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Stockport Town 2-2 Cheadle Town
The points were shared in an entertaining encounter at the Stockport Sports Village
There’s no rest for the wicked during the first four weeks of the NWCFL season.
The fixtures come thick and fast and no sooner had we licked our wounds from the 0-2 defeat on Saturday, it was time to head up the A560 for footballing tea and biscuits with the neighbours.
Whilst we created nowhere near the glut of chances at the weekend, we still came away with ourselves on the board, both goals-wise and points-wise. Such is football.
Enter!
A lively encounter saw the first chance go the hosts’ way within the first minute when Kiarno Samms was in on the left only for him to blaze his shot over.
Callum Knight then saw a first-time shot from the edge of the area saved before Ethan Hennessy got to a loose ball at the far post, pulled the ball back across the face of net but saw nobody around to prod it home.
The to-and-fro continued. Pat Davin got his tall frame to a free-kick that was tossed into the area and headed it just wide before the hosts went straight down the other end and volleyed over a great chance.
On 26 minutes Ethan Hennessy picked up a pass from Callum Knight on the right before advancing on goal thanks to a lovely touch and firing high inside the near post; the Stockport Town keeper was equal to it with an excellent stop.
Andy Lunt gives chase
Finally a breakthrough just after the half-hour mark.
Hamzat’s ranging cross from the left looked to be just too much for Patrick Davin in the box but he somehow managed to launch himself at it enough to plunge home a powerful header into the corner.
Straight down the other end Danny Whiting had to be alert to prevent an instant equaliser, getting down to his left at the near post to block a snapshot from a corner before we attacked once more a minute later, Ben Brooks laying it square for Aaron Taylor to drive in from the edge of the area only for a deflection to take the sting out of the shot.
Just as it looked as though we would be going in at half-time with a lead to our name, we conceded a penalty when Ebbie Rezayan got caught in two minds whether to boot a cross clear or stoop low and head it away; the latter option didn’t work and he ended up handballing it.
After what probably was a last-minute re-wording of Will’s half-time team talk, we came out for the second half on the front foot as we looked to regain our lead.
Patrick Davin’s pinged cross for Callum Knight on 47 minutes looked to be a golden opportunity lost as he screwed his resulting shot wide but Patrick would duly regain that lead for us some ten minutes later with a superb effort.
Receiving the ball inside left he used quick feet to dance past two or three of Stockport Town’s rearguard before unleashing a fierce, crisp strike with his left foot into the top corner of the net.
Mr Patrick Davin - safe to say he had a fairly effective evening!
Patrick almost got his hat-trick on 72 minutes when he connected with a Rezayan volley across the goalmouth but it was one of those where he didn’t have enough time to react to the opportunity and ended up putting it over.
After that it was the hosts that easily had the best of the closing stages.
They consistently prodded and poked away at us and the luck that we were pushing looked to have held firm on 85 minutes as one of their forwards, unmarked at the far post, blazed a volley over.
Alas, three minutes later, it ran out.
We failed to clear our lines once more with the loose ball being met with a long-range piledriver that Danny Whiting could only push wide. There to mop up the rebound was Cheadle Town FC’s anathema, thorn in one’s side and general bogey Kiarno Samms who gleefully tucked home.
The drama didn’t end there either. In injury time both sides had clear cut chances to win the match.
Samms almost went home with all the glory as he picked up a loose ball in our area and fired one inches wide of the post.
Straight down the other end Ben Brooks tore down the left and checked back before dinking a cross to the far post; there was Aaron Taylor, looking poised to head home a winner but, lacking the height of a Patrick Davin who had just been substituted, just couldn’t quite get enough purchase behind his header and it ended up going harmlessly wide.
A fascinating encounter and, when all is said and done, probably a fair result.
We go again this Saturday (see what I mean about August!) when we play our first league match at Park Road of this season. St Martins are the visitors.
TEAM: Whiting, Hamzat (Kyobe), Phelan, Lunt (Clarke), Johnson, Rezayan, Hennessy, Taylor, Davin (Russell), Knight, Brooks. SUBS: Clarke, Piggott (gk), Russell, Kyobe, Kuzakwawo.
February Preview
What's in store for our First XI this coming month?
January 2016 wasn't much cop: not a solitary league point to our name. Here's hoping February 2016 is a little bit better....
Saturday 6th
Rochdale Town (away)
After four matches on-the-bounce at Park Road it's a relief to be on the road again.
Rochdale Town may be saying the opposite: of the 20 league matches they have played at the time of writing, only 6 have been at The Mayfield so I'm sure they'll only be too glad to be on home turf for a change.
Our record here isn't that bad - only one defeat in our last six visits here - but we are well aware that a poor performance on our part against Rochdale Town will be punished, something that was ably demonstrated by our 0-3 home defeat in the reverse fixture back in autumn.
Previous five seasons at The Mayfield:
2014-15: won 4-2
2013-14: won 2-0
2012-13: lost 0-1
2011-12: won 1-0; won 3-2 (FDT)
2010-11: won 3-1
Tuesday 9th
Hanley Town (away)
A crucial clash.
A quick glance at the table will suggest that Hanley Town hold a massive trump card where the promotion race is concerned: in one of the top two spots anyhow (at the time of writing) and with a hatful of games-in-hand as "insurance".
Our two previous visits here haven't been without angst. On both occasions we got ourselves into good positions (we were 2-0 up last time around), only to be leaving Stoke-on-Trent with nothing but wounds to lick.
After the disastrous January we need to make another statement of intent along the lines of our win at Barnton back in December. Winning here would be just the tonic.
Previous five seasons at Abbey Lane:
2014-15: lost 2-3
2013-14: lost 3-5
2012-13: did not meet
2011-12: did not meet
2010-11: did not meet
Saturday 13th
Stockport Town (home)
Oh joy of joys, a local derby.
If you enjoy the tension of such occasions then go and see a doctor. To be frank, parochial willy-waving is not for me and unfortunately the football itself ends up coming second. Anyhow....
This could end up being another important fixture as far as the play-off shake-up is concerned as Stockport Town are also in the mix. Both sides already have one win to their name in this fixture - Stockport Town taking the First Division Trophy tie and us taking the three points at Lambeth Grove in the league fixture.
Any takers for the draw?
Saturday 20th
Atherton LR (home)
The NWCFL fixture gods have given us a week off on Saturday 27th (thus far - anything can change!) so this will be our swansong for February.
Not much to say about this fixture other than we hope to add LR to our list of teams that we have done the double over this season, thanks to a very comfortable 4-1 win at Crilly Park back in October.
If all of the above four fixtures take place as expected, then there will only be eight league fixtures left. Eight. Yes, the season end is that near already....
Previous five seasons at Park Road:
2014-15: won 2-1
2013-14: drew 1-1
2012-13: won 1-0
2011-12: did not meet
2010-11: did not meet
Stockport Town 3-5 Cheadle Town
Cheadle Town deservedly won the 'SK Derby' - albeit leaving it late in the game to claim the three points in what was an entertaining match
Both sides entered the game in good form and it was Cheadle's task to put an end to Stockport's unbeaten record at the Stockport Sports Village. Stockport fielded three ex-Cheadle Town players in the form of Matty German, Nathan Neequaye and Ben Brooks - so this fixture was always going to be a keenly contested affair.
It was Stockport who dominated the early stages of the game and as early as 3 minutes Abreu headed just over. Then on 19 minutes, Matty German stuck the top of the crossbar with a well taken free kick.
A mix up in the Cheadle defence gave German another opportunity to score on 22 minutes, but his low shot was well saved by Joshua Samberg.
It wasn't until 26 minutes that Cheadle had their first real chance of the game, which saw Liam Tongue's shot from the edge of the area well saved by the Stockport keeper.
As Cheadle started to boss the game, Richard Whyatt went close on 31 minutes with a glancing header that missed the target. Cheadle's perseverance finally paid off on 38 minutes when Darryhl Mason challenge the keeper to a 50 / 50 ball, only for it to fall to Whyatt who headed home past an unguarded goal.
Stockport go back into the game on the stroke of half time as Graham hit a wonderful free kick that rebounded off the crossbar and over the line.
HT: Stockport Town 1 Cheadle Town 1
Cheadle came out in the second half in determined fashion and recaptured the lead again on 47 minutes as Mason picked up the ball inside the Stockport half and ran unchallenged before firing a low shot past the diving keeper.
Cheadle's lead was further increased on 65 minutes when the industrious Mason chased down a poor back pass only to see his effort rebound off the post, before he played it through to the unmarked Whyatt who scored easily.
Throughout this season, Cheadle have failed to kill the games off when in similar situations. That was evident on 70 minutes when Stockport reduced the arrears as a Neequaye cross was knocked past Samberg and into the net by a Cheadle defender.
Stockport's perseverance finally paid off on 78 minutes when German found himself unmarked and headed home the equaliser.
Not being too downhearted, Cheadle continued to press for the winning goal and Michael Birch had an excellent opportunity on 80 minutes as the ball fell to him at the far post, but he could only poke the ball wide of the goal.
As the game neared the end, Mason was put through one-on-one with the keeper, but a heavy final touch saw the ball run out before he could get a shot on goal.
Then within injury time, Cheadle finally got their reward as Luke Hincks fired home following good work on the right by Mason and Whyatt.
The three points were then truly sealed a minute later when Chris Sherrington hit a 'Beckham' style goal from 40 yards as he looped the ball over the keeper.
On the final whistle, a melee of pushing between both teams resulted in debutant Connor Naughton being shown a red card and Stockport's Matty German receiving his second yellow card of the game.
A wonderful night for Cheadle Town and more important two good victories on the road, before heading back to Park Road Stadium at the weekend when we host Widnes.
Cheadle Town 1-2 Stockport Town
Cheadle Town tumbled out of the NWCFL League Cup after losing at home to near-neighbours Stockport Town
An annoying/frustrating (delete as appropriate) defeat on three fronts: one, it was to neighbours who have only just moved in recently; two, the goals we conceded were in the "soft" category and three, it puts us out of a cup competition.
The first significant incident of the game after 7 minutes saw us go behind. Mottershead's scuffed shot from within the penalty box looked meat and drink for our defence but in attempting to clear it Mike Kennedy could only get his legs in a tangle and divert it past Steve Piggott.
We then grew into the game and were extremely unlucky not to equalise on the 17 minute mark: Chris Sherrington's fierce effort from a tight angle cannoning off the underside of the crossbar and somehow refusing to to in.
Ten minutes later Rathburn was through but had the ball snatched from his feet at the last minute by the Stockport keeper before we were given a reminder of the dangers of Nathan Neequaye down the other end as he was allowed to win the ball on the byline and put in a dangerous cross: thankfully it was ballooned over the bar.
On the 26th minute we did draw level with a wonderful individual effort courtesy of Rick Whyatt who danced through Stockport's midfield and defence before firing high into the net.
Rick Whyatt and Chris Sherrington celebrate after Rick had put us level with a superb solo effort
We then finished the half strongly. Just two minutes after Rick's leveller Darryhl Mason crossed in from the left for Josh Westmerland to surely side-foot home but his effort sailed over. Darryhl himself was through on goal a minute later but a heavy touch let him down, enabling the keeper to collect.
Rick Whyatt then went through on the stroke of half-time, saw his shot parried out to the edge of the box to Chris Sherrington but a bobble at the wrong moment meant his effort ended up in a Tennyson Road garden.
It's a shame that half-time came along as our momentum went and we started the second period sluggishly, conceding to give Stockport the lead once more just six minutes into the restart.
There seemed to be a period of "after you, Claude" defending as a corner from the right came in and rolled around in our six yard area. Ensuring that the "former player scores against you" box was to be ticked, Matthew German slid in and stabbed the ball over the line.
Just five minutes later and we almost drew level once more as Darryhl Mason's clipped ball into the box was headed against the post by a Stockport defender.
After that the match, and our efforts on goal, petered out. The closest we came was on 82 minutes with a Dean Nolan outside-of-the-foot shot whistling over the bar with Stockport then testing Steve Piggott late on with two efforts as injury time beckoned, denying Nathan Neequaye a goal on his return to Park Road in the first instance.
Another cup campaign beckons this weekend as we return to the FA Vase and a tricky away tie at Handsworth Parramore.
TEAM: Piggott, McLaughlin, Pearson, Trucca, Kennedy, MacAuley, Rathburn (Nolan), Westmerland (Coan), Mason, Whyatt, Sherrington (Coan). SUBS: Nolan, Pegler, Coan.
September Preview
A full rundown of what September has in store for our First XI.
In writing this preview to our fixtures in September it has dawned on me that one wasn't written for August, for which we apologise.
September is traditionally when the FA Vase kicks in, and that's where we start....
Saturday 5th
Staveley Miners Welfare (away)
FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
The road to Wembley starts here.
Find Chesterfield on a map, run your finger north-east on the page and you'll very quickly come across Staveley, home to our opponents in this years' FA Vase campaign.
As the team's moniker would suggest, Staveley's history lies heavily within the mining industry with several pits situated around the area. Staveley Miners Welfare is also the name of a building on Market Street so, should you ever find yourself in Staveley looking for a football game, specify which "Miners Welfare" you're looking for as you may be directed to the old market hall!
The "other" Miners Welfare in Staveley
The football club was founded in 1962 as a Sunday League outfit with their history in the Northern Counties East League starting only as recently as the 1996-97 season.
We find them in the Premier Division which technically puts them one level higher than us in the pyramid system, so we're expecting a testing afternoon at Inkersall Road.
SMWFC's Inkersall Road ground
What we're also expecting - and what we have been promised by those at SMWFC via a series of tweets - is a warm welcome, good playing surface and quality food and ale.
Pies and pints at the ready!
Hopefully what sounds like a good away-day already will be complemented by a win and a place in the next round at Handsworth Parramore or AFC Liverpool.
Wednesday 9th
Eccleshall (home)
NWCFL First Division
Assuming that no replay will be required we will then be in action at Park Road against Eccleshall. We haven't faired too well against our Staffordshire opponents at Park Road of late (see below) with them running out winners by the odd goal in four of their last five visits here. Can we put that right on Wednesday 9th?
Last five seasons at Park Road....
2014-15: lost 2-3
2013-14: won 3-1
2012-13: lost 1-2
2011-12: lost 1-2
2010-11: lost 1-2
Saturday 12th
Ashton Town (away)
NWCFL First Division
Towards the start of last season we travelled to Edge Green Street and were defeated by a single, late goal thus prolonging our stuttering start.
We've started much better this time around...and so have Ashton Town at the time of writing so this should be an interesting contest.
Last five seasons at Edge Green Street....
2014-15: lost 0-1
2013-14: lost 1-4
2012-13: won 2-0 (LC1 replay), drew 3-3
2011-12: drew 0-0
2010-11: won 2-1
Saturday 19th
St Helens Town (away)
NWCFL First Division
At the time of writing St Helens Town are just above us in the league table so by the time this fixture comes around the result could mean a swap-of-positions. One of the relegatees from the Premier Division last season this could prove to be another testing away day.
We haven't faced St Helens away in recent seasons (not since the turn of the century) but it will mean a first return to Brocstedes Park - where they groundshare with Ashton Athletic - since the end of the 2007-08 season.
Brocstedes Park
Saturday 26th
Stockport Town (home)
NWCFL League Cup 1st Round
Aren't cup draws wonderful? There's always a nice little local issue in there somewhere and the First Round of the NWCFL League Cup has delivered.
This will see the return of Nathan Neequaye, our top scorer from last season who now wears the red-and-white stripes of our geographical neighbours.
A tie away at Premier Division Alsager Town awaits the winners.