Cheadle Town 2-1 Chadderton

Two goals in five second-half minutes - allied with some damned hard work - gave Cheadle this impressive home victory against a decent Chadderton team.

For the opening period of this match it looked as though Chadderton were going to make it a very long 90 minutes for us as they looked the more lively and seemed to be first to everything. After just 6 minutes Mellor was forced to tip a long-range effort around the post and was grateful to collect a tamely-scuffed shot after 13 minutes when a Chadderton goal looked absolutely certain after a right-wing cross.

Then Cheadle decided to get in on the act and make it the thoroughly-enjoyable match it ended up being. Deano took a chance on the volley after 21 minutes but blazed his effort over the bar and Arron Riley saw a header skid across the face of the net from a corner just six minutes later. The tit-for-tat action continued on the half-hour mark when Ben Roberts made an excellent last-ditch tackle to prevent another certain-looking Chadderton goal. It remained goalless as both teams went into the break.

The energetic pace of the game didn't stop in the second half either, but it would be Cheadle's continuous graft and industry that would bring home the wages come the final whistle. Mike Myers blasted into the side-netting on 57 minutes after a great run from Scott Clarke with Cheadle then finally getting their noses in front on 71 minutes: a through ball on the left was missed by two Chadderton defenders leaving Arron Riley through on goal; he didn't miss.

Five minutes later and Cheadle were further in front. A cross from the left by Johnny Hussain was collected by Deano and despite the attentions of two Chadderton defenders, he had the composure to produce one of those clever lobs that seem to take ages to fall into the net.

Cheadle being Cheadle they made life difficult for themselves - and their supporters - by letting their opponents back into the game. With just four minutes remaining, a free-kick from the right was headed in at the far post. However, there was to be no repeat of last Saturday's lead-loss the Cheadle held on for the three points.

This was a very impressive, workmanlike victory over the best team that Polardin and I have seen come to Park Road this season, made that little bit more valuable by the fact that it was a game-in-hand; Cheadle are now 13th in the table with 10 points from 8 matches.

TEAM: Mellor, Clarke, B Roberts, Fallows, A Roberts, Brocklehurst, Riley, MacDonald, Myers, Martin (James), Hussain. Subs: Moores, Flanagan, James