A new look league kicked off on Saturday morning with one new boy joining us while two old friends disappeared from view. Football League newcomers Fleetwood Town coming into the division, while Stockport have withdrawn due to funding issues with the Hatters not getting any grants now they are a non-league club, and Premier League Wigan, under the Elite Player Performance Plan looking to move into the top level of the game with their youth side as well. Although having seen them over the years I would expect them to take some hammerings at the top table.
It was last season's champions though who look the side to beat again with Preston hammering continual underachievers Blackpool 5-1 at home, while Burnley, who finished as narrow runners-up in the 2011-12 campaign, surprisingly went down 3-2 at home to Bury. The only other win in the division, apart from Carlisle, seeing Shrewsbury pick up a useful 2-1 victory on the road at Rochdale.
The three other matches meanwhile all finished level and only actually produced two goals as Fleetwood drew 1-1 at home to Morecambe, while Wrexham at Macclesfield and Port Vale at home to Walsall both ended in a dour stalemate. Elsewhere, Oldham and Tranmere have moved their opening day fixture to later in the season, with Oldham not starting their season next week either as their scheduled match against Rochdale has been postponed.
As for Carlisle, well it was an excellent start for the Blues with a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Tom Berwick, Greg Peel and Jamie Clarey, albeit at home to one of the traditionally weaker sides in the division in Accrington Stanley. Next Saturday morning it gets markedly tougher for United though when they take on Preston in an 11am-kick off at Creighton Rugby Club, a big game for the lads already even at this early stage of the season.
Results in the division on Saturday 11th August
Burnley 2-3 Bury
Carlisle United 3-0 Accrington Stanley
Fleetwood Town 1-1 Morecambe
Macclesfield Town 0-0 Wrexham
Port Vale 0-0 Walsall
Preston North End 5-1 Blackpool
Rochdale 1-2 Shrewsbury Town
Fixtures in the division on Saturday 18th August
Burnley v Fleetwood Town
Bury v Blackpool
Carlisle United v Preston North End (11am)
Morecambe v Accrington Stanley
Tranmere Rovers v Port Vale
Walsall v Macclesfield Town
Wrexham v Shrewsbury Town
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