And so to the Barton Stadium (formerly the Great Western Playing Field), and the home of Winsford United - the ground named after committeeman Mr RG Barton who re-established the club after World War 1.
The club share the ground with 1874 Northwich, set up in November 2012 as a
supporter owned breakaway from troubled Northwich Victoria after their
demotion, ground repossession and subsequent relocation to first Stafford and
then Flixton. It is named after the date the original club - Northwich Hare and
Hounds and Football Club - was founded. In their inaugural season they were
promoted to the top tier of the North West Counties after Formby FC folded.
Today's
visitors are Barnoldswick Town (Barlick) from the Silentnight Stadium, and
formed in 2003 from a merger of Barnoldswick United and Barnoldswick Park
Rovers.
The journey
begins with roadworks on Chester Road (Deep Excavation) and is plagued with
signs promising impending road closures. Good to see a pub, The Slow and Easy,
making fun of itself on the blackboards outside (The Low and Sleazy!), then
past the Witton Chimes and into that one way system - no problems this week !
Finally right at the pretty floral Road One roundabout, and the ground is next
to the Top House pub, on the outskirts of a housing estate.
Through the car park and inside it is easy to see the ground once housed a
greyhound track. Past Jake's Cabin and the tyres on the banking behind the
goal, on my left are several closed buildings and then the 1874 club shop - 95
season tickets sold at this level is very impressive. Next to this is the Blues
Refreshment Bar & Supporters Shop above the 200 seater main stand.
Alongside also a wipeboard with today's teams, and the ubiquitous abandoned
shopping trolley.......
At the top end a ball boy is dozing in the rough behind the goal (as soft as a
Silentnight mattress ?), and there's plenty of tarpaulin and a shed that's seen
better days. Down the popular side, behind the dugouts, is a covered terrace
with low (very low actually - 6 feet tops) overhanging roof. The pitch is like
a bowl, raised at the side and in the corners.
Both sides
are festooned in green and white Union flags as, in warm sunshine but with a
stiff breeze, 1874 take the pitch in traditional Northwich green shirts with
white flashings and black shorts. Keeper Matt Conkie is in a deep pink, white
and black affair.... Barlick are in blue with yellow sleeves.
Northwich start well, conjuring several chances which they shun, and it is
against the run of play when Barlick hit the post. This galvanises the home
team, who hit the bar and the inside of the post in the same passage of play,
before centre forward Mike Brandon curls a free kick into the top corner on 36
minutes.
Half time sees a presentation and an observation from the announcer that 'the
picture would look better without the two gentlemen with beards'. A couple of
biplanes glide past to see what all the fuss is about, and sirens start wailing
- but it's just coincidence.
Shortly after half time Matt Beadle volleys home a second, and you fear the
worst for Barlick. However a free kick from Broderick keeps low and goes
through Conkie's legs for an unlikely away goal.
This prompts an immediate response from Northwich, hitting the post and forcing
Town's keeper into a magnificent tip over. Soon after Brandon is given time and
space to hit home his second, and Northwich's third. Northwich then create a
procession of chances which they contrive to miss, the nearest coming from a
desperate Barlick clearance that hits the bar. Indeed desperate rather sums up
the away side's performance.
3-1 at the finish with Barlick well beaten and looking to be in for a long
season. Northwich pick up their first home points of the season, after
Tuesday's floodlight failure and abandonment, and look forward to their first
ever FA Cup tie next weekend. The crowd of 287 (three times what the Vics are
getting) leave the ground believing another promotion is possible ☺
