The Joy of Six - Daisies Cut Down To Size

And so to Gillford Park to the south east of Carlisle for a North West Counties Division One North clash between Carlisle City and Daisy Hill.

Carlisle City FC was formed in 1975 by two former Carlisle United players, George Walker and Ron Thompson, 'to give local lads somewhere to play'. The Sky Blues joined the Northern Alliance and were runners up three times before finishing bottom of the league in 1987, and dropping into the Northern Combination. At the end of the following season, the Northern Combination merged with the Northern Alliance and City became founder members of the new Division One.

As champions in 1992, the club was promoted to the Premier Division where they were runners up on five occasions. Having finished third in the 2015/16 season their application to join the North West Counties Football League was granted.

This was not least because they had taken over the lease at Gillford Park in the city in 2015 from Celtic Nation FC. (Yes that Celtic Nation - millionaire throws money at the Northern League club to buy promotion, club finish second, millionaire withdraws support, club goes bust: all in two years). City's first season was one of consolidation, finishing 14th in the expanded 22 club league and then 11^th last term. This time around they sit second behind Longridge Town.

The Daisies, or The Cutters, were established in 1894 playing in the Wigan & District League. By the time of World War 1 the club had moved to the Leigh & District Senior Sunday School League and then the Westhoughton League, playing at New Sirs. The club folded before World War II, but reformed in 1951 playing again in the Westhoughton League but now based at (the adjacent) St James Street & Cricket Ground - they moved back to New Sirs in 1957.

The Daisies then joined the Bolton Combination, which they won four times, before moving to the Lancashire Combination for 4 seasons and then becoming founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982.

The club was renamed Westhoughton Town during the period 1989-94, thereafter reverting back to Daisy Hill FC - they have never been promoted or relegated from the North West Counties, but only escaped demotion in 2014 because Leek CSOB and Formby resigned from the league, and last season because of the league restructuring, having finished bottom of the pile. This season the Daisies have fared little better and only two recent victories has seen them move out of the relegation zone.

So on a grey afternoon, the forecast rain not yet having materialised, it's past the six foot aluminium silhouette of a First World War Tommy outside Altrincham Town Hall and right at Riddles Liquor & Sundries. Then the M6 and Thelwall, Haydock Park, Wigan Pier and Martin Mere.

What seems like a herd of Buffaloads More lorries on the opposite carriageway, and that 'CANED' graffiti at Preston. Two car registration plates this week - DR13NKY and H3EHO and no I'm not having a laugh !!

Then Katy Cropper Sheepdogs at Shap, signs for Ullswater Steamers before coming off at Junction 42. Onto the A6 through Carleton and a wry smile at The Nosey Cow Inn and The Tipsy Tomato as I turn into Petterill Bank Road and down a dirt track to the D Marks Carpets Stadium, aka Gillford Park.

I park up and pay £4 on the turnstile; it takes an eternity to get my £1 change as the gateman works out that I am spectator 37. The final attendance today is 69....and a dog (from Daisy Hill !)

Inside the stadium is a king to most other grounds in this league, reflecting the money spent in its Celtic Nation days. To my right is a covered stand with green seats in the middle and on the right hand side, but they didn't get around to putting them in on the left !! Next to it is the Railway Social Club.

At the open top end is a small concrete standing area, screened by trees and the River Petterill beyond. Opposite the green, not quite finished, stand is a covered terrace running along virtually the whole of the touch line.

Then behind the near goal is another (completed !) all seated stand, this time in white. Above is the bar and clubhouse, and behind is the car park and railway line. Virgin Trains today, a severely truncated Northern Fail service (forcing me to drive rather than get the train from Settle), a monster freight train becalmed for a good 15 minutes and Black 5 45212 on a steam excursion.

The Sky Blues are, not surprisingly, in sky blue and the Daisies in change red and black. There is a minute's silence in recognition of Armistice Day and then we're underway. It doesn't take long to see why the two sides are in their respective league positions with City bossing it but unable to capitalise.

Against the run of play the Daisies take the lead on the quarter hour, Jack Iley heading in a Jamie Ramwell corner. Ramwell is then denied by Stephen Townsley's legs as the locals grow restless and the rain starts to tumble down – not much blue sky for the Sky Blues !!

Inevitably the Sky Blues equalise on 22 minutes, Jake Simpson's glorious cross headed across Joe Leather in the Cutters' goal by Michael Slack. City turn the screw and move in front with Marc Shiel's effortless/ speculative (depending on your viewpoint) half volley that beats Leather all ends up.

The Daisies wilt in the face of continued home pressure, with David Renyard scoring with a crisp finish to the corner four minutes from the break. Tyran Taylor heads home unchallenged from a corner bang on half time and the Sky Blues go in 4-1 up at the interval.

Daisy Hill start the second half brightly with Iley heading over and Ashley Stott defied by Townsley's shins. However normal service is resumed on the hour, Renyard getting on the end of a cross and his shot having just enough power to go under Leather and creep over the line - a goal emanating from a quickly taken long throw from Simpson.

Five minutes later City inexplicably switch off at a free kick, leaving Stott unmarked and he sidefoots home to make it 5-2. Then on 70 minutes Macaulay Farrington's magnificent 30 yard volley into the top corner, Townsley motionless, makes the game interesting as the deficit is cut to two. Straight from the kick off however the Sky Blues attack and, after a bit of penalty area pinball, Robert McCartney blasts home for 6-3.

That we don't see any further goals is a surprise to everyone. Sub Kieron Blair hits the post for City, Leather (who saves the Daisies from a real leathering) makes tremendous stops from Blair, McCartney and Simpson, and the Sky Blues have one cleared off the line.

Still, £4, 9 goals and a fabulous afternoon's entertainment !!