Cheadle Town 2-0 West Didsbury & Chorlton

The eagle-eyed spectator who knows WD&C's squad like the back of their hand would be quick to tell you that it wasn't a full-strength outfit but nonetheless this was still a decent victory over a team that gave us a good workout; at full-time the cheeks were puffed out that little bit fuller and the sweat glistened on the foreheads that little bit more markedly.

There was no five-goal haul this time either, but that was largely down to the performance of the WD&C keeper in the first half; easily the man of the match in the opening 45 minutes.

He was first called into action in the 9th minute. Liam Tongue's cross from the left was met first-time by Mike Sherrington and 'West's custodian was there to parry with an excellent reaction stop.

Liam was instrumental again just after the quarter-hour mark, driving in from the left to Tabby Magida who stabbed his effort inches wide.

The WD&C keeper then kept out two efforts in quick succession. First he came out quick to thwart Sam Noar who was bearing down on goal and then beat away a fierce Liam Tongue piledriver.

On the half hour Tab Magida then cut in from the left only to shoot straight at the keeper with our pressure finally counting on the 34th minute.

Again the keeper made an excellent save. He somehow managed to get his hands onto Sam Noar's header after he had connected with a Luke Hincks cross from the left but he could do nothing about Liam Tongue gobbling up the loose ball and tapping home from close range.

Just three minutes later and the 'keeper was rounded by Tab after he had latched onto a delightful through ball from Luke Hincks but then made a great recovery to deny a goalscoring opportunity.

There was time before the break for Liam Tongue to be denied twice, once by an excellent save and the other by his slight innacuracy.

The second half couldn't have been any different from the first. Chances were at a premium and it ended up being a scrappy affair, with the only chance of note coming nine minutes from time that saw our lead extended; Liam Tongue collecting a looping through ball and tucking home from close range.

The final pre-season workout comes tomorrow evening [Tuesday] when Northern Premier League 1 side Glossop North End come to 'Town. And then it starts for real....

STARTING XI: Jupp, McLaughlin, Pearson, Russell, Moore, Shaw, M Sherrington, Tongue, Noar, Hincks, Magida. SUBS: Ward, Dunn, Connolly.