Two Home Sides, Two Away Sides, Two Apiece !!

And so, under unusual circumstances, to Salisbury Fields in Broadheath, home of Broadheath Central FC, for today's Cheshire League Premier Division clash. The designated home team is Egerton FC, from Mereheath Lane just outside of Knutsford, whilst the 'away' side are the very same Broadheath Central. Quite whether this is down to PanicDemic19 or last week's wanton vandalism at Egerton Youth Club is not quite clear.....

Egerton FC was formed in 2002 and was named after its founder, Maurice Egerton. After playing in local leagues, the Yellows moved up to the Cheshire League and in May 2016 chairman Tom O'Donnell announced plans to redevelop the site in order to be eligible for promotion to the North West Counties Football League.

In the 2017/18 campaign, Egerton received national media attention after the signings of former professionals Nathan Ellington, Dean Gorre and the (tragically) late JLloyd Samuel. In the same season, Egerton finished fourth in the Cheshire League Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division in the process. Egerton entered the FA Vase in 2019/20 but the club was later withdrawn after failing a ground grading inspection.

That same season the Yellows put forward their nomination to move up to the NWCFL, but the season's curtailment proved a blessing - 7 points from 18 games would surely have meant exiting the division in the opposite direction !! Two wins and two losses this time around leaves Egerton exactly midtable, 9th of 17.

Broadheath Central Junior FC was established in 1922, and played in local Saturday and Sunday Leagues for many years before joining the Mid Cheshire League in 1991 and immediately gaining promotion to Division One. Relegated in 1997, Central left the (now) Cheshire League in 2009 for the Altrincham and District Amateur League.

Heath rejoined the Cheshire League in 2016, and moved up from the First Division to the Premier in 2019 after a fiery 1-1 draw with the now defunct Blacon Youth (still extant in Division Two via their Reserve side) in very late May. Eighteen games last time, thirteen points and thirteenth place at curtailment was a disappointment. This campaign two wins, two draws and a solitary loss in an entertaining clash with Altrincham Reserves leaves last weekend sees Broadheath one place above the Yellows.

Almost certainly my shortest trek to a match sees me spend ten minutes walking via Claremont Tennis Club, a large dead rat on the pavement outside Aura Apartments and then left into Salisbury Road opposite the Old Cheshire Cheese pub (now Heatcraft) and Cryoniq.

Terraced houses living cheek by jowl bring me to the railed off Salisbury Fields, surrounded by trees in various states of autumnal undress, and with the Bridgewater Canal, towpath and modern apartment block just visible in the distance.

Numberplates GR11LAS (Gorilla Barbers - struggling to see their USP) and H3XED feature en route. Central occupy Unit 18 of The Arches & Quay House Business Park Estate constructed out of the old viaduct, providing changing rooms and a coffee shop.

Storm Aiden brings strong winds, variable sunshine and a brief shower as a youngsters' game alongside finishes shortly before the 2pm kick off. A fluctuating crowd approaches 50, with a healthy and vocal Egerton contingent in the corner.

Egerton are in yellow and black, sponsored by MyProtein, Broadheath in red and black stripes, endorsed by SoeShe, and we're underway at two minutes before two.

Central are denied by the Yellows' keeper's legs before on 17 minutes an imbecilical decision leads to the opening, home goal. Egerton are awarded a free kick in their penalty box, and for mystifying reasons choose to blast the ball at a Central player barely two yards away. The ball ricochets out to the right wing and a gorgeous, arcing cross is met by a hopeful lunge, with just enough purchase to stab the ball into the net.

Arguments rage and Egerton receive three yellow cards in the next ten minutes before regaining their composure. On the half hour Dougie Pringle's shot is blocked and ripples the side netting. My neighbour celebrates the 'goal' - a few seconds too early as the resultant corner is touched in.

Decent chances at both ends but 1-1 at the break, which lasts barely six minutes and sees the referee and linesman use their cars as improvised dressing rooms......

Within a minute a misplaced Broadheath pass falls for Niall Rhodes, who cuts in and finishes with aplomb, smashing into the bottom left hand corner. Parity is restored 9 minutes later as the ball is not cleared and Central's left winger emulates Rhodes with a wonderful strike into the top right hand net.

A flurry of substitutions disrupts the flow of the game, but you feel the next goal will prove to be the winner. Sadly it never arrives, despite two desperate saves at the death, one at each end, with Rhodes denied by an unorthodox legs first block. 2-2 at the finish is a fair outcome, whether you're home or away.....