Red Rebels Leave Athletic Marooned - Ashes to Ashes !

And so to May Bank Holiday and a trip to Brocstedes Park in Ashton-in-Makerfield. It's a vital end of season game between tenants St Helens Town who host Hanley Town in the North West Counties Division One.

The sky is grey and heavy, like a pile of wet towels, as I set out on what should be a fairly straightforward trip up the M6. It becomes a circus on Thelwall viaduct with a Warburtons Bakery lorry, in the fast lane on the opposite carriageway, catching fire and providing hours of rubbernecking for those travelling north. Once past it's up to Bryn Interchange at junction 25, and then down a dirt track (not the AA recommended route !!) to Brocstedes Park.

It's a vital match because it's the last one of the regular season for the Saints and a must win to reach the play offs. Hanley can be crowned as champions if they win today. Recognising its importance Saints' main sponsor Johnsons Toyota Liverpool are offering free admission to the first 100 adult spectators through the turnstiles.

I arrive at quarter to three, in brilliant sunshine, to be met by Big John and told that the match has been postponed five minutes earlier due to waterlogging. The major problem seems to be the rain filled ruts in the centre of the pitch - a problem exacerbated by the incredulous decision to fulfil Ashton Athletic's game in February against Alsager in monsoon conditions, which has caused massive damage to the pitch.

So a return to the M6 which helpfully informs me that there are traffic problems between junctions 15 and 10 on the M60, but nothing about the ongoing chaos at Thelwall. The fire has been severe enough to burn off the tarmac so resurfacing is required meaning lane closures and long delays - bravo !!!

Fast forward 24 hours and a repeat visit to Brocstedes Park to see Ashton Athletic play Abbey Hey in the North West Counties Premier - hopefully !!

Ashton Athletic was founded in 1968 playing in the Wigan Sunday League, winning every Division in consecutive seasons before switching to the Warrington League on Saturdays where similar success was achieved. 'The Ashes' or 'Ash' developed Brocstedes Park and joined the Lancashire Combination at the start of the 1978/79 season.

Initially they struggled and finished bottom, and this struggle continued for three more seasons before The Ashes became founder members of the North West Counties in 1982 - and finished bottom. Having finished in last place twice more, Ash left the league in 1986 after failing the ground grading.

The club joined the Manchester League for the 1988/89 season and, after finding their place towards the bottom of the table, started to gradually improve. In 2006 they finished 4th and, following a two year campaign to reach the required ground standards, the Ashes rejoined the second tier of the North West Counties. A season later the club achieved third place and was promoted to the Premier Division.

Abbey Hey FC hail from the Abbey Stadium, and not the one in Cambridge ! Their Abbey Stadium is to be found on Goredale Avenue in Gorton, M18.

The visitors date back to 1902 when they formed as Abbey Hey WMC, but the club has disbanded and reformed on a number of occasions. In 1998 they moved from the Manchester League to the North West Counties and were promoted in that first season to their current level.

The club previously played at St Werburghs Road under an arrangement with Lookers, who reneged on the deal two years in. The Red Rebels then moved to Godfrey's, named after local councillor Godfrey Ermen, and after two seasons on the old English Steel site, took up residence at the Abbey in 1984.

And so indeed 24 hours later leads to a glorious spring evening, light motorway traffic and after a trip down the rutted driveway, matching the pitch, to the car park - and a game of football at Brocstedes Park :)

Brocstedes Park is essentially a converted farmer's field and fairly basic, aside from the fantastic facilities in the clubhouse, which is immediately to the left on entry. There are two small covered stands bisecting the dugouts, two open ends and the far side has a mini pitch, under water yesterday, and the M6 behind - there is a lone photographer on that touchline, but he could be doubling up as a lorry spotter !!

Ash are in their traditional yellow and the Red Rebels are in, er, maroon.... Both sides hit the woodwork early on; Abbey Hey from a cross cum shot whilst Ashton's left back is collapsed in a heap having collided with the metal railing surrounding the pitch, and Ash's Isaac Kusaloka hitting the outside of the post after some fairly shabby goalkeeping.

But it's typical end of season fare and a mundane first half sees only one further incident. A hopeful ball into the channels sees Rebels' centre back Andrew Smith stumble in the ruts, go down in instalments, and sets Kusaloka free. He bears down on goal, draws the keeper and squares for Heath Ainscow to score into an empty net and leave the Ashes 1-0 up at half time.

Perhaps with one eye on the home local derby against Atherton Collieries 48 hours later, the home side barely feature in the second half. The Red Rebels start to make inroads, and eventually Ashford Blake equalises at close range from a Jack Tinning cross.

Then a fantastic through ball from Abbey's Nico Collins leaves Sam Hind free and he scores confidently to put the Red Rebels in front, with the visitors comfortably seeing out the dying embers of the game. :)