Cheadle Town 3-3 Darwen

In a contest that had everything bar the kitchen sink, Cheadle were robbed of a home win with the last kick of the match.

As well as finding themselves with just one point instead of three, Cheadle finished the match with three red cards. The first unfortunate soul was Brad Brokenbrow who didn't take too kindly to an obvious Cheadle throw-in not being awarded (which it was because I was right in front of it at the time!) and thus collected his second yellow. Johnny Hussain was the second to go for also collecting his second yellow and Ben Roberts joined the threesome after the final whistle had actually gone!

That apart, this was a pulsating contest. Cheadle should have been out of sight within the first quarter of an hour but had to settle for just the one goal for their efforts in this opening period: Johnny Hussain gathering the ball and threading it through to Carl Buchanan who delicately lobbed the oncoming 'keeper.

On either side of this 10th minute goal were the chances that Cheadle should have put away. Arron Riley planted a free header wide in the opening minute, Ben Roberts' side-footed just wide after going on a solo run a minute after Carl's opener and Arron blasted wide on the quarter-hour mark.

The final five minutes of the first-half was witness to Cheadle going from "coasting" to "square one". Carl Buchanan slotted home for his second of the match after being put through by Andy Lindon on the 40th minute but then saw his double wiped out. A free-kick from the Darwen let was side-footed home at the near post on 43 minutes with an almost carbon-copy goal for their equaliser on the stroke of half-time. In between their two goals an Arron Riley header was cleared off the line.

With their tails up, Darwen dominated the early stages of the second half and had their opportunities to put this match to rest. Various crosses from the wings were finding Darwen forwards who were - luckily for Cheadle - rather wasteful; the worst offender was the player who scooped over the crossbar from a yard out on the 78th minute when it looked easier to score.

Roundabout that point Cheadle were starting to find their way again, with Carl Buchanan leading the charge. His mazy run and shot that cannoned off the crossbar on the 73rd minute seemed to jolt Cheadle back into life.

With ten minutes remaining, Cheadle were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box which Ben Roberts dispatched with a curling left-footer for his first goal of the season (pictured above). And that should have been it....

...but it wasn't. Whether it will haunt Carl Buchanan for the rest of his life is another matter, but when he rounded the 'keeper in the last minute of normal time and side-netted his chance of giving himself the hat-trick he thoroughly deserved, Cheadle's chance of wrapping up the match went with it. Deep into injury time and with Cheadle now down to nine men, Darwen blasted home a free-kick with what turned out to be the last kick of the match.

If I've said it once, I've said it until I'm blue in the face: there's never a dull moment watching us lot....

Photos from the day can be seen by clicking here

TEAM: Moores, Clarke, B Roberts, Logan, Fellows, Cotterill, Riley, Hussain, Lindon, Buchanan, Brokenbrow. Subs: Bennett

Saturday's Opponents: Darwen

Whereas Polardin's act of soothsaying came to eventual fruition last Saturday, mine regarding Darwen at the start of the season has gone well and truly west. Based on the hypothesis that a bit of investment can change a team's fortunes for the good, I boldly predicted that Darwen would be "one of my fancied teams this season".

It looks like Ted Ward's investment hasn't had the desired effect at the Anchor Ground with any thoughts of promotion up the non-league pyramid being put on hold for at least another season; they lie in 10th place and what looks like an insurmountable 14 points behind a 2nd place.

Their results this season have been a bit of a dolly mixture and all: a 5-2 away victory at Castleton Gabriels, a 0-4 thumping at Holker Old Boys, a 5-1 home defeat of Ashton Town and their most recent game, a 0-5 tomming at Padiham.

So this is a game contested by two teams licking some very serious wounds. Hopefully we will have Deano back to spearhead the attack and erase the memories of last week's trip to the seaside.

Come on Cheadle!

Darwen 2-0 Cheadle Town

Sorry for the delay with the match report. Normal service is now resumed....

One team change for Cheadle from last week, Neil Logan in for Adam Roberts, (foot injury).

Very slow start from both teams, not much pace and goalmouth action which suited Cheadle as we are prone to the early goal. In fact it was us who had the first chance with Carpy involved in a great move before blasting wide. Trevor commented “score first or you owe me a tenner!”

The Darwen club is over 100 years old, but it’s not to the past or their history they are looking at the moment, more their future. They seem to have a benefactor who is paying wages, laying on team coaches and building a nice little set up here. The pitch was magnificent. They want to be in the Conference in 10 years. Darwen’s teams were a lot changed from last year when we won 2-0 here, it was littered with ex-Unibond players.

The manager apparently used to play for Man City. Cheadle were playing well, lots of neat passing and support from midfield to our front pairing.

Then on 23rd minute a “dodgy” decision. The liner gave a throw to Cheadle but was over ruled by the ref, later he apologised to Trevor for his “error”. The throw led to a scramble in the box, 1-0 Darwen.

Then there was a 5 minute period where Carpy, Myers and Matty all came close. Carpy was making some good wing play and had a further 3 chances before half time. A free kick on 40 mins just wide from Coterill, but after this 20 minute period of dominance their captain scored, 2-0.

Saturday's Opponents: Darwen

It's off to the Anchor Ground on Saturday as Cheadle face a potentially awkward away trip to Darwen.

Not that Darwen were a problem last season for Cheadle; our boys claimed a league double over them with a 2-1 win at Park Road and an impressive 2-0 win at the Anchor a couple of weeks later.

Darwen are one of my "much-fancied" teams this season. They came under new ownership at the start of the year and proprietor Ted Ward hopes to turn the club around on and off the pitch, with financial investment in redeveloping the commercial and playing aspects of the club. As can be currently seen at Manchester City and at previous clubs in the past, a fresh approach and a bit of cash can do minor wonders.

It's been a bit of a dolly mixture of a start for Darwen this season. They got thrippled 0-5 away to Kirkham & Wesham on the first day of the season, but then (almost) cancelled out that poor goal difference by treating Ashton Town to a 5-1 hammering at the Anchor. This was followed by their exit at the hands of AFC Emley in the FA Cup thanks to a 0-3 away defeat.

As for our lot...well, the goals have arrived - five in the past two matches is a decent return - but the only thing missing now is that first league win of the season. If you include the tail end of last season, then Cheadle Town are actually seven league matches without a win, something that could do with being put right.

I'm not at this one as I have a wedding to attend to, so I'm relying on Polardin - assuming he's going - to text me with the scores. I'll be back on Tuesday, so I'm leaving you in his hands.

Come on Cheadle!

Darwen 0-2 Cheadle Town

Cheadle Town repeated the dose of two goals in the last ten minutes over Darwen to complete a league double in a thoroughly-deserved away win.

In a game that was all-go from the first minute to the nintieth, it was Cheadle who made the brightest start; a stark contrast to the horror-openings that they have had in the past two or three matches. Arron Riley had the first chance after just seven minutes; his well-aimed but powerless header easily dealt with by the 'keeper. Cheadle were playing some lovely football and enjoying the lion's share of possession.

It took Darwen 20 minutes to carve out their first significant chance. Macca missed a tackle on the left and the resulting cross left 'keeper Danny Smith in a bit of trouble, which Ben Roberts mopped up with a clearance off the line. Three minutes later and Cheadle replied with their closest effort thus far: a Johnny Hussain header that went just wide after a teasing cross from Kristian Powell.

It's probably fair to say that Cheadle, despite dominating the passing play, were limited to half-chances in comparison to Darwen's more clear-cut ones. A turn-and-shot in the area was brilliantly beaten away by Danny Smith on 32 minutes and then on 41 minutes a Darwen striker narrowly pulled his shot just wide of the Cheadle post. Ben Roberts was called on line-clearing duties again on the stroke of half-time as he prevented a lobbed shot from going in. Half-time, 0-0.

Whereas Cheadle dominated the opening of the first half, it was Darwen's turn for the second. Time after time they probed the Cheadle defence but were let down by some selfish play at times when better passes were on.

On 70 minutes, the moment that seemed to indicate the swing of the match back in Cheadle's favour. Andy Lindon swung in a superb cross from the left that was almost netted via a superb diving header...from a Darwen defender! From this point on it seemed to be all Cheadle.

Johnny Hussain had a spectacular 25-yard chipped effort tipped over the crossbar on 75 minutes and a Scott Flanagan diving header from a whipped-in cross flashed just wide of the post three minutes later.

With ten minutes to go, Cheadle's pressure finally paid off. Andy Lindon's work down the left resulted in a delicious cross that wasn't dealt with by the Darwen defence; it spilled out to the feet of Arron Riley who cooly side-footed home from 10 yards out. Six minutes later he capped the win with a vicious, dipping shot from the edge of the area. In between the two Cheadle goals was a superb, Gordon Banks-esque save from Danny Smith; if Darwen would have equalised at that point, who knows how this match could have ended up?

There was even time at the end for Scott Flanagan to almost slide in a third goal which would have really put the icing on the cake. No matter. The win was Cheadle's as soon as Arron's audacious second flew into the net.

Credit to the team tonight as they were full value for the win against a Darwen side who are no mugs. Onto this Saturday and another chance to collect a league double against Daisy Hill....

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

Tonight's Opponents: Darwen

Darwen again? So soon?

Indeed so. It has been only two weeks since Cheadle beat Darwen 2-1 in the home fixture, with 2-2 draws being the in-thing for both teams since. Cheadle drew by that scoreline at Norton United whilst Darwen did so at home to Winsford United and then Oldham Town; this highly uninteresting fact was broken by a 3-1 away defeat at Runcorn Linnets.

We find Darwen only three places and nine points ahead as we go into this fixture. The incentive for Cheadle is to add Darwen as their second league-double this season, and to start scoring some goals in the first half for a change; two-thirds of our goals have come in the second period of the match, stats fans.

Come on Cheadle!

Other fixtures tonight: Ashton Town v Winsford United, Leek CSOB v Runcorn Linnets, Norton United v Daisy Hill

Cheadle Town 2-1 Darwen

Two goals in the last ten minutes helped Cheadle on their way to another three points earned at Park Road.

Cheadle got off to a start as cold as the evening itself. After five minutes, Darwen's first attack of the match produced the opening goal as one of their strikers gobbled up a rebound after an initial shot was blocked. How Darwen then didn't score a second five minutes from the end of the first half was a mystery; Cheadle 'keeper Danny Smith made a superb fingertip save from a header and somehow three Darwen strikers failed to find the net from a yard out when the net was gaping.

In between those two incidents, Cheadle had played well enough in the first half but let themselves down time after time in the final third of the pitch with indecisiveness and/or the wrong pass. Newcomer Christian Powell was having an effective game up front and giving the Darwen defence something to think about with his lightning quick pace. Half-time, 1-0 to Darwen.

Right up until the 80th minute, the second half was following the same pattern as the first: Cheadle with plenty of the possession but no cutting edge up front. As that 80th minute ticked over, Cheadle suddenly remembered how to find the net.

Brocklehurst received the ball from the left and, from 30 yards out, hit a rasping, clean drive that swerved away from the Darwen 'keeper as he tried to grasp it; the ball was hit that hard that it spun off the top of his hands and into the net. When McDonagh advanced on the 'keeper five minutes later and coolly lifted the ball over him, the comeback was complete and Cheadle never looked like losing it.

In the end, it was no less than Cheadle deserved. On his way back into the dressing room, Johnny Hussain turned to me and said "there you are, that was a bit better [than the Padiham away match], wasn't it?"

Agreed!

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

Tomorrow's Opponents: Darwen

Oh, I've lost count of the number of times I've done the pre-amble to a Darwen fixture, only for it to fall by the wayside thanks to the weather. However, I'm quietly confident that Cheadle Town will get to play the only side that they haven't kicked a ball with yet this season; hailstones apart, the weather forecast for tomorrow looks okay. Good, as for some reason it seems like ages since the drubbing at Padiham.

Darwen, then. Every time I've done my weekend round-ups and looked at the tables, Darwen have always been there or thereabouts in the top five of the table. The fact that we find them in ninth as we go into this fixture owes much to the mid-table congestion but mainly to Darwen finding wins (and playable games!) hard to come by since New Year.

Regardless of Darwen's indifferent form, a tough enough fixture for Cheadle. A win for our lads could mean them reclaiming 12th spot and banishing the ghost of the most-recent result at Padiham. Come on Cheadle!

OTHER MATCHES
Tonight: Ashton Town v Leek CSOB, Runcorn Linnets v New Mills, Winsford United v Chadderton.
Tomorrow: Daisy Hill v Holker OB, Eccleshall v Bootle, Oldham Town v Blackpool Mechs

Cheadle Town v Darwen - POSTPONED

There's obviously something about us and Darwen...for the second time this season a fixture between the two has been postponed.

Our first postponed home match of the season and all......

Tomorrow's Opponents: Darwen

First of all, apologies for the lack of words on here of late. I've been like the negligent parent, leaving his children to feed off the leftovers of the past couple of days. Sorry.
Darwen, then. First thing of note is that this is the first time we'll have played them this season; the away fixture that was postponed at the end of November has yet to be re-arranged. Back then I also did my usual "history and homework" on Darwen, except that this time they don't find themselves in the lofty heights of fourth place.

We find them in eighth place, only four points in front. This is largely due to their current form where they've been winless since 6th January, a wretched run that has included a 2-3 defeat at lowly Norton United.

Eccleshall were on a similarly woeful run when they came to Park Road last week and Cheadle took advantage. Can history repeat itself for a second consecutive week? Come on Cheadle!

Fixture Changes
Those fixture fiddlers at the NWCFL have been at it again; my wall calendar is now adorned with the unkempt scrawl of crossings-out:
Sat 10th March: was New Mills at home, now Padiham away
Sat 17th March: empty
Sat 31st March: was Padiham away, now empty
Sat 9th April: ah, that's where New Mills at home is....

Darwen v Cheadle Town - POSTPONED

If only I'd checked the NWCFL website three minutes later....

Conscious of the fact that it had been raining all night, I checked the NWCFL website at around 11.30am to check on the status of the match. It was still listed as going ahead; if it was to be postponed, then they would have known by 11.30am. Right then, time to check the route, pack the flags and get the shirt on!

If you're thinking that this story is going to head towards the obvious of "I went all the way up to Darwen only to find the match postponed", then you'd be right. I got to the ground and all was eerily quiet - the gates were locked and there wasn't the usual rustle of activity. It took a phone call to CTFC's chairman Chris Davies to find out that my journey had been wasted. Ah well. At least I know where Darwen's ground is now (it's a doddle to find) for the re-arranged fixture.

When I got back home I discovered that the NWCFL website had been updated at 11.32am with a list of all the postponed games, meaning I was two minutes away from saving myself the hassle. Or perhaps I should have been sensible and checked the website again before I left at 1.15pm. A lesson learnt, methinks, and something I'm going to have to make a habit of now that we are entering the time of year where matches are getting postponed left, right and centre.

At least it gives Cheadle Town the opportunity to enjoy Wednesday's win for that little bit longer!

Tomorrow's Opponents: Darwen

Cheadle Town face a tricky trip to Darwen tomorrow with the hope of building on their relief-inducing win against Chadderton on Wednesday night.

Darwen's website has a very impressive section that goes into Darwen's history in great detail, but to sum up....

They were founded way back in 1875 and were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1880. Fast-forward to the early 80s, and Darwen (like Cheadle) were one of the founder members of the NWCFL. and were placed in Div 1. They stayed there for two seasons before being relegated but then bounced back to Div 1 three years later. They then spent eleven seasons in Div 1 before being relegated back to Div 2, where they have been ever since. This could have been different for them as the points that they were deducted in 2003-2004 prevented them from being promoted.

As I type they sit in 4th place, nine points behind Runcorn in 2nd and with three games in hand. You don't have to be Einstein to work out that this still keeps them in touch with the promotion pack. Speaking of Runcorn, they are the only team to come away from the Anchor Ground with any points this season; otherwise Darwen have been faultless on home turf.

Polardin isn't available for this one, so it's just yours truly and the flags making their way up the A666. Come on Cheadle!