Daisies Feel The Blues - Cut Down To Size And Conceding Penalties...

And so to Premier Kia Seel Park in Mossley for an Edward Case Preliminary North Round Cup clash between North West Counties new boys Uppermill FC and Daisy Hill FC.

Previously playing at the Churchill Playing Fields in Greenfield, a ground share with Mossley at Seel Park from 2024 onwards has allowed the Mill to gain promotion to the North West Counties Division One North this time.

The Uppermill Blues were established in 1923 with their first honour being the Ashton District League Birkby Cup in 1952. Mill won the League in 1956 and switched to the Huddersfield & District League; the Division 4 title arrived in 1963, and Division 3 the following year.

After a yo-yo existence between Divisions 3 and 2, the Blues won Division 2 in 2005 and were runners up in Division 1 in 2008. Uppermill finally won the Division 1 title in 2013, a precursor to moving up to the Manchester League.

Promoted to the Premier Division in 2015, Mill only lasted one season up top - one win and 8 points from 30 games.... However the Blues regained first tier status in 2022, winning the League title in 2024 - runners up last term saw a successful application to join the NWCFL Division One North, with Uppermill taking one point from six from two away League fixtures thus far.

Daisy Hill FC, The Daisies, or The Cutters, was 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 a founder member 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 further reprieves happened in the 2018 season because of the league being restructured, having finished bottom of the pile, and in 2019 finishing next to bottom. 

The Daisies fared better last season in 11th place, but social media influencer Aaron Hunt resigned as chairman in March - crowds had increased enormously with fellow influencer AngryGinge in attendance at games. The Cutters have started this campaign with two home league victories.

Numberplates today are 80KG and W4LTA - and a broken down BJS van 'One Thing Leeds To Another'. Past old favourites Barberian and Marvel Guitars to the new Sew Crafty, then it's Stockport Pyramid, synonymous for its Crystal Methodist, and now the huge Royal Nawaab Indian restaurant.

Beyond strange graffiti 'Abolish the Parasite Class' and Tudno Mill and Ashton Old Baths brings us to Mossley and the old Highland Laddie pub, now apartments, next to the football ground. £6 admission and the crowd is 106 including a fair few Daisy Hill Ultras.

Seel Park 'Cream of the Pennines' is in the Bottoms area of the town, and inside hosts a blue plaque commemorating Mossley AFC. To the left is the small James Anderson main stand with the Bob Murphy Suite and bar with balcony.

The Park End is a covered terrace and there is another part covered terrace on the far side, framed by panoramic hill views. The top end is a raised terrace with a tractorway to the pitch in the corner.

The image is of a ground chiseled into the hillside, an undulating pitch and some quite glorious views. 

Uppermill are in all blue and Daisy Hill, managed by Nicky Hunt, are in change all red. Another warm, dry day but at least the pitch is in a good state, compared to last week's dust bowl.

However the first half is execrable. Indeed it takes 37 minutes before any notable action - the Daisies' Gerald-Junior McCallion is played through and forces a good save from Blues' keeper Thomas Moule. The rebound from Jenalil Blake is cleared off the line.

Uppermill respond five minutes later and Michael Sholabi's rasping drive is diverted wide by Cutters' goalie Jonathan Hughes. From the ensuing corner home skipper Tommy Lent grabs the final touch in a penalty box mess and the Blues lead 1-0 at the break.

The second period is marginally better as Daisy Hill start stronger. Hubert Nowacki curls just wide on 52 and William Shallcross hits the outside of the post three minutes later.

Mill respond and Samuel Parr heads wide from a free kick at the midway point. But some atrocious defending on 71 minutes allows Nowacki to reclaim the ball and shoot across goal with the ball ending up 2 yards out in front of an open goal - James Salkeld cannot miss and we're level at 1-1.

Nothing much else transpires and that leaves penalties - easily the most exciting part of today's game. Uppermill triumph 4-3, Moule saving two spot kicks, Hughes only the one.