Cheadle v Winsford: The Goals

Unfortunately the footage you're about to see doesn't contain any Cheadle goals, but useful footage it is nonetheless. Trevor - Cheadle Town's very own Brian Clough - might want to look away now.

The film is courtesy of Aaron Flanagan - you might have seen some of the comments left by a 'Winsford Boy' on here...that's him. Thanks for the footage, Aaron, but no thanks for managing to include Polardin on it; he'll be wanting his appearance fee from Equity!

Before that, though, an update on the race for that third spot in Div 2. New Mills beat Bootle 5-3 last night, meaning that they are now just three points behind third-placed Padiham with a game-in-hand, with those two to play each other at the Arbories tomorrow night! A win for New Mills will bring Cheadle right into the spotlight as we face Padiham ourselves at Park Road this Saturday. More of our possible role as masters of chaos later on this week.

Anyhow, onto the footage.....

Personally I'd have chosen a Gabriel-era Genesis track to accompany this. Something dark and moody like 'Watcher Of The Skies' or 'Return Of The Giant Hogweed'.....

Cheadle Town 0-2 Winsford United

Cheadle's half-decent run of form came to a halt today as Winsford United took all three points from what sounded like a rumbustious match at Park Road.

Whilst I was sat at Eastlands watching a bore-draw between City and Liverpool, I was receiving texts from Polardin. Winsford United went ahead within 10 minutes courtesy of McAlister from a corner and then extended their advantage thanks to Hopley after about 25 minutes.

When I got a message saying "their goalkeeper has been sent off", I was rather hopeful of a Cheadle comeback...but sadly to no avail as the scoreline stayed the same right through to the final whistle.

Here is Polardin's take on the match....
We were always going to be in need of a red-hot performance from our lads to defeat Winsford who have only lost two league games all season - none of which were on the road.

It was a welcome to Park Road for the champions elect. If Trevor could pull this one off his name would ring around Cheadle for decades to come. We might have to rename him "Trevor The Great"...although unlike Alexander the Great before him we may not seal his body in honey in his honour!

Anyway, if we were to get anything from this encounter, in the immortal words of Sweeney Todd who was in attendance: “Cheadle will have to be all over them like a cheap suit”

Alas it wasn’t to be. Considering Winsford scored their last 5 league goals from corners, it wasn’t a surprise that after 10 minutes McAlister put them one nil up from one, the third of about a dozen we conceded in the first half an hour. By half time we were two nil down, Hopley scoring their second.

After a Winsford third was ruled out for offside, Cheadle got a stroke of luck. Their keeper raced out of the box to intercept a Cheadle through ball, handling it outside the box. The result was a straight red card. With Winsford now down to ten men and a outfield player now in goal and Cheadle with a free kick just outside the box, time to capitalise. Unfortunately the shot went off target.

Trevor and Steve called for the long ball game and to put pressure on their stand-in keeper, we were unable to do it and even after a double substitution we still didn’t manage to get a shot on target. It was left to Winsford to create the better chances and a well struck shot rattled our crossbar.

As the game entered its final 5 minutes Winsford guided the game to yet another win for them: their 21st in the league. We consoled ourselves with the knowledge that we were one of only three teams to beat Winsford this season, so there was no disgrace in losing to the possible champions.

Then with 6 minutes indicated for injury time Ben Roberts was sent off! In a game of very little fouling or bad temper two men managed to get sent off! Ben's was outrageous...if I quote Ben himself you may get the picture better: “The liner told the ref he was fed up of me, so he booked me, I told him you’ve already booked me, at this point he said well you will have to go then”. 'Winsford Boy' (aka Aaron Flanagan) who stood with us throughout the game agreed that the referee had lost the plot. It was hard to put a reaction in words. Trevor tried: “Liner I’m fed up an all but I can’t send you off!” Surely Cheadle must appeal an outrageous decision.

Best wishes to Aaron Riley’s family this week with the birth of a baby due on Tuesday I believe, perhaps we will forgive you not attending next Saturday but we expect to see you and baby at the last home game.

On leaving the ground an away fan's car had been damaged, a side window had been put in an unconnected football bit of vandalism but we hope that nothing was stolen and that the Winsord victims got home safely.

Tomorrow's Opponents: Winsford United

Ah, Winsford United: a club whose name has cropped up more than most during my first season folowing Cheadle Town.

Things started off with the excellent 1-0 away win in the Cheshire Senior Cup way, way back in August. Then came that rather acrimonious day at the end of September in the league fixture when Winsford won with virtually the last kick of the game, and in the past three weeks or so Polardin and I have returned to the Barton Stadium twice to witness two other matches.

It is with some irony, therefore, that I can't attend this one (I've got Premiership duties to attend to) and it's more than more-than-likely that Winsford won't be on our away-day list next season as they look to be marching towards promotion to Div 1.

Come on Cheadle!

Tonight's Match: Winsford United v Runcorn Linnets

If you've been following my weekend round-ups on here this season you'll know that this match needs no introduction...but I'm going to give it one anyway.

It's the big one, the dog's dangly bits, the epic, the decider, the ultimate, the conclusion, the pinnacle, the 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', the top billing at the Las Vegas of football, the 'Supper's Ready' by Genesis...the decider of the NWCFL Division Two title?

That last bit won't be be settled tonight as Winsford United still have games-in-hand on their Cheshire counterparts but there's no denying that this match is the pick of the Easter crop. Let's face it - Padiham's tailgating aside - these two sides have walked this division all season and have never looked like surrendering the top two promotion places between them.

This is a really hard game to call. Personally I reckon there's gonna be just the one goal in it....

This blog will be taking a holiday for the next couple of days and will return to the online airwaves on Friday.

Winsford United 3-3 New Mills (New Mills win 6-4 on agg)

It'll be Oldham Town v New Mills in the Division Two Trophy Final as the Millers saw off Winsford United in this thrilling second leg.

Winsford drew first blood with a Quinn goal after about 19 minutes after dominating most of the opening exchanges; being 1-3 down from the first leg, they had no choice but to go for it.

On the half-hour mark, the first sign of New Mills getting themselves back into the game - the Winsford 'keeper forcing a fierce volley over the bar. Two minutes later and New Mills had their two-goal aggregate back. Mickey Ryan superbly chipped the 'keeper from about 20 yards out, only to see his effort come crashing off the crossbar...the rebound being slammed in by Butterworth.

Three minutes later, Winsford were back in front on the night. A free-kick was whipped in from the left and met by a bullet header. On the stroke of half-time, back came The Millers with an equaliser: the Winsford 'keeper somehow fumbling a low shot into his own net. Half-time, 2-2 on the night, 5-3 to New Mills on aggregate.

Three minutes into the second half, cue Winsford. A corner was swung in from the right and the ball was bundled over the line. 3-2 to Winsford on the night. One more goal from them and it was all set for extra time....

But it never came. New Mills switched to 5-3-2 and soaked up everything that Winsford threw at them, squandering a few chances to sew the tie up themselves. With just minutes remaining and looking good for a narrow 5-4 aggregate win, the tie was sewn up, boxed and shrunk-wrapped. Carlos Meakin gathered the ball on the right and hit an unstoppable dipping shot from about 35 yards out.

That was that. Winsford United could do no more - three times they forced a lead and three times New Mills pegged them back.

If "the big one" on Easter Monday between Winsford and Runcorn is anything like this, then the journey down the A556 will have been worth it. Again.

If 'Winsford Boy' and 'Amber Army' are reading this, it was a pleasure meeting you both. Thanks to both your teams for serving up a real treat!

Tonight's Match: Winsford United v New Mills

As part of the whole "getting into the non-league football scene" thing, Polardin and I promised ourselves that we'd go and watch some matches that didn't involve Cheadle Town, particularly if they were of "some significant interest".

To that end, we're both off to The Barton Stadium in (what promises to be a) sunny Cheshire tonight to watch Winsford United v New Mills in the second leg of the Division Two Trophy Semi-Final.

New Mills lead 3-1 from the first leg. From my point of view, and excuse me if I'm stating the bleeding obvious here, but an early goal could be crucial tonight. If Winsford get it, then it makes things very interesting; if New Mills get it, then Winsford have it all to do.

Going into this game, New Mills have the ever-so-slightly better form. In their last three games they've won two and lost one, compared to Winsford's win-draw-lose. Most notable is that the Millers seem to be scoring for fun at the moment: 11 goals in those three games compared to Winsford's 4.

Formbook aside, it promises to be a cracking game. Best of luck to both teams.

Humble Pie

To those of you who tune in regularly to this blog, you may have cottoned on to a slight dislike I have harboured for our fellow Div 2ers, Winsford United.

At the risk of sounding "street", I have a major bees' nest in my bonnet about any lack of 'respect' shown between supporters of differing clubs. It was this lack of respect that was shown to me by a very small - both in number and in size - minority of their support when I took myself down to the Barton Stadium for our league match at the end of last September. Me being me, I let it get to me, got utterly wound up and thence tarred Winsford United - and its fans - with the same mucky brush; so to some degree, I've been guilty of not practicing what I preach.

Over the past few weeks I have been in online conversation with Aaron Flanagan - the son of the assistant manager of Winsford United - who has verbally gone a very long way to putting the record straight and is keen for me to revisit the Barton Stadium just one more time (before they disappear into Div 1).

You can't ignore such gentlemanly, noble efforts to build bridges like that, so I'll hold my hands up and apologise to Winsford United, 'cos they're not all that bad, you know....

Leity and Gaiety

There are plenty of visual clues to suggest that the Christmas period has surrendered its spiritual hand lock, stock and barrel to capitalism: the heaving, shoving masses on Manchester's Market Street; the constipated roads around junction 9 of the M60 on a Sunday as people cram themselves into the Trafford Centre.

However I'm sure that every God-botherer, person of the cloth and Cliff Richard would have smiled gently at hearing of the Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup Semi-Final result between Witton United and Winsford United last night.

Winsford United - council of the last-minute win - were victims of a 90th minute Witton equaliser in normal time...and then a Witton winner in the last minute of extra-time.

Revenge is mine, sayeth the Lord....

Winsford United 1-0 Cheadle Town

Winsford United served up revenge for their Cheshire Senior Cup defeat in the coldest way possible as they scored in the 90th minute to bring Cheadle Town's miserable September to a miserable conclusion.

Trevor wasn't able to oversee the team's performance today as he had to attend to a family matter; also absent were Dean Martin and Vinnie Braine.

A first-half with few chances was marked only by the referee's inability to play the advantage rule properly. A Winsford player was fouled just outside the box, but the ref failed to play the advantage as the ball broke to a forward who smashed it into the net. Both teams went into the break at 0-0.

The game really sprang to life in the second half as Winsford started to really pressure the Cheadle goal. They should have been out-of-sight by the middle of the second period as two glorious chances went begging due to scuffed shots. Mellor contributed to keeping the score at 0-0 by making an excellent point-blank save on the hour mark.

With 75 minutes gone, Cheadle started to have their best period of the game and put the Winsford defence under considerable pressure; Arron Riley and Johnny Hussain forcing excellent saves from the 'keeper.

When a Winsford forward rounded Mellor and missed an open net with only three minutes remaining, I honestly thought that this could be Cheadle's day and were either gonna get a hard-earned draw from this game or commit daylight robbery and steal a win. My thoughts spoke too soon as that final, sickening killer blow came after 90 minutes had elapsed and we were entering injury time. God, do Cheadle need a win at Leek next Saturday...

I'm sorry to say that my enjoyment of a perfectly good football match was somewhat ruined by a young Winsford lad that seemed hell-bent on provoking some sort of undesireable reaction from me for the last ten minutes of the match. It's the first time that I have been asked "can I rip your flags down?" (why? because "he didn't like them") on my travels, that's for sure. Wherever we have gone, the adults have been magnificent, welcoming and always up for a chat (as was the case today). The attitude of some of the teenagers and kids towards us has been frankly disappointing, and it's really starting to p*ss me off.

Anyhow, I've taken some pictures from the match. Start here and then use the box on the right-hand side (where it says "Nine Below Zero's Photostream") to move through the pictures.

Tomorrow's Opponents: Winsford United

Cheadle Town return to the site of their Cheshire Senior Cup victory back in August when they travel once more to The Barton Stadium, this time in search of three league points. Normally I'd do a small info piece about the opponents, but that was already done by Polardin before August's match.

We return to find Winsford in rude health in Division Two, sitting in 2nd place just three points behind Runcorn Linnets, with two games in hand and as yet unbeaten in the league. If Cheadle wish to find themselves knocking on promotion's door this season, then it's the games against the likes of Winsford United that will prove to be the best measure of progress. Despite more-than-decent performances, results haven't gone Cheadle's way over the past five matches and they've had a fairly miserable September as a result.

Another away win at The Barton Stadium would do them the world of good. They're capable of it and all. Come on Cheadle!

Winsford United 0-1 Cheadle Town

As Darth Vader said to Luke Skywaker at some point as the pair of them were arsing around with their lightsabres: "impressive". Admittedly it was backs-to-the wall stuff at times. Winsford United huffed and puffed at a Cheadle defence that stood firm and dug in to defend the lead that was acquired by Dean Martin's 17th-minute rasping drive from the edge of the box after a well-worked move.

This now means a home tie in the First Round Proper against Stalybridge Celtic; a match that isn't going to be easy but, if played with the same spirit as tonight, one that is winnable.

One thing's for sure, Winsford United aren't a bad side at all. That away league match at the end of September is going to be interesting.

Photos from the evening can be seen by clicking here.

Tomorrow's Opponents: Winsford United

We travel back in time this Wednesday with one of the oldest clubs in football; Winsford United have been around since 1880. A massive seventeen years before Chelsea "one of the richest clubs in the world."

That quote is from the official opening sentence from the history section on Chelsea's website! Once again, greed and financial status seems to be how the Premiership measures success.

The 1950s saw Winsford United win the Cheshire League Cup three times and a Cheshire Senior Cup once. Between 1976 and 1980, the Blues [Winsford] won the Cheshire League title in 1976/77, were runners-up in 1979/80 and set a new record (which still stands) by winning the Cheshire League Cup four seasons out of five, including a hat-trick of wins (1977/79/80/81). They won the Cheshire Senior Cup in 1980 and made an appearance in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy in 1978. True footballing success then! It was in John Williams' final season that the former Everton and Welsh international goalkeeper, Neville Southall, was sold to Bury. Season 1992/93 will go down in United's folklore as they won an astonishing five trophies - the NPL Challenge Cup, NPL Presidents Cup, Cheshire Senior Cup, Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup and NPL Runners Up Cup. The Blues finished second to Southport and their points total is a record for the most points accrued without winning the title.

Winsford have a glorious record of club and cup football. Chelsea took over 60 years to win two trophies, but still what does it matter: they're one of the richest clubs in the world.

Viva Winsford!