And so to
Crossford Bridge and a Gilgryst Cup clash between Old Altrinchamians and Royton
Town in another hastily arranged Manchester League team cup competition - this
one solely for Premier Division sides. Three leagues of five, home and away,
with the tabletoppers and best second place team earning the right to play in
the semi finals, and then the final at Hyde in June.
Old Altrinchamians FC was established in 1920, meaning their centenary year proved to be a huge disappointment. The club was set up for alumni of Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, which includes Paul Allott (the Lancashire and England cricketer), Ian Brown and John Squire (from the Stone Roses) and, er, me, my brother and my godson.... (the infamous Fred Talbot was also a teacher there).
Next to the Bridgewater Canal and Manchester University Boat Club, with the complex also supporting Sale Harriers Athletics Club, Alts originally played in the Altrincham and District Amateur League.
The side, after two FA Vase entries in the mid 1970s, moved up to the Manchester League and were promoted as runners up to the Premier League in 2004. Resignation, and expungement, followed in 2005 before Alts rejoined the league in Division One in 2007.
The club was promoted in 2008/09, again as runners up, and then relegated in 2014 but immediately bounced back as champions. The 2019/20 campaign saw them bottom (15th) at curtailment, but three wins and three losses left the Old Boys just below half way last time - 9th of 15.
Royton Town
FC was established as the Scott Benham works side in the Rochdale Alliance
League, the company incorporated in 1870 and latterly taken over by Thorn EMI
and Electrolux. Changing their name to Royton Town FC in 1985, the team
remained unbeaten for two and a half seasons, progressing to the Lancashire
Amateur League in 1994.
The club, based at Oldham Academy North on Broadway, moved to the Manchester Football League in 1999 and was swiftly promoted to the Premier League in 2002, where they have remained ever since. Champions in 2004, and runners up in 2016, Town sat 13th at null and voidance in 2020, and exactly midway in 8th after those 11 minutes of madness prior to New Year at Manchester Gregorians, with ten points from nine matches.
Through De
Quincey Park, and then down Washway Road from suburbia to Bohemia (hair salon),
via Laserina (clinic) and then Utopia (Bodhi Tree Buddhas - really !). Beyond
Eyebrow Cottage and right at Delicia into Dane Road, then left onto Danefield
Road and Crossford Bridge appears after One Brand Magic - numberplates 1 OBE
and B3D XX featuring today.
Alts are in
black and white stripes, Royton in yellow and green resembling lemon and lime -
the first team tree lined pitch up top with opposing dugouts and railings. The
complex hosts three other full size pitches, the middle one featuring an Open
Trophy tie between both sides' reserve teams (a Royton team member tells me
this finishes 6-1 to Alts - but actually it ended up 7-1 !!), two mini pitches
and Sale United FC's clubhouse.
In glorious sunshine the match kicks off at 1302; crucially the pitch and Sale Harriers' enclosed arena are bisected by a public footpath leading to the Bridgewater Canal, meaning spectators are allowed. 37, give or take a dogwalker or two, show up with a healthy away following.
The away supporters are rewarded with a first half utterly dominated by Royton. Eventually, on the quarter hour, a misplaced away pass sits up nicely for centre back Jack Worrall to hit a 30 yard worldy, arcing into the top left hand corner, and Town lead 1-0.
Five minutes on and Worrall's free kick is fumbled by the Alts' stopper; Joe Gidley slots home the rebound to make it 2-0. Liam Wood misses two great chances, one extraordinarily from a two on none having sidestepped the keeper. From the Old Boys nothing worthy of note bar a wild shot threatening to interfere with the match on an adjoining pitch.
2-0 at the break but the second period sees Alts score three minutes in from a double howler from Royton. Their dozing left back is dispossessed by the home side's right winger who shoots and his effort goes through diminutive keeper Harry Fleet's hands to halve the deficit. Alts are briefly in the ascendancy but it still takes an exceptional save at the opposite end to keep it at 2-1 to Royton.
Eventually the visitors regain control and with eight minutes to go Ethan Sutcliffe has a goal disallowed for offside. No matter, as a minute later the same player is tripped, winning and then scoring the penalty kick for 3-1...and that is pretty much that !!
