Cheadle Town 1-0 Eccleshall

Cheadle duly got their first league 'double' of the season as they ran out somewhat deserved winners in this lively contest at Park Road.

On arriving at Park Road we were given the news by Trevor and Steve that two players had left Cheadle Town during the week: regular 'keeper Peter Mellor and centre-back Matty Smith. In their respective places for today's match were Robert Massey - a 'keeper that used to play for Cheshire Police - and Neil Logan who has plied his footballing trade for Whitley Bay in the past.

Cheadle opened up the match with real brio and carved out a handful of half-chances. The most notable of which came after 22 minutes when McDonagh scorched a 20-yard piledriver just wide of the Eccleshall net. The visitors then started to get themselves on an even keel as the half-hour mark ticked by.

Their best chance of the first half came on 31 minutes. One of their strikers was put through and was about to round Robert Massey when he somehow managed to get a hand to the ball and claw it away; the ball then spilled to an Eccleshall player who thankfully managed to blast over a relatively empty net. A definite let-off for Cheadle. Despite the bustle of the first 45 minutes, the teams went in 0-0 at the break.

Cheadle started the second half with the same industry as they did in the first. On 54 minutes a shot (couldn't see who it was from) squirmed just wide of the post. Three minutes later and Cheadle got their just reward for their play.

McDonagh tore down the right wing and put in a deliciously low and hard cross into the box that evaded both Eccleshall 'keeper and a defender; unmarked on the back post was Stuart Kay to tuck the ball into the empty net and notch up his first senior squad goal of the season.

And then for the rest of the match, Cheadle couldn't seem to keep the ball for love nor money as Eccleshall totally dominated possession; however, the Cheadle defence were equal to it with some excellently-timed tackles and cool-headed clearance play, notably from Ben Roberts. The only Eccleshall chance - in fact, the only real clear-cut chance for either side of note in the second half - came on the hour mark when Robert Massey smothered the ball just as an Eccleshall striker was about to poke it past him and into the net.

On the balance of overall play, Cheadle deserved their win today. Stuart Kay got the goal that his graft has merited over the past two fixtures and newcomers Robert Massey and Neil Logan had good, solid games.

What a difference a week makes....

TEAM: Massey, Heath, B Roberts, Cotterill, Logan, Hussain, Riley, Brocklehurst, McDonagh, Kay (Flanagan), Lindon. Subs: Flanagan, Brokenbrow, Stewart.