Cheadle Town 1-0 Norton United

A Scott Flanagan strike 13 minutes from time was enough to give Cheadle this much-needed - and much-deserved - victory over Norton United.

What a shame, though, that this high-energy match was marred by both teams being reduced to ten men towards the end of the first-half; in living proof that there's never a dull moment watching Cheadle Town, the whole story relating to the incident almost deserves a blog post of its own.

Carl Buchanan was felled by a Norton elbow, retaliating on his return to his feet with a push/slap (witness accounts differ on that matter). Whilst the stricken Norton player was being seen to, referee and linesman had both come to the conclusion that both players should see red. That should have been it but there was then some unnecessary nonsense from Norton's more highly-strung staff which culminated in the faintly laughable action of a phone call to Greater Manchester Police to deal with Carl Buchanan's "assault". It must have been a quiet night in SK8 because two officers actually turned up as the final whistle went!

Anyhow, the match. Cheadle started it as if their boots were on fire as they forced corner upon corner during the first ten minutes or so. It took 20 minutes for Norton to register their first meaningful threat on goal; Ben Roberts clearing a driven cross off the line.

As the more clear-cut chances that Cheadle were creating went begging over the course of the match, the more frustrating it was to watch. Mike Myers was put through after 26 minutes only to see his shot blocked by the 'keeper's legs and Brocky had a 30-yard crack excellently tipped over the bar.

Half-time came at the right time given it was on the back of the sendings-off but it didn't prove to be a roadblock of Cheadle's pressure as the chances kept coming in the second half. On the hour mark a corner came out to Ben Roberts who sent a vicious daisy-cutter which the 'keeper could only spill into the path of debut boy Tom Seaton; his shot was then parried into the path of Arron Riley who sent the final shot just wide of the post. Five minutes later the other newcomer, Phil Corley, almost had his moment of glory: his shot from an Arron Riley cross was blocked by the 'keeper.

It was Mr Corley's replacement who would bag the winner for Cheadle in the end. Brocky's cross was handled by a Norton defender and whilst everything seemed to stop in anticipation of a referee's whistle, Scott 'The Wasp' Flanagan latched onto the loose ball and turned it into the net.

Cheadle were as equally excellent tonight as they were ineffective last Saturday, and that was with a team that contained a few new faces: well done Mssrs Tom Seaton (a signing from Stockport Georgians) and Phil Corley (a recruit from our 2nd XI) for their contribution to tonight's victory.

Tonight's photos (not many, I'm afraid) can be seen by clicking here

TEAM: Moores, Clarke, B Roberts, Logan, Smith, Brocklehurst, Corley (Flanagan), Seaton, Myers (Brokenbrow), Riley, Buchanan. Subs: Brokenbrow, Flanagan, Cotterill, MacDonald