Good Monners Excel - Crewe Cut Down To Size...

And so to the Excel at Crewe FC Sports Pavilion on West Street in Crewe for a North West Counties Division One South game between Crewe FC and Allscott Heath FC.

Crewe FC was founded in 1998 joining the Mid Cheshire League - now the Cheshire League. The team previously played at The Cumberland Arena and moved to The Excel Building Sports Pavilion at the King George V Playing Fields earlier this year.

The club reached the Premier Division in 2014. 5th last season saw elevation to NWCFL 1 South in the close season, where they currently lie 16th, of 20, with 9 points from 8 matches.

Allscott Heath are known as The Monners (somebody who has lived their entire life in the same town or suburb). They are based at The Peter Ford Stadium on Shawbirch Road.

The club was formed as Atlas FC in 2010, changing name to Allscott in 2011, then to Allscott Heath FC in 2019. 

After a spell in the Mercian League, Heath joined the West Midlands (Regional) League in 2016, succeeding as champions in 2023 and rising to Midland League Division 1. Runners up the following year but missing out as play off losers, Allscott moved laterally to the NWCFL Division One South for the 2024/25 campaign. 

The Monners finished 15th in their first NWCFL season and 13th last term. Heath currently sit 11th with 11 points from 10 games

Numberplates today are PH16BOG - another Peter Higson vehicle - and MU51CKZ. We pass a shop 'Glam & Glow by Fatimah' but the website on the shop front is ggbyfatmiah.co.uk ; we also see Scrantastic, Baltic Paradise and Ci Ci Fleur.

A glorious sunny day takes us to the A556 and a shuttered Windmill at Tabley. Then the Smoker at Plumley - Heritage Works and hence scaffolding - alongside Bax Bees Honey Farm.

Thereafter the Weavers Whistle and Lion House in Middlewich, after Seddon Street, home of Middlewich Town FC. Through Wimboldsley with Old Hough Coarse Fishery and then the Verdin Arms and Walley's Green 🙄

That takes us to the Coach & Horses at Bradfield Green and then Wetherspoons' Marshfield Bank Farm House on the outskirts of Crewe. And a hot air balloon in the distance... as we arrive at The Excel.

£5 in at Nipper's and a crowd of 66, including several Allscott fans. It's a basic ground with entrance via the Sports Hub and only two sides in operation; the near end has two small covered terraces with seats to come...

The popular side has a walkway with several benches but there is no stand yet. Two sides are unnavigable and aside from the Hub, bar and car park, the pitch is bounded by the King George V Playing Fields.

Crewe are in blue with black shade, sponsored by Excelvent. The Monners are in all green, sponsored by The Kitchen Depot.

Five minutes in Heath take the lead. Crewe keeper Martin Blain drops a long throw in and Ben Summers scores from on the goal line.

Fifty seconds later we're all square. Zachary Billinge's cross is swept home by Kyle Vickers beyond Harry Dabbs.

George Cross misses badly for Allscott on 14 - a one on one sees him scoop the ball into Blain's arms with a very poor chip. But the Monners regain the lead at the midpoint thanks to a sublime free kick into the top corner by Carl Rogers.

Heath continue to fashion chances with Ben Davies wasting an opportunity after dispossessing the last defender, then having a shot saved at point blank range. For Crewe, Sean Cooke hits the post a minute before the break.

Still time for Edan Sears to hit a worldie from 30 yards in the third minute of stoppage time. Allscott lead 3-1 at half way.

In the second period Crewe's Joshua Maris has a long distance pop just wide early on. But the Monners continue to threaten and Juliano Da Silva clears off the line on 69.

Then Crewe are unfortunate twice: with a quarter of an hour to go sub Samuel Newman has his 'goal' disallowed for a push. Then two minutes on Sears is penalised for handball, but Dabbs saves the resultant penalty from Maris.

Matters are wrapped up with a minute left. Heath sub Jack Davies is played in and scores emphatically in the bottom corner as Allscott finish 4-1 winners.

Bad Monners - Ramblers Walk Away With It !!

And so to The Giant Studio Stadium and Allscott Sports & Social Club on Shawbirch Road for a North West Counties Division One South clash between Allscott Heath FC and Sandbach United FC.

The Monners (somebody who has lived their entire life in the same town or suburb) was formed as Atlas FC in 2010, changing name to Allscott in 2011, then to Allscott Heath in 2019. 

After a spell in the Mercian League, Heath joined the West Midlands (Regional) League in 2016, succeeding as champions in 2023 and rising to Midland League Division 1. Runners up last season but missing out as play off losers, Allscott moved laterally to the NWCFL Division One South for this campaign. The Monners currently sit 6th with 10 points from 6 games.

Sandbach United was established in 2004 when Sandbach Ramblers and Sandbach Albion joined forces in their quest to improve football facilities in Sandbach. The club badge reflects the union, featuring R and A in its design.

 

Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.

 

United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The Ramblers were accepted into the North West Counties in 2016 and have consistently placed upper half, with two failed play off attempts. One place below Allscott in 7th the Ramblers also have ten points from six league games this time. This includes a thrilling comeback at home on Tuesday against the previously unbeaten Camels of Cammell Laird, coming back from 3-0 down to win 4-3.

Past Ouvra Deli and Kanchi Foods then numberplates DE1 8OYZ (J Davidson), AM1 8EAU, PH11ZZR and Vanoffee - unsurprisingly a mobile coffee outlet. And another BJS home delivery van - this one 'Lighting Up Blackpool'....

A very similar route to last week's trip to Shawbury. So to the  M6 and Sica Jenga graffiti and a hoarding advertising Tough CAD  - indestructible plans.

Off at a gloomy Trentham and the journey becomes one of incessant tractors and caravans... At Ashley there's Romany Rise and duck & quail eggs before I'm at Loggerheads again...

Then Almington Quarry, Dorothy Clive Garden and Market Drayton. Here I find Fordhall Organic Farm and a promise...'Gypsy/ Traveller Site Coming Soon' - I bet the residents can't wait 😀 

To Tern Hill Hall, Cold Hatton - it's a lovely summer's day by the way - Waters Upton and horrific roadworks at Crudgington 😳 Onto The Ugly Duckling at Long Lane before turning at the Shawbirch roundabout.

That brings me to The Pheasant at Admaston and shortly after into Allscott  - the cricket, bowling and sports clubs on the right. £6 admission and a crowd of 92 assembles.

The near end holds the car park (no problem today) and a large new build residential estate. The far side has the required 50 seat covered stand, in green, and behind is the cricket club, with a match in progress.

Opposite are the changing rooms and the bar, with benches and a function room alongside. At the top, which is closed off, more football pitches and mature trees.

The Monners are in green and black, sponsored by Y-our Network Group,  whilst the Ramblers are in blue and white, sponsored by Planet Environmental.

Sandbach, prompted by Stanley Tatters, immediately take control. Joe Bevan shoots wide when he should have done better and then hits the underside of the bar.

However third time lucky and on 27 minutes he bursts through and confidently hits home. Ben Greenop doubles the lead three minutes later; his rather apologetic shot dumbfounding unsighted home keeper Bayden Ngo-Zulu.

That becomes three ten minutes before half time. Left back Taylor Kennerley swings in a ball from right wing which misses everyone and nestles in the corner of the net.

3-0 to the Ramblers at the break, Allscott barely raising a whimper.

The Monners are allowed to be better in the second period, with Sandbach not displaying the same level of urgency. Heath's Eric Mensah goes close and then has an effort cleared off the line.

United waste a four on two, and Allscott take advantage. Sub Harry Morris, with a delicious lob over away custodian Andrew Jones, at least gives the Monners a consolation with seven minutes left.

Greenop heads badly wide but the last laugh is with the Ramblers. With the final move of the match they break and the ball falls to sub Sam Lynch and his shot is deflected, looping over Ngo-Zulu.

The 92 minutes are up and Sandbach come away with a deserved 4-1 win 😀 United go sixth, Heath fall to eleventh.