Windle Labour To Cup Victory - Moore Not The Merrier !!!

And so to the Grange Sports and Social Club in Latchford, Warrington for a JA Walton Challenge Cup fixture between Cheshire League Division One sides Moore United FC and Windle Labour FC.

Moore United was established in 1946, entering the Warrington and District Football League. Billy Green's Red and White Army joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2008/09 and, after demotion to the third tier in 2014, was promoted back to League One in 2017/18.

But the last three seasons have been disastrous - 9 points from 17 games in 2019/20 finishing next to bottom at the curtailment of that campaign. This followed by 7 points from 22 matches in 2020/21 and last place, matched almost exactly by 7 points from 21 games, goal difference -61, this time around - and last place again.

Windle Labour FC, from Dentons Green in St Helens, was established in 1998 and formerly played in the Warrington & District League, joining the Cheshire League for the 2016/17 term.

 

Promoted as League Two champions in their first season, Labour, playing at the Sutton Leisure Centre, have been mid table in Division One ever since. That said they lie fourth (of 15) currently albeit with 34 points from 22 games - the 3 teams below them have anything between 3 and 9 games in hand.

Onto Manchester Road and beyond The CatNap, Aura Apartments, Antz In Their Pantz and Diva Den, litter strewn Altrincham streets and fallen trees at Dunham Forest Golf Club to Thelwall. En route Armadillo Self Storage and Van Diesel Transport with numberplates 1 MDB, T13 DRY (company of the same name) and M33 WET (a Brooklands plumber !) to the centre of Warrington... and another plate M2 YEW ☺

Past Kwality Printer and the demolition site that was Chevys into Salisbury Road and St Elphins Primary School brings us to the ambulance station. Adjacent, on waste ground, are three marooned boats and two abandoned caravans; over the River Mersey via Kingsway Bridge takes us to the Grange Sports & Social Club, with the rain thankfully abating - but not the wind !!

The clubhouse is on the left, changing rooms on the right and behind are two floodlit bowling greens, a mini astroturf pitch and the football field - resembling treacle and definitely without floodlights. A warm up pitch, with Victoria Park beyond the trees is alongside - cricket sightscreens at either end and the wicket coned off.

Moore are in all red with minimal white flashing, sponsored by Switching Cars - in such small type that it takes us an hour to decipher the words. Labour are in change aquamarine and navy blue, sponsored by JS Decorating - which is a lot clearer !! The crowd peaks at 5 but only two watch the entire proceedings on a slippery pudding of a pitch....

After a non-descript start Windle take the lead on 7 minutes - a right wing cross and strong header into the bottom corner. The next major talking point arrives midway through the half as the referee pulls up lame, hobbles to the changing rooms and, after an 11 minute delay, limps back to continue proceedings.

Labour hit the bar and also waste two great opportunities, with United's best chance a one on one sent wildly wide. Finally in the seventh minute of stoppage time a lucky ricochet leaves Windle's left winger space and he shoots across the keeper for an assured finish into the far corner to leave it 2-0 to the visitors at the break.

The second period starts quietly until Moore turn the tie on its head on the hour mark. A cross is turned in then two minutes later an assured finish from the edge of of the box makes it 2-2.

Parity only lasts for four minutes though with Windle converting a recycled corner - the header just beyond Moore's keeper. United hit the post but the game is finally put to bed with four minutes to go - Labour's forward, looking suspiciously offside, gathering the ball on the wing, cutting inside, beating two men and burying the ball into the net.

4-2 to Windle Labour at the death - which is spot on 4pm after an astonishing 15 minutes of injury time over the two halves....

Greenalls Not Bitter - Bears With Sore Heads.....

And so to January 2022 and a Cheshire League Premier Division fixture between GPSO (Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds) and Congleton Town Reserves at Walkers, now known as The Tetleys Club, on Long Lane in Warrington - last week's game against Broadheath Central, celebrating their centenary this year, having fallen foul of the weather.

Greenalls FC was established in 1963 and was formerly the local Greenalls Brewery works team. Greenalls played in the Warrington and District Football League for many years with the highlight being winning the Guardian Cup and the Division One title in the same year, 1988.

During the 2002/03 season Greenalls were approached by Padgate St Oswalds who played in the Mid Cheshire League Division 2 about the possibility of merging teams. The merger was then agreed and in place for the 2003/04 campaign, where they emerged as champions - they have remained in the top flight ever since and won the Cheshire League in 2010/11. 

Congleton Town FC was formed in 1901, starting life in the Crewe and District League where they were champions in their first three seasons. This prompted a move to the North Staffordshire & District League, and having conquered this in the 1919/20 season they were off again - this time to the Cheshire County League.

 

45 years later and yet to crack it, there was a brief 3 season foray into the Manchester League before joining the Mid Cheshire League. After winning this three times in 1974, 1976 and 1978, Town reverted back to the Cheshire County League and their last ever season there brought the Division 2 championship in 1982.

 

The restructuring of the leagues saw Congleton become founder members of the North West Counties League, and they moved up to the newly created Northern Premier League Division One in 1988. Perennial strugglers, Town was finally relegated back to the top tier of the NWCFL in 2001 - and continue to play their football there, currently just above half way this term in the top division.

 

The reserve side was formed from a three way merger of Town, Congleton Vale Rovers and Congleton Rovers in June 2020.

 

Congleton Town are known as the Bears, a throwback to the 1620s when bearbaiting was popular in the town and if historic lore is to be believed, in an attempt to attract more spectators, it used money set aside for a Bible to buy a more aggressive bear:

 

'Congleton Rare, Congleton Rare,

Sold the Bible to buy a bear.'

 

Consequently the town became known as Beartown....

Congleton's Reserves currently sit sixth (of 18) with 32 points from 19 games whilst the home side are averaging a point per match after 15 games, and lie 13th.
 
Straight into roadworks 'Narrow Lanes - Do Not Overtake Oyclists' (seriously !), then past Pure Fades and to the M56, with en route numberplates R4CYS, MOO1E, WE11DER (can't guess his profession !!) and then a truck emblazoned with Stage Freight... Over Thelwall and off at Juniper Park into Woolston to the centre of Warrington.
 
Then via Beamont Community Primary School with its strange sign for Wasps Out of School Care, and opposite Woolston Detachment - the local Army Cadet base. Passing the Blackburne Arms, The Furry Dogmother and So & Sew brings me to Long Lane and the A50 and the Tetleys Club, hosting an engagement party this afternoon. The sign highlighting that this is the home of Fearnhead FC and Greenalls FC is obsolete - Fearnhead and another previous tenant, Tetley Walkers FC, long since consigned to oblivion.
 
The floodlights are for the two bowling greens, with the football pitch behind, surrounded by conifers at both ends and residential properties and brambles (where a ball gets lost in the first half !!) on the away side in the glorious sunshine. A small covered four step cosy breeze block corrugated iron stand is next to the changing rooms and the clubhouse on the home, shaded side. The attendance today is 19 plus a baby - although more have congregated by the end.

Greenalls are naturally in green and black, The Bears in change all purple, and one of the linesmen is in glasses, gloves and tights....
 
An early Bears chance produces a one on one but the number 9 doesn't shoot, overcomplicates matters and loses the ball and his footing. Then on 21 minutes GPSO take the lead with a sumptuous drive from the edge of the penalty box into the bottom left corner.
 
The Bears hit the bar with a header twelve minutes later, but Greenalls have the best opportunity for another goal four minutes before the break. A one two results in a clear trip and a penalty is awarded, resulting in an abject miss into the conifers...
 
No matter as within seconds of the restart a horror mistake from Congleton's centre back gifts possession in the penalty area to the home side. The first effort is saved and the rebound doesn't happen because of a tug - a second penalty kick is given with a different taker and outcome leaving GPSO 2-0 up - their goalscorers being Ben McWilliams and Przemek Staniszewski
 
Thereafter Greenalls really should put the game to bed, missing several good chances and hitting the post - meanwhile the Bears' cupboard is bare...
 
Then with nine minutes to go the ball bobbles over Greenalls' centre half's boot, a feat subsequently matched by both goalkeepers - but both save themselves embarrassment by scrambling back. That leaves an easy task for the Bears to sweep home and halve the deficit.
 
Shortly after a dreadful dive in the box by a Congleton sub results in a yellow card for simulation - matched by three bookings for the home team, including their manager, in a fractious final twenty minutes. The Bears' final effort is a header from their makeshift centre forward deep into injury time which is comfortably saved to leave Greenalls 2-1 winners and give GPSO their first league win since September.
 

Oakmen ? More Like Jokemen... Fortunately Alty Hale In Reserve !!

And so to December and Oakwood Farm in Styal for a Manchester League Division One fixture between Wilmslow Albion and Altrincham Hale.

Wilmslow Albion was established in 1919 and spent the majority of their formative years in the South East Lancashire League, finishing as runners up in 1928/29.

Subsequently Albion joined the Mid Cheshire League where they were runners up, behind Linotype, in 1961. A move to the Manchester League, combined with a decline in fortunes, led to a merger with local side Lindow and a change of name to Wilmslow Town - plus a switch to the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

But soon after Wilmslow Albion was reborn, merging with Dean Vale in 1976/77. Albion relocated from the Old Carnival Field on Water Lane in Wilmslow to Oakwood Farm and reverted to the Manchester League in 1998.

Promotions to the top tier in 2003 (relegated in 2006) and 2016 - a one season aberration that saw two wins, 26 defeats and a goal difference of -83, leaves the Oakmen back in Division One. This time Wilmslow kicked off with a 4-0 thumping of Tintwistle Athletic, but since then one point from 33 leaves them 11th and comfortably adrift, staring relegation to the bottom rung in the face - having played 12 games, and with only 11 clubs in the division, probably early in the New Year..

Altrincham Hale FC was established in 2007 playing in the local Altrincham & District League, before joining the Manchester League Division One in 2017. Immediate relegation was followed by swift promotion as champions in 2018.

11th of 13 in the abandoned 2019/20 season, Alty Hale sat next to bottom at null and voidance last term, with only three games played because of a Covid outbreak at the start of the season - one win and 2 defeats. Currently sitting 9th, with games in hand, the Green and Whites have 13 points from 10 games.

 

..Onto Park Road, past Star Bridge pizzeria (formerly Istanbul Grill - a front for a convicted drug dealer), then House of Boba (bubble tea), Movie Makers (every Wednesday !), Timperley Stove & Fuel Centre, Yew Tree Villas and in the village centre Be Precious - more bubble tea (?) but not yet open. All the while with numberplates TR10 MOP (Cleanology), 5000N and M33 WET (a plumber from Sale) on the way.

Then the Larkhill Centre, the Commonwealth War Graves and left to Clay Lane, Bowdon Rugby Club before I reach Roaring Gate Lane, Davenport Green and the vast expanse that forms Manchester Airport. Right into Styal and Oakwood Farm is opposite Quarry Bank Mill, just before the women's prison.

The complex comprises Wilmslow Albion's headquarters, Wilmslow Phoenix Sports Club, hockey and lacrosse teams, a cricket pitch and an artificial surface hosting a hockey match alongside which I see a late, late goal. Sadly early signs are not good with the football car park locked, the clubhouse shuttered and the phone unanswered - Alty Hale's contact number proves to be someone no longer connected to the club.... Sadly a second consecutive week where the crowd is one, but all other similarities disappear - no players warming up, no corner flags, no officials or indeed anybody or anything this time....

The ground itself is tree lined, and definitely not waterlogged, and aside from the clubhouse hosts a bijou covered stand, capacity circa ten (or less depending on Covid rules....) and a number of wind whipped plastic advertising hoardings blown inside out. Postponement eventually reaches Twitter 20 hours after the scheduled 2pm kick off time....

 

So I beat a hasty retreat to see if Alty Hale Reserves' match against Dukinfield Town Reserves, in Division Three, has beaten the vile weather - heavy rain and a vicious icy wind; and it has.... Parking on Balmoral Road I arrive as Duki, in green and white, take the lead from a defensive mix up. Several dreadful misses at both ends precede Alty Hale, in change yellow and green, equalising from a penalty and then going ahead to leave it 2-1 at the break. 

Dukinfield level up early in the second half and then take the lead, as the crowd of 4 is supplemented by a dogwalker - the dog immediately assigned to search and rescue duties, and successfully recovering two balls kicked out of the ground.

Alty Hale turn things around to go 4-3 up, but are hit by a three goal salvo in the last ten minutes as Duki Town win 6-4 to go top of the table in a match that threatens to boil over with a brawl, just before the interval, and several tackles bordering on manslaughter....

 

Quite a day !!

Hit For Six - A Cavalier Approach To Defending...!

And so to the William Scholes Playing Fields, otherwise known as Scholes Park (named after a former Gatley resident and estate agent), for a Manchester League Division Two fixture between Cavaliers FC and Hindley Juniors FC.

Cavaliers, based in Gatley, are in their first season in Division Two of the Manchester League - and, as mentioned last week, it's been a torrid campaign. Defeats of 14-1 (Bolton United), 15-0 (Bolton Borough), 16-0 (AFC Monton) and 26-0 (Avenue FC) attracted press coverage and prompted a plea for new players. A largely new squad put up a valiant fight last Saturday at Hollinwood, losing 2-1 at the death - but it's still 11 games, 11 defeats, 8 goals for, 116 against.

The home venue is at the Athletics Track on Scholes Park.

Hindley has been the home of short lived clubs Hindley FC, 1891-92, Hindley Central, 1910-14, and Hindley Green Athletic, 1925-28, all in the Lancashire Combination.

Hindley Juniors FC, from the Harrison Playing Fields in Hindley, was established in 1991 and achieved Charter Standard Community Club status in 2003, joining the Manchester League Division Two in 2019. Two Covid stricken seasons saw 11 points from 12 games, 8th of 11, in 2020 and 5 points from 8 games, 9th of 11, in 2021. However this time seven wins and six defeats sees them sitting 7th of 15.

Storm Arwen has wreaked havoc with the street furniture, creating broken fences, uprooted and naked trees and a plethora of leaves and surface water. But still beyond Cheshire Clocks, Marvel Guitars, Barberian and House of Boba I reach Timperley village centre and the iconic Frank Sidebottom statue.

Thereafter it's Baguley, home of Wythenshawe Town, then Sharston, home of Wythenshawe Amateurs, before I arrive at Gatley - numberplates en route are PC13ANS (Pro Clean) and G14NT K (?). Honeybear Nursery, the Horse and Farrier and the old Tatton cinema - now a Co-op - precede a right turn, by the railway station, into Oakwood Avenue and then Beech Avenue, at the end of which is Scholes Park.

Scholes Park hosts four football pitches, a strange children's slide and a grassed over athletics track plus a sports club building with changing rooms. The top end is bounded by the Airport railway line - a steady stream of passenger services and one freight today - above is the flight path and with plenty of parking it really is Planes, Trains and Automobiles !!

On a surface resembling hospital porridge Cavaliers are in all dark navy, so dark it clashes with the referee's black ('Ref can you put a bib on ?') - and, seven minutes in, after the first goal, he is persuaded to don a black tracksuit top with fluorescent lime patches to aid identification. Hindley are in all blue, with two players wearing a number 8 shirt - the referee finally notices after a quarter of an hour, forcing a shirt change.

A knifing wind, despite the bright sun, and freezing grass leads to an attendance of one (we know who you are !!), although a group of 4 subsequently congregate, huddling on the path outside the changing rooms. A raucous trio appear to be singing from inside the building, but anybody with any sense is watching the match from their car.... with the engine running - as I find out at the final whistle !!

The first period is totally dominated by Juniors, taking the lead on 7 minutes when a cross 'evades' an absent back line and is slotted home. An astonishing miss and some wayward shooting means the second only arrives on 34 minutes - a point blank header at the far post. The third Hindley goal comes a minute from half time, a messy corner scruffily converted and it's 3-0 at the interval - disjointed Cavaliers barely having charged forward.

The second half at least sees Cavaliers test Hindley's custodian, and captain, twice, but normal service is resumed on 64 with a stumbling, almost apologetic, finish for 4-0. Six minutes from time a driven cross results in an unfortunate own goal and then, with virtually the last kick, Juniors comfortably break through Cavaliers' shambolic back one for an easy finish to leave it 6-0 to the visitors at the death.

Wood You Believe It - Cavaliers Not Laughing... :-(

And so this afternoon to the Oasis Academy, Hollins Lane in Hollinwood for a Manchester League Division Two clash between Hollinwood and Cavaliers. The reverse fixture, earlier this season, saw Hollinwood triumph 8-0.

Hollinwood Football Club's history dates back to 1877, but the forebearer of the present football team started in the 1950s playing as a Sunday League side. However the club as it is known today moved to a Saturday team in 1962 in the Rochdale Alliance League.

In the mid 1960s the club transferred to the now defunct South East Lancashire League where Wood remained until it took a step up to the Manchester League in the early 1970s. The 2005/06 season saw Hollinwood gain promotion to the Manchester League Premier Division, and this was followed by winning the Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy the season after.

Relegated in 2011 after conceding 131 goals in 30 games, Wood were further demoted to Division Two in 2018, with a two point deduction seeing them one point short of safety. They have languished, largely at the bottom end, ever since but this time boast a mid table record of six wins and four losses.

The club's home originally was on School Road, but moved to Lime Lane in 1914, before decamping to Chapel Road Playing Fields on Grammar School Road nearly a century later. The club now play at Hollins Lane on the 3G surface at the Oasis Academy.

Cavaliers, from the Athletics Track at Scholes Park in Gatley, are a new club in their first season in Division Two of the Manchester League - and it's been a turbulent journey. Ten games, ten defeats, goals for 7, goals against 114 - including 14-1, 15-0, 16-0 and 26-0 defeats, the latter against Avenue FC, where the club fielded a side lacking a goalkeeper (clearly !!) and only one defender (also obviously !!) which attracted press coverage and prompted a plea for new players.

Past the now seemingly shuttered Zymologists Sourdough Bakery and then The Vintage Wireless Company takes me to the M60, with numberplates W8A UP (bagged !), BTO4STY - presumably a heating engineer - and, for your blocked drains, T22 URD..... The motorway bridges provide Extinction Rebellion Revolution graffiti, and then that Crystal Methodist pyramid, RedRock, the Ark chimney and Denton Rock.

Off at Junction 22 onto Hollins Road, beyond The Edge, Flabelos and Fluffy Pups Dog Grooming. The Oasis Academy secondary school is on the left, betwixt the old Devon and Heron mills, with the astroturf pitch for a (strange) 1430 kick off - and plenty of parking.

There's a separate entrance for the sports side, with a basketball court, and this leads to the changing rooms and at the top end a 'stand' with several assembly rows where 6 kids (out of a total attendance of 8 - the others a home player's mum and yours truly) congregate. However the youngsters prefer to play their own game on the adjoining tarmacked area and disappear as the wind and swirling rain arrive in the second half. The academic complex building is adjacent and opposite a splendid (1897) Victorian building occupied by Smart Kids.

At 2pm Cavaliers, in change maroon and white, are warming up, but the 2.30 kick off comes and goes with no sign of the home team and questions of 'have you got the kits ?' Eventually one Hollinwood player, in all blue, arrives, briefly, to limber up. The match finally gets underway at 1458.

In the first minute Cavaliers' Kevell Blake bursts through but fires wide - perhaps a sign that the away side's mostly new squad will put up more of a fight this time. However on 10 minutes a through ball leaves the Wood captain in space and he calmly lifts the ball over the onrushing keeper for a composed finish to put the home side one up.

But for the rest of the half Hollinwood are disappointing - disjointed and sloppy, mustering only long range efforts which are comfortably fielded. Cavaliers start to pose a threat and really should have equalised from a header at a corner.

So perhaps not surprising that on 40 minutes they win a clear penalty which Blake converts for parity. Bizarrely the referee blows for half time a minute later - a half time that lasts just over 3 minutes...

Nine minutes into the second period Cavaliers have a second goal controversially ruled out and then go close twice. Wood also have opportunities with the lone warmer up slicing wide and an open goal from a header at a corner directed hopelessly wide - the Cavaliers' defence seemingly playing a game of musical statues for which nobody has brought a boombox.

Increasingly desperate, Hollinwood force three great saves from the Cavaliers' stopper but it all changes in the 36th minute of the half. Wood's left winger, who is now playing as a centre forward, hopefully shoots from outside the area and the ball skids off the surface, through the keeper's hands, into the corner of the net.

Desperate defending at the other end, a breakaway that sees the winning goalscorer have a shot deflected onto the outside of the post, and the referee blows up on 41 minutes again at 1623 for a 2-1 home win. A strange afternoon...... maybe the floodlights were only paid for till half past four ??

Danns the Man - Levelling Up Comes With Penalties....

And so to November and the Moss Rose and a NWCFL Premier Division match between Macclesfield FC and Runcorn Town.

Macclesfield FC was founded on 13 October 2020 by local businessman Robert Smethurst as a phoenix club of the former Macclesfield Town FC, which was wound up on 16 September 2020.

The new club began their first competitive match in the North West Counties Football League in August 2021, with local legend Danny Whitaker appointed as manager and Robbie Savage taking up a Director of Football role. The Silkmen currently top the table with 39 points (12 wins and 3 draws) from 17 games. Coincidentally (or not !) BBC screened 'Making Macclesfield FC' last night, Bonfire Night, as the phoenix club rose from the ashes (and being shown on BBC1 on 13 November 2021).

The original Macclesfield FC was formed in 1874, playing at Moss Rose from 1891. Initially winning the Manchester League twice Macc became an inaugural member of the Cheshire County League at the start of the 1919/20 season, ultimately winning the league six times.

Renamed Macclesfield Town FC in 1946, the club was a founder member of the Northern Premier League in 1968, winning the league in its first two campaigns, as well as the FA Trophy in 1970, defeating Telford United 2-0 at Wembley. Macc were promoted to the Conference after winning their third Northern Premier League title in 1987.

Under manager Sammy McIlroy the Silkmen were champions of the Conference in 1993/94, but were not promoted as Moss Rose did not meet Football League criteria. A second FA Trophy success followed in 1996 with a 3-1 final victory over Northwich Victoria.

A second Conference title in 1996/97 saw promotion to the Football League, and second place in their first season elevated Macc to the old Second Division (now League One). Immediately relegated the Silkmen retained fourth tier status from 1999 to 2012 before being relegated to the Conference. Against all odds John Askey led the Silkmen back into the Football League as National League champions in 2017/18.

However amidst ongoing financial issues, with players regularly not being paid, a points deduction was activated on 11 August 2020. This meant Macc Town was relegated back to non league, the National League, and shortly after expelled.

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 now sit 19th (of 21) with 15 points from 18 games this time.

A short jaunt to Navigation Road past Healthy Mutts Premium Treats then the Stubborn Mule Brewery at Radium Works, and the first numberplate for today - 1ORD, subsequently followed by W3NDY and Y3 O YE and then Vanoffee - a mobile coffee van. Onto the train, alongside a girl sporting that many tattoos it's practically a gallery, and then via Skelton Junction it's past the grounds of Wythenshawe Town, Wythenshawe Amateurs, Cheadle Heath Nomads and Stockport County.

A change then the stopper to Macclesfield, with the signal box at Cheadle Hulme sponsored by MyHo Inspired Coworking. Then at Poynton a railway wagon transformed into a flowerbox with signage Poynton Collieries Lord Vernon.

That brings us to Macclesfield and the iconic Arighi Bianchi store; eschewing the Old Millstone and The Treacle Tap we head for the A523 Leek Road. Appropriately the rain starts as we come across 2 chippies side by side, Phil Morton Sewing Machines shop, Swindells Fireplaces and fingerposts to Sutton Langley and Wincle.

Then the Moss Rose, aka leasing.com stadium, and the ticket office where the gentleman ahead of us is returning an unused ticket - we gratefully take advantage (it has been paid forward !) so admission is halved to £5. We are directed beyond a rainswept open terrace and the artificial pitch to bar twenty seven, opened specially today for all spectators, and pre match entertainment is the Manchester derby and a pint of Camden Hells.

The bar stands above a new all seater covered stand spanning the whole of the touchline, opposite the old main stand - which only borders the half way line. Minimal terracing and 2 of the 3 exterior catering outlets make up the rest of that side, and behind is the Leek Road, countryside and hills. In front plenty of advertising hoardings, the most notable being Savages Mussels and Explore Macedonia, and to my right a packed covered terrace with flags featuring 'SK11 Silks On Tour' and 'Why Does A Love Kiss Stay In My Memory' (the Buddy Holly reference is lost on me - sorry !)

Macc are in blue and white, Runcorn in change pink and black, with The Last Post respectfully honoured by a huge crowd of 3,420. An early chance sees Town's keeper Adam Reid fumble a straightforward shot but Aaron Dwyer's shot from a tight angle is just beyond the far post.

Thereafter Macc's veteran Neil Danns has two decent opportunities and Max Bardsley-Rowe passes up a good effort; at the opposite end Runcorn captain Richie Foulkes has their best attempt deflected away. The half, characterised by the Silkmen's lack of ambition (frequently two attackers surrounded by six defenders), ends goallless with a smart stop by Reid from Keilan Adams.

The second period begins messily, frustratingly and soporifically - after one dreadful offside decision, a Macc touch to a Runcorn forward, my neighbour exclaims 'No one knows what the hell they are doing !' In fact the only constant is the weather as the rain comes sheeting down, obliterating the hills and communication tower.

Then, in keeping with the game, a wayward Silkmen cross beyond the goal is nodded back and Danns heads home to give Macc the lead on 59 minutes. The expectation now is the floodgates will open and the Silkmen will ease home, but Danns skies their next chance before Luis Morrison-Derbyshire hits the side netting eight minutes on.

From the goal kick the ball is inadvertently flicked on by a Macc defender, and, amidst screams for offside, Craig Cairns nonchalantly chips Liam Lovell to equalise. A stunned crowd then sees Lovell superbly save a Tony Davies' header from a corner two minutes later.

With ten minutes to go Runcorn win a corner and the delivery sees a hand raised and deflecting the ball - impossible to see who or which side is the offendant, but from the players' body language it seems to be a Runcorn arm. The referee deems otherwise and awards a penalty, which Foulkes scores to leave Runcorn 2-1 up.

Amidst widespread anger and disgust the Silkmen fail to weave any magic, and with Runcorn using tactical injuries and time wasting, the crowd starts to drift away before the 90 (and six minutes of stoppage time) are up. Then two of my predictions come true - the referee will use any opportunity to level things up and the early leavers will miss a final goal. But even I could not predict that the lashing rain would cease with five minutes left.....

And so it proves - 95 minutes and sub Scott McGowan overruns the ball in the penalty box and is 'felled' for another dubious penalty. Danns scores with aplomb and it finishes 2-2.

Seadogs Tipped Over The Sedge.... !!

And so to the Clayborn Ground on Quaker Lane in Cleckheaton, on the border with Hightown in Liversedge - this afternoon an FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying clash between Liversedge FC and Scarborough Athletic.

Liversedge Football Club was founded in 1910 following the demise of the old Liversedge Rugby Club, starting in the Bradford League for three seasons and winning it in 1920/21. The Sedge was a founder member of the West Riding County Amateur League in 1922/23 and went on to be the most successful club in the league’s infancy, taking the league title three times in its first five seasons (1924, 1926 and 1927) and, later, again in 1965 and 1966.

The club was accepted into the Yorkshire League for 1972/73, and promotion to Yorkshire League Division One was achieved prior to the amalgamation of the Midland and Yorkshire Leagues to form the Northern Counties East League in 1982. 

 

Second in 2005/06 and League Cup winners, but promotion to the Northern Premier League was denied due to insufficient facilities - apparently no separate changing rooms for female referees !! Never relegated, Quaker Lane was flooded in October 2015 resulting in no home games for 4 months.

 

Following the last two seasons being curtailed dramatically by the coronavirus pandemic, Liversedge FC was promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One East due to finishing both the 2019/2020 and 2020/21 seasons in the top three of the table (based on a table using a Points Per Games calculation). They currently sit top with 11 wins and a draw from 12 league fixtures.

Scarborough Athletic FC was set up on 25 June 2007 by the Seadog Trust. This was five days after the liquidation of Scarborough FC - £2.5 million in debt and unable to sell the McCain Stadium to a housing developer due to a covenant restricting it to sporting activities (it is now a Lidl supermarket....)

The Seadogs joined the Northern Counties East League Division One, groundsharing at Bridlington Town's Queensgate stadium. Two seasons in they were crowned as champions and promoted to the Premier Division, with Brian France as manager. In their second season in the top flight France was struck in the face by a ball at, strangely, Liversedge and suffered a brain haemorrhage - he never managed the club again.

 

In 2012/13 'Boro clinched the NCEL title and were promoted to the Northern Premier Division One South (bizarrely !!) under their magnificently named Romanian manager Rudy Funk. The Seadogs were moved laterally to Division One North after one season.

 

In July 2017 the club, after ten years at Bridlington, finally returned to the town at the new Flamingo Land Stadium at Weaponness. After play off defeat in 2017 the Seadogs were promoted to the Premier Division as runners up the following year but, despite attendances having nearly trebled, have flattered to deceive ever since - this season six wins, three draws and six defeats.

 

As an extension of their youth team a nursery club Scarborough Town was established in 2008, initially competing in the Teesside League. The team moved up to the Wearside League and were champions in 2010 before folding in June 2013.

 

The original Scarborough FC was founded in 1879, moving to the Athletic Ground on Seamer Road in 1898 and staying there until dissolution. From the Midland League Scarborough became a founder member of the Northern Premier League in 1968, crowned as FA Trophy winners three times in 1973, 1976 and 1977 (beating Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers and Dagenham respectively) and runners up in 1975.

 

The Seadogs joined the Alliance Premier League on inception and were champions in 1987, becoming the first ever automatically promoted club to the Football League. 8 May 1999 saw the club relegated back to the Conference after goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored for Carlisle deep into injury time to preserve their league status, and rendering the Seadogs' 1-1 home draw with Peterborough, already celebrated as survival, irrelevant. Thereafter in 2006 Scarborough were demoted due to 'financial instability'. The end was nigh....

After brinner, it's past Seven Heaven Kitchen, with numberplates today featuring B16 HOT, A B10WER and BR04DEN. Washway Road takes me to the M60 beyond the Bodhi Tree Buddhas at Utopia, Thai Massage at Po Thong and a Chinese takeaway at Panda Mama. Not forgetting the haunted Eyebrow Cottage....

 

Beyond Beyond (aka Chill Factore) on the M60 then the M62 and Saddleworth Moor, Scammonden and the M62 Summit - the highest motorway point in England. More lorry trailer advertising hoardings, predominantly Radiator Outlet but, yes, another CBD one. The weather changes from sunny spells to heavy rain, the thermometer ticks down from 14C to 9C and the motorway is closed on the opposite carriageway at Junction 23 due to a severe multivehicle accident.

 

Past Outlane Cricket Club next to the hard shoulder and off at J25 Hartshead Moor where the motorway closure has caused local gridlock so a hastily revised route is improvised.  Coal Pit Lane, then left at the Gray Ox to Windy Bank Lane onto the A649 and left at Casa Luli into Hightown Road. The ground is well hidden at the foot of Quaker Lane on the right, an inadequate unadopted alley with one car's width.

 

The return journey takes me back via Cleckheaton, past the local Wetherspoons - The Obediah Brooke, a 19th century local farmer - to rejoin at J26. Needless to say the car park is insufficient for a bumper crowd of 571 so I park on the adjoining housing estate, and it's £6 on the gate.

 

Clayborn features a clubhouse to the top West corner of the ground with a drinks terrace, covered seating at the North (The Stuart Silverwood Stand) and another bar - The Huntsman - and a small covered terracing stand to the West behind the goal - The Cowshed. The historic slope has now long since gone, but the North and West sides are elevated above the pitch, with the ground framed by new detached houses, trees and, to the South, a picturesque view of fields looking onto the outskirts of Mirfield.

Sedge are in white and blue stripes, Seadogs in red with white trim and it's a quiet start. That is until the 11th minute when the rhythm is fractured as a home free kick is only half cleared and Jack Stockdill shoots from the edge of the box; his shot hits the post and rolls in, and Liversedge lead 1-0.

For a brief period Sedge are dominant, incisive and threatening with Athletic spoiling the home attack with a series of fouls. However the Seadogs start to take advantage of Sedge's open defending, and on 20 minutes Nathan Cartman breaks through resulting in Michael Coulson's shot being cleared off the line.

Brilliant sunshine gives way to a brief flurry of drizzle and a rainbow as Scarborough start to dominate. Luca Colville's fizzer is going in but Kieran Weledji adds a final touch into the net and is deemed offside, and then home stopper Jon Stewart comes up with two super saves from Coulson and Ryan Watson, one with his hands and the other with his feet.

At the other end Nicky Walker cuts in from the right and strikes the near post, before teeing up Stockdill whose effort is blocked. A breathless first half ends with Sedge a goal to the good.

Five minutes after the break a challenge in the Liversedge box sees Coulson, not for the first time, tumble to the turf (with an alacrity suggesting 'a weed and feed addiction') and he is booked for simulation. Three minutes on and a Sedge cross sees capless, hapless Seadogs' keeper Michael Ingham blinded by the sun and in the ensuing shenanigans an attempted defensive clearance is struck straight at Paul Walker and into the net.

Paul Walker should have made it 3-0 shortly after but his air shot produces a defensive deflection that casually loops just wide. At the other end Stewart performs more heroics in keeping out efforts from Colville and Bradley Plant.

End to end now with Liversedge sitting off and soaking up Seadogs' pressure - the home side fashion a chance for Ben Atkinson, who creates space and shoots across Ingham but just beyond the far post. However their next opportunity on 74 minutes sees Joe Walton bully his opponent off the ball and in a two on one he squares for Atkinson, who composes himself and then fires into the corner for 3-0.

Then the piece de resistance: with 9 minutes to play the ball finds Nicky Walker's feet, he bamboozles the full back and shoots left footed from outside the box and the ball hits the inside of the opposite post before going in. Not so much a peach as a full tropical fruit salad....

Aside from a wholly unnecessary melee at the death that's it - a 4-0 'giantkilling' with the man of the match being the underdogs' goalkeeper. The 100+ disgruntled Scarborough fans, 'you're all just walking' are met with home cries of 'See you next season'... and on this showing that's highly likely !