Josh's Ams Dram Puts Ramblers On The Wrong Trail....!

And so to the DRM Aggregate Arena in Oakengates in Telford for a North West Counties Division One South fixture between Telford Town FC and Sandbach United FC.

The home team was established in 1950 as Old Wellingtonians by former pupils of Wellington Grammar School. However it changed name to Wellington Amateurs FC when the Head Master discovered that the club had started accepting players who were not former pupils....

After 31 years in the Wellington League the Ams joined the Shropshire County League Division One in 1981, which they won in their first season. The Premier Division was championed in 1983 and 1989 and Wellington moved up to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two in 2007, which they bested in their first campaign.

Division One champions three times in four years Welly was eventually admitted to the Premier Division in 2012 after undertaking ground improvements. Relegated in bottom place in 2018 to Division One, the division was renamed the Premier Division for the 2024/25 season.

In February 2024 the team was taken over by former Hednesford Town owner Hayden Dando and rebranded as Telford Town FC. Town won the Premier League last season with 23 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat, scoring 94 goals and conceding only 15 - and this brought about promotion to the North West Counties Division One South. The Ams have started with a 2-2 draw at Foley Meir, a 3-0 home win against Haughmond and an Alsager away victory - 1-0 - to lie third.

Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.

Sandbach United was established in 2004 when Sandbach Ramblers and Sandbach Albion joined forces in their quest to improve football facilities in Sandbach. The club badge reflects the union, featuring R and A in its design.

 

United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The Ramblers were accepted into the North West Counties in 2016 and have consistently placed upper half, with three consecutive failed play off attempts - last season culminating in a 5-4 defeat at Stafford Town. This time a 1-0 home defeat to New Mills before beating Shawbury United 2-1, again at home, they sit 11th of 19.

Numberplates today are BE10VED and K11ODD and a BJS Removal Van 'Setting The Canterbury Pace'.... 

It's a sunny, breezy afternoon as I set off past the soon to be closed George and Dragon. Then the M6 at Juniper Farm followed by Jenga motorway bridge graffiti.

Overtaking Han's Hands and plenty of trailer advertising, including BadRhino, we are held up by a 'stranded vehicle'. We turn off to the A5, Watling Street, and bypass Gailey Pottery and White Pump Farm. The return journey is via Eccleshall and Buttercup and Daisies With Love.

Then it's beyond Weston-under-Lizard, Crackleybank and into Telford and Wrekin, with its hedgehog friendly new builds. That brings us to Oakengates, the Coalport Tavern and the DRM Aggregate Arena on School Grove - although the advertising hoarding inside is for DRM Aggreate 🙄

£6 in and there is a crowd of 135, including several Ramblers' fans. We sit in the Wednesday Crew Stand, opposite the Army & Spud covered terrace and the Dave Gregory Clubhouse.

The ground is bordered on three sides by residential housing and minimal parking. The near end bookends a small industrial estate, including Torton Bodies: the far end is cordoned off.

The Ams are in all red, the Ramblers in change yellow with blue lines.

A bone dry pitch and a capricious wind make for an inauspicious spectacle. However, in the first five minutes, Ams' centre forward Josh Hesson, with a super turn, creates a chance smartly held by United's keeper Craig Ellison.

Then an even better opportunity sees Hesson shoot just wide. For Sandbach Joe Bevan has a shot saved by Jack Boswell on 17 minutes.

Finally the deadlock is broken on 32 from a Kyle Jordan long throw. Town's Jack Howse nips in to head over a floundering Ellison and Telford lead 1-0.

It stays that way until the break, but not before Hesson is sinbinned for dissent a minute from the interval....

As expected the Ramblers, with a man advantage, and prompted by Stanley Tatters, launch an all out assault on the Ams' goal at the start of the second period. However a tremendous rearguard action means United create only one meaningful chance - Bevan denied superbly by Boswell.

Restored to 11 men Telford turn the screws. On the hour there is a fine double save from Ellison, but he is beaten on 69 by a magical individual goal from Hesson, beating three defenders in the penalty area and then slotting home.

After a double miss the Ams wrap up the points 3-0 with nine minutes to go; a messy corner arrives at Harry Dear's feet and he stabs home. Telford stay third but Sandbach drop to 14th, albeit with a game in hand.

It's Academical - Runcorn Ace of Monds !

And so to Shrewsbury Sports Village for a North West Counties Division One South clash between Haughmond FC and Runcorn Town.

Haughmond FC, named after the overlooking Haughmond Hill, play at the Sundorne Sports Village in Shrewsbury, was established in 1980, the brainchild of two brothers - Roger and Dave Ellis-Morgan - and began life in the Shropshire County Premier League. The Mond won the double of the league and Ron Jones Memorial Cup in 2011, and were promoted to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two, which they won in their first season.

The Academicals went up from Division One two seasons later, and then achieved promotion to the Midland League in 2016/17; relegated in their inaugural season, promoted as runners up the following year and post pandemic consecutive relegations saw Haugh demoted to the Salop Leisure League - aka the Shropshire League.
Fifth in their first season, a third place finish last time was sufficient to see the Mond move up to the North West Counties Division One South. They have started with a 2-1 away defeat at Barnton and a 3-0 loss at Telford Town on Wednesday.

The away team was established in 1967 as a founder member of the Runcorn Sunday League under the name of CKD, a works team from the 'D' Section at the local Castner Kellner plant. The club changed its name to Mond FC in 1970, representing the Mond Division of ICI which ran the Castner Kellner works.

In 1973 there was a move to Saturday football in the form of Division 5 of the Warrington & District League. At the end of their first season Mond amalgamated with struggling Division 1 side ICI Weston, becoming Mond Rangers FC and 'securing' a four division promotion.

1984 saw a move to the West Cheshire League and there was another change to the club's name in 2005/06 - this time to Runcorn Town FC. After winning Division 2 a year later 'Town' was elevated to the North West Counties at the start of the 2010/11 campaign following a third place finish.

Promotion to the Premier League was achieved at the first attempt, and Town finished runners up in their first season at the higher level. However after 4th and 5th place finishes there followed two disappointing seasons and 2016/17 began with a new manager and squad, with not one player being retained. 

Thereafter Town finished third twice, the 2017/18 season beginning with 11 straight victories. Seventh in 2019, then two abandoned Covid ventures and Town saw relegation to Division One North in 2022 after a miserable campaign that garnered 27 points from 40 games. Runcorn was laterally moved to Division One South last season and finished 12th. 

This season has started with a thumping 4-0 home drubbing of Market Drayton and a 2-0 away win at Ashville on Tuesday.

Numberplates today are ST11NNA and a bizarre FRO6XXX... plus a BJS Removal Van emblazoned with 'Giving It Beans In Wigan' 😉

After some, quite frankly, toilet driving from X8 POO, it's the A49 on a lovely summer's afternoon (but we come back by Loggerheads). We start past the Mulberry Tree at Stockton Heath, the Cat & Lion and then the Stretton Fox.

Thereafter Greenwood Fishery, Bartington Forge, Cabbage Hall and the Fox & Barrel at Cotebrook. Subsequently it's Panama Hatty's and a 'Relief Milker Required' at Cholmondeley 🤔

Finally Bewilderwood, Willeymoor Lock at Bradeley Green, Schmitz Cargobull, signs for West Midlands Shooting Ground and into Upper Battlefield. That takes us to the vast Shrewsbury Sports Village - a plethora of football pitches, grass and artificial, running tracks, gym and indoor bowling.

The match takes place on the grass Competition Pitch. This incorporates a stand and small covered area on one side, two open ends and the far side out of bounds, behind which is a beautiful view of the hill and its forestry.

(Haugh)Mond are in white and black, playing on the ground they share with Shrewsbury Town FC's Academy. Town are in two tone blue; £6 in and a crowd of 118, with good away support.

After an indifferent start, Runcorn finally create a chance on 18 minutes - Matty Vickers' shot beaten away by Bayden Ngo-Zulu, who has a very uncertain and uncomfortable afternoon in the Haugh end. Two minutes on, and against the run of play, the Academicals take the lead with a lovely curler into the top left corner by Ethan Pickford.

Within 90 seconds Vickers equalises for Town, smashing in off the post after a defensive error. But he misses badly afterwards, despite rounding the keeper.

No matter as, with five minutes to the break, a hopeful punt is controlled by Tom Ruffer and he rifles into the roof of the net. Runcorn lead 2-1 at half time.

The second period continues in similar vein - Orran Mushet has an early chance and then Charlie Harland heads against the bar for the away side. Sub Shaq Lewys wastes a Town break, shooting wildly over on 69 minutes.

But he makes up for it two minutes later drilling home after a fine team move. Surprisingly the next goal, with ten minutes left, falls to Haughmond - Fransy Mpasi's back flick at the far post going in off the underside of the bar.

Scoring is completed within 120 seconds as the ball is fortuitously deflected to Ruffer and he makes it 4-2. That leaves Runcorn top and Haughmond bottom...

Hats off to Will In Villa Thriller.....

And so to Beech Fields in Timperley, which derives from Timber Leah - the Anglo Saxon for a 'clearing in the forest'. It's a Wednesday night Lancashire and Cheshire League Division 3 fixture between Timperley Villa Youth and Broadheath Central, kicking off at 1815, allegedly, but actually starting at 1837...

Villa Youth was established in 1981 and gained promotion last season to Division 3 in the Lancs and Cheshire, currently sitting 9th of 12.

Broadheath Central FC was established in 1922, but a previous incarnation of a Broadheath side served as a forerunner to Altrincham FC prior to 1903. The first team plays in the Cheshire League Premier at Salisbury Fields, backed by attractive railway arches that sit in front of the canal, and the reserves use Navigation Road. Tonight's side is the youth and third team and presently lie 4th, despite me witnessing a 7-1 mauling at home in appalling conditions last Wednesday by Saddleworth 3Ds - the 3Ds referring to Delph, Dobcross and Denshaw.

Central joined the Mid Cheshire League Division 2 in 1991/92 and were crowned as champions in their first season but saw relegation in 1998; they reversed this by winning the league in 2001.

Broadheath left what became the Cheshire League in 2009 for the now defunct Altrincham & District Amateur League but rejoined the Cheshire Division 2 in 2016. Central achieved promotions in 2018 and 2019 to join the Premier - and have been twice runners up and 3rd in the last three seasons, but this term has been an underwhelming disappointment, placing well below half way...

So it's on to Park Road and beyond The Wok Inn, Barberian, Cheshire Clocks and Marvel Guitars. Numberplates today are 6OYA, FR06 XXX, POW311S and BE10VED .... and a BJS van shouting 'One Good Deed Leeds To Another'. 

Then a detour via Skelton Junction and the Moss Trooper before I reach Cheshire Stoves & Fires, Oh Coco and into the Grange and through to Beech Fields - playing fields with a Scout Hut and changing rooms at one end and at the other Fairywell Brook adjoining Brooklands, all surrounded by residential housing and mature trees, and Altrincham Kersal RUFC behind.

                    

Villa are in yellow and black, sponsored by Commhoist and Broadheath wear red and black, covered by PP Group. A 'crowd' of 16 assembles and strangely, for this level, we have two linesmen alongside the referee.

A dreadful miss from Central in the first 15 seconds precedes an awful error by Broadheath's obese custodian who lets a weak shot go through his arms, but fortunately it trickles wide. Another mistake, this time by Villa's keeper, sees a poor goal kick punished by a 45 yard lob from Michael Coffey and Central lead 1-0. But that lasts only for less than 60 seconds as Will Sarwar slots home for Timpers. Nothing further in the first half with Sarwar's stab wide the nearest effort, and the break sees it 1-1.

Two minutes into the second period a horrible clearance by Broadheath's overweight shotstopper results in Callum Blades netting with a lob from 35 yards. Villa hit the post on 63 before it becomes the Sarwar Show.

With 20 minutes to go we have another shocking goalkeeping mistake, dropping the ball from a routine shot and then clattering down the Villa striker. Sarwar scores from the penalty spot and three minutes later gets his hat trick with a well worked team move - and that's it as Timperley comfortably see out the game 4-1, and clip the bar in the dying seconds. Cavaliers possibly next season....but probably not Didsbury FC, formerly Burnage Metro FC 🤔

United and Saints Held In Reserve.....

And so to Wythenshawe Sports Ground on Willenhall Road but not, at the last minute, for a Lancashire and Cheshire League Premier Division fixture and a local derby between Trafford United and Sale Amateurs.

Trafford United was established in 2005 playing in local leagues before moving to the Lancashire and Cheshire. Back to back ascensions sees United in the Premier Division this season for the first time, and they currently lie 9th of 11.

Sale Amateurs FC was founded in 1987 by David Creely and David Hart. The club previously played in the now defunct Altrincham & District Amateur Football League, before moving to the Lancashire and Cheshire for the 2020/21 season. 

Sale also saw back to back promotions to the Premier League of the Lancashire and Cheshire in 2022 and 2023; they were 4th in their second season in the top tier before seemingly resigning from the league this week, but still fulfilling cup fixtures, including a 0-7 reverse at home to Altrincham Reserves, which I witnessed alongside Mersey Valley's injury time heartbreaking Cup defeat to Billinge New Street. Ammies play in yellow/ black and are based at Mersey Valley Sports Club on Banky Lane on the border of Carrington, cohabiting with Mersey Valley FC.

Instead it's a 1pm kick off for a Division 3 Reserves match between Trafford United, 8th of 12, and Heywood St James, formed in 1882, from Shepherd Street in Heywood and currently sitting 5th.

Past Frurt, Bohemia, Stellantis & You and Luminer brings me to Marsland Road. Numberplates today are AN6E FOX - Angela Fox Aesthetics -, MU51CKS (Forsyth Music Shop) and W8X ME, plus a BJS removal van 'Grinning Like A Cheshire Cat'.

Then Marsland Road, the Little B, Sale Rugby FC, Sale Grammar, the Carters Arms and Holy Cow in Sale Moor. Finally through Northern Moor and under the motorway to Wythenshawe Sports Ground, previously owned by the University of Manchester.

The Sports Ground is vast - 22 full size football pitches, 9 reduced size football pitches and a solitary rugby pitch, plus a pavilion - but only one game today 🤔. Junction 5 of the M60 is next door, but the fields are set in a hollow and surrounded by woods and pylons.

Trafford are in blue and black, sponsored by Namaste Nepal restaurant. Heywood are in orange with a black diagonal stripe, and sponsored by Phoenix Fires. Confusingly the home keeper is in all orange too, but the tubby referee lets it go...

We start off in sunshine, which turns to cloud, an icy wind and hints of drizzle. And the match takes a while to warm up... in front of a crowd in single figures, and mostly away supporters 😀 

Forty minutes have elapsed before the first meaningful action - a good stop onto the post by Trafford's custodian. Three minutes afterwards United's centre forward is allowed a free header from a corner and the home side lead 1-0. But not for long, as in stoppage time a Saints free kick causes confusion and leads to an own goal; it's 1-1 at the break.

Eight minutes into the second half a sumptuous Trafford volley smacks the post, and United miss a one on one sixty seconds later. Heywood fight back and they have a shot superbly tipped over on the hour.

Trafford retake the lead with a quarter of an hour to go - a corner not cleared and thrashed home into the roof of the net. But eight minutes later another St James free kick produces a defensive mess and the ball is laid on a plate for a second equaliser - and it finishes 2-2.