All of the latest news from the club
Ashton Town 1-3 Cheadle Town
Cheadle Town got back to league winning ways with this comfortable away win at Ashton Town
With wandering eyes looking towards this Saturday's FA Cup tie at Trafford we had to deal with the more pressing matter of collecting more league points after a somewhat inconsistent start.
And it was a task that was completed in a comfortable manner. There may have been a few fingernails chewed by those of a more nervous disposition when Ashton Town reduced the arrears to 2-1 but, if truth be told, their goal was their only significant attempt on goal all evening.
It was a night that didn't get off to the best of starts for some.
Heavy traffic on the M60 had meant that yours truly had just managed to get to the ground as kick-off started (the chairman fairing somewhat worse, missing the entire first 45 minutes) with Joe Shaw receiving a blow to the eye after just 8 minutes and then having to leave the ground altogether to have the wound seen to at hospital.
With the pack reshuffled to include substitute John McLaughlin in the back four we quickly settled back down and managed our first foray on goal on the quarter-hour mark when Luke Pearson worked himself into space on the left of the box before firing over the bar.
Three minutes later and we were ahead. From the halfway line Thabiso Magida went on a marauding run down the right, jinked inside when on the edge of the area before burying his effort inside the near post.
Sam Noar then forced the Ashton keeper into a good save two minutes later before some tidy play in and around the edge of the box resulted in Mike Sherrington swinging an effort just wide.
His brother Chris finished the half with a couple of decent efforts himself, forcing the keeper to palm away a strongly-hit free-kick before having a go from distance that was inches wide.
His clipped free-kick into the box three minutes after the restart almost brought rewards, but Nathan Tosum's turn-and-shot was blocked well by the Ashton back line.
On 55 minutes Thab Magida was put through by an excellent Matt German ball but was denied at the last by an excellent saving tackle before we finally extended our lead five minutes later.
And, as has happened so many times in the past, it was the Sherrington combination: Chris with the cross from wide out on the left for brother Mike to acrobatically poke home in mid-air.
Sam Noar chased down a through ball on the right before firing just wide of the far post shortly afterwards before Ashton then appeared to have got themselves back in the game on 73 minutes, Silsby latching onto a through ball into the box before clipping it over the advancing Jupp.
Both Chris Sherrington and Sam Noar tried their luck from range in the final ten minutes of the match before the points were wrapped up two minutes from time. Chris Sherrington was the provider from the left wing again, with James Horan - having replaced his brother Mike from the bench - the beneficiary, hooking home from close range.
A first win at Edge Green Street since 2012-13 and the first one in the league since 2010-11; the perfect boost and preparation for the next chapter in our FA Cup antics at Trafford this Saturday.
TEAM: Jupp, Todd, Pearson, German, Shaw (McLaughlin), Dunn, Magida, Tosum (Russell), Noar, M Sherrington (Horan), C Sherrington. SUBS: Piggott (gk), Horan, Russell, McLaughlin, Hincks.
Cheadle Town 1-4 Oswestry Town
Cheadle Town were left to rue their early dominance of the game as FC Oswestry Town took full advantage of Cheadle’s below par performance and took all three points back to Shropshire.
In what was the first ever meeting between these two clubs, it was Cheadle who were to dominate the first 10 minutes of the game which saw an early goal on 5 minutes when Sam Noar converted from close range after a scramble in the box which saw an initial shot rebound off the post.
Cheadle continued to cause the Oswestry defence problems and Jon McLaughlin was unlucky not to find the back of the net with a 25-yard shot.
It took until 11 minutes for Oswestry to venture into the Cheadle half, but they could only watch as a header went wide of the post.
The woodwork was going to be Cheadle’s nemesis as Luke Hinck’s shot on 29 minutes rattled the bar and Cheadle failed to convert the rebound.
Oswestry took the lead on 38 minutes when a defensive clearance fell to Richard Litchfield who scored easily. Within minutes of the restart, Oswestry were awarded a penalty for a foul in the area. Luckily keeper Ben Jupp dived to his left and saved the penalty.
HT: Cheadle Town 1 FC Oswestry Town 1
Cheadle Town continued to attack from the start of the second half, but we seemed to leave gaps in the midfield to allow Oswestry to counter attack.
Oswestry took the lead on 55 minutes when a speculative shot from 20-yards by Callum Graybrook took a deflection and sent Jupp diving the wrong way. Oswestry then increased their lead further on 68 minutes as Liam Molloy headed home from close range.
Cheadle at this stage were getting frustrated as Hinck’s once again fire a shot against the woodwork on 69 minutes, which was then followed by a free-kick taken by Chris Sherrington which smashed against the crossbar.
Oswestry sealed the points on 89 minutes as they broke on the counter attack and Molloy grabbed his second goal of the day as he was found unmarked on the far post.
A disappointing day for Cheadle Town who had enough chances in the first 10 minutes to build up a healthy lead. It’s back to League action on Tuesday evening when they’ll be looking for an improved performance when they travel to Ashton Town.
Cheadle Town 5-4 Chadderton
Cheadle Town registered their first league win of the 2016-17 season in a nine-goal thriller at Park Road
“Play until the final whistle”, is an all too common phrase heard in football. But that was certainly the case for Cheadle Town on Wednesday evening when they played host to Chadderton.
With the game drawing to a close and both sides being resigned to a share of the points, a moment of magic happened as a counter attack began on the halfway line which resulted in Chris Sherrington bundling the ball home from close range.
On the back of Cheadle Town’s victory in the FA Cup, it was back to League action and a chance to get some points on the board. Cheadle were without key players Liam Tongue, Tom Russell and James Dunn, but it was an opportunity for players like Rick Whyatt to come back in to the team.
Cheadle got off to the best possible starts with an early goal on 5 minutes when Sam Noar seized onto a poor back pass from the Chadderton defender and beat the keeper at the near post. Cheadle could have increased their lead further on 11 minutes as Mike Sherrington volleyed a shot straight into the keepers arms.
Chadderton got themselves back into the game on 13 minutes as James Curley was the quickest to react to a defensive mix up and scored from close range.
It was end to end football and James Moore was unlucky not to score on 18 minutes as he connected to a free kick but could only put his shot wide of the post. Cheadle were soon rewarded on 23 minutes when a Chris Sherrington cross found the incoming Rick Whyatt who slid in to poke the ball home.
Two minutes later Cheadle extended their lead as Sam Noar got his second goal of the game as he ran onto a through ball and slotted the ball past the oncoming keeper. But determined Chadderton got themselves back into the game on 39 minutes when Matthew Crothers reacted quicker to a shot that had rebounded off the post to score.
HT: Cheadle Town 3 Chadderton 2
Cheadle came out to the second half minus defender James Moore who suffered a shoulder injury late in the first half. But that didn’t deter Cheadle who once again extended their lead on 49 minutes when Rick Whyatt scored from close range to grab his second goal of the game.
After this, we witnessed an extended period of Chadderton pressure and it was no surprise that they got their rewards on 71 minutes when Jack Tuohy scored from an angle to beat Ben Jupp at the near post. Chadderton were then level on 77 minutes when Matthew Chilton found space on the right wing and drilled a low shot into the net.
Both sides continued to attack and it was Cheadle who claimed all point during injury time when James Horan found space in the middle of the park before passing it out wide to Mike Sherrington who found his brother Chris with an inch perfect pass to seal the three points.
Northwich Victoria 2-4 Cheadle Town
Cheadle Town pulled off a major giant-killing act with this imperious victory over Northern Premier League opposition
If only we could replicate this kind of form in the league. And there endeth the moan.
What a wonderful afternoon. Despite conceding first (a bad habit we seem to have got ourselves into this season) we turned this tie around with some sumptuous play and deservedly booked ourselves a trip to Shawe View on Saturday 3rd September to take on Trafford in the First Qualifying Round.
It was Vics who bookended the scoring pattern. After 16 minutes they took the lead when Byrne's cross was met by the stooping head of Cockerline from close range with Byrne then netting a penalty deep into injury time.
In between that we scored four wonderful, well-worked goals, rendering Byrne's spot-kick as mere consolation.
Only five minutes after Vics had opened matters, we drew level thanks to Sam Noar; collecting a through ball from Liam Tongue on the left he powered forward and drilled home from the angle.
A quarter of an hour later it got better for us. With half of the Vics defence to deal with, there didn't look a lot on for Mike Sherrington when he received the ball on the edge of the box. With sheer determination, however, he managed to find a way through, shimmying at the last moment to work himself some space in the box and finish neatly.
The 2-1 lead we took into half-time was reward for the excellent shift that we had put in once we had got the equaliser, but with the sound of the Vics manager's words ringing in their ears (it wasn't hard to avoid hearing the dressing down they were getting in the boardroom next door), we had to be wary of a second half backlash.
Thankfully for us it never really materialised as it was us who started the second period on the front foot.
Just four minutes in Mike Sherrington almost caught the Vics keeper in no man's land but his effort was blocked with Luke Hincks then seeing a snap shot well held.
Just before the hour mark we extended our lead with a wonderful, flowing move.
Chris Sherrington, on his return to Cheadle Town, flicked a pass on the left to Luke Pearson who swung a tempting cross in first-time for Mike Sherrington to sweep home from the centre of the box.
Vics then enjoyed a better spell, putting us under pressure, mainly from corners and dangerous crosses that were either headed just wide or hastily cleared by our back four.
With all of the pressure soaked up and with the match entering stoppage time, we made sure of our place in the next round for sure.
Whereas Richard Whyatt had a shot from close range saved, Thabiso Magida was a bit more successful a minute later, slamming a cross home from close range to the sheer delight of everybody concerned. It was his first touch after coming on as substitute.
Our thanks to Northwich Victoria for their hospitality. We wish them all the best for the coming season.
The 3rd of September can wait. Between now and then there are two league matches to deal with and six points up for grabs....
TEAM: Jupp, McLaughlin, Pearson, German (Magida), Shaw, Dunn, Hincks, Tongue, Noar (Whyatt), M Sherrington (Tosum), C Sherrington. SUBS: Piggott (gk), Whyatt, Tosum, Russell, Magida, Horan.
A Tip Of The Cheadle Hat
We'd like to thank the following people/companies for the help, sponsorship and donations that they have provided for the forthcoming season....
A massive, green-and-black tinted thank you to the following people, companies and whathaveyou for their various donations and sponsorship for this season....
Seascope Maritime Training
for agreeing to be the shirt sponsors for the 2016-17 season
Alfie Hincks, Principle of Seascope, receiving a signed ball from club captain James Moore before the home match vs Litherland REMYCA
Donegans Civil Engineering
for sponsoring the players' training kit
Christine & David Hampson, Glossop North End FC
for providing medical and First Aid equipment
Portwood Finance
for the new gate at the entrance to Park Road Stadium
Brendon Bees JFC
for the new nets that now adorn the goals on the main pitch at Park Road Stadium
Gareth Summers
for providing the new flooring to the showers in the changing room
David Lloyd Leisure
for the gym memberships for the playing and coaching staff
...and to the following companies who are all sponsoring our Development Squad this season:
PCD Group Limited
Cambridge Windows
AE Hancock Haulage
TeleCabs Bolton
Cheadle Town 3-3 St Helens Town
Cheadle Town performed a near-miracle as they snatched a draw in injury time...after being 0-3 down!
“Unbelievable Geoff”, would have been the words to come out of mouth of the popular football pundit Chris Kamara if he was to witness Cheadle Town’s tremendous comeback at the weekend against St Helens Town. Three goals in injury time at the end of the 90 minutes ensured the points were shared much to the dismay of the visiting St Helens Town.
It was St Helens who took control with a goal on 9 minutes when Daniel Greene curled a spectacular shot from 25 yards into the top corner of the net. St Helens then doubled their lead on 21 minutes when Andy Gillespie had the easiest of tap-ins following a good cross from the byline.
It wasn’t until 25 minutes that Cheadle had their first chance which fell to Sam Noar who was played through but could only watch as his shot went wide of the post.
St Helens claimed their third goal and perhaps sealed the game on 32 minutes when Chris Lomax reacted quicker to rebounded shot to tap into an empty net.
HT: Cheadle Town 0 St Helens Town 3
Cheadle came out in the second half looking a lot more organised, but were let off by the woodwork as a St Helens shot rebounded off the inside of the post.
Cheadle continued to press for that elusive first goal as a number of tactical changes were made to the team. It wasn’t until 75 minutes that Noar had another great chance to score, but this time he was denied by the St Helens keeper who made a good save.
As the 90 minute mark passed, this was the time for Cheadle to attempt to salvage something from the game. First Noar finally got his reward as his pace beat their defender and he fired home for what we assumed to be a consolation goal.
Within the next minute a Jon McLaughlin deep cross found the head of Liam Tongue who headed the ball across the goal in to the corner of the net. And with the last kick of the game, keeper Jupp fired a long free kick into the St Helens area and it found the head of Joe Shaw as everyone watched in astonishment as the ball looped over the keeper and into the net.
Cheadle Town 0-3 Litherland REMYCA
Cheadle Town's league campaign got off to the worst start possible as they fell 0-3 at home to Litherland REMYCA.
And for all the happiness that surrounded the win at Penistone on Saturday in glorious sunshine, there was this disappointment underneath thick skies and persistent rain.
Credit to REMYCA: they were direct, efficient, neat-and-tidy...and as the scoreline suggests it paid off in spades as their league campaign, now two games old, has made a promising start.
Us? We just never got going. Never got into the stride that brought its rewards over the weekend. Mis-placed passes. Bad decisions...and, it has to be said, a whiff of rotten luck early in the second half.
Fine margins. With the second half only three minutes old and with us chasing a 0-2 deficit, Liam Tongue attempts an outrageous overhead kick that cannons off the crossbar and is hacked to safety.
If that goes in, yadda yadda yadda...but the direction of plenty of football matches has changed direction when a team has pulled it back to 1-2.
As in Penistone over the weekend, we conceded early, albeit more than 36 seconds had passed on this occasion.
On the 8th minute a cross from the right was hit first-time by Foley and the slight knick it took off a Cheadle defender was enough to flummox Steve Piggott and sent it past him.
Steve was called into action again on the 20th minute, doing well to get down to his right to palm away an effort before he could absolutely nothing about REMYCA's second goal four minutes later: Colin Quirk's measured shot from 25 yards out arrowing into the top corner.
They were then given another chance as their no7 punted over the crossbar when in a good position in the penalty area.
Our chances were restricted to half-ones in the opening 45 minutes.
On 23 minutes Mike Sherrington went on a good run down the left, checked inside but then shot straight at the keeper, with Luke Pearson doing the same with a quickly-taken corner just after the half-hour mark.
We carved out some better efforts in the second half, with Liam's effort proving to be the catalyst.
Just before the hour mark Luke Hincks made the keeper work with a well-struck effort from the edge of the area with James Moore then having our best chance to reduce arrears, placing a free header wide from a corner.
REMYCA then ended the game the stronger, forcing Steve Piggott into a brilliant double save on 74 minutes, clawing the ball from the goal line and then blocking from close range before they wrapped up the three points for sure in injury time, Boyle glancing in a header from a free-kick.
One down, forty-one to go. Forty-one. Still plenty of time yet....!
TEAM: Piggott, McLaughlin, Pearson, Russell, Moore, Dunn, Hincks, Tongue, Noar, M Sherrington, German. SUBS: Horan, Connolly, Whyatt, Shaw.
Penistone Church 1-3 Cheadle Town
Cheadle Town took one step closer to Wembley as they disposed of Penistone Church in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup
Did you know that this year's FA Cup competition was only 36 seconds old before it saw its first goal?
36 seconds. That's fairly impressive and is a proverbial medal to hang around the neck for the team that managed it.
The nation's cap is doffed to thee, Penistone Church FC. Capitalising on some nervy, nee calamitous defending by our back line, Church's Danny Joynes seized the ball on the right of the penalty area and lashed home past the despairing dive of Ben Jupp.
Not the best of starts, and matters didn't get any better as we were, simply put, a bag of nerves for the opening 20 minutes as passes went astray, the ball wouldn't stick and our pinpoint passing game and sharpness that had served us so well in pre-season had gone AWOL.
Our restlessness was still there for all to see on 21 minutes as Penistone should arguably have gone 2-0 up as we failed to deal with the ball in the area; various attempted - and failed - clearances finally, and thankfully, being lashed just over the bar.
But that moment proved to be something of a turning point. We started to find our passing range, enjoyed much more possession and started to pin Penistone into their own half.
And on 34 minutes it paid off. Matt German' s influence on the game was starting to show and it was he who, with a deft turn, set up Mike Sherrington on the right to lob the onrushing keeper and level matters.
Three minutes before half time saw another chance for us, with Luke Hincks drifting the ball in from the left for Sam Noar to head only for him to slightly lose his bearings and head well wide.
The half-time break didn't disrupt the momentum we had gathered.
Just eight minutes after the restart we took the lead for the first time in the tie when a Luke Hincks cross from the left was slammed home from close range by James Dunn.
James almost got his second just four minutes later, meeting a Liam Tongue cross from the right with his head to force the keeper to beat away at the near post.
The slenderness of a 2-1 lead was almost demonstrated on 70 minutes when James Dunn headed a cross from the right into danger with the resulting effort brushing the foot of the post.
But after that it was all Cheadle, with a hatful of chances coming in the final ten minutes of the game to put the game to bed.
On 80 minutes Matt German put Mike Sherrington clean through for him to screw a shot wide of the upright with the deciding goal coming just a minute later.
A moment of hesitancy by the Penistone defence was seized upon by Sam Noar as he rounded the keeper and then kept the coolest of heads to wait for assistance; Luke Hincks was the first on the scene and it was he who blasted home off the underside of the bar to give us a much-needed cushion.
Four minutes later Luke fed Sam Noar on the right with his square pass met by Liam Tongue and fingertipped past the post by the keeper.
One minute later and Matt German threaded in another delicious pass, this time for Liam Tongue who was, with the Penistone keeper haring down on him, forced to attempt the lob that ended up being just over the bar.
A win that takes us to Wincham Park in two weeks' time and an away tie in the Preliminary Round versus Northern Premier League 1 outfit Northwich Victoria. A first win in the FA Cup for us since August 2011 in that madcap 8-2 win at Chadderton; we had almost forgotten what wining in this competition had felt like.
Our thanks to Penistone Church FC for their hospitality which, as we have found out so many times now at clubs in the Northern Counties East League, was gracious and top-notch. We wish them all the best for the coming season.
Next up for us is the start of the league campaign as Litherland REMYCA visit Park Road on Wednesday evening.
TEAM: Jupp, McLaughlin, Magida, Russell, Moore, Dunn, Hincks, Tongue, Noar, M Sherrington, German. SUBS: Piggott (gk), Connolly, Whyatt, Tosum, Horan.
August Preview
And so it begins. The games come in thick and fast this month: let's see what's in store....
Saturday 6th
Penistone Church (away)
FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round
What a way to start the season: with an FA Cup match.
But we're not complaining. After being without FA Cup matches for the past two seasons we are delighted to have them back once more.
This year's draw has sent us halfway across the Pennines to pit our wits against Penistone Church FC of the Northern Counties East League Division One, which puts them at the same level of the footballing pyramid as us.
(Image: theunderdogblog.com)
They are relative newcomers to football at this level. Formed as early as 1906 they spent their formative years in the Sheffield Amateur League before joining the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League.
They flitted inbetween the First and Premier Divisions in the 1990s before becoming more permanent residents of the Premier Division in the 2000s/10s.
They joined the Northern Counties East League in the 2014-15 season and finished a respectable 9th before finishing an even better 5th last season, enduring the same play-off heartbreak as us as AFC Emley defeated them in the semi-final.
The reward for the winners will be a trip to Northwich Victoria in the Preliminary Round on Saturday 20th.
Should the match be tied then the replay will be at Park Road on Wednesday 10th, taking the place of...
Wednesday 10th
Litherland REMYCA (home)
Hallmark Security League First Division
Assuming no replay is required then this will be our first Hallmark Security League Division One match of the season.
As you can see from the previous results this usually brings a hatful of goals, with last season's run-out coming right in the middle of our shocking run in new year; REMYCA caught us at the right time....
Previous five seasons at Park Road:
2015-16: lost 2-4
2014-15: won 4-3
2013-14: did not meet
2012-13: did not meet
2011-12: did not meet
Saturday 13th
St Helens Town (home)
Hallmark Security League First Division
St Helens were the team that we pipped to 6th spot last season; probably fair to say that St Helens will be up there again this season so this might end up being a crucial battle for three points very early doors.
...and also a chance for us to avenge the 1-2 reversal from last season, another defeat that came in that awful January slump.
Previous five seasons at Park Road:
2015-16: lost 1-2
2014-15: did not meet
2013-14: did not meet
2012-13: did not meet
2011-12: did not meet
Saturday 20th
Alsager Town (away)
Hallmark Security League First Division
Assuming that we are unsuccessful in our FA Cup tie vs Penistone Church then this will be our first league away match of the season...and also our first one against one of the newcomers to the First Division after 'The Bullets' were one of the three relegated teams.
We have faced Alsager at their ground in more recent history - a 0-6 reversal in the FA Cup Preliminary round back in 2006-07 when they were a Northern Premier League 1 side - but as is customary with any "new" team we face in these monthly previews, a spot of history....
Formed in 1968 they were members of the Mid Cheshire League in the 1970s and early 1980s - changing their name to Alsager United in the process - before gaining promotion from the Midland League and joining the North West Counties League in 2001-02...and changing their name back to Alsager Town.
They were promoted from Division Two (as it was back then) immediately and enjoyed top-half finishes in Division One before being promoted to the Northern Premier League for the 2006-07 season (when they faced Cheadle in the FA Cup).
They only stayed in the NPL for two seasons before rejoining the North West Counties League, remaining in the Premier Division before being relegated at the end of last season.
Wednesday 24th
Chadderton (home)
Hallmark Security League First Division
It's August so therefore we must be playing Chadderton at some point....
Chadderton's aim this season will be to improve on their 14th place last season and recapture the good form that saw them take a play-off berth two seasons ago (where they were ultimately defeated by AFC Darwen).
Previous five seasons at Park Road:
2015-16: drew 1-1
2014-15: drew 1-1
2013-14: won 2-0
2012-13: drew 0-0
2011-12: lost 1-2
Saturday 27th
Oswestry Town (home)
Hallmark Security League First Division
And it's a warm welcome to the first of our league newcomers to Park Road.
The original Oswestry Town were formed in 1860 and were members of the Shropshire League, Birmingham & District League, Cheshire County League (1960s and early 1970s), Southern League (late 1970s) and then the Northern Premier League before they folded in 1988.
They were reformed in 1993, joining the Welsh National League before becoming twice champions of the Cymru Alliance before becoming members of the League of Wales (later to become the Welsh Premier League) in the early 2000s.
In 2003 they were merged into Total Network Solutions FC (a name that will be familiar to Manchester City fans as they faced them in the UEFA Cup in 2003-04) and thus technically ceased to exist as a separate entity.
Until 2013, when FC Oswestry Town were formed (note the slight name change), joining the Mercian Regional League and wining the title last season before being admitted to the NWCFL for 2016-17. Their "link" with TNS still exists in that they share the Park Hall ground with them.
Tuesday 30th
Ashton Town (away)
Hallmark Security League First Division
It still grates. That 2-3 defeat at Edge Green Street last season, a match lost in the last ten minutes when coasting 2-0 up. Anyhow...
The last game of a busy August sees us given the chance of avenging that loss and to arrest a poor run of form at Edge Green Street; the only game we have won there in the past five seasons is a 2-0 win in a League Cup replay with our last league win there being at the start of the 2010-11 season.
Last five seasons at Edge Green Street:
2015-16: lost 2-3
2014-15: lost 0-1
2013-14: lost 1-4
2012-13: won 2-0 (League Cup 1 replay); drew 3-3
2011-12: drew 0-0
Cheadle Town 2-2 Glossop North End
Cheadle Town ended their 2016-17 pre-season unbeaten after this respectable 2-2 draw at home to Glossop North End
And so the curtain falls on this season's pre-season activities. If the adage of "starting as you mean to go on" rings true for the rest of the season then we're in for a treat; we have been a joy to watch over the past three weeks.
And none more so than in the first 16 minutes of this encounter against Glossop North End of the Northern Premier League First Division, 16 minutes that saw two exceptional goals rattle the back of the GNE net.
First up, after just two minutes, was Liam Tongue. Seizing possession in midfield, he drove forward and unleashed one of his howitzers from distance.
Nathan Tosum then got in on the act with a vicious, dipping shot from fully 25 yards out. Anything that Liam Tongue can do....
In between those two goals was a decent chance for Mike Sherrington as he latched onto a threaded ball from Thab Magida only to see his attempted dink excellently clawed away by the GNE keeper.
The first half ended with GNE starting to get a foothold in the game. Their no11 managed to fashion himself some space at the edge of the area before screwing a shot horribly wide before their no3 let fly from distance, forcing our Ben Jupp to acrobatically tip over the bar.
Ben was on hand again minutes into the restart, denying Astley Mulholland from close range before they reduced the arrears on 50 minutes when Mike Norton hooked an already goalbound shot past Jupp.
Liam Tongue raced through on goal shortly afterwards but side-netted his chance before Norton was through again just before the hour mark, shovelling his shot just wide this time.
Good work down the right from Mike Sherrington on 66 minutes was almost rewarded but his cut-back was cut out at the last minute before Magida could sweep home.
With just four minutes remaining GNE got the equaliser. A lofted ball into the Cheadle box was headed down into the path of an awaiting forward who lashed home with ease from close range.
A shame from our point of view as it looked as though our grit and resolve in the second half was going to fashion us the win...but perhaps deserved from a GNE perspective given their much-improved performance in the second half.
Our thanks to our friends at Glossop North End for the pre-season match and to their band of merry followers who, as ever, came in numbers and good spirits. All the best for the forthcoming season.
The next time we take to the field it will be for real and a baptism of fire as we are flung straight into the FA Cup.
To Penistone and all that it may bring.
STARTING XI: Jupp, McLaughlin, Pearson, Russell, Shaw, Dunn, Hincks, Tongue, Tosum, M Sherrington, Magida. SUBS: Piggott (gk), Milne, Whyatt, Connolly, Horan.
Cheadle Town 2-0 West Didsbury & Chorlton
Cheadle Town's pre-season good form continued apace as they defeated Premier Division outfit West Didsbury & Chorlton by two clear goals
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.
Knutsford 1-5 Cheadle Town
Cheadle Town struck five times - again - in another comfortable pre-season victory
First of all, something of an appeal.
If a Knutsford resident who isn't short of a bob or two and is suddenly feeling in a philanthropic mood could buy a handful of things for their local football club that would be great: a set of floodlights, some hard standing to go around the ground and a perimeter fence.
Those three things would mean that they'd be in a position to join the North West Counties League, a league that they would grace and be more than welcome in.
Knutsford FC's clubhouse - not at all bad if we say so ourselves
A massive thank you to all at Knutsford FC for their benevolent hospitality last night and for opening our eyes as to what can be achieved clubhouse-wise with simple resources.
Onto the match itself and it was another useful 90 minutes of match fitness for all involved, with some eye-catching performances to boot.
As the cliche goes, it's a nice problem for any manager to be spoilt for choice squad-wise; it is looking more likely that Terry will have such a problem this season as some new faces marked their debuts in impressive style.
Sam Noar a case in point. It only took him three minutes to open his Cheadle account, latching onto a through ball on the edge of the box and deftly wafting the ball past the onrushing keeper with the outside of his boot.
Ex-Cheadle striker Dean Nolan - now wearing the red of Knutsford - was in busy mood all evening. His first moment of note came in the 8th minute, fashioning himself some space on the edge of the area before firing just over.
On 11 minutes we increased our lead. Luke Pearson's free-kick from the right was mishandled by the Knutsford keeper and pounced upon by Joe Shaw who stabbed home.
Sam Noar was in the action again just two minutes later, shooting just over the bar after some excellent work by Luke Hincks and Mike Sherrington.
A superb acrobatic effort by a Knutsford forward was kept out by Piggott just after the quarter-hour markbefore Jordan Milne - another one that provided a promising debut - gave a display of neat footwork before providing a cross that Luke Hincks was a matter of inches away from connecting with.
A superb playing surface contributed to an excellent match with neat passing play from both sides
Five minutes before the break Sam Noar was at it again, rounding the keeper before checking back and trying a cheeky clip over the stranded keeper, only for his effort to unluckily bounce off the underside of the crossbar.
Just two minutes later and our lead was extended as Luke Pearson's penalty squirmed under the keeper's body; he later admitted that he had committed the cardinal sin of changing his mind right at the last minute. He got away with it. Just.
Steve Piggott was called into action just before half-time, doing well to get down sharply and push away a shot.
Just three minutes after the re-start we got our fourth. Jordan Milne deservedly getting himself on the board by hooking home a Luke Hincks cross from the left.
Sam Noar was denied at close range by an excellent save before Knutsford went up the other end and should have reduced arrears when offered a free header from a free-kick.
The usual pre-season game of "musical substitutes" then started but the flow wasn't disrupted that much to deny us any more goals.
Sam Noar got his second of the match on 66 minutes, collecting a pass from the right before shifting the ball onto his right foot and hammering home at the near post.
Knutsford's overall neat play was rewarded with six minutes of the match remaining with an easy finish via a through ball on the edge of the box.
Just two more pre-season matches remain and two tough tests to go with them: NWCFL Premier Division outfit West Didsbury & Chorlton this Saturday followed by Northern Premier 1 side Glossop North End.
STARTING XI: Piggott, McLaughlin, Pearson, Moore, Shaw, Russell, Hincks, Tongue, Noar, M Sherrington, Milne. SUBS: Jupp (gk), Ward, Horan, Whyatt.