Saturday's Opponents: New Mills

Cheadle's potentially difficult November (although it seemed to have started a day early against Oldham Town) kicks off with perhaps the most challenging fixture of them all: an away trip to New Mills.

The Millers are 2nd in the table only by virtue of goal difference: they are level on points with leaders Kirkham and Wesham and have seven wins, three draws and - more crucially - no league defeats to their name. I personally tipped New Mills for the Div 2 title at the start of the season; as things stand my 'sportsman's bet' looks to be a sound one.

The same fixture last term saw a Boxing Day 0-2 defeat where Cheadle had a bit of vocal support thanks to Polardin enrolling various members of his extended family for the day; no such luxury this time as, assuming nobody else turns up, it'll just be me and the two flags!!

Ever since our impressive home victory over Chadderton a couple of weeks ago, things haven't been too good chez Cheadle. We've scuffed a victory at Daisy Hill, surrendered to the nine men of Leek CSOB and received a 0-3 home beating from Oldham Town.

I'll not kid myself here; I'll be happy to escape a serious lashing and positively ecstatic with a point. I'll run naked through the streets of New Mills if we win. Seriously though, what better way to get yourself back-on-track than a victory over the defeat-less, probable champions of your football division? With Cheadle, anything's effing possible.

Come on Cheadle!