Skem to kick off with first ever meeting against Leek Town
SKELMERSDALE United open their Evo-Stik West campaign against Leek Town this weekend - the first ever meeting between the two sides.
With the restructuring of the Evo-Stik pyramid - the previous North and South system has been removed - several new faces will visit Valerie Park over the course of the season.
Skelmersdale are currently moving forward with plans to return back to their home town following almost a year of exile after a disagreement with the landlord of their Uretek Stadium but will begin the campaign at Prescot Cables, where they spent the majority of last term.
Season ticket prices at Prescot have been set at £120 for adults during the 38-game season or £60 for concessions. The admission on match-days will remain at £8 for adults, concessions £4 and U16s just £1.
Despite the campaign not starting until Saturday, several of United’s fixtures already been switched.
The trip to Glossop at the end of September has been cancelled due to the home side’s FA Trophy commitments and Dave Powell will now take his team to Radcliffe, bringing forward the originally have April.
United will now face Glossop away from home at the beginning of October.
Skelmersdale’s midweek fixtures have also been switched to a Wednesday, foregoing the usual Tuesday evening kick-offs.
Under the new league system, United will play just one midweek game in the new year as they travel to newlypromoted Runcorn Linnets on Monday 22nd April. scheduled fixture in
The club also have just two home midweek games scheduled for the new campaign when Radcliffe visit on Wednesday 12th September and Colwyn Bay arrive two weeks later.
With United finishing second-bottom of the Evo-Stik North last season - only the bottom club were relegated to the Hallmark Security Premier Division - Powell will be hoping to get off to a flying start this weekend and avoid the troubles of last season. at the moment.
“I could have six or seven who I inherited last year starting games but they had spells where they won eight on the spin which is amazing - but then lose eight on the run after that. That’s unreal.
“There is something good when it clicks but there’s something bad when it doesn’t. I think we’ve just got to emphasise and concentrate more on what we do.”
Watson also revealed he is struggling to find the right formula for his attacking options.
Last season’s Conference North top-scorer Jason Gilchrist found himself benched for the opening game of the season but started Tuesday’s defeat alongside Jack Sampson with summer signing Mike Phenix starting on the sidelines.
“I’ve got three proven goalscorers at this level but I can’t get all three of them in the team. It needs to be two of them in the team so I’m rotating it around.”
Southport travel to Nuneaton Town this weekend hoping to move off the bottom of the table.
Nuneaton are also winless in their opening four games after losing 2-1 to Boston United in midweek.