And so to Hurricanes territory in the leafy environs of Holmes Chapel - Holmes Chapel Hurricanes FC hosting Malpas FC today in the Cheshire League Division One, in a rearranged fixture that Malpas FC failed to fulfil earlier this season.
Holmes Chapel Hurricanes FC was founded in 2000 by Chris Rogers as a vehicle to enable his son and friends to play football. Initially playing local league football, and based at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre, The Hurricanes moved up to the Cheshire League in 2018, finishing next to bottom of League 2 in their first term.
After the Covid aborted 2019/20 season, last year's curtailed campaign saw Chapel place 4th of 11 which was sufficient to secure promotion to Division One - where they sit 6th of 15 with 42 points from 27 games; this their final game of the 2021/22 season.
Malpas FC, from the Oxhays - the
town twinned with Questembert, lesser known brother of Camembert - was
established in 1901 and, after playing locally in the Crewe Sunday League,
joined the Chester League, moving to Saturday football. After winning consecutive
Premier Division championships in 1983 and 1984 Malpas moved up to the Mid
Cheshire League (now Cheshire League) in 1985. Relegated to Division Two in
1991, the club was promoted back two seasons later.
Demoted again in 1997 Malpas moved up to the Cheshire Premier in 2015, and finished runners up - a campaign that ended with a thrilling 4-4 draw at champions Knutsford FC. They again finished runners up in 2018 but were relegated the following season, and lie 12th, and safe, with 25 points from 26 games this time, defeated 6-2 at Parklands on Thursday, and finishing their season at Styal on Tuesday.
So amidst blue skies and a
gorgeous sun drenched spring afternoon it's beyond Em's Bench, Nerd (a board
game outlet), which opened at 12 noon today, the derelict Wheatsheaf, a striking bluey purple
Californian Lily and then Full Circle Partners (Funerals Your Way). That leads
to the M6, where the graffiti has largely been expunged, and a one junction
stomp, bypassing the trailers advertising Blue Lagoon Spas, Are You Pregnant ?
and Orange County CBD. Today's car numberplates are 5UC, EA63ERLY and HE1 8ABE.
Then onto Chester Road, Cotton Farm and signs advertising Knutsford Races tomorrow before I turn into Selkirk Drive and Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School - the Leisure Centre alongside. The 3G pitch is at the back of the sports centre, with the other 3 sides tree lined. There are four shaded metal benches and a concrete walkway on the one accessible side and a shed outside the mesh.
Chapel are in red and black,
sponsored by Manifest Fitness and the George & Dragon, Malpas in change
blue with red trim - their sponsor Highgate Garage. Due to an overrunning
children's pirates session the game eventually starts at five past two, in front
of a 'crowd' of 5 - which steadily increases to 8 and a huddle in the corner,
the nearest point to the bar !!
The Reds start the better with Sam Hatcher forcing a decent save before Malpas create a golden opportunity, one on one, but chipped wastefully over the bar. Oli Hewitt hits the post for the Hurricanes when he should have scored when played through, but it's a frustrating half that ends scoreless with Chapel on top but profligate and tame with their shooting.
Matters take a turn for the worse four minutes into the second period - Chapel's keeper lacking control from a back pass, the ball pinched by a Malpas forward who is then cynically brought down. Yellow card, penalty and 1-0 to the visitors - but this is their only shot on target during the entire match....
Gradually the Hurricanes gather a second wind, and on 62 minutes Matt Haynes' long throw falls at the feet of Hewitt and he stabs home the equaliser from close range. Ten minutes later Charlie Rodick produces a sumptuous finish from the corner of the penalty box following a one two and Chapel lead, after which they hit the woodwork twice and Hatcher misses, awfully, a sitter.
No matter as five minutes on he redeems himself, dummying the keeper, to score an open goal and it's 3-1. Then on 82 minutes a poor defensive clearance ( a mal pass ??) falls to Ben Law and his 25 yarder into the roof of the net is the goal of the game.
Four minutes from time Hurricanes go 5-1 up, the ball recycled and cut back to Hatcher who beats the keeper and a defender on the line. To add insult to injury Malpas are reduced to ten men just before the death - a second yellow for dissent - as Chapel finish the season on a high.
