Cheadle Town 2-0 Daisy Hill

Cheadle Town's first league 'double' of the season duly came at the hands of this (mostly) comfortable victory over Daisy Hill.

Cheadle started the first-half with the same dose of energy and brio that had brought them the victory in midweek. Good combination between Mike Myers and Carl Buchanan resulted in the latter narrowly firing over the bar after just 5 minutes. He was to prove more productive with the effort that brought the opener on the quarter-hour mark.

Another flowing move saw Scott Flanagan turn the ball to the left-wing where an unmarked Carl Buchanan hit a crisp, first-time shot into the corner of the net...past ex-Cheadle 'keeper Danny Smith, starting his third game with Daisy Hill.

He had to pick the ball out of the net again on the 26 minute as Cheadle stretched their lead. Arron Riley's cross was flicked on by Barry Cotterill towards an unmarked Scott Flanagan who poked home from a yard out.

When Carl Buchanan hit the bar just a minute later a rout looked on the cards but then Cheadle went mysteriously flat. Whilst they never really threatened, the final ten minutes of the first-half belonged to the visitors in terms of possession.

And so it carried on into the second-half as Cheadle 'keeper Moores had to be first to a through-ball after 50 minutes. Cheadle got their act together - albeit without the flowing play of the first period - and almost went three-up after 66 minutes; credit to Danny Smith for snuffing out the danger after a goalmouth scramble.

Cheadle had a few breakaways in the final ten minutes that were snuffed out by the Daisy defence but - with no offence meant to Daisy Hill - we sort-of knew by then that this game was won.

Back-to-back wins and, as Trevor pointed out to us at the end of the match, back-to-back clean sheets. The rollercoaster is on the up again...speaking of which, we're at Blackpool next weekend!

Photos from the day can be seen by clicking here

TEAM: Moores, Clarke (Hussain), B Roberts, Cotterill, A Roberts, Brocklehurst, Riley, Fellows, Myers (Brokenbrow), Flanagan, Buchanan. Subs: Brokenbrow, Hussain, Lindon

Saturday's Opponents: Daisy Hill

On the back of the excellent win against Norton on Wednesday it's the visit of bottom-of-the-pile Daisy Hill to contend with this weekend.

Cut adrift by five points and with just two wins to their name all season, it doesn't take a genius to work out that it hasn't been the greatest of seasons for Daisy Hill; an excellent 5-1 away win at Blackpool Mechanics has been their sole plat du jour.

This blog likes Daisy Hill FC. Not because we always seem to beat them, but because they are...well, how can I put it...one of the most harmless clubs in this division. We've always found them welcoming, unobjectionable and without any airs or graces; they just seem to get on with the business of football with the minimum of fuss.

This is, of course, the return fixture of the league match back at the end of October where Cheadle were bloody lucky to come away with all three points; this should serve as a reminder to the players that Daisy Hill are no easy pushovers if nothing else.

That apart, this is an excellent opportunity for Cheadle to push on...and get their first league 'double' of the season. A performance akin to that on Wednesday will do the trick.

Come on Cheadle!

Daisy Hill 1-2 Cheadle Town

A distinctly off-colour Cheadle smuggled three points today with this 2-1 away win at New Sirs.

I'll make one thing clear before I continue: this match was utterly dreadful, made lighter by it descending into mild insanity and farce in the last 15 minutes. More about that later.

The first 45 minutes of play was littered with half-chances for Cheadle and just the one chance for Daisy Hill - which they scored with after 24 minutes. Confusion between Peter Mellor and the Cheadle defence resulted in a 'Daisy striker having a clear run in on goal and an open net.

Cheadle just weren't getting into their stride at all and were upset by the forced substitution of midfield engine Andy MacDonald who limped off to be replaced by Andy Lindon. Mike Myers should have buried a chance when put through on 34 minutes, but that was the only clear-cut chance that Cheadle could muster. As they trudged off at half-time a goal down, it surely had to get better.

It did, a bit, but when a goal-bound Deano header was cleared off the line on the 48th minute, we then started to wonder if it was going to be Cheadle's day at all. The team were getting the basics wrong and the game as a whole wasn't being helped by an incompetent referee who, at one point, seemed to be quite card-happy where Cheadle players were concerned.

With the match limping towards what seemed a certain 0-1 defeat for Cheadle, it entered into the realms of chaos.

As the 76th minute ticked over a 'Daisy defender made a brilliant one-handed save on the line to keep out a Cheadle chance. As he trudged off the field after being red-carded we saw out of the corner of our eyes the green-shirted figure of our 'keeper Peter Mellor charging forward to take the penalty. He completed his task with consummate ease to level the scores.

Then we heard the words "Daisy Hill are down to nine men"; the 'Daisy 'keeper had been sent off for dissent. All of a sudden Cheadle were given the chance to snatch a game they never looked like winning.

And take it they did, although it took virtually the last kick of the game to do so. After laying siege to the 'Daisy net and having a Brocky chip go just wide and various goalmouth scrambles coming to nothing, Johnny Hussain picked out a ball from the right to lash home from six yards out.

We can count ourselves lucky today. We'll just be thankful for the three points and move on....

Photos from the day can be seen by clicking here

TEAM: Mellor, Clarke, B Roberts, Fellows, A Roberts, Brocklehurst, Riley, MacDonald (Lindon), Myers, Martin (James), Hussain. Subs: Moore, James, Lindon

Tomorrow's Opponents: Daisy Hill

As Cheadle travel to New Sirs tomorrow for this away fixture at Daisy Hill, the big question is whether they can build on their impressive midweek victory over Chadderton and collect their first league away win of the season.

They won't have a better chance as they face a Daisy Hill side that are struggling at the wrong end of the Div 2 table; if it weren't for Holker's paucity then it would be the Daisies holding the wooden spoon. After 9 league matches played they have just 4 points to their name thanks to a 1-0 home victory over Oldham Town and a 1-1 draw against Eccleshall. Add to that just 4 goals 'for' and 23 goals 'against' and you get the picture.

This is a winnable game for Cheadle Town. If they play like they did against Chadderton, then we shouldn't have any problems and a repeat of last season's 3-0 victory should be possible...but as their 1-0 home victory over Oldham Town suggests, Daisy Hill are still capable of the upset.

Come on Cheadle!

Cheadle Town 2-0 Daisy Hill

A sunny day with the sunniest of results as Cheadle Town collected another league double. The fact that Daisy Hill had a penalty saved and also carved out their fair share of half-chances doesn't disguise the fact that this was probably the easiest three points Cheadle will collect all season.

The match started with something that has rarely happened this season: Cheadle scoring in the first half! After eight minutes, Andy Lindon fed a lovely ball through to Arron Riley who delicately lobbed the oncoming 'keeper. Against a Daisy Hill side that look relatively dissinterested, that should have signalled the start of an onslaught.

When Arron Riley and Scott Flanagan forced the 'keeper into saves around the half-hour mark, the onslaught looked on. Daisy Hill mis-read this script on 33 minutes as they won a penalty after Macca had brought their striker down in the area.

Macca was reprieved for his mistake when the Cheadle 'keeper beat out the penalty but then somehow managed to scuff a shot into the Daisy Hill 'keeper's arms when put clean through just a minute later. Half-time, 1-0 to Cheadle.

Realising that they were still only a goal down and could in fact get something out of the match, Daisy Hill had a much-improved second half by their own standards. On 63 minutes their best chance of the match (bar the penalty) came but the shot was lashed wildly wide of the post.

Cheadle's profligacy in front of goal continued as half-chance after half-chance went begging. Scott Flanagan wasted a good chance on 67 minutes when he blasted wide and Deano side-footed a shot into the 'keeper's arms on 83 minutes when put through.

Somewhat ironic, then, that Cheadle's second came from an own goal on the 75 minute mark. A thrown-in was tossed into the area with Brocklehurst winning the flick. Behind him was a Daisy' defender who unfortunately shinned the ball into his own net.

So, an easy three points for Cheadle who never really got out of second gear for the whole match. I'm not being arrogant, but it's not they needed to. However, next Saturday's match at home to Winsford United will be a different kettle of fish altogether; third, fourth and fifth gears will come in handy....

TEAM: Smith, McDonagh, B Roberts (Brokenbrow), Cotterill, A Roberts, Lindon, Riley (Heath), Brocklehurst, Flanagan, Hussain (Martin), Powell. Subs: Martin, Brokenbrow, Heath

Tomorrow's Opponents: Daisy Hill

The last time that Cheadle Town had a half-decent run of "one defeat in five", one of the matches was the comfortable 3-0 away win at Daisy Hill with Deano bagging the only hat-trick we have seen all season so far.

Cheadle have every chance of extending it to one defeat in six. The Daisies haven't been in the best of form this season, they've been languishing in the bottom three of the table for the best part of it and their away record is atrocious: just the one win at Holker Old Boys. Another performance akin to what I saw at Darwen should do the trick.

This is the first of three consecutive home matches for Cheadle. Ignoring the fact that two of them are against top-three opposition (Winsford United and Padiham), this could be a chance for us to get some more points under our belts before the season's out.

Come on Cheadle!

Daisy Hill 0-3 Cheadle Town

Cheadle Town's unbeaten run stretched to four matches as they (eventually) coasted to an easy victory at New Sirs.

The first twenty minutes of this game were instantly forgettable with neither team garnering a significant chance on goal. Cheadle were the first team to wake the match up from its stupor when Arron Riley was put through on the right after 21 minutes only to see his shot roll just wide of the post. Johnny Hussain then saw a stinging left-foot shot tipped over the bar by the Daisy Hill 'keeper on the half-hour mark.

Cheadle then got the lead their efforts deserved after 39 minutes. Deano received the ball in the box with his back to the net. With a quick flick of his foot he made room for himself and curled a superb shot low into the corner of the net. Oddly enough it was all Daisy Hill after that as Cheadle seemed to lose concentration. Daisy Hill's increased possession forced a smart save from Mellor just before half-time, but to be honest, that was the only save that he had to make all match. Half-time, 1-0 to Cheadle.

Just as it was in the first half, the first 20 minutes of the restart was a scrappy, turgid affair. Daisy Hill had more than the lion's share of possession, which was mainly due to Cheadle gifting the ball to them far too often. Despite the territorial advantage, Daisy Hill just couldn't make it count and never really looked like scoring.

As the 71st minute ticked over, Cheadle suddenly stepped up a gear in the tacit realisation that their one-goal advantage just might not be enough. Johnny Hussain blasted over the bar when put through and three minutes later, Arron Riley got closer when he crashed a shot against the post. Deano was no luckier on the 80th minute when the 'keeper smothered his shot.

But this was going to be Deano's day. With five minutes to go he received the ball from the left and found himself in exactly the same position as he did five minutes earlier, except this time the 'keeper didn't quite get a firm hold of the ball. Deano dug the ball clear, made room for himself and posted the ball into a virtually unguarded net. Two-nil, and the breathing space that Cheadle deserved.

The victory was wrapped up good and proper in injury time after Deano was clumsily bundled over in the box; he stepped up to convert the penalty and collect his hat-trick.

In the end this ended up being a comfortable victory after it looked like Cheadle were going to make hard work of it. Deano's goal tally went into double figures, we saw our first hat-trick of the season and Cheadle can say they are unbeaten in 2007. This blog has a smile on its face tonight....

TEAM: Mellor, Heath, B Roberts, Cotterill, A Roberts, Smith, Riley (Stewart), McDonagh, Hussain, Martin, Lindon. Subs: Stewart, Flanagan, Brocklehurst

Tomorrow's Opponents: Daisy Hill

As odd as it may sound, but not unheard of in the NWCFL, we've got to the end of January and there's still a couple of clubs that we haven't played in the league yet: Darwen and tomorrow's opponents, Daisy Hill.

The 'Daisies (I'm assuming that's their nickname) were NWCFL founder members back in the early 80s and have languished in Div 2 for the duration of the league's history. When I first started looking out for Cheadle Town's results in the local paper back in the late 80s I remember a "Westhoughton Town" being in the league table; they seemed to disappear some six years later to be replaced by a "Daisy Hill". Unbeknown to me back then, "Westhoughton Town" and "Daisy Hill" were in fact the same club...the original Daisy Hill changed their name in 1989 and then back again in 1994, you see.

DH's ground - New Sirs - will be the first ground that Polardin has visited twice (a box I've already ticked with Winsford United this season) with the added postscript of it being "where it all began" for him towards the arse-end of last season - the midweek 2-1 away win in front of a crowd of 17 people was his first CTFC match.

On paper and given Cheadle's current defeatless mini-run, this looks like three points, but something's bugging me. They may be struggling at the wrong end of Div 2 this season, but looking through their results I see that they held Darwen away from home, beat Eccleshall and Oldham at home and picked up an away win at Holker, and we all know how tricky that place can be. This points towards Daisy Hill's capability of being a right royal pain-in-the-arse....

...except tomorrow, we hope. Come on Cheadle!