Eccleshall 2-1 Cheadle Town

Yet again it was a 2-1 scoreline at Pershall Park, but this time it was Eccleshall who came out winners.

After Arron Riley flashed a header wide of the post after 8 minutes, there was nothing else to make note of until the 40th when Cheadle 'keeper Moores tipped over a stinging shot from Eccleshall's Dwayne Spence. On the stroke of half-time, Eccleshall got their noses in front after a left-wing run saw the ball cut back into the penalty area and eventually planted past Moores.

With Cheadle looking unlikely to score, the game was put out of their reach on the hour mark when another left-wing run from Eccleshall saw the ball crossed in and slid home.

Then with the final five minutes of the match looming, Cheadle suddenly started to make an impact. A direct free-kick at the edge of the box was blasted home by Brocky (his second goal at Pershall Park this season), which sent Eccleshall into a bit of a tailspin as Cheadle then dominated. Within those remaining minutes Cheadle twice came agonisingly close to snatching an unlikely point: Arron Riley was put through but saw his shot blocked and Brad Fellows curled a shot inches wide of the post.

Cheadle weren't at the races for most of this match today, something that perhaps wasn't helped by having Deano, Barry Cotterill, Heathy, Johnny Hussain and Andy Lindon all out. The main positive from today was seeing Carl Buchanan getting 70 minutes under his belt after being off with that knee injury and the young Moores putting in a decent performance in net.

At least the players won't have a full week to dwell on this defeat as Norton United visit Park Road on Wednesday evening. We need a win....

Pictures from the day can be seen by clicking here

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

Saturday's Opponents: Eccleshall

With the cup runs brought to an end by Maine Road last Saturday, all that remains for Cheadle Town to do now is do themselves proud and achieve the highest league position their little legs can muster. We could also do with a goal this Saturday as the past three matches have seen Cheadle's return a "nil" in each case.

After starting last season so strongly, Eccleshall faded away towards the latter half, finishing in 11th place, seven points in front of Cheadle. It looks as though that "fade" has continued as they have struggled this term; we find them second-from-bottom with just 12 points and 3 wins to their name all season.

Pershall Park has been a "good ground" for us. Last season we went there and won 2-1 in treacherous conditions (but one of the best games we've ever witnessed following Cheadle!) and have already won there by the same scoreline this season, knocking Eccleshall out of the League Challenge Trophy thanks to a last-minute Deano goal.

Another long round-trip, this one. Match report and pictures will be available late Saturday evening.

Come on Cheadle!

Eccleshall 1-2 Cheadle Town

Cheadle Town booked themselves a home tie with Runcorn Linnets thanks to Dean Martin's injury-time strike.

From what Polardin told me, this sounded like a frenetic encounter. Cheadle were the first to produce on 10 minutes when Deano hot the bar but it was Eccleshall who took the lead on the 20-minute mark thanks to a cracking 35-yard drive.

Twelve minutes later and Cheadle got in on the long-range act when Brocky netted his first goal of the season with an equally impressive 35-yard hit. Half-time and the teams went in level at one apiece.

Eccleshall's striker was made to rue three gilt-edged chances to seal the tie for the Staffordshire outfit when, deep into stoppage time, Deano twinkle-toed himself into space and curled a beauty around the outstretched arm of the keeper.

This was a proper cup tie between two highly-competitive teams of equal measure. Both teams struggle to offer wages, exist on low attendances and live in the shadow of neighbours who have the resources to poach players. Both teams are young sides: the entire back four of Eccleshall is aged 17; our average age is 20.

The comedy moments of the day were provided by the Preston referee. He was, to be fair, a good ref. He had his own very expensive looking kit and directed the play like one of those Hong Kong traffic cops...but without the white gloves. He was slightly camp but a joy to watch. He talked endlessly with comments always on the positive side, so you got things like "yes that was a horrible tackle but well done otherwise, carry on!", " oh, an injury, never mind your a good player", "offside this time, but great play fellas!" and "less of the arguing number 10, but well done with your 1st touch". Gold dust.

Thanks to Polardin for his words of wisdom

Saturday's Opponents: Eccleshall

Light relief from the current woes in the league comes in the form of a League Challenge Cup Second Round match at Eccleshall.

In one of my favourite and most memorable matches following the Cheadle, Pershall Park was the scene of a quite remarkable 2-1 league victory over the xmas/new year period last season. Played on a swimming pool of a pitch, Andy Lindon produced the goal of the season to secure the three points.

Eccleshall's league form took a bit of a nosedive after that and seems to be continuing into this season as the Staffordshire outfit are struggling at the wrong end of the Div 2. With just two league wins to their name this season, they are third-from-bottom.

So what we have is a cup tie between two teams that really could do with a victory to lighten things up; that could make for a good match. Unfortunately it's the first of three games on-the-bounce that I am going to miss due to various committments over the next three weekends, so your match report 'words of wisdom' for the rest of the month will come from Polardin and Paul (a member of Arron Riley's travelling entourage)...providing that the pair of them remember to e-mail me their thoughts!

Come on Cheadle!

Cheadle Town 1-0 Eccleshall

Cheadle duly got their first league 'double' of the season as they ran out somewhat deserved winners in this lively contest at Park Road.

On arriving at Park Road we were given the news by Trevor and Steve that two players had left Cheadle Town during the week: regular 'keeper Peter Mellor and centre-back Matty Smith. In their respective places for today's match were Robert Massey - a 'keeper that used to play for Cheshire Police - and Neil Logan who has plied his footballing trade for Whitley Bay in the past.

Cheadle opened up the match with real brio and carved out a handful of half-chances. The most notable of which came after 22 minutes when McDonagh scorched a 20-yard piledriver just wide of the Eccleshall net. The visitors then started to get themselves on an even keel as the half-hour mark ticked by.

Their best chance of the first half came on 31 minutes. One of their strikers was put through and was about to round Robert Massey when he somehow managed to get a hand to the ball and claw it away; the ball then spilled to an Eccleshall player who thankfully managed to blast over a relatively empty net. A definite let-off for Cheadle. Despite the bustle of the first 45 minutes, the teams went in 0-0 at the break.

Cheadle started the second half with the same industry as they did in the first. On 54 minutes a shot (couldn't see who it was from) squirmed just wide of the post. Three minutes later and Cheadle got their just reward for their play.

McDonagh tore down the right wing and put in a deliciously low and hard cross into the box that evaded both Eccleshall 'keeper and a defender; unmarked on the back post was Stuart Kay to tuck the ball into the empty net and notch up his first senior squad goal of the season.

And then for the rest of the match, Cheadle couldn't seem to keep the ball for love nor money as Eccleshall totally dominated possession; however, the Cheadle defence were equal to it with some excellently-timed tackles and cool-headed clearance play, notably from Ben Roberts. The only Eccleshall chance - in fact, the only real clear-cut chance for either side of note in the second half - came on the hour mark when Robert Massey smothered the ball just as an Eccleshall striker was about to poke it past him and into the net.

On the balance of overall play, Cheadle deserved their win today. Stuart Kay got the goal that his graft has merited over the past two fixtures and newcomers Robert Massey and Neil Logan had good, solid games.

What a difference a week makes....

TEAM: Massey, Heath, B Roberts, Cotterill, Logan, Hussain, Riley, Brocklehurst, McDonagh, Kay (Flanagan), Lindon. Subs: Flanagan, Brokenbrow, Stewart.

Tomorrow's Opponents: Eccleshall

It only seems like five minutes ago since a very wet and muddy day at Eccleshall before the turn of the year; Cheadle collecting their first league away win of the season with an impressive and hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Eccleshall have been there-or-thereabouts at the top of Div 2 all season, but have seriously lost their way of late, only winning once since December 23rd (a 2-0 away win at Blackpool Mechs). They are currently in fourth place with 34 points, but have Leek CSOB and Bootle right up their jacksies on 33 and 32 points respectively.

Cheadle on the other hand will want to get back to winning ways and put the last couple of results behind them. It's also be nice to get our first 'double' of the season and our first home win since November 22nd!

Come on Cheadle!

Videos from Eccleshall

Here are some videos from our day in Eccleshall. The first one was taken whilst on the M6 and is of us suffering Polardin's taste in music - he was playing a tape from Radio 3's 'Mixing It' show that showcases alternative music. NOTE: This video contains a naughty swearword from me, so don't be showing this to your kiddies now, will you?



This next one shows you how muddy things got in the car park for Polardin



This final one will hopefully give you an idea of how mucky it was for the players!

Eccleshall 1-2 Cheadle Town

Cheadle did end up checking out of 2006 in style as they grabbed their first league away win of the season and consigned Eccleshall to their first home defeat of the season at the same time. The game was played in treacherous conditions and on an absolute gluepot of a pitch. Polardin and I reckoned that the match wouldn't last the full 90 minutes; how thankful we are that it actually did!

The first real chance of the match came to Eccleshall after 7 minutes when a curling shot went wide. However, it was Cheadle who engineered the more clear cut chances throughout the whole match. The first of which came after 20 minutes when McDonagh - playing a more upfront role - was one-on-one with the 'keeper, only to see his shot saved. Seven minutes later Flanagan and Lindon both failed to connect with a cross that was zipped across the increasingly-greasy surface. Eccleshall saw a similar chance go begging just before the break. Half-time, 0-0.

Cheadle didn't get out of the traps quick enough for the second half as they found themselves a goal down within two minutes of the restart: Eccleshall being awarded a penalty which was converted.

The manner in which Cheadle then hauled themselves back into this game will go down as one of our away-day highlights of the season. After 56 minutes McDonagh was rewarded for his stint upfront as he gathered a left-wing cross in the penalty box, dug the ball out of the mud and slotted home.

On 69 minutes, the moment that proved to be a turning point. Eccleshall fashioned a chance in the penalty box and somehow...somehow the ball didn't go into the net as it cannoned off the inside of Mellor's post. After that it was always going to be Cheadle's day.

And so it proved with about a quarter-of-an-hour to go. A cross was sent in from the left and Lindon volleyed an absolute screamer into the top corner of the net. It was one of those that was a goal the minute it left his foot. Goal of the bloody season!

Cheadle could have buttoned the match up in the final period of the game as Lindon struck the post with another spectacular effort on 84 minutes, Matty Smith shot over from close range when the ball spun to his feet and Scott Flanagan - who worked tirelessly all day - just couldn't shape his body to connect with a cross when the goal was gaping.

And to think that the day started off so bad for us, with everything pointing to an absolute disaster: the traffic on the M6, the heavy rain, Polardin's car skidding round the car park out of control...all's well that ends well, they say, as on the way home the traffic had cleared and the rain had stopped. This was a superb performance from the team against a decent Eccleshall side and in extremely difficult conditions.

This blog is a happy blog tonight. Happy New Year!

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

Tomorrow's Opponents: Eccleshall

Cheadle are on the road again tomorrow with a tricky away trip to Eccleshall; if you don't know where that is...draw a line between Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford, it'd be somewhere in between, or there or thereabouts.

Eccleshall have only been gracing the NWCFL since the 2003-2004 season but have one hell of an impressive record in their previous leagues. In the two seasons before joining the NWCFL, they were champions twice-over of the Midland League and never finished outside of the top ten in the seven seasons before that. They haven't managed the same feat in their three seasons in the NWCFL, but they are riding high this season; we find them in third place as we go into this game.

My homework also tells me something rather scary...but also gives the Cheadle boys something to aim for: Eccleshall are unbeaten at home so far this season. Considering how we've yet to pick up an away win, this could be a chance to upset the apple cart and check out of 2006 in style.

Come on Cheadle!