All of the latest news from the club
Pre-Season Finale: Cheadle Town 0-2 West Auckland Town...and a Lot More Than That
Cheadle Town’s pre-season finale may have ended with defeat on the pitch but the same can’t be said for off it…
New kit, new facilities, a new era. Our pre-season finale at Park Road was all about heralding those three things.
Bar a squally opening 10-15 minutes of the match itself the weather held off and the hundreds that turned up to support their local club enjoyed all of the activities on offer, made good use of the new catering facilities and also enjoyed 90 minutes of entertaining football.
The new facilities have been made possible thanks to the Buildbase bursary that we won back in May.
Our new Town Cafe - situated between the clubhouse and the Main Stand - opened for business, complete with a new menu on offer and al fresco seating.
Our new Town Cafe
A wider range of hot food, snacks and drinks are now available at Park Road
For those who prefer to be indoors, our clubhouse has also been refurbished; new furniture and carpet with a wide range of cold drinks and snacks on offer.
Part of our new-look clubhouse
The players have also benefited from the makeover. They were greeted with a new-look changing room incorporating new showers.
Our new-look home changing room.
We also launched our new kit before the match. The players coming out to the pitch in the new red-and-white striped home strip.
All shiny and brand new colours for the club
As for the match itself we came up against a very strong and talented West Auckland Town side who ran out 2-0 winners on the day.
It didn't really get going until the approach of the half-hour mark. Auckland had a shot cleared off the line before an excellent save by Danny Whiting sadly went unrewarded and the loose ball was headed back into the net.
Our first decent chance came early in the second half as Rick Whyatt twisted and turned in the box only to have his shot saved before West Auckland had another handful of decent chances, forcing Ryan Allcock into a decent stop and then smashing a header onto the crossbar.
Ben Christopher's two teasing crosses went unattended before the match ended with a bit of a mixup in our defence, allowing a free shot on goal from the edge of the box to give our visitors an unreachable 2-0 lead.
Many thanks to West Auckland FC for making the trip down from the North East for our pre-season finale. Thanks also to the hundreds that turned up to take it all in and Matchday Supplies for providing us with goodie bags for the squad.
There's lots more pictures of the day in the gallery below....
Poynton 2-1 Cheadle Town
Cheadle Town's pre-season schedule came to a disappointing close with this narrow defeat at the hands of Cheshire League outfit Poynton
It's fair to say that pre-season has been a bit of a mixed bag.
Creditable draws against Glossop North End and Congleton, an even more creditable win over West Didsbury & Chorlton and two defeats against so-called lesser opposition, the 2-3 reversal at Tintwistle Athletic and this loss at Poynton.
Take nothing away from Poynton, though. They came second in the Cheshire League last season and were every bit the robust and difficult opposition we expected.
It took us a while to get going and it wasn't until the 18th minute when Luke Hincks saw a free-kick touched onto the crossbar.
By then we were a goal down, though, after Josh Harrison unluckily trod on the ball around 25 yards out with the lurking Poynton forward seeing Ryan Allcock off his line and delivering a well-measured chip.
Good work by Tom Ratican just before the half-hour mark was almost rewarded when Luke Hincks latched onto his pull-back but the Poynton keeper was equal to it.
Ryan Allcock then made two excellent stops before half-time to ensure that the score was kept at 1-0 to Poynton.
The hosts started the second half the better, rattling the underside of the crossbar and forcing Allcock into another good stop within the first five minutes before they extended their lead on the hour, slamming home at the far post after the ball had been hooked back across the face of goal.
Poynton squandered two decent chances to make it 3-0 before substitute Mike Sherrington started to make an impact and gave us some added impetus up front.
His run and cross from the right on 66 minutes almost saw Tom Ratican connect for what would have been a certain goal before fellow substitute Rick Whyatt powered through on goal just moments later to bury and get us back into the game.
Mike Sherrington then planted an unmarked header straight into the keepers hands thus blowing a great opportunity to draw us level before our final foray on goal saw Joe Shaw latch onto a free kick, see his effort blocked before the loose ball was skied on its way to Woodford by Dean Nolan.
By then Steve Piggott had come on to replace Ryan Allcock in goal and there was time for him to shine, spectacularly tipping a fierce volley over the bar which would prove to be the final action of the match.
It all starts for real in a couple of weeks' time when we travel to Atherton LR but by then the creases will hopefully have been ironed out.
STARTING XI: Allcock, Ratican, Brocklehurst, Russell, Harrison, Shaw, Hincks, Wood, Nolan, Christopher, C Sherrington. SUBS: Piggott, Ambrose, M Sherrington, Whyatt.
Cheadle Town 2-0 West Didsbury & Chorlton
Two late goals secured an encouraging 2-0 home win versus West Didsbury & Chorlton in this latest pre-season friendly
Another good run-out. Another step towards the exorcism of ring-rustiness.
A well-balanced first half saw only a handful of chances.
Danny Wood was the first to show when his rasping drive forced a good save from the West' keeper on 22 minutes.
Ten minutes later and perhaps we should have gone in front but the keeper was equal to Rick Whyatt's effort after he had capitalised on some hesitant defending.
Ryan Allcock was called into action just two minutes later, pushing a long-ranger from Matty Kay around the post.
The second half was a bit more productive where chances were concerned.
West's no11 was through on the left on 53 minutes but could only clip his effort wide with Mike Sherrington then being inches away from connecting to a gorgeous cross from Aaron Fleming.
Back down the other end Allcock was on-hand again to deny West', this time stopping Tom Bailey with a fine block with West' then dominating the possession for quite a while.
During this period they saw a header crash back off the underside of the crossbar and forced us into some rather hasty defensive work in the area as all manner of limbs were trying to scramble the ball away on 76 minutes.
But then the tide suddenly swung back in our favour.
Rick Whyatt was through one-on-one again on 78 minutes but saw his effort blocked before Mike Sherrington found himself in a similar position on the left two minutes later; his shot was also blocked with the loose ball falling to the feet of George Clary who unfortunately mis-kicked and the chance was gone.
Enter the head of substitute Luke Cotton.
On 83 minutes it guided a whipped ball from Mike Sherrington into the corner of the net - with Luke somehow arcing his body shape to connect with a ball that was effectively behind him - and sixty seconds later it rose majestically to nod over the advancing keeper for Cheadle's second.
Just one more pre-season run-out before the real business starts and plenty for the management team to think about re selection for the starting XI on 12th August at Atherton LR.
STARTING XI: Allcock, O'Donnell, Fleming, Russell, Harrison, Shaw, Ambrose, Wood, M Sherrington, Whyatt, C Sherrington. SUBS (used on a rolling basis): Ratican, Brocklehurst, Christopher, Clary, Dunn, Hincks, Rigby (gk)
Cheadle Town 2-2 Glossop North End
Cheadle Town got their pre-season under way with this encouraging 2-2 draw at home to NPL1's Glossop North End
It has been something of a tumultuous summer at Park Road for one reason and another so we were extremely pleased to get some actual football played the other night against Glossop North End for the first of our pre-season friendlies.
In order for both (new) managers to get a look at as many different players as possible, it was decided to run this match as 3 x 30-minute periods; a tad transatlantic but it served a purpose.
As is the case each summer there was a mix of faces new and familiar and it's going to take Anthony Trucca the full course of the pre-season programme to find his perfect mix.
Things almost got off to a demoralising start as Glossop were awarded a penalty in the first minute; thankfully Adam Rigby was equal to it, a save that wouldn't have done his confidence any harm whatsoever.
Nine minutes into the second period we broke the deadlock when George Clary received a cross from the right and turned neatly before poking home from close range.
A gathering of thoughts and opinions at the end of the second period
Glossop drew level on 63 minutes when a long ball was gathered and finished well into the top corner before the power of a shot from the right on 83 minutes was too much for Ryan Allcock and he just couldn't prevent it from rolling in and giving Glossop the lead.
Tom Russell clattered the crossbar before we deservedly drew level with three minutes remaining. A short bout of head tennis in the box was finished off by Tom Ratican - hero of the Reserves' Stockport DFA Final - who headed home at the far post.
A good workout for all and plenty of food for thought...for both managers we should imagine.
Many thanks to the Glossop North End fans who turned up in numbers and gave us an impressive attendance of 224.
Cheadle Town 3-0 Pacific Lutheran University
Cheadle's pre-season ended with a 3-0 win over Pacific Lutheran University at Park Road.
The final scoreline may read "three-nil" but were it not for an excellent ten-minute spell by goalkeeper Arran Dixon midway through the second half then we might have been in for a rather uncomfortable end to the match.
He was on-hand four times to make an excellent tip over the bar, parry a fierce free-kick and twice thwart an onrushing PLU striker who looked certain to score.
By this time we were already two goals to the good following two good finishes from Mssrs Horan and Hincks.
With minutes of the first half remaining James Horan got himself on the end of a low cross from the right by James Dunn and on 55 minutes Hincks Jnr coolly planted home from inside the box after Chris Sherrington had weaved his way through the PLU defence and cut the ball back.
As well as cursing the form of Arran Dixon, PLU also had Steve Piggott in the way in the first half and saw a couple of good chances go begging.
Steve got down well to turn a fierce drive around the post with only 6 minutes gone and he also made an excellent block on 20 minutes with a PLU striker on goal; he thankfully saw the same striker then nod the loose ball inches wide of the post.
As the match entered its final ten minutes a rather rash challenge by the PLU keeper resulted in a penalty that Luke Pearson put away to effectively wrap the game up.
There was still time for PLU to strike the post and then go inches wide following a corner with the last kick of an excellent game that was played in very good spirit.
And so that is now that. The rehearsals have finished. The real show begins this weekend....
STARTING XI: Piggott, Dunn, Pearson, Trucca, Tongue, McAuley, Rathburn, Hincks, Horan, Whyatt, Sherrington. SUBS: Dixon (gk), Rawlings, Birch.
Both sides get together for a post-match photo
Chapel Town 0-5 Cheadle Town
Cheadle Town got back to pre-season winning ways with a 5-0 demolition of Chapel Town.
Cheadle continued their preseason with a trip into the hills to Chapel en Frith for a picturesque setting for the early evening clash. Cheadle started the first half playing towards the hills while Chapel had the low sun to contend with. It was a nervy start from both sides as each tried to settle into the game.
Cheadle were the first to settle and never looked back the first goal of the match coming from Tongue from a free kick midway into the Chapel half. Cheadle started to get more organised and started to make in roads into the Chapel half.
Tongue charged down the right wing and crossed in a ball into the box which got collected by the out stretched defender and past the keeper into the the back of the net for an own goal. Another attack came and Rick Whyatt went into a challenge with the full back; Rick came out the winner and sprang to his feet but fired the shot over.
Chris Sherrington worked hard on the left wing and battled with two defenders with only the corner flag able to tackle him for a goal kick. Five minutes later Trucca had his shot easily saved by the relieved keeper. The next attempt on goal fell to Sherrington who this time beats the keeper to take Cheadle three goals clear.
The final attack of the half comes from a free kick from foul on Rick, but Tongue’s free kick gets headed off target. The ref then signalled half time to the relief of the Chapel keeper.
Second half started with Piggott in charge of the Cheadle goal. There was no sitting back for Cheadle and the attacks continued with first shot being saved for a corner. Chapel best chance can when they gained a free kick outside the area which Piggott tipped over the bar.
Sherrington continued to work the defenders and crossed in the ball just before the line which sailed invitingly across goal but couldn’t be collected by Cheadle.
Luke Hincks made changing on mass with four playing taking a well earned rest including captain Trucca.
Chapel must have thought their chance had come and forced a good save by Piggott. The following corner was punched out by Piggott who collected the header back.
The fourth Cheadle goal came from Tongue’s corner which Pearson headed in front in front of the defenders. Two minutes later Chapel blasted over in what but started to be desperation. Pearson clearly inspired from his goal fancied another and his shot had to be pushed round the post by the keeper outreached keeper. While the keeper got congratulations on a superb save the keeper signalled a goal kick.
James Horan wanting to impress took on the Chapel defence but his shot cleared the bar to the other Cheadle forwards dismay. Pearson won the ball in centre of the pitch and passed to Hinks who layed off to Horan who beat the keeper to make it five nil.
The last five minutes of the match didn’t give Chapel a rest with the keeper parrying Rick’s shot before collecting and the last attack was saved by the keeper.
Not the biggest challenge for Cheadle but a good run out with some good linking play and the goals should give them a boast.
Cheadle Town 1-1 Poynton
Cheadle were pegged back for the second time in succession for another 1-1 pre-season draw at Park Road.
Another sunny day. Another pre-season friendly. Another 1-1 draw.
A lot of the post-match chatter overheard from some of the players whilst they were doing their warm-down centered around our lack of cutting edge up front and failure to put chances away.
Can't disagree.
The second half saw us with enough chances to put the game out-of-sight despite the visitors' equaliser just after the hour mark when we were caught square and their no11 was put through on goal to slot home comfortably.
Shortly before that Niall Rhodes was acres clear and looked set to put us 2-0 up with an easy finish but an unselfish nature got the better of him and he rolled it to Jaryd Ahmed who finished the job; it was just a shame that he has strayed offside.
On 73 minutes Arnold Nsimbe put Niall in on the right with the shot flashing just wide. Arnold then found himself in an excellent position to the right of the goal minutes later but was denied by an excellent stop at the near post by the Poynton keeper.
And with four minutes to go Arnold had clear sight of goal yet again but his shot was high and not-so-handsome.
There wasn't that much fun and games to speak of for what went before that rather action-packed last 35 minutes of the match.
Rick Whyatt did drill home from the edge of the box after just five minutes but then the first half petered out with only two more efforts to record: Steve Piggott doing well to turn a long range effort around the post after 22 minutes and then our own Daniel O'Donnell firing inches over just before half-time.
With eyes slowly starting to focus on Bacup on Saturday 8th August there's two more pre-season workouts for Terry to gain some idea as to who will be stepping out for that first league match....
Cheadle Town 1-1 Whalley Range
Cheadle were held to a draw by a spirited Whalley Range side in their second pre-season friendly.
No sooner had the referee blown his whistle to start the match and we had finished our conversations about the rather clement weather and the starting line-up we were lamenting the fact that we had gone a goal down.
After 53 seconds to be precise. A free-kick from the right was parried by Arran Dixon but straight at the feet of an awaiting 'Range player who stroked it home from the edge of the box.
In a half where we had most of the possession we only created two more half-chances.
On the quarter-hour mark Thabiso Magida was threaded through on the left of the box and looked certain to bury an equaliser but was thwarted by an excellent last-gasp challenge. It wasn't until the 37th minute that Luke Pearson saw a goalbound cross-shot tipped over the bar.
'Range could have then gone into the break with a healthier lead but we were thankful that the stooping header that met a low cross from the right scuttled wide of the post.
The second half got off to a lively start.
A cross from the right was palmed conveniently into Richard Whyatt's path but he couldn't get himself into shape for the shot with Dean Nolan then heading narrowly over the bar shortly afterwards.
A dangerous 'Range corner was then hacked off the line at the far post with substitute goalkeeper Josh Clews called into action when he saved at his feet with a 'Range forward bearing down on his goal.
On 54 minutes we had the ball in the net; alas it was disallowed for handball.
On 71 minutes, the breakthrough. Daniel O'Donnell had forced the 'Range keeper to scramble away a long-range effort with the resulting corner seeing Luke Pearson whip in a teasing cross from the right for Dean Nolan to flick home from close range.
Dean Nolan's goal to level the scores at 1-1 in the 71st minute
Dean then had an excellent chance to nudge us into the lead with 80 minutes gone as he fashioned himself some space for a shot on goal but his effort was straight at the keeper with the 'Range custodian denying him again two minutes later by beating away Dean's shot at the near post.
As the adage goes, there's no such thing as an easy game. Given the difference in level that us and Whalley Range play at the neutral might have been expecting a landslide in our favour but that was never going to be the case against a well-organised and robust 'Range outfit.
STARTING XI: Dixon, McLaughlin, Pearson, Trucca, Rodrigues, Birch, Magida, O'Donnell, Kelly, Whyatt, Sherrington. SUBS: Clews (gk), Nolan, Ahmed, Rathburn, Lindon
Cheadle Town 2-0 Maine Road
Cheadle Town got their 2015-16 pre-season under way with a decent win over Premier Division opposition.
It may have taken 78 minutes to break the deadlock but there was very little sign of any ring-rustiness in what was an entertaining affair.
And what two well-taken goals they were and all.
The first was thanks to Richard Whyatt latching on to a well-measured through-ball before popping his effort over the goalkeeper's head and into the far corner. The victory was then sealed with seconds of the match remaining, with newcomer Liam Tongue receiving a short corner in acres of space before unleashing an absolute thunderbolt from a tight angle.
For large periods of the match it looked as though it would be one of those tales of "how did it not go in?"
Just after the half-hour mark both Trucca and Whyatt somehow failed to get onto a low skidding cross with the goal gaping with pure comedy cuts occurring some five minutes later, as a goal-bound header was expertly cleared off the line by Trucca with the resulting mayhem coming to nothing.
In and around that incident a powerful Michael Sachs header forced an excellent tip over the bar from the 'Road keeper and Tony kelly had a couple of half-decent chances, kneeing wide after some excellent work down the right from Chris Rathburn and heading inches wide following a Pearson cross from the left.
'Road's second half was much better than their first. They forced an excellent save from substitute keeper Arran Dixon with only four minutes of the half gone and then were denied by a last-ditch tackle as one of their substitutes was through on goal.
In between our two goals they had two chances to make it 1-1. A cross from the right was flashed over the bar from close range with a header then clipping the top of our crossbar.
So, we're up-and-running. It may "only" be a pre-season friendly but a winning habit is a good habit to get into....
STARTING XI: Piggott, McLaughlin, Pearson, Trucca, Sachs, Rodriges, Rathburn, Tongue, Kelly, Whyatt, Sherrington. SUBS: Dixon (gk), Magida, Birch, Tolley, Nsimbe.
