Panthers Fail To Pounce - Then A Second Half To Makerfield Ill..

 And so to Edge Green Street in Ashton-in-Makerfield, the home of Ashton Town AFC. On a cold, grey afternoon the Town play host to near neighbours, Atherton Laburnum Rovers, in the North West Counties Football League Division One.

The original Ashton Town joined the Lancashire Combination in 1903, but withdrew towards the end of the 1910/11 season and their fixtures were taken over by Tyldesley Albion. The current club was established in 1953 by employee Derek 'Mick' Mycock as Makerfield Mill FC - a works football team for Makerfield Mill, one of Lancashire's leading textile mills in the 1950s, and known locally as the 'Weaving Shed'. The first two seasons in the Wigan Sunday School League can only be described as disastrous, with the club winning just two games, and earning the unenviable name of 'The Chopping Blocks'.....

Mick decided to move the club to a higher standard of football, the St Helens Combination, for 1955/56 and successfully gained permission from the Mill's management to play four non-employees. After a season of consolidation, the restriction on the use of outside players was totally lifted and Division 2 was won in 1958.

Makerfield Mill FC joined the Warrington & District Amateur League the following season, and were champions five times in their first six seasons. This was also a period which saw the club renamed Ashton Town in 1962 and they acquired their Edge Green Street ground, which was previously used by Stubshaw Cross Rovers, in 1964.

After a sixth title in 1970, the Town joined the Lancashire Combination and then the Cheshire County League in 1978. Thereafter the club became founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 where they have remained ever since, aside from one season in the Manchester League - slightly at odds with their motto 'Onwards & Upwards'.

Atherton Laburnum Rovers FC was founded in 1956 as Laburnum Rovers, an U-14s side to play in the Briarcroft Junior League. 'The Laburnums' were named after the Laburnum Playing Fields where they first played; it is not clear where their other nickname, 'The Panthers', emanates from.

The club expanded to senior level, starting in the Leigh & District League, and after moving to Hagfold Playing Fields, became members of the Bolton Combination in 1961. Ground facilities prevented promotion so a farmer's field was found at Greendale and, despite a footpath criss-crossing and duck ponds on either side, a football pitch was created. The move to the new ground occurred in June 1966, and after winning the Bolton Combination Division Two, the Laburnums were promoted and new changing rooms were erected - a major improvement on the old air raid shelters previously in use !

The Panthers joined the Cheshire County League in 1980, with the league stipulating the team changed its name to include that of the town - and Atherton Laburnum Rovers was born. The ground was renamed Crilly Park in honour of chairman Jack Crilly, who died suddenly.

LR were also founder members of the North West Counties in 1982 and, as champions in 1993 and 1995, were promoted to the Unibond Northern Premier League, the latter a stay that lasted three seasons culminating in relegation after financial problems. Thereafter there was a flurry of managers - 6 in 2 years at one point - and the intervening years saw two relegations, one promotion and two Bolton Hospital Cup successes.

In one direction Altrincham Retail Park, with its newly laid turf and bedding plants and on the opposite side the continued disembowelment of the old Halfords store. And then roadworks and gridlock so the more circuitous, but quicker, route is via Scissorhand barbers, Red Hot Nails and the Ducati showroom - but no Patelvis !! - to the M60.

Then onto the M56 and underneath consecutive motorway bridges featuring a rag and bone man, a flock of sheep being herded across and a Portaloo, before joining the M6. Thelwall is suspiciously quiet but still the scene of some moronic driving, before the exit at Haydock Park. This takes me into Ashton-in-Makerfield, past The Fat Bull pub and Inkjections tattooists and then onto the Golborne Road, with Edge Green Street a residential cul de sac on the right.

The ground is fairly basic - school playing fields and car parking at one end, the other three sides surrounded by housing developments. Red and white railings, wooden fencing and two small seated stands on the far side - populated by two spectators in the first half, both of whom disappear at half time.....it proves to be a wise move !! The clubhouse in the corner is the main focus of activity.

Ashton sport a red and white chequered number, whilst the Laburnums are in yellow with a swirl of blue and an illegible sponsor. The visitors kick down the prodigious slope to the end 'packed' with five ALR diehards and three flags.

Despite their lowly standing - next to bottom - the Panthers start better, and Danny Kerr is denied by the keeper's legs, whilst Danny Davies's half volley just clears the crossbar. But the visitors fail to take advantage, and Ashton come into the game, exposing the sort of brittle defending that led to a 10-1 defeat at Cheadle last month and a 6-0 home reverse to Barnton five days before. In the period leading up to half time the Town manage to strike the post twice, have another shot cleared off the line, are denied a penalty and are guilty of some wild shooting.

The second half is a frustrating, nay dreadful, spectacle exemplified by the terrible air shot from 25 yards out by the Panthers. It also features the antics of the Atherton management team, Craig and Adam Jones, who spent much of the first period exhorting their players to 'Relax'. The second half sees a change of tack to plentiful industrial language, constant dissent and goading the Ashton players. Eventually the referee walks over to the dugout and tells them to, er,....'Relax'...... There is no discernible change to their behaviour.

It becomes evident that the chance of seeing a goal is about as likely as a fun day at a funeral directors, but in the last few minutes the Laburnums start to wilt. 86 minutes are on the clock when Town's Marcus Cusani crosses and Sam Wilkie's point blank header is turned aside. Then in injury time Ashton's Phil Williams, in a one on one, shoots and the ball is just diverted wide - typically a goal kick is awarded and that's it as the match finishes goalless.

After the match Adam Jones gets embroiled in a farcical war of words regarding a Facebook post on the match....

Eccy Thumped - Eagles Fail To Swoop & Conquer !

 And so to the Adverc Stadium in Pershall Park, the home of 'The Eagles' of Eccleshall FC - 'We Play For The Badge & The Oat Cakes - We Are Eccy !!!' Today's North West Counties Division One fixture sees the visit of Daisy Hill FC.

Eccleshall Town FC was established in 1908 but the most successful local team of that era was Eccleshall Comrades, set up in 1918. The Comrades' most famous player was the FA Cup Final scorer and winner (for Wolves) and England amateur and full international, The Reverend KRG Hunt. The club also featured in a curious incident when Stone Christ Church were defeated 5-0. The game ended 10 minutes early when first one ball burst, then another and there were no more available.......

Both clubs became defunct and the current club was founded in 1971 as Eccleshall Town Old Boys, the team made up of locals and staff from Eccleshall Secondary School, where they played their home games.

The Eagles joined the Staffordshire County League (North) in 1979, moved to Pershall Park in 1982 and ascended to the Staffordshire Senior League - now the Springbank Vending Midland League - in 1984. As Eccleshall FC championships were won in 1990 and then consecutively in 2001/02 and 2002/03. With work complete on the stadium the club moved up to the North West Counties Football League in 2003, and several seasons of inconsistency have followed.

The Daisies, or The Cutters, were established in 1894 playing in the Wigan & District League. By the time of World War 1 the club had moved to the Leigh & District Senior Sunday School League and then the Westhoughton League, playing at New Sirs. The club folded before World War 2, but reformed in 1951 playing again in the Westhoughton League but now based at (the adjacent) St James Street & Cricket Ground - they moved back to New Sirs in 1957.

The Daisies then joined the Bolton Combination, which they won four times, before moving to the Lancashire Combination for 4 seasons and then becoming founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982.

The club was renamed Westhoughton Town during the period 1989-94, thereafter reverting back to Daisy Hill FC - they have never been promoted or relegated from the North West Counties, but only escaped demotion in 2014 because Leek CSOB and Formby resigned from the league.

Past the immaculate carved wooden eagle (very appropriate !) and then the fluorescent Cornbrooke B & B signs on Manchester Road, congestion soon ensues thanks to a roadside florist and some rather shocking parking ! The situation gets worse due to one lane working on Chester Road at The Mere - and the queues tail back to the motorway in the opposite direction.

Onto the M6 and the Smart Motorway is coming but not quite yet thankfully. PIES graffiti (Voted PIES is an updated one) is still in evidence under an intermittent sun framed by thick grey clouds, and silhouetting a murmuration of starlings.

Four junctions down and off at Stoke, navigating past the Clay Shoot at Beech, Heronbrooke Fisheries ('The Home of Match Fishing') and the Steam Engines at Mill Meece, over the River Sow and into the quaint town of Eccleshall and its yesteryear street lighting.

Then taking the road to Loggerheads leads to Pershall Park and the Adverc Stadium. The main car park is full so it's a one track lane down to the overflow with its signs 'Warning - Classic Car Parade Approaching' - which it duly does a minute after parking up ! The overflow is a boggy, muddy field and bad enough to maroon a white Mercedes, with the driver abandoning the car after several attempts to extricate himself and succeeding only in digging himself deeper into the swamp......

£4 is the entrance fee and inside there is a walkway behind one goal and on the far side a bus shelter with low (ankle high !) benches. At the top end is The Shed, a covered end in the corner with six seats and three garden chairs. The near side supports the clubhouse, recently broken into with £5,000 damage, and covered seating - although the Executive VIP seats seem no different to the rest......

The Eagles are in two tone blue and the Daisies in change all red on a pitch resembling a cow field in front of a thin crowd of 32 - 14 more than Daisy Hill had for their home game last week...... The pitch, however, is no excuse for a first half littered with errant passing by both sides, and, for the Cutters, multiple offsides and indiscipline which leads to five yellow cards, mostly for dissent.

The Eagles do begin to soar and, having hit the frame of the goal from an acute angle then wastefully skying over, they take the lead. On 20 minutes Jordan Elcock beats his man and curls his shot beyond the keeper but the ball is hacked clear; the 'goal' is awarded, to widespread disbelief, by the androgynous linesman, who is immediately christened Shirley.....

The away side create little before the break but the second half is a different affair. Occasionally straying onside, the Cutters unlock Eccy's defence and within five minutes Daniel Gregory equalises with a composed finish. Ten minutes later and after a catalogue of home errors, Gregory's poor cross reaches Curtis Cummins and he is given time and space to thump the ball home.

A home fightback of sorts never really materialises, and when the Eagles' Nathan Dyer's sumptuous 30 yard strike is unconvincingly touched on to the bar there is no home forward following in. The Eagles' game is over when, with three minutes left, Alex McPolin is played through - keeper Spencer Martin gets there first but his clearance hits the back of McPolin and the ball trundles into an open net. 3-1 to the Daisies as the game ends in a nasty hail storm.

Daisy Cutters Chaddy Down To Size !

And so to New Sirs, and after nine consecutive postponements and having last played on December 19th, Daisy Hill FC finally get to host a football match. Visitors today in the North West Counties are Chadderton FC.

The Daisies, or The Cutters, were established in 1894 playing in the Wigan & District League. By the time of World War 1 the club had moved to the Leigh & District Senior Sunday School League and then the Westhoughton League, playing at New Sirs. The club folded before World War 2, but reformed in 1951 playing again in the Westhoughton League but now based at (the adjacent) St James Street & Cricket Ground - they moved back to New Sirs in 1957.

The Daisies then joined the Bolton Combination, which they won four times, before moving to the Lancashire Combination for 4 seasons and then becoming founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982.
The club was renamed Westhoughton Town during the period 1989-94, thereafter reverting back to Daisy Hill FC - they have never been promoted or relegated from the North West Counties, but only escaped demotion in 2014 because Leek CSOB and Formby resigned from the league.

Chadderton FC, 'Chaddy', was formed in 1947 as Millbrow FC, then became North Chadderton Amateurs and finally Chadderton in 1957. Initially competing in the Oldham Amateur League, the club then progressed through the Manchester Amateur League and on to the Manchester League in 1963.

A step up to the Lancashire Combination followed and, after finishing runners up in 1982, they too became founder members of the North West Counties, created by the merger of the Lancashire Combination and Cheshire County League. Promotion in 1990 was swiftly met with relegation the season after, but the club lasted longer at the higher level after gaining promotion in 1993 - until being forcibly demoted in 1999 due to ground grading issues.

In 2007 Chaddy was taken over by Craig Halliwell and Tony Bhatti of HB Property Group, but within two years ties had been severed; the club becoming a members' club run by the people for the people. The play offs were reached last year, but the team remains best known for two of its ex-players - David Platt and Mark Owen from Take That.

It's a chilly but bright afternoon as I venture on to Washway Road, past Sunsations Tanning Salon, Cinders Fireplaces, Hairport and Garvey's Social Club (Patelvis has been and gone !!). Then the M60, obligatory Trafford Centre queues and Barton Bridge flanked by Chill Factore and the AJ Bell Stadium before I join the M61.

After I pass three broken down cars within 100 yards of each other, it's off at Junction 5 towards Westhoughton and then, after navigating a rather unnecessary one way system and avoiding the allures of The Pungle and Hosker's Nook, down to St James Street - a narrow cul de sac with a church, cricket club and residential housing. New Sirs is along an alleyway with a heavily rutted car park, overwhelmed by today's crowd of 43..... 'Please park orderly' is an instruction seemingly ignored today.

The peculiar entrance has character but is closed, and advises us that The Daisies are 'Members of First North Western Trains League Division 2' - ahem. The turnstile is further on and inside, immediately behind the near goal, is the seated area behind which is the social club and pie hut.
Down one side is a small stepped covered shelter which isn't the tallest - 'Please Mind Your Head' is definitely appropriate. At the far end lie two abandoned spotlights and some blue and white cones, and on the opposite side an incongruous static caravan behind the bushes with some ramshackle fencing, and the cricket ground just beyond.

The Daisies are in all royal blue with white trim, and Chaddy in orange with black flashes and their keeper in grey with pink slashes. The linesman on the far side can hardly be 16.....

The wintry sun has given way to cloud, an icy wind and, subsequently, rain. For twenty minutes the sodden pitch is the only winner - heavily sanded in parts, sheet mud in others, leaving players struggling to keep their balance and resembling Dancing on Ice, badly.

Nevertheless the chances start to come. For the home side a marauding run ends with a shot just wide and then winger Alex McPolin is thwarted in a one on one. However it's the visitors from Broadway Stadium who come the closer - Macaulay Harewood shoots into the side netting, and then, after a suicidal home pass, striker James Curley is set free, the home keeper slips in the mud and Curley curls the ball on to the post.

Ten minutes before half time the Cutters break the deadlock. A corner is flicked on and Simon Farrell scores with a fabulous scissor kick. Shortly afterwards the referee misses a blatant penalty with Chaddy's Keith Melvin handling the ball while prone in the box; Melvin takes a tactical injury break and that leads us to half time.

Five minutes into the second period the ball breaks for McPolin 35 yards out and he lobs the keeper to double the advantage - hit and hope or wondergoal ? Probably the former.... McPolin then misses another one on one and then shanks wide, before an incredible goalmouth melee sees the ball cleared off Chaddy's line three times. Chaddy are almost anonymous up front, with centre back Melvin having their best effort.

The action draws to a close with another goalmouth scramble, two more goal line clearances and McPolin almost apologetically scuffing the ball into the corner to leave it 3-0....and Chaddy pushing up Daisies. :)

Airbus Take Off and Land Successfully To Send Nomads Home Pointless !

And so to 2016, and with a dearth of non league games on the day, it's over the border for a spot of Dafabet Welsh Premier League football. Specifically it's to the Hollingsworth Group Stadium, formerly The Airfield, for the Flintshire derby between Airbus UK Broughton and gap Connah's Quay Nomads.

The Broughton club was established in 1946 as Vickers Armstrong as a works team for the adjacent aerospace factory where Airbus wings are produced. The club's name has changed with the ownership of the factory, working its way through de Havillands, Hawker Siddeley, British Aerospace and BAE Systems to Airbus.

The Wingmakers (what else could the team's nickname be ?!) spent their early years in the Chester & District and the Welsh National (Wrexham Area) Leagues. They were promoted to the Cymru Alliance in 2000 at which point the club's name changed to Airbus UK, and endured a first season blighted by foot and mouth disease.

The club was then promoted to the Welsh Premier League in 2004 and became Airbus UK Broughton for the start of the 2007/08 season. However because of UEFA sponsorship rules the last 3 years' Europa League campaigns, after twice being runners up and then a third place finish, has seen the club compete as AUK Broughton.

Before the Nomads, Connah's Quay FC was founded in 1890 and disbanded after a second Welsh Cup final loss in 1911. Connah's Quay & Shotton was then formed in 1920 and beat Cardiff, featuring several players in the team that beat Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup Final, in the 1929 Welsh Cup Final. Six months later the club went bust....

The existing club was formed in July 1946 as Connah's Quay Juniors, and a senior team was formed and joined the Flintshire League in 1948. Prior to the 1952/53 season the club's suffix changed to Nomads; the Nomads joined the Welsh League (North) and, despite returning to local leagues for 7 years, rejoined it in 1966. In 1974 the club joined the newly formed Clwyd League and, following 3 successful seasons in the Welsh Alliance, became founder members of the Cymru Alliance in 1990 then the League of Wales two seasons later.

The Nomads, an odd name for a club that had spent 51 seasons at the Halfway Ground, moved after a season of groundsharing at Rhyl to its current home, the Deeside Stadium in 1998. After bereavements and retirements the club was taken over by gap personnel in June 2008 to become gap Connah's Quay Nomads.

2010 saw the club narrowly miss out on the cut off for the Super 12 League - thus the club began the 2010/11 season in the Cymru Alliance which they won the following season but were deprived of promotion after failing to gain a domestic license. Notwithstanding this setback the Nomads were again crowned Cymru Alliance champions in 2013 and this time ascension to the Welsh Premier League was granted.

Onto deserted roads, past the now closed Orange Tree pub, avoiding Dunham Forest New Year's Day walkers and then noting the flower border in a tyre on the roof of a (kaput) van (eclectic ?), it's down the now open slip road for the M56. It's an almost becalmed Stanlow, barely belching fumes into a grey, grey sky before the turn to the M53 which becomes the A55 and the border sign 'Croeso y Cymru'. Then bypassing Broughton Shopping Park brings me to the Airbus factory and two supporters' car parks.

£7 at the gate represents outstanding value to watch top flight Welsh football :) Inside the Airfield, there's a walkway behind one goal and then on the far side the Broughton Wings Sports Pavilion, club shop and refreshment bar - the tea is apparently 'undrinkable'..... These two sides are hemmed in by the vast Airbus factory.

On the near side is the main covered seated stand with protective netting in front of one section, which is only removed at half time. At the Runway End (yes the Runway End !!) is the Gardner Aerospace Academy Stand, and next to it three unusual retracting floodlights adjacent to the operational runway which is behind the stand. Sadly no runway action this afternoon - just a couple of flocks of birds, the odd seagull and a passing Easyjet :(

The Wingmakers are in all blue, the Nomads in all white and both linesmen, sorry assistant referees, are wearing black gloves. Within 50 seconds Airbus have kicked off, won a free kick and scored - the ball falling kindly for captain Ian Kearney to sweep home.

The first half evolves into one of sheeting rain, swirling wind, uneven 3G bounce and numerous free kicks, many for quite blatant fouls - almost as if there were scores to settle from the 1-1 draw on Boxing Day at Connah's Quay ? It's a  typical full blooded local derby fare and the crowd love it.

Nomads fashion the better chances: Rob Parry is set free after a defensive error but beats one man too many and sees his shot blocked, Wes Baines' 30 yard free kick swerves in the air and hits the crossbar above a statuesque keeper and Jay Crowther sends a free header wide. Parry eventually equalises, steering the ball into the corner 8 minutes before the break.

In the second half Nomads' Paul Linwood heads home a free kick within 4 minutes of the restart but the away side fail to impose themselves, preferring to soak up pressure rather than going for the kill. Chris Budrys has a header well tipped over by John Danby and then a goal correctly ruled out for offside, but otherwise the Wingmakers struggle to create chances.

With just under twenty minutes to go Nomads' Les Davies appears to be tripped in the box. The referee rules it a dive but refuses to produce a second yellow card for the already booked Davies. Controversy rages at the Airfield....and it proves to be a pivotal moment.

Airbus still have plenty of possession and there is some delightful passing play but they continue to fail to get a shot away and an equaliser seems unlikely. That is until, with 8 minutes to play, substitute James Murphy loops a header into the top corner.

To add insult to injury in the final minute there's some penalty area pinball before Wingmakers' top scorer Tony Gray tucks home in the ensuing goalmouth scramble. 3-2 to Airbus at the finish and, with the Wingmakers flying high in third, they secure their place in the race for the top six - Nomads lie fifth and their fate is in other teams' hands.......

Bullets Fire Blanks As United Sing The Blues - But Nearly Pay The Penalty !

And so to the Wood Park Stadium, formerly The Town Ground, in the small Cheshire town of Alsager as the home side, Alsager Town, take on Winsford United - almost a local derby with just 16 miles between the clubs - in the North West Counties Football League Division One this afternoon.

Alsager Town are known as The Bullets, after the former Royal Ordnance Factory (now BAE Systems) in the nearby hamlet of Radway Green producing small arms ammunition for the British armed forces. The club was formed in 1965 as Alsager FC from the merger of Alsager Institute and Alsager United, with the current ground acquired in 1967.

The Bullets' 50 year journey has incorporated four name changes - 1973 Alsager Town, 1986 Alsager United, back to Alsager FC in 1988 and then to Town again in 2001. Initially starting in the Crewe League, the club joined the Mid Cheshire League for the start of the 1971/2 season and stayed there until being forced out of business in 1988 due to a lack of funds and poor support.

The club reformed after a season's absence in 1989 and started again in the Crewe League, then the Mid Cheshire, before spending one season in the Springbank Vending Midland League and then achieving promotion to the North West Counties Football League in 1999. Further success took the club to the Northern Premier Division 1 in 2006 and then Division 1 South for a season, until the Bullets were forcibly relegated due to FA ground grading requirements.

The last five seasons have all involved relegation dogfights, with the 2011/12 season preceded by a catastrophic fire at the ground which meant that the club were forced to play all games away until November. This season has started in similar vein - 5 points from 16 games, bottom of the table and a change of manager. This in stark contrast to cup form - back to back victories in the FA Cup for the first time ever, and through to the FA Vase 3rd Round after beating, in a replay, AFC Mansfield, and their magnificently named Romanian manager Rudy Funk, to face AFC Wulfrunians next weekend.

After last week's trip to see the Bullets play the Red Rebels of Abbey Hey was aborted because of waterlogging, the imaginatively nicknamed 'Blues' of Winsford United are in town. Perhaps using 'Sal Terrae' (Salt of the Earth) which is emblazoned on the club badge might be a more exciting alternative ?

The club was founded in 1883 as Over Wanderers and played in the Welsh Combination Football League before changing its name and moving to their current ground, then called the Bean Latham Playing Field, a few years later. After excessive spending the club folded. It was reformed just before the outbreak of World War 1, and regrouped after peace had broken out under a committee led by Mr RG Barton. The Blues became a founder member of the Cheshire League and the stadium, by now called the Great Western Playing Field (and incorporating a greyhound track), was renamed the Barton Stadium in the chairman's honour.

Membership of the Cheshire League was unbroken until it and other regional leagues merged into the North West Counties Football League in 1982. A move up to the Northern Premier League in 1987 and promotion to the Premier in 1992, finishing runners up in 1992/3, was as good as it got; subsequently three relegations in four seasons saw Winsford playing North West Counties Division Two football in 2003, although the club were promoted back to Division One in 2007.

After a wholly necessary detour to give a certain 15 year old, still slightly shell shocked at having to work on his birthday, his presents, it's out into Storm Desmond and wild winds, flapping tarpaulin and naked trees. Fortunately only a two junction hop on the M6 as the car is buffeted by the strong winds - a danger ignored by the motorway signs which prefer to scream 'No HGV Fuel'. The exceedingly good PIES graffiti remains, however.

Assaulted by falling branches in Arclid, it's then follow the signs for Cliff's Quality Turkeys and Mowerland. Past the derelict 'The Salamanca' pub and into the outskirts of Alsager, where Wood Park Stadium is well hidden in a housing estate - a narrow unlit ginnel between two houses in the midst of a courtyard aka Woodland Court.

Through the turnstile, and down a steep staircase past toilets that have seen better days, the changing rooms and clubhouse. The pitch nestles below and appears to have formed part of the adjacent field at one point - there is even an open gate behind one goal, and potential free admission, leading onto parkland.

On the near side are two covered stands, one with three rows comprising a variety of different seating designs, the other incorporating some terracing. Behind the goal is the open gate and a condemned floodlight, which had to be put down. On the far side is a small covered area, inhabited initially by one spectator - this represents the ideal spot to watch the game whilst being in the teeth of the gale. Behind the other goal is a tea bar and medical room.

Winsford, unsurprisingly enough, are in two tone dark blue with minuscule shirt numbers, whilst the Bullets are in black and white stripes as the game begins. It's a first half that owes less to craft and guile, and more to graft and bile - and benevolent refereeing !

The Bullets have a chance in the first minute but the Blues take an early lead. Portly winger Scott Taylor has already seen one cross cum shot blown onto the post, but in the next move he beats his man far too easily and rifles home into the top of the net at the keeper's near post.

There is a lull in proceedings as the referee retrieves then hands back a bobble hat, blown off a spectator's head onto the pitch. Said spectator stuffs the offending article in his pocket and sheepishly walks round to the opposite side of the pitch......out of the wind !!

Just before the half hour Winsford's pacy left winger, Danny Hudson, who has been the subject of several robust challenges, fires a twenty yarder into the top corner to double the lead. Within two minutes this becomes 3-0 as Ryan Mellor is played through from half way, outpaces his marker and slots under the keeper. The Bullets are handed a lifeline five minutes later; a totally unnecessary tackle in the box leads to a penalty, and Jonathan Jones fires home.

Five minutes after the restart there's a sense of deja vu: another needless United foul in the box and another penalty. Unbearable tension leads to one (female) home supporter leaving the stand and hiding behind it - unable to watch as Jones converts again.

The Bullets are firing now, piling on the pressure but let down by scattergun shooting, a wayward final ball and some debatable offside decisions - the assistant referee is told 'Liner, have a word with yourself' and 'Book yourself in - 50% off this week at Specsavers' !

Despite all guns blazing from the Bullets, a rattled United side hang on. But it's still a surprise when Hudson, given the ball on the half way line, waltzes past four defenders and beats the keeper for 4-2. His hat trick goal is disallowed for offside shortly after.

A wonder point blank save from Blues' keeper, Dale Latham, proves crucial as in injury time Bullets' midfielder Josh Crofts pulls the trigger from 25 yards for an absolute screamer......leaving the Bullets gunned down 4-3 at the death. :)

A Little Bit of Daniels' Magic, Not A Lot, As Valiant Knight Denies The Gladiators !

And so to the Derbyshire Dales, and the Autoworld Arena on Causeway Lane, the home of the Gladiators of midtable Matlock Town. The visitors are the Daniels of Stamford AFC, currently sitting next to bottom, and after their first nine league games produced an astonishing 60 goals, with a new manager in charge.

The home side was formed in 1878 as Matlock, and competed in the Central Alliance and then the Midland Counties League. After being four time champions in the 1960s, the Gladiators moved into a different arena, the Northern Premier League in 1969.

In 1975 the club won the FA Trophy beating Scarborough 4-0 at Wembley with all three Fenoughty brothers, Tom, Mick and Nick, scoring. 1978 saw the side win the NPL Cup, and this allowed them to play in the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1978/9 against Chieti, Pisa, Juniorcasale and Cremonese.

After relegation to the First Division in 1996, the club were promoted back to the Premier Division in 2003/4, and have remained there at the third tier of non-league ever since.

Stamford AFC are nicknamed The Daniels after Daniel Lambert, reputedly the fattest man in English history then (but not in these morbidly obese times !), who died in Stamford and is buried in St Martins' churchyard, close to the old ground.

The club was established in 1896 and played for one season in the East Midlands League. Then after several years without league football they joined the Northamptonshire League in 1909, and were champions in 1912. They left the (now) United Counties League in 1939 after being plagued by financial troubles, but rejoined in 1946 and after playing in the Central Alliance and the Midland League, went back to the UCL for the final time in 1972.

The Daniels were champions five times in seven seasons, and reached the FA Vase final three times winning it in 1980 by beating Guisborough 2-0. In 1998 after consecutive championships, one in their centenary year, the club was promoted to the Midland (later renamed Eastern) Division of the Southern League. Promotion to the Premier followed in 2004, and then after two yo-yo years, the club was moved to the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League, and went down after one season to Division One South.

In August 2012 the Daniels became the first club in the world to wear the Twitter handle and display a QR code on the back of their playing shirts. Promotion to the Premier was achieved via the play offs, and in their second season back Stamford went top after winning their first five games.

The club moved from their old home at Hanson's Field to the brand new Zeeco Stadium in December 2014 and became embroiled in a relegation dogfight. On the final day of last season the Daniels were 2-0 down at the Zeeco to fellow relegation strugglers Witton Albion. Cue a tremendous fightback, late goal, a 3-2 win, survival and Witton through the trapdoor. It remains their only home league win at the new stadium to date.....

And so through the footballers' playground of Hale Barns, past the crystal Methodist's Co-op pyramid in Stockport and there's no gridlock in the (Hazel) Grove - a first time for everything ! Past Lyme Park, and then skirting Chapel-en-le-Frith, the Capital of the Peak, brings us to the hairpin bend at the Wanted Inn at Sparrowpit.

Through Peak Forest and then a turn to Ashford in the Water, avoiding Tideswell, the Cathedral of the Peak. On into the sprawling town of Bakewell, and its Tarts, and then past the Grouse & Claret at Rowsley and into Darley Dale, with its Carriage Museum.

First stop is the tourist trap of Matlock Bath, with its illuminations on the River Derwent and fireworks later ! Awesome views from the Heights of Abraham - and don't forget the Lead Mining Museum.....

Then a backtrack to the spa and market town of Matlock and park up by the railway station - sadly no Peak Rail services today due to problems with the steam locomotive :( Then lunch and a pint of Woodforde's Tap & Go in the packed Crown, where the horse drawn fire engine was based many years ago.

The town is compact and vibrant, watched over by Riber Castle, perched on the peak above. The football ground is in the town centre across from Hall Leys Park, with its sunken gardens, skate park and boating lake. Next to the ground is Matlock Ford dealership and on the approach Maazi restaurant, with an incongruous yellow tuk-tuk on its portico......

And so up Causeway Lane and in through the turnstile, with every spectator greeted by 'And how are you today ?' 'Not three bad'. The far end is fenced off, with the cricket club and pitch behind and Riber Castle in the distance. The near side supports the Cyril Harrison Stand, showing its 95 years, three seated/ benched rows and partly taped off. The Town End has a small covered terraced area backing on to Matlock Ford, with tarmac standing below. However the ground has been transformed by the shiny new Twigg main Stand - alongside it is the Sports and Social Club, where an episode of Sky series Starlings was filmed (no I've never heard of it either !). There is also the Autoworld Lounge on one side and a refreshment bar and some benches on the other; behind the town rises layer by layer.

A rather frightening looking middle aged man with gelled dyed blue and yellow hair, which doesn't match his goatee, walks round the ground before the game starts. The Gladiators are in all blue and the Daniels in all red.

The weather matches the first half - five minutes of sunshine then drab with a swirling wind. A chance in the first minute for Matlock captain Danny Holland and no real threat from the Daniels, until Nabil Sharif pokes wide under pressure. A home claim for a penalty for hand ball, and rather aimless pinball football until the half hour.

Then three very presentable chances for the home side. Holland nods down a free kick to the unmarked Sam Smith who volleys horribly over, Holland is just thwarted by the Daniels' keeper Richard Knight and Micky Harcourt's cross cum shot evades the onrushing forwards.

Within in a minute of the second half the Gladiators' Harry Coates hits the frame of bar and post from a corner but the home side are struggling to create chances, looking lopsided and lacking invention. Shortly after, the Daniels lead - a corner produces a tremendous save from home custodian George Willis, but Tom McGowan thrashes home the rebound. Two minutes later Smith is cut down in the area: Holland takes the penalty but Knight saves low to his left.

Knight produces further great saves to deny Ben Elgar and Joel Purkiss but leaves the best till last - a superb tip away from Adam Yates' header. By the end the Gladiators have run out of ideas, with Daniels' Daniel Clements nearly adding a second, Willis saving well. Injury time is brief - only one double substitution from the home side and no injuries - as the veil is drawn on an unlikely away win.

All Hail Windmill Army Reigning In The Sun - Nor Lye Strike Gold...

And so to Eynsham Hall Park Sports Ground, and a bonus overnighter (thanks Mark !) to see the Evostik South Division Division 1 South & West curtain raiser between North Leigh and Tiverton Town.

North Leigh is a small village of less than 2,000 inhabitants in West Oxfordshire just outside Witney. The football club was established in 1908 and boasts three nicknames - The Windmill Army, Yellows and Nor Lye. Initially competing in the Witney & District League, they progressed up to the Oxfordshire Senior League and then the Hellenic League. Fittingly this was won in their centenary year in 2008, taking them to their current, highest level of Step 4.

Tiverton Town also boast three nicknames - Tivvy, Yellows and The Gold Army. The visitors from Ladysmead were founded in 1913 as Tiverton Athletic, and merged with Uffculme St Peters in 1921 to form Tiverton AFC. Their first games were played at the Athletic Ground (now Amory Park) in the East Devon League, moving in to the North Devon League and then the Exeter & District League. The club were evicted in 1921 and moved to the rugby pitch at Elm Park, The Elms, in a rather one sided ground swap with the rugby club. A war battered Elms was virtually destroyed in World War 2 so the club was renamed Tiverton Town and moved to Ladysmead, although they had to use a pub ten minutes walk away for changing purposes.
 
The club gradually climbed the leagues, joining the Western League in 1973. The appointment of Martyn Rogers as manager in 1991 saw the club's halcyon days with the league won in 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998. Having been runners up in the FA Vase in 1993, losing to Bridlington, they triumphed at Wembley against Tow Law Town 1-0 in 1998 and retained the Vase beating Bedlington Terriers by the same score the following year.
 
The club was promoted to the Southern League Division 1 West in 1999, and then the Premier in 2001. 2007 saw the Southern League Cup captured, but the club started to struggle to maintain its air of invincibility. Tivvy finished in the relegation zone at the end of 2009/10 but despite a reprieve, Rogers stepped aside after 19 seasons in charge. It was only a stay of execution as relegation followed the following season and, despite a brief flirtation with an internet entrepreneur, they have remained at the lower level. Club legend Rogers was reappointed manager in May 2014.

 

So Friday evening and on to the patchwork M6, and a welcome return of the PIES graffiti - 'PIES - THIS IS YOUR TIME' and 'VOTE PIES'. With long delays forecast ahead, a detour first into a godforsaken council estate in Stafford (the culprit - you know who you are !!), and then past the roundabout art in Cannock and bizarre architecture in Bridgtown.
 
The Black Country greets us with 'No car cruising - by high court injunction', and we skirt Walsall cruising past Rostance Edwards FC, an accountancy firm playing at Step 8, before rejoining the M6. Further smart (?) motorway delays, with closed lanes displaying 50 mph limits, and an accident then phantom lane closures on the M40 provide more hold ups before we eventually arrive at the new housing estate in Botley - pitch black with no street lighting and with monstrous kerbs. The navigator (you know who he is !) pronounces 'I'm lost, I'm lost' - never a truer word spoken.......
 
Saturday brings glorious sunshine and a walk into the dreaming spires of Oxford. Breakfast is at The Four Candles, and yes it is named after that iconic Two Ronnies sketch. On the wall are two fork handles and four candles.... Avoiding the cyclists, it's a trip to the Ashmolean Museum, then taking in the Sheldonian Theatre, Bodleian Library, Bridge of Sighs, Radcliffe Camera and finishing atop the Castle Mound at Oxford Castle, all the while marvelling at the historical attractions.
 
A gentle meander through countryside, stopping only to pay the Swinford Bridge toll - all of 5p - brings us to Eynsham Park. The ground is set in the picturesque surroundings of the Eynsham Hall estate, with the landowner charging the club a peppercorn rent.
 
Ample parking and a stroll past a faded clubhouse brings us to the ground. The near end supports a shallow covered terrace behind the North End goal which joins on to a welcoming clubhouse, Shep's Lounge Bar, and snack bar. Down the touchline is a pathway for standing with grassed areas overhung by leafy trees. Opposite the dugouts is the main stand named after George Hazell, the benefactor who bequeathed the club its floodlights. The stand highlights the prodigious slope on the pitch - one half having four seated rows above pitch level, the other only two.
 
The far end is open, backed by hedging, with two gates leading to a field occupied by oblivious sheep resting in the shade. In the distance, and just visible despite being framed by more trees, stands the majestic Eynsham Hall.

The Windmill Army are in traditional yellow and black, but can name only three substitutes. The third substitute is wearing a surgical boot and pink vest; needless to say he does not feature in the game. Tivvy are in change all white, and have only four substitutes, with no sub keeper.
 
The game gets off to a lively start with home keeper James Foster making a splendid fingertip save from Tivvy centre forward, Owen Howe. At the other end, Morgan Williams finishes horribly from a two on one and only a slight deflection, diverting the ball closer to the goal rather than corner flag, spares his blushes. From the resultant corner to the far post, right back Miles Welch-Hayes heads the ball firmly down. It hits the ground, loops over Tivvy's keeper and a covering defender attempts to punch the ball over the bar - his forearm smash only succeeding in pushing the ball into the net for the home side to lead.
 
Plenty of banter from the linesman too - during an enforced injury and drinks break, and with Tivvy manager Rogers encroaching on to the pitch, he asks the 60 year old if he wants to bring himself on....... The reply is absolutely unprintable !!
 
Just after the half hour, the Millers' Callum McNish is brought down for a contentious penalty. Cue apoplexy on the Tivvy bench and then relief as keeper Rhys Lovett saves Jamie Cook's spot kick. Foster makes another terrific save from Tivvy's Dan Smith to preserve the half time lead.
 
The second half begins in similar fashion and six minutes in, Williams motors down the left flank and sends over a pinpoint cross to McNish. The forward cushions the ball, swivels to beat his man and crashes the ball into the top right hand corner for a goal of real quality.
 
Tivvy must know it's not to be their day when Howe's firm header from a right wing cross thuds against the inside of the post. Foster remains relatively untroubled as the away side struggle to break down a resolute Windmill Army defence, and it finishes 2-0.
 
Just time for a quick visit to Witney and, opposite the butter cross in the market square, a pint of Hook Norton's Summertime in The Company of Weavers, a nod to the town's traditional industry of blanket making. Then, thankfully, a less eventful journey home !