 4-2 away loss early on in the season. The return fixture was one which Central let slip through their hands, having led 2-0 before a comeback from Bolton resulted in 3 goals and 3 points.
Boothstown
Boothstown finished their last season with an identical record to Bolton Lads and Girls Club, ten wins, three draws and seven losses. But finished one place below with an eight lesser goal difference. They have been playing in Division 1 since 2016 and have had some impressive seasons, such as finishing 7th out of 19 teams in 2017 and 6th in 2018. They are another established Division 1 side who will not make life easy for Manchester Central.
East Manchester
East Manchester are another team who played in Division 1 last season, finishing 7th with seven losses, seven wins, and six draws; an excellent season.
However, they were probably lucky to be playing in Division 1 last season after sitting rock bottom with one win and seven losses in 20-21 before the season got cancelled. But last season, they showed they are a top side who will give Central another two tough games.
Elton Vale
Elton Vale finished just one place behind East Manchester last season in Division 1. Despite losing 11 games, they still finished with a +11 goal difference. Due to only conceding four or more on three occasions, as well as a 10-0 home win against Wilmslow Albion.
However, Elton Vale will feel that in a parallel universe, they would have been playing in the Premier Division last season. In 19-20, they sat top of Division 1 with 14 wins from 17.
As well as sitting top in 20-21 with six wins from 8 and a goal difference four times better than anyone else in the league. Therefore, the last three seasons indicate that Elton Vale will set a good standard and opportunity for Manchester Central.
Govan Athletic
Govan Athletic are another team who showed last season they are a strong Division 1 side. They finished the season 4th in the league, just three points behind the title winners and second in the league.
They also drew both of their games against the league winners. Therefore, proving they can give anyone a tough game next season. As well as being another established Division 1 team, having played in Division one since 2018.
Hindley Juniors
Hindley Juniors were the second lowest placed side to get promoted from Division 2 last season, finishing 7th in the league, which is precisely mid-table; who'd have thought that would end up getting a promotion? As well as, being another side who were probably lucky to escape relegation in both seasons which got cancelled. Finishing 8th out of 11 sides with a - 22 goal difference and just three wins out of 12 in 19-20, furthermore finishing 9th out of 11 teams in 20-21 with just one win from 8 and a - 19 goal difference. Nevertheless, Central know they are no pushovers, having left Wright Robinson with a 5-2 back in November. Although, Central did get a brilliant 6-0 win away from home just two months earlier.
Leigh Genesis
Leigh Genesis was the lowest placed side in Division 2 to achieve a late promotion this season. Initially, Uppermill was set to play in Division 1 next season until they were asked to be promoted to the Premier Division, leaving another slot for a Division two side. Despite finishing four places below Central, they were only six points off in the end. As well as winning 3-0 and 1-0 against Central last season. Although both games were played by game week six, even though Central lost both games last season, they will know that in the second half of the season, this Central side is capable of taking six points if they can continue how they finished last season.
Tintwistle Athletic
Tintwistle Athletic are another stalwart Division 1 side, competing in their fifth season in the Division.
Although last season didn't go to plan, in their four games against 1st and 2nd in the league, they did not lose any game by more than two goals, highlighting that although they did not accumulate as many points as they would have hoped, they are still a side capable of giving anyone a game.
They also showed back in 19-20 before the season got cancelled, having won 12 out of 18 games and sitting second in the league. Therefore, it will be another two challenging games for Central despite what last seasons league table may say.
Wilmslow Albion
Wilmslow Albion will be hoping for serious improvement next season. Otherwise, it could be a long season ahead for last season's worst performers in Division 1. They finished the season with 17 losses from 20 and a - 48 goal difference. Any other season would put you on the first bus to the Division below. However, due to a restructure Division 1, they have survived by the skin of their teeth. As well, having a horrible track record in Division 1, losing 26 out of 28 back in 16-17, and they haven't finished a season above the bottom three since. However, Central know they will be determined to put things right this season and know how much of a difference a few fresh faces can make.
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