And so to Lymm High School and the Leisure Centre for a Cheshire League Division Two clash between Lymm Rovers FC, their fourth home outing in five, and Mersey Valley FC - their first away fixture after four straight home games.
Lymm Rovers was originally established as a junior (boys) team but after gaining FA Charter Standard Community Status set up a female section and then, in 2021, entered a seniors team in the Altrincham and District Amateur League.
Despite
finishing bottom Rovers were accepted into the Cheshire League Division Two,
starting with an 8-0 home loss to Hartford, a 4-3 win against Haydock (after
going 4-0 up), a 6-0 thrashing at Upton (who apparently were awesome !) and
then an encouraging 4-0 thumping of Atherton Laburnum Rovers' second
string.
Mersey Valley
FC from Banky Lane, on the border of Sale and Carington, was set up in 2014,
joining the Cheshire League Division 2. The Ambers gained promotion in 2016,
but dropped back in 2018 despite finishing mid table. Valley then resigned mid
season 2019/20 with their results expunged.
The club reformed and was readmittted this summer to the Cheshire League, starting with home defeats 2-6 to Haydock FC and 0-5 to West Didsbury & Chorlton Reserves, and draws 2-2 against Stretford Paddock and 1-1 with Pilkington Reserves.
So on a
glorious, sweltering mid August Saturday it's past the Old Cheshire Cheese,
Twister Interiors and Cuts Both Ways - Ladies and Gents Hairdressing. Down to
the Bowdon roundabout with registration plates J5ST DO and DA15Y B'Z on view.
The Lymm turn off brings me to Little Bollington, Ye Olde Number 3 and the Posh Bunny Motel. Thereafter Agden, the Barn Owl Inn, signs for the Traction Engine Rally this weekend, and through roadworks past the Jolly Thresher, it's a right into Oughtrington Lane and Lymm High and Leisure Centre.
Plenty of building work - and car parking ! - in evidence with the 3G pitch, one side open but spectators lurking in the shade behind the sheltered left goal and opposite (beyond the dugouts), surrounded by countryside and trees, the school on its periphery. The crowd numbers 8 - 6 pensioners, a young lady and myself, but this swells to 25 by the end. The extreme heat sees one of the (original) pensioners on the verge of collapse, staggering on the railings, midway through the second period. Thankfully he recovers...
Rovers are in
dark blue, keeper Ross Laidlaw in shocking salmon, whilst Valley wear,
naturally, amber with a black stripe - their custodian in red. The heat means
drinks breaks every 15 minutes... and not just for the players !!
Lymm have two 'goals' chalked off for offside, before on 20 minutes a raking crossfield ball is cut back and stroked home by Rory Ridley-Thomas. Rovers hit the post with a lob, but double their lead three minutes before the break - a side to side move picks out Joe Napier-Hemy on the left and he sweeps home. Laidlaw preserves the two goal advantage with a fine save on half time.
The second half is understandably subdued as the mercury hits 32C, and is characterised by Lymm perpetually picking the wrong option and the Ambers' wild shooting. Two bookings from the referee, who is exemplary, and then in injury time Valley have a shot tipped onto the bar. The resulting corner sees a goal line clearance but it is 2-0 finalizado - exhausting.....
