Daisies Cut Back To Size - Tega Earns His Stripes !!!

And so to the North Field on Jericho Lane in Otterspool, in the Liverpudlian district of Aigburth. Today's North West Counties Division One North match is between MSB Woolton FC, their first ever NWCFL home fixture, and Daisy Hill F.C.

MSB Woolton FC traces its roots back to 1930 as Woolton Boys' Club, with the modern formation in 1994. The club is based at Camp Hill and The Simpson Ground in Woolton, South Liverpool. 

The Woo joined the Liverpool County Premier League in 2014 and back to back promotions took them to the Premier Division in 2016. A change of name to MSB Woolton followed through sponsorship by MSB Solicitors at the same time; and that remains to this day 😀

The club was crowned as Premier Division champions in 2023 and 2025. However a groundshare with South Liverpool FC at the North Field on Jericho Lane in Otterspool was required to achieve promotion to the North West Counties, after previous failed attempts due to ground grading issues. The club have started with away defeats 2-1 at Darwen and a 5-0 drubbing at Maine Road which sees Woolton bottom.

 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 - now the Ginge Power Stadium. The club folded before World War 2, reforming 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, and again in 2018 because of a league restructuring, having finished bottom of the pile.

Two abandoned Covid campaigns then an 8th place finish in 2022 preceded three lower season finishes. However last term saw social influencer Aaron Hunt take over as chairman and a monster crowd of 857 (normal gates are about 50) against Atherton Laburnum Rovers for the first home game under his watch, also attended by Angry Ginge and TikToker Steve Bracknall. This time a 1-0 loss at home to Ashton Athletic, a 2-2 home draw with Garstang and a 2-1 away defeat at Ashton Town leaves the Daisies 15th of 18.

The afternoon begins in bizarre circumstances with a woman lighting a cigarette on a petrol station forecourt..... Past the Armenian Grill House and glorious floral colour at Denzell Gardens in 26C heat it's another motorway bonanza - the M56, M6 and the M62. Beyond Orange Spa Massage, the Pink Eye, Fiddler's Ferry, Griffin Wood and the Dream sculpture at St Helens, with curious motorway bridge graffiti of End Speciesism....

Then we come to Tarbock Island and Symmetry Park. The M62 finishes at junction 4, in a failed attempt to reach Liverpool city centre; after that it's left at The Rocket with Brazilian Jujitsu at Aspire Combat and the Tiffin Indian restaurant. Numberplates today are PH16BOG (Phil Higgins Plumbing) and CHE35Y - a black Porsche, plus a BJS removal van 'Coals To Newcastle'.

But, via Childwall Fiveways and Mossley Hill, I reach the outskirts of Aigburth, before hitting Jericho Lane and the Community Football & Fitness Hub. This is now home to South Liverpool FC, Liverpool Feds Women FC and, from today, MSB Woolton FC.

Opposite is the glorious vista of Otterspool Promenade, looking onto the River Mersey - at the hub there is plenty of parking, and £6 admission; the crowd is 122 with good away support and an Ultras banner 'No Pies Are Safe' 👏

The ground has two small seated stands, one behind the goal and the other on the popular side, with only three sides open. There is a walkway and a covered area opposite the dugouts, and the astroturf surface is surrounded by small sized pitches. After a fourth heatwave cloud and warm sunshine greets the game.

Woolton, 'Fire In The Belly, Ice In The Veins', are in all white, with pale blue pinstripes on their sleeves, sponsored by Vesey, and the Cutters in all blue, sponsored by Star401.

It's a scrappy start to the match - not helped by the artificial surface and the heat. However on 17 minutes MSB's goalkeeper captain Dan Jennings spills a Kaiden Barlow free kick and Lee Grimshaw follows up to sidefoot home and put the Daisies 1-0 up.

Needless handbags just before the half hour result in two yellow cards. But five minutes on the Cutters' Joao Soares impressively volleys home a cross and the visitors lead 2-0.

That remains for only four minutes as Woolton's number nine, Tega Okeregha, comfortably outpaces Hill captain Nathan Bartram-Conway and slots in across Morgan Newns on 37. Newns makes a super reaction save on half time to preserve the Daisies' 2-1 lead.

The second period is all Whites as Newns produces a fine save from a corner and Joe Harvey's long range curler just drifts over. All the Cutters can deliver is hitting the post on 65, from a Jennings fumble.

Newns again excels, denying Harvey and Shea Currey. But with 12 minutes to go there is a clear shove by Okeregha and both sides stop. However nothing is given by the referee and Tega feeds the ball down the wing, and the resulting cross is deftly headed in by Daniel Ventre for 2-2.

Woolton hit the bar in the closing stages and apply significant pressure, but ultimately cannot find a winner. The spoils are shared leaving the Woo 16th and Daisy Hill one place higher in 15th.

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...