Home openers tricky for Skem

FIXTURES for the new NWCFL Premier league season have at last been revealed – with Skem set to host both Longridge Town and Litherland REMYCA at the One Call Taxis Stadium@JMO in the opening week.

Last season’s ‘null and void’ decision came before REMYCA were due to visit United, so Tuesday, October 6 will see a first visit to Skem’s new home for them.

Three days earlier on Saturday, October 3 Longridge will also make their first visit, having overcome United last season when based at Prescot Cables.

Skem’s first away trip sees the short journey to face Bootle on Tuesday, October 13. That was the team’s last visit of the 2019/20 season as the pair faced off in the Liverpool Senior Cup back in March.

Next up will be a visit to Runcorn Town on Saturday, October 17.

The traditional home derby game against Burscough takes place on Boxing Day before Skem return to visit them on Easter Monday (April 5). That is the first of two Bank Holiday away trips with the second being a visit to Charnock Richard on Monday, May 3.

The longest trips of the season both come in the winter with the visit to Barnoldswick Town on Saturday, November 2 – one which last season fell foul of the weather several times and therefore never took place.

There will also be a trip to Shropshire to face Whitchurch Alport, two days earlier than last season’s planned visit, this time pencilled in for Saturday, December 19.

At the end of the season after the aforementioned visit to Charnock Richard, Skem visit Irlam on Saturday, May 8 and welcome Bootle on the final day of the season on Saturday, May 15.

Skem prepared for this weekend’s FA Cup Preliminary Round tie with a 5-2 win at fellow cup hopefuls St Helens Town on Saturday – Alex Davies bagging a hat-trick – while on Tuesday they came away from Prescot Cables with a 4-0 victory.