Cheadle Town 0-4 Maine Road

Many thanks to Paul Lynch for the words and Polardin for the pictures!

I have to admit I was really looking forward to this game: a quarter-final against a team one division above us...and you know the results that Cheadle have achieved in the past, against teams from a higher division! And although I don't want to admit it, but apart from the first 20 minutes, when we totally outplayed our opponents, the rest of the game belongs to Maine Road, who in the end were just too good for us on the day.

I am not saying we were poor because we weren't! We started the game really well and Maine Road were rocked back on their heels a few times. For example, after only five minutes we could have been 1-0 up when Arron Riley went on a run and beat two defenders before unleashing a great shot that just went over the bar with the Maine Road keeper scrambling.

Then on 10 minutes, Dean Martin puts Andy Mcdonald through but he just couldn't get enough purchase on it to beat the keeper, five minutes later and Jonny Hussain shoots over after good work from Deano and Mac.

Then it all changed! Andy Lindon was injured in a tackle and we conceded a corner from the outcome and Andy had to come off, so we defend the corner with 10 men and guess what? Maine Road score from it! A header from Chris Smith Maine Road's number 8, gets in a good header and we are 0-1 down.

Lindon had to be replaced by Scott 'the wasp' Flanagan and he goes upfront with Deano who shoots over from a free kick on 35 minutes. At this stage Maine Road have ridden the storm and are beginning to put some passes together for the first time in the game, having got the goal against the run of play they have grown in confidence.

Just before half time, Dean and Baz Cotterill both have shots saved but on 38 minutes we are two down! Beckford the Maine Road number 9 shoots and Peter Mellor in our goal injures himself trying in vain to save it, he collided with the post, being Mellor he just got on with it after treatment - he's made of girders! HT 0-2.

Second half begins and Maine Road start the better and Mellor makes a good save to stop a third goal. On 70 minutes Trev and Steve send on Mike Myers for Arron Riley, who has a calf strain. Soon after Ben Roberts sends a 'screamer' towards the Maine Road goal and is unlucky to see their keeper make a great save.

But on 78 minutes our cup dream is over as Smith scores his second by lobbing Mellor and its just not our day. Andy Mcdonald is replaced by Brad Brokenbrow and we are still trying as 'the wasp' makes the Maine Road make another good save but two minutes later and Maine Road tie the game up with a fourth, Beckford gets his second after Cheadle defenders had charged down several shots, his shot just evaded everyone and rolled into the net! This scoreline definitely flattered Maine Road as even the ref said that they were not four goals better than Cheadle.

But let's not be bitter, it was a good cup game played in the right way and we should wish our visitors all the best for the semi finals - so good luck Maine Road. If you are as clinical as you were today you should have a chance.

On a positive note to finish it was good to see Carl Buchanan named amongst the substitutes after his bad injury - welcome back Carl!

Photos from the day can be seen by clicking here

TEAM: Mellor, Clarke, B Roberts, Cotterill, Fellows, Brocklehurst, Riley, MacDonald, Lindon, Martin, Hussain. Subs: Myers, Brokenbrow, Flanagan, Buchanan