Styal 1-0 Cheadle Town

Cheadle Town opened their pre-season programme with this narrow defeat at the hands of Styal.

In the lunchtime rain and on the plastic grass of the Nicholls Centre, it took Cheadle a full quarter-of-an-hour to get going. The first shot across Styal's bows was made by Cheadle newcomer Michael Myers; his mazy run on the 15-minute mark was unluckily ended with a shot just wide of the post. Five minutes later he saw a stinging shot parried away by the Styal 'keeper.

After Styal had arguably the best of the first ten minutes without being threatening, Cheadle were pretty much on top of things for the remainder of the first half with some good passages of play. Newcomer Michael Myers was making a nuisance of himself and fellow newbie Thirkle getting in on the action and all when needed; the closest he came was on the stroke of half-time when he saw a shot flash just wide. Half-time, 0-0.

The Cheadle team that graced the pitch in the second half was completely different to that of the first as Trevor made use of all of his substitutes. One of whom, Scott Flanagan, had Cheadle's best chance on the hour mark; his shot being saved excellently by the Styal 'keeper.

Eight minutes later and Styal were in front with their only real clear-cut chance of the match. A corner was swung in from the left where it was headed - from about two-foot from the ground - down and into the roof of the net. And that was pretty much that in terms of chances as the game petered out to its conclusion.

Despite the result, plenty of positives to be taken, mainly the performance of our new forward Michael Myers. Expect plenty of 'Halloween' references in these match reports as we can see him bagging a handful for the Cheadle this season.

Photos from the match can be seen by clicking here.

TEAM: Mellor, Heath, B Roberts, A Roberts, Cotterill, Lindon, Riley, Hussain, Thirkle, Myers, Carpenter. Subs: Flanagan, McDonagh, Brocklehurst, Renshaw, Logan