Cheadle Town 1-2 Oswestry Town

Match report courtesy of David Figg from Oswestry Town FC.

Cheadle Town's hopes of moving up into the play-off places were dashed after they lost 1-2 at home to FC Oswestry Town in their Hallmark Security League Division 1 fixture at Park Road on Saturday.

Town had gone into the game in 8th place in the table with a record of 4 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats from their 9 league games so far.

With results elsewhere being what they were, a win for Town would have seen them move up to 6th place level on points with 5th placed Whitchurch Alport but with an inferior goal difference.

Meanwhile, FC Oswestry had gone into the game in bottom place in the table without a point after losing their first 8 league games plus suffering an early exit from the FA Vase at the first hurdle.

The visitors were dealt a blow even before kick off when new keeper Louis Mackin injured a calf during the pre-match warm-up and sub keeper Gary Tinsley drafted in from the bench.

With numerous planes coming in to land at the nearby Manchester Airport during the afternoon, it was visitors Oswestry who got off to a flying start when Jamie Hands' long ball over the top on the left found Brendon Price who ran on before pulling it back low from the left edge of the box for Sam Thomas to send his left foot shot from 25 yards into Town keeper Daniel Whiting's top left hand corner for a stunning strike with just 39 seconds on the watch.

It was the first time Oswestry had scored first in a competitive game all season and the joy shown by the players and bench was there for all to see.

The Shropshire side went close to doubling their lead in the 11th minute when Thomas won a challenge with Liam Delaney on the right with the ball running to Joe Newton, whose cross from the right was half cleared by Luke Hincks to Hands who fired his low left foot shot from 18 yards not far wide of Whiting's left hand post.

Then at the other end in the 18th minute, Town went close to equalising when Mike Sherrington picked up a loose ball in midfield and made a driving run towards the edge of the box before having his right foot shot from 20 yards turned just past his right hand post by Tinsley.

The hosts went close again in the 21st minute when Rob Brocklehurst's corner from the right found Richard Whyatt who sent his right foot shot wide of Tinsley's left hand post.

Another chance came Town's way in the 29th minute when George Clarey sent his shot from some 25 yards not far wide of Tinsley's left hand post.

Then with exactly 30 completed minutes played, it was 2-0 when Jack Harris played a one-two with Brendon Price on the left before sending his right foot shot from 25 yards over Whiting's head into the keeper's top left hand corner.

Town went close in the 32nd minute when Whyatt's cross from the right found Mike Sherrington who sent his glancing header from 9 yards past Tinsley's right hand post.

Town pulled a goal back in the 42nd minute when Hincks's through ball on the left found Jake Ambrose who cut in before laying it back to Chris Sherrington, whose cross to the far post evaded everyone before running to Whyatt who fired his right foot shot from 6 yards into Tinsley's left hand corner to give his side a lifeline.

The first chance of the second half came Oswestry's way just into the 48th minute when Harris's through ball on the left found Brendon Price who cut in past his man before seeing his left foot shot deflect off a Town defender on its way to hitting the near post before the ball was cleared.

Then at the other end, Town went close in the 54th minute when Brocklehurst ran forward before having his right foot shot from 25 yards superbly tipped away to his left by Tinsley.

A flurry of substitutions took place with Town bringing on Luke Pearson for Clarey in the 65th minute and Oswestry bringing on Jacob Farleigh for Thomas in the 67th minute before Town made a double change in the 71st minute with Daniel Jones replacing Mike Sherrington and Daniel Wood replacing Delaney as the hosts looked to get back into the game.

The next chance came Town's way seconds later (still in the 71st minute) when Brocklehurst's corner from the left found Joe Shaw, who sent his header from 12 yards close to the penalty spot wide of Tinsley's left hand post.

Then at the other end a minute later, Oswestry went close when Newton's cross from the left found Farleigh at the far post who pulled the ball back into the middle for Brendon Price, whose left foot shot from 6 yards was cleared off the line by Wood.

Oswestry made their second change in the 75th minute when Oliver Jones came on for Josh Sumner.

Town went close in the 80th minute when Hincks picked up a loose ball and ran forward before firing his low right foot shot from almost 40 yards wide of Tinsley's right hand post.

Oswestry made their final change a couple of seconds into added time at the end when Tse Yue came on to replace Newton.

The visitors went close to adding to their lead just over 90 seconds into added time when Yue ran down the right before having his cross cleared with the ball running out to the in-running Jones, whose right foot shot from 25 yards took a deflection off Hincks before being held at head height by Whiting.

Then 3 seconds into the 4th minute of added time, Town had a great chance to equalise when Jones's long throw in from the left into the box was flicked on with his head by Hincks to Shaw, whose right foot volley from inside the 6 yard box produced a brilliant reflex save by Tinsley before the ball was cleared by Jamie Price.

The final blast of Abid Hussain's whistle a couple of seconds before the end of the 5th minute of added time confirmed Town's 4th league defeat of the season and saw Oswestry finally achieve their first league points at the 10th attempt.

Town: Daniel Whiting, James Dunn, Chris Sherrington, Liam Delaney, Joe Shaw, Rob Brocklehurst, Jake Ambrose, Luke Hincks, Mike Sherrington, Richard Whyatt, George Clarey.  Subs: Daniel Jones (for Mike Sherrington 71), Daniel Wood (for Delaney 71), Luke Pearson (for Clarey 65), Stephen Piggot (not used).

FC Oswestry: Gary Tinsley, Sam Pickering, Brendon Price, Rob Shone, Alun Morris, Jamie Price, Josh Sumner, Sam Thomas, Jack Harris, Jamie Hands, Joe Newton.  Subs: Oliver Jones (for Sumner 75), Tse Yue (for Newton 90+1), Jacob Farleigh (for Thomas 67), Daniel Tinsley (not used), Louis Mackin (GK) (not used).