Derby Day: Cheadle Town v Stockport Town - Match Preview
Cheadle Town will be hosting a Stockport Derby this Wednesday at ‘The Ground Up Solutions Stadium’ against Stockport Town.
This week Cheadle will be looking to win back-to-back games for the first team this season, or in the gaffer's words, ‘find some consistency’. So far this season, the league form has been win, loss, win, loss and then win. Which, of course is nine points out of fifteen and a great foundation to build on throughout the season. However, winning runs are needed to really push those promotion play offs, and what better way to start one of those runs than a local derby.
Last time out, Cheadle got their first clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 home win against Colne. Ryan Morton made a trademark run in behind and the Colne defender felt he had little option but to bring the winger down, eyes went towards the referee as he placed the whistle in his mouth and pointed towards the penalty spot. Darren McKnight stepped up and slotted the penalty down the middle to get his side the three points they ultimately deserved on the day. A week prior Jake’s side made the trip up to Squires Gate and left with three points thanks to a goal filled sixteen minutes where the game went from 0-0 to 3-2 to Cheadle just before half time, and in the end full time. Despite losing away at Chadderton in between those two games, positives were there to be taken from the performance against a side who currently sit second in the NWCFL Premier Division.
Stockport were playing in the First Division South last season and certainly earned their promotion, finishing the season in second on seventy-two points and with a seven point gap over third placed Sandbach United. They currently sit sixth in the league in their debut Premier Division season, three places and one point above Cheadle. Meaning, not only is this game a local derby but also a potential early season six pointer. Their three wins have come against Irlam, Litherland and most recently, Prestwich Heys. However, they are yet to come up against opposition who currently have more than one win in the first five games. Therefore, the side player-managed by ex Stockport County midfielder Paul Turnbull will also be out to put a marker down against a side who currently sit near them in the league table.
Despite Stockport being in the First Division South last season, the two sides met in the second round of the Cheshire Senior Cup for a dramatic encounter. Cheadle’s number nine Daniel McLaughlin was then playing for Stockport Town and opened the scoring in the seventy-first minute, however a ninety-fifth minute own goal leveled the game for Cheadle, before then going on to win the match in the subsequent penalty shootout.
The game will get underway at 19:45 and when comparing the sides this season there is little to split the two, meaning all will be revealed across ninety minutes which determine which of the two Stockport sides will take the bragging rights for now, come on Cheadle!
Written by Rob Mackenzie
