Villagers Steel Themselves To Earn A Point

And so to Queen Street in Bilston for a North West Counties Division One South clash between Bilston Town FC and Barnton FC. Queen Street was previously closed after 120 vandalism acts in 5 years in 2007 but was refurbished a year later. 

The home side was established as Bilston United in 1894 from a merger of Bilston Rovers and Bilston Wanderers, playing in the Walsall & District League where they were champions 6 times. Retitled as Bilston FC the Steelmen entered the Birmingham Combination which then became the Birmingham & District League. 

That was subsequently renamed the West Midlands (Regional) League and Bilston was crowned as champions in 1973. The club changed name again to Bilston Town in 1983, and moved to the Southern League Midland two years later.

The Steelmen reverted back to the West Midlands in 2002, after voluntary resignation, and later to the Midland League in 2021. After finishing 8th last time Town was laterally moved to the NWCFL 1 South in the close season and have started with two wins in three, sitting 10th.

The visitors, Barnton FC, from Townfield, was established in 1946 and became founder members of the Mid Cheshire League two years later. The Villagers won the league 11 times in total, including seven in a row from 1997 to 2003.

The league was renamed the Cheshire League in 2007 and Barnton were relegated to Division Two in 2009. Having been promoted as champions in 2013, the Villagers then finished 5th in the top tier in 2014 which was sufficient to gain election to the North West Counties Football League - their first ever season at Step 6; they had however previously represented England in the UEFA Regions League in 2004 playing Slovenian and Bosnian opposition.

In 2015/16 the club finished third and won the play off final 2-0 against Bacup Borough after extra time in front of a record crowd of 554 (yup I was there !). 17th in their first season at the higher level but four wins, 19 points and 171 goals conceded in the 2017/2018 23 team league made relegation inevitable; they have remained in Division One South ever since, and finished 10th last season. This campaign has begun with one win in three then a late 3-3 fightback at New Mills, from two goals down on Tuesday, to lie 14th.

Another sunny day sees us go past Howlin Hots and straight on to the M6. Numberplates today are A11URS and C4MPY. 

We go beyond Hilton Park and turn off at Junction 10 to the Black Country Route. Then through Anson, Keyway and The Lunt roundabouts and bypassing Ecobat brings us to Queen Street on the outskirts of Bilston.

It's £8 admission with a crowd of 175 and inside sees two very small covered terraces, one signed as Turners End, at either end, both oddly housing single benches. Queen Street, tree lined and residential, has the main stand, clubhouse and bar.

The far side is blocked off for car parking; behind is the Johnson Van Centre. Orange bars are utilised to protect footballs being lost but there is a steward on ball boy duty in any event.

There's perimeter advertising for Gingerapple Signs & Graphics and Joseph Ash Galvanizing, part of the Wedge Group. Bilston are in orange and black, sponsored by City of Wolverhampton College, and Barnton sport their change blue and yellow strip, sponsored by Weaverham Hardware & Electrical.

Bilston have the first chance on 7 minutes from Sam Cudjoe Yankson, well saved by Ryan Taylor. Then after 14, against the run of play, Barnton take the lead as Charley Jarrald steals in at the back post and prods home, past James Crump, from a deep cross.

Four minutes later the Steelmen are level. A long throw is inadvertently flicked on and Nathan Guest sumptuously volleys home into the top corner.

Jarrald has another effort saved by Crump, and Cudjoe Yankson unluckily diverts a cross cum shot over on the half hour. Then just before half time Thomas Stanton, Barnton's centre forward, misses horribly and we reach the break at 1-1.

Bilston edge the second period but ultimately the Steelmen lack that cutting edge.... and luck. Ten minutes into the half Ben Priest's hopeful shot bobbles on the hard surface (at least there is grass and not a dust bowl !!), Taylor fumbles, the ball bobbles again and goes agonisingly wide.

The Villagers' substitute Callum Sandle has two good chances, one scuffed wide and the other expertly beaten away by Crump in a one on one. Taylor produces an excellent save from a Darragh Bustin free kick at the other end.

But it finishes 1-1 despite desperate penalty area action and goal line clearances at both ends in injury time.

Avrocious - Villagers Bombed Out of Vase

 And so to the Vestacare Stadium, the former Whitebank Stadium, in Limeside Village, Oldham for an FA Vase tie between Avro and Barnton. History in the making today as Avro enter the FA Vase for the first time ever as North West Counties Division One North meets North West Counties Division One South.

The origins of Avro FC go back to the years just before the start of World War II. A V Roe established an aircraft factory at Chadderton, which became the home of the famous ‘Dambusters’ aircraft – the Avro Lancaster, as well as the Cold War ‘V’ bomber – the Avro Vulcan.

A V Roe had previously purchased a smaller factory in Failsworth, where the Failsworth Lodge was also located. 1936 saw the Lodge purchased by the Avro works manager and the birth of works team Avro FC.

In 1950 the Lodge was opened up to all personnel of Avro and took on the Lancaster Club name. The Grade II listed Lancaster Club then became the club’s headquarters for the next 67 years.

Avro joined the Manchester League in the 1954/55 season but only had two brief stints of 3 seasons apiece in the Premier Division. They returned permanently for the 2008/09 campaign, winning the Premier League in 2009/10 and retaining it the following year, although the latter title was stripped after a points deduction.

Oldham Council had bought the Lancaster Club land in 2012 and announced plans to build houses on the site. This led to the move to the Vestacare Stadium, also home to Oldham Roughyeds RLFC and previously to the now defunct Oldham Borough FC (formerly Oldham Dew and Oldham Town), at the start of last season.

The club won the double of Manchester League Premier Division and Manchester FA County Cup in their first season at the new ground, and applied to join the North West Counties League, gaining a place in Division One North.

The visitors, Barnton FC, from Townfield, was established in 1946 and became founder members of the Mid Cheshire League two years later. The Villagers won the league 11 times in total, including seven in a row from 1997 to 2003.

The league was renamed the Cheshire League in 2007 and Barnton were relegated to Division Two in 2009. Having been promoted as champions in 2013, the Villagers then finished 5th in the top tier in 2014 which was sufficient to gain election to the North West Counties Football League - their first ever season at Step 6; they had however previously represented England in the UEFA Regions League in 2004 playing Slovenian and Bosnian opposition.

In 2015/16 the club finished third and won the play off final 2-0 against Bacup Borough after extra time in front of a record crowd of 554 (yup I was there !). 17th in their first season at the higher level but four wins, 19 points and 171 goals conceded in the 23 team league made relegation inevitable last time.

And so with the sun trying to break through thick grey cloud it's on to Manchester Road and immediate number plate spotting. 5 AVR and MW66 AVR might not be significant but are they portents of things to come ? But this week's winner is YE11 OWN belonging to a yellow Nissan Micra, which suggests a certain lack of imagination and a need to get out a bit more (the same could be levelled at the writer !!)

All this before Cinders Fireplaces and the shutters that are ELCTRICAL. TOILETORIES..... The M60, mayhem and gridlock at the A34 junction, the Co op pyramid and its crystal Methodist, then Red Rock which this week won the 'award' for the UK's worst new building.

More traffic chaos at Denton Rock due to an accident, a car smashed into the barrier with a sheared off tyre. Taking the Hollinwood turning and, with an odd Bug Hotel piece of street furniture in the middle of a roundabout, this brings me to Hollins Lane.

Past The Hideout, a barber's shop extolling 'Do It For The Love, Not For The Likes' and then Inspect A Gadget, it's right onto Oak Road, beyond Limeside Park and the Vestacare Stadium is in sight. Not much parking at the ground so I park on a side street in the housing estate, a curious mix of older, slightly down at heel terraceds and semis, and new builds on Stag Pasture Road.

A fiver at the turnstile takes me into a three and a half sided ground this week. To the right a short covered area in the corner, the roof barely six feet above the ground. A walkway takes me to the top end and this extends to behind the goal before it comes to an abrupt halt - the inaccessible half side. More substantial netting this week compared to Cleator Moor, but there again this is a rugby league stadium....

A strange press box level with the pitch is behind the near goal and then steps lead to the main stand on the far side. Three rows of seats, originally taken from Wilderspool (Warrington RLFC), and several already 'Reserved For Bradford Bulls Director' ahead of tomorrow's Roughyeds encounter with the Bulls. One suspects that today's crowd of 74 will be eclipsed at least tenfold by tomorrow's !

Avro are in blue and black stripes, Barnton in change orange with sky blue trim. The announcer insists on calling the visitors Barton and informs us this is, in fact, an FA Cup match - get a grip man !!!

A perfect 4G AstroTurf pitch, so much better than the 3G one at Lower Breck, and the match is underway as the sun comes out after a brief rain shower. Two bookings in the first three minutes and then on 7 minutes the Villagers' Steve Warburton is played through and tugged back. As last man a straight red card follows for Daniel Grimshaw and Avro will have to play 83 minutes a man down.

However they do take the lead on the quarter hour. Barnton stopper Aaron Lyons fumbles a corner and Sam Rathbone scores easily; the announcer gets his name wrong and has to issue a correction at half time.

The Villagers fail to come to terms with the surface or the man advantage, fashioning only one real chance in the first period with Josh Crofts' effort tipped over. Indeed Avro look the more likely, particularly from corners which Barnton seem unable to defend.

Within two minutes of the restart Barnton concede a wretched goal. Playing out from the back, Louis Potts intercepts a sloppy ball and instinctively shoots from 35 yards. A daydreaming Lyons is hopelessly out of position and scrambles embarrassingly; the ball hits the back of the net despite his flailing dive.

The tone is set for the rest of the game: Avro hungrier, a magnificent rearguard action, lovely pass and movement and bombing forward in numbers. Barnton cannot cope and their best chance is a deflected cross cleared off the line by Mike Norton.

Michael Stockdale wastes two clear chances for the home side, Joe Bevan has a goal chalked off slightly harshly for a tug, and The Villagers' Callum Richards is lucky to stay in the pitch, pulling back sub Phil Armstrong when through on goal.

Armstrong has the last laugh though, teed up beautifully by Norton for a sumptuous volley with twelve minutes to play to put Avro three up. It is a lead they comfortably protect to the end, despite the man disadvantage.

Whites Hot - Seventh Heaven As Villagers Annihilated

And so to the Halton Stadium, home of Widnes FC and also Widnes Vikings RLFC. This afternoon sees the visit of Barnton FC for a North West Counties Premier Division fixture.

The home team was formed as The Dragons AFC in February 2003, concentrating on grassroots football. In 2012 they began a consultation process with Widnes Vikings RLFC to become part of the brand, and set up a first team that played one season in the West Cheshire League 3rd Division.

Widnes Vikings FC was admitted into the football pyramid and placed in the North West Counties Football League for the 2013/14 season. However, the club moved away from the Vikings brand in March 2014, becoming Widnes FC.

The Whites were promoted as champions of the First Division last May, and they are currently second in the Premier Division this time, on a 13 match unbeaten run.

The visitors, Barnton FC, from Townfield, was established in 1946 and became founder members of the Mid Cheshire League two years later. The Villagers won the league 11 times in total, including seven in a row from 1997 to 2003.

The league was renamed the Cheshire League in 2007 and Barnton were relegated to Division Two in 2009. Having been promoted as champions in 2013 , the Villagers then finished 5th in the top tier which was sufficient to gain election to the North West Counties Football League - their first ever season at Step 6; they did however represent England in the UEFA Regions League in 2004 playing Slovenian and Bosnian opposition.

In 2015/16 the club finished third and won the play off final 2-0 against Bacup Borough after extra time in front of a record crowd of 554 (yup I was there !). 17th last time but bottom by a country mile this campaign, one win, 9 points from 29 games and 107 goals conceded, in the 23 team league - relegation appears inevitable.

And so I set out on a dreadful afternoon, inevitably with rain teeming down - weather that has seen every other fixture in this division postponed because of waterlogging. Past a heated argument outside The Navigation then through Bowdon to Rostherne, 'Home of England's Finest Gardens'.

Onto the M56 then the M6 over Thelwall and into Woolston, site of the Tree of Lost Soles - a tree adorned with shoes and boots that the Council mysteriously chopped down in 2015. Through Warrington and The Hatter pub on Lovely Lane, into Bewsey and then to Fairclough Mill aka The Pink Eye at Sankey Bridges.

At Penketh there's The Teapod Tearooms before reaching Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, and the newly constructed fire station next to it - there's nothing like being prepared !! Then into Widnes, home of the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and No More Kennels. We reach the Halton Select Security Stadium and the pub next door - The Cricketers Arms...... the rain has stopped and there's even a glimpse of sunshine.

The Halton Stadium is a 13,350 all seater stadium with 4 covered stands. The sign in the car park helpfully tells us Widnes FC - Use Turnstiles S1 & S2........ both of which are locked ! After a wander round the ground we enter via Stadium Fitness and I sneak a quick peek of the impressive Legends Bar and Marquee Suite.

Just half of the South Stand is open - more than enough to accommodate the crowd of 72. This in itself is a big improvement on the 47 for last week's home game with Padiham, with today's crowd bolstered by some away fans and the fact that there is no local non league football anywhere else, except St Helens which also has an all weather pitch. But 72 in a ground that holds 13,350 is just nonsensical !!

Widnes are in white shirts with black shorts, The Villagers in change orange and sky blue. Their shirts also feature the club badge which includes a narrowboat referencing the nearby Anderton Boat Lift.

The expected gulf in class is immediately apparent, and the Whites should have led within the first 15 seconds. But their front two, George Lomax and Ben Hodkinson are wasteful, miscuing a hatful of chances. Joint player manager Steve Akrigg plants two free headers from corners over the bar, and winger Danny Laverty fires wide. The Villagers' keeper Rob Cooke makes two smart stops but the breakthrough is a long time coming.

One of the features of the first period is Widnes left back Phil Doran's barnstorming runs but he is involved, bizarrely, in another way in the Whites opener on 38 minutes. He retrieves the ball from the empty Pat Price Stand opposite and takes the throw in from the sixth row. The referee orders him to retake it from the touch line. From this a simple ball over the top beats the offside trap and George Lomax lobs a hesitant Cooke.

Five minutes later Chris Lomax's slaloming run sees the ball ricochet to Hodkinson who sends Cooke the wrong way for 2-0. Barnton's only response is bang on half time with Jack Irlam's 30 yard free kick straight at Richie Mottram.

Not long into the second period Chris Lomax makes it three with a sumptuous finish, and soon after Laverty has the opportunity to make it four but Cooke stands up well in the one on one. Widnes then become sloppy with Villagers' sub Brandon Moores lobbing just over Mottram's bar and Chris Bandell hitting the side netting. Moores is then felled for a Barnton penalty with a cheeky young lad shouting from the stand 'I'll give you a fiver if you miss the pen'.... Irlam scores straight down the middle.

Irlam goes close again and the other joint player manager Kev Towey has seen enough, and brings himself on with a quarter of an hour to play. Within 30 seconds he has scored, heading the ball on to Laverty on the wing and finishing the cross with aplomb.

He then sets up fellow sub Jack Banister with two goals in a minute, the first a one two and run on goal before his shot deflects in, the second from an exquisite back heel. The scoring is completed in the final minute as Stuart Cook produces two outrageous drag backs, dumping defenders on the floor, before smashing in off the post.

 7-1 at the finish to Widnes, and another nail in the Villagers' coffin.....