Milan Is The Man - Let's Be Avenue As Winning(ton) Lose

And so to Mereheath Lane in Knutsford for a Cheshire League Premier Division clash between Egerton FC and Winnington Avenue YC 94.

Egerton FC was formed in 2002 and named after founder Maurice Egerton, and, after playing in local leagues, joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2012. This was renamed Division One for the 2014/15 season.

In May 2016 chairman Tom O'Donnell (in attendance today) announced plans to redevelop the Youth Club site in order to be eligible for promotion to the North West Counties Football League. During the 2017/18 campaign Egerton received national media coverage after signing former professionals Nathan Ellington, Dean Gorre and the (tragically) late JLloyd Samuel. In the same season, Egerton finished fourth in the Cheshire League Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division in the process. 

The Yellows entered the FA Vase in 2019/20 but the club was later withdrawn after failing a ground grading inspection. That same season Egerton put forward their nomination to move up to the NWCFL, but the season's Covid curtailment proved a blessing - 7 points from 18 games would surely have meant exiting the division in the opposite direction !! They were thwarted by FC St Helens' championship last term, finishing third.  

This season has, thus far, proved to be a mixed bag - 6 wins and 6 defeats sees the Yellows in 10th (of 17).

Winnington Avenue YC 94 was established, unsurprisingly, in 1994. Initially playing in the Crewe and District League, where they were champions in 2014/15, Avenue joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2018. Unable to play at their nearby home venue at Jubilee Fields, requiring extensive modifications, Winnington have taken residence at Moss Farm for their Cheshire League adventures.

Promoted at the end of a Covid ravaged 2019/20 campaign Avenue went up as runners up last season after a ridiculous 8-1 final day away victory at Blacon Youth, bombing out fellow contenders Vulcan....

Avenue currently sit 7th with six wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats.

Past the Moss Trooper, Hare & Hounds, Fusion Kitchens, Indian Stone (Paving etc) and then a detour through affluent Hale, via the Grand Designs house on Bankhall Lane. Beyond 'Beyond Stitching', to the site of the old Bleeding Wolf and onto Ashley Road with numberplates NUG6S (an orange Porsche !) and B10OMY, then a van advertising The Veteran Locksmith and finally the wise man's registration plate -  5AGE.

Into leafy Cheshire and Ashley, the Greyhound, Tatton Weddings at Stock Barn Farm and the Tatton Mile as torrential rain pours down. Avoiding High Legh Water Tower and running the gauntlet - Gauntlet Birds of Prey - Eagle & Vulture Park - it's through flooded roads onto Mereside Road then Mereheath Lane before I reach Egerton Youth Club.

Despite previous advice that a fee would be charged to enter the cage, a crowd of 29 assembles for free. The leaf strewn astroturf surface is at the rear, trees in the distance, the social club opposite and both ends flanked by grass pitches. There is a mini sheltered terrace on the near side, which comes in handy at half time when the rain returns... but we kick off to sunshine and jets - the ground in Manchester Airport's flightpath.

Egerton, naturally, are in yellow and black, Avenue in red and white chequers, the near linesman wearing protective glasses. Winnington's keeper, in orange and wearing, appropriately, the number 94 jersey makes two good saves just after the quarter hour, parrying wide. Avenue have one effort narrowly wide from distance - but it's all rather frenetic, littered with mistimed tackles, overhit passes and aimless hoofing. And it's a surprise when, with less than a minute to half time, the Yellows have two attempts blocked and the ball falls to Milan Thompson who steers it into the top corner. Quite frankly it's a goal the game doesn't deserve and Egerton lead 1-0 at the break.

The second half lives down to expectations - Avenue fashion a good move just after the hour on the right wing which is disappointingly wasted wide of the far post. Egerton should have been awarded a penalty shortly after, but matters liven up in the last ten minutes.

The booking count reaches four and Winnington throw caution to the wind in an attempt to find an equaliser, but without seriously threatening. That leaves them exposed at the back and prompts two excellent chances for the Yellows - the first, on the left, placed just wide and the second in injury time a 30 yard effort at an open goal, Avenue's keeper hopelessly marooned outside the box, which agonisingly brushes the outside of the post - rather summing up a match that Egerton edge 1-0....

Winnington Explore Every Avenue - But Stymied By Vulcan Bombshells !!

And so to the Moss Farm Leisure Complex in Winnington and a Cheshire League Division One fixture with massive promotion ramifications between Winnington Avenue and Vulcan.

Winnington Avenue YC 94 was established, unsurprisingly, in 1994. Initially playing in the Crewe and District League, where they were champions in 2014/15, Avenue joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2018. Unable to play at their nearby home venue at Jubilee Fields, requiring extensive modifications, Winnington have taken residence at Moss Farm for their Cheshire League adventures.

Promoted at the end of a Covid ravaged 2019/20 campaign Avenue currently sit second on 60 points with two matches to play - today and next Saturday at Blacon Youth, who can also mathematically still go up.

The modern day Vulcan FC was established in 1955 in Newton-le-Willows as a works team by its employer, Vulcan Foundry, a locomotive builder, and its workers - but historically its roots can be traced back to 1923/24. Vulcan Institute had two ignominious seasons in the Lancashire Combination, finishing next to bottom on both occasions in 1963 and 1964, before disappearing. 

Vulcan Newton joined the Lancashire Combination in 1979 and became a founder member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 - but it only lasted 2 years. A merger saw the club change name to Vulcan Clock Face before settling on Vulcan FC - all incarnations spending the vast majority of their time plying their trade in the Warrington & District League.

The current Vulcan FC, who were long time leaders of Division 1 this time but now overtaken by promoted Whalley Range, stepped up from the Warrington & District League to the Cheshire League Division Two in 2017. Promoted as runners up in their first campaign Vulcan lie third now, behind on goal difference to Avenue, also with 60 points going into their final game of the season. As for the club badge.....say no more !!

The M56 and off at junction 10, the Stretton Fox on one side, the Partridge on the other (how apposite !), with numberplates BA55 EAD, SW15 SHY and GD 16ERS (gravediggers ?!) alongside Apple Jack's Adventure Farm. I join the A49. past Brookside and Greenwood Fisheries and the Chetwode Arms, then Whitley, Antrobus St Marks Primary School, Little Leigh and into Barnton, home of Hormbrey Butchers. 

Right at Anderton Boat Lift and The Cods Pollocks chippy as I reach Winnington, beyond the cricket club and Winnington Avenue (the street), home of Jubilee Fields, and onto the Moss Farm Leisure Complex, next door to Winnington Park County Primary School.

The complex is the home of the Cheshire FA, Northwich RUFC and Northwich CC, with the 4G caged astroturf surface surrounded by 3 rugby and 2 football pitches, a social club and tall trees - and Winnington Park RUFC in the distance. 

The advertised 1345 kick off proves to be incorrect as we get underway at 1401.

But before the match gets underway the first bombshell.... Vulcan's home game against Blacon Youth on 12 February, which finished 1-1, is overturned due to an ineligible Blacon player. Youth are deducted one point and that, plus a 'failure to fulfil' at Denton Town means Blacon cannot be promoted. Vulcan are awarded the win and move onto 62 points.
 

Avenue are in red and white chequerboard, sponsored by D & R Pipe Fabrications and Vulcan in change grey and yellow, sponsored by Cannon Electrical Services. In overcast conditions, the sun occasionally breaking through, there is a healthy crowd of about 75, swelling to three figures by the end.

Vulcan start much the better, amidst a flurry of free kicks conceded by Avenue. On the quarter hour the Bombers have a header from yet another free kick deflected over the bar, and another header from a corner is just past the post.
 

It takes 35 minutes for Winnington to create a chance - Vulcan's keeper standing tall to parry from the centre forward. No matter though as a minute later Avenue fashion another opportunity and Callum Payne's shot is excellently saved, but from the floor his rebound trickles in. A shot into the side netting nearly doubles the advantage but Winnington lead 1-0 at the break.
 

The second period is not easy on the eye with Avenue using every excuse to waste time, conjuring up multiple injuries, and hanging onto their slender lead. That said their rearguard action is quite magnificent, blunting the Vulcan attack of any clear chances.
 

That is until the second Vulcan bombshell on 69 minutes when a free kick is beautifully delivered into the box and volleyed home by Scott Fisher. It's all Vulcan now, but Avenue regain their defensive resilience, and frustration boils over into a flare up, which appears to include a Vulcan head butt - the referee does nothing other than award the away team a free kick for the original wild challenge.
 

With Vulcan going for the win, and promotion, that leaves gaps at the back and Avenue create chances on the counter attack, three wastefully spurned and one cynically eliminated with the away custodian marooned on the half way line....
 
That brings us to 8 minutes of injury time, and in the 100th minute Avenue's keeper pulls off a stunning point blank save to keep the scores level. Ultimately it means Whalley Range are crowned as champions and Winnington need to win at Blacon next Saturday in the last league game of the season to be promoted - otherwise Vulcan will erupt and go up....