Winnington Explore Every Avenue - But Stymied By Vulcan Bombshells !!

And so to the Moss Farm Leisure Complex in Winnington and a Cheshire League Division One fixture with massive promotion ramifications between Winnington Avenue and Vulcan.

Winnington Avenue YC 94 was established, unsurprisingly, in 1994. Initially playing in the Crewe and District League, where they were champions in 2014/15, Avenue joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2018. Unable to play at their nearby home venue at Jubilee Fields, requiring extensive modifications, Winnington have taken residence at Moss Farm for their Cheshire League adventures.

Promoted at the end of a Covid ravaged 2019/20 campaign Avenue currently sit second on 60 points with two matches to play - today and next Saturday at Blacon Youth, who can also mathematically still go up.

The modern day Vulcan FC was established in 1955 in Newton-le-Willows as a works team by its employer, Vulcan Foundry, a locomotive builder, and its workers - but historically its roots can be traced back to 1923/24. Vulcan Institute had two ignominious seasons in the Lancashire Combination, finishing next to bottom on both occasions in 1963 and 1964, before disappearing. 

Vulcan Newton joined the Lancashire Combination in 1979 and became a founder member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 - but it only lasted 2 years. A merger saw the club change name to Vulcan Clock Face before settling on Vulcan FC - all incarnations spending the vast majority of their time plying their trade in the Warrington & District League.

The current Vulcan FC, who were long time leaders of Division 1 this time but now overtaken by promoted Whalley Range, stepped up from the Warrington & District League to the Cheshire League Division Two in 2017. Promoted as runners up in their first campaign Vulcan lie third now, behind on goal difference to Avenue, also with 60 points going into their final game of the season. As for the club badge.....say no more !!

The M56 and off at junction 10, the Stretton Fox on one side, the Partridge on the other (how apposite !), with numberplates BA55 EAD, SW15 SHY and GD 16ERS (gravediggers ?!) alongside Apple Jack's Adventure Farm. I join the A49. past Brookside and Greenwood Fisheries and the Chetwode Arms, then Whitley, Antrobus St Marks Primary School, Little Leigh and into Barnton, home of Hormbrey Butchers. 

Right at Anderton Boat Lift and The Cods Pollocks chippy as I reach Winnington, beyond the cricket club and Winnington Avenue (the street), home of Jubilee Fields, and onto the Moss Farm Leisure Complex, next door to Winnington Park County Primary School.

The complex is the home of the Cheshire FA, Northwich RUFC and Northwich CC, with the 4G caged astroturf surface surrounded by 3 rugby and 2 football pitches, a social club and tall trees - and Winnington Park RUFC in the distance. 

The advertised 1345 kick off proves to be incorrect as we get underway at 1401.

But before the match gets underway the first bombshell.... Vulcan's home game against Blacon Youth on 12 February, which finished 1-1, is overturned due to an ineligible Blacon player. Youth are deducted one point and that, plus a 'failure to fulfil' at Denton Town means Blacon cannot be promoted. Vulcan are awarded the win and move onto 62 points.
 

Avenue are in red and white chequerboard, sponsored by D & R Pipe Fabrications and Vulcan in change grey and yellow, sponsored by Cannon Electrical Services. In overcast conditions, the sun occasionally breaking through, there is a healthy crowd of about 75, swelling to three figures by the end.

Vulcan start much the better, amidst a flurry of free kicks conceded by Avenue. On the quarter hour the Bombers have a header from yet another free kick deflected over the bar, and another header from a corner is just past the post.
 

It takes 35 minutes for Winnington to create a chance - Vulcan's keeper standing tall to parry from the centre forward. No matter though as a minute later Avenue fashion another opportunity and Callum Payne's shot is excellently saved, but from the floor his rebound trickles in. A shot into the side netting nearly doubles the advantage but Winnington lead 1-0 at the break.
 

The second period is not easy on the eye with Avenue using every excuse to waste time, conjuring up multiple injuries, and hanging onto their slender lead. That said their rearguard action is quite magnificent, blunting the Vulcan attack of any clear chances.
 

That is until the second Vulcan bombshell on 69 minutes when a free kick is beautifully delivered into the box and volleyed home by Scott Fisher. It's all Vulcan now, but Avenue regain their defensive resilience, and frustration boils over into a flare up, which appears to include a Vulcan head butt - the referee does nothing other than award the away team a free kick for the original wild challenge.
 

With Vulcan going for the win, and promotion, that leaves gaps at the back and Avenue create chances on the counter attack, three wastefully spurned and one cynically eliminated with the away custodian marooned on the half way line....
 
That brings us to 8 minutes of injury time, and in the 100th minute Avenue's keeper pulls off a stunning point blank save to keep the scores level. Ultimately it means Whalley Range are crowned as champions and Winnington need to win at Blacon next Saturday in the last league game of the season to be promoted - otherwise Vulcan will erupt and go up....