Whitchurch Alport 0-0 Cheadle Town

For a match that had two more goals, last week's encounter in Blackpool couldn't hold a candle to this action-packed thriller.

Come to think of it, candles - specifically more of them - might not have been a bad idea at Yockings Park over the weekend. One, to warm the toes of the 203 hardy souls that had turned up as temperatures plummeted well below that of what could be considered reasonable and two, to shed a bit more light on the pitch at times as the fog - coming and going as it pleased throughout the afternoon - posed a few problems.

Both sides came away from this scoreless for differing reasons.

Cheadle goalkeeper Dane Smith won't be receiving any Christmas cards from Whitchurch's forward line in a hurry.

As early as the 7th minute he was equal to a first-time shot from close-range, somehow tipping it over the bar with his heroics going one better within the final last five minutes of the match, beating away a penalty kick and then acrobatically getting his mitt to a free-kick in injury time.

Had that penalty gone in then it would have been incredibly harsh on us. Whitchurch had other half-chances on top of what Dane managed to keep out but we played our part in the match and in no way would have deserved to come away with nothing.

You could argue that our reason for being scoreless was pretty much our own fault as we squandered a host of chances.

On the 10th minute Liam Tongue sent Rhys Webb through on goal with the resulting effort being rolled wide of the post with Webb getting on the end of a Magida square ball ten minutes later only for him to stab the ball over the bar.

On 23 minutes Webb was through for the third time but his shot was excellently blocked by the legs of the Alport keeper.

Shortly after the restart Mike Sherrington looked set to score after working himself into a good position on the edge of the box but ended up firing over the bar with him then rifling a shot right across the face of goal - and inches wide of the post - just moments later.

Shortly before Dane's penalty save ensured that all the hard work wouldn't be in vain we had sent cross after cross into the Alport area, with either nobody there to convert or us cursing the fact that we didn't have any players nine-foot tall to get on the end of them.

Our last attempt on goal was courtesy of Rick Whyatt who shot just wide of the post on 89 minutes.

A somewhat disappointing point last week; an excellent point this week. Whichever way you look at it the league form is now just the one defeat in the last seven matches which, in anybody's eyes, is a step in the right direction....

TEAM: Smith, Todd, Banda, Wood (Whyatt), Tongue, Shaw (Flannery), Hincks, Russell (Tosum), M Sherrington, Webb, Magida. SUBS: Piggott (gk), Whyatt, Tosum, Flannery.

AFC Blackpool 1-1 Cheadle Town

For once I don't have a smart-alec link or hook with which I can segue into the particulars of the match. This was a 1-1 draw between two football teams. Nothing more. Nothing less.

As largely uninspiring as the game itself and the result was, this does mean that we are now just one defeat in six league matches as we approach some tricky-looking fixtures ahead.

The first half of this match was spiced up by a few heart-in-mouth moments.

On the 5th minute Liam Tongue sliced a clearance with the resulting loose ball thumped towards goal; thankfully Steve Piggott was equal to it with an excellent stop.

Two minutes later a Luke Hincks throw-in from the right caused all manner of tangerine-shirted mayhem in the box but we couldn't force it home.

On the 18th minute Steve had to deal with a free-kick that had bounced awkwardly in front of him and then had to beat away a long-range effort just before half-time. And that was pretty much that for the opening 45 minutes.

In the opening 15 minutes of the second half we tried to throw the kitchen sink at AFC Blackpool with the ploy coming off as early as three minutes into the restart: Davison Banda got down the right wing and drilled in a skidding cross that the Blackpool keeper could only fumble into the path of Matt German who prodded home into an unguarded net.

Nathan Tosum then tested the keeper from close range moments later with Webb then driving in on the right, cutting inside and then testing the keeper's gloves himself.

Matt German was a matter of inches away from connecting with a Luke Hincks diagonal ball before Liam Tongue rattled the side-netting after getting himself into a good position.

The next goalmouth action wasn't until the 77th minute...and at the wrong end as far as we were concerned.

A thrown-in from the right was nodded on inside the box to an unmarked Aaron Fleming who had time to pick his spot and bury the ball low to Piggott's left.

In the final minute we almost snatched all three points as a through ball was chased by Mike Sherrington, popping loose for him to look set to stroke home into an empty net but he was denied right at the last.

And so onto top-of-the-table Whitchurch Alport next Saturday....

TEAM: Piggott, Banda, Pearson, German, Tongue, Shaw, Hincks, Todd, Tosum, Webb, Magida. SUBS: Russell, M Sherrington, Whyatt, Rigby (gk).

Cheadle Town 3-0 Ashton Town

What a difference 48 hours makes.

After the calamity of the St Helens Town away defeat on Thursday evening came this much-needed win over an Ashton Town side down on their luck and down at the bottom of the First Division pile.

Not that they came here to get rolled over. Far from it. They were a spirited outfit and gave us a few nervous moments, particularly at the start of the second half, and probably left Park Road wondering how they didn't score.

Dane Smith's triptych of excellent blocks five minutes into the second half, thus preventing Ashton Town getting an equaliser, could rightly be viewed as this match's "fine lines" moment for after that the visitors didn't really threaten again.

Our play throughout the whole 90 minutes was methodical. This was three points born out of patience, particularly given the number of times we were caught offside.

New signing Davison Banda got into the action straight away, providing a cross from the right as early as the 2nd minute for Nathan Tosum to hold and subsequently clip for Thabiso Magida at the far post to hopefully head home; alas it was cleared off the line at the last minute.

Straight down the other end Dane Smith was forced into tipping the ball past the post after the visitors had conjured a neat one-two move on the edge of the box.

Luke Pearson fired a free-kick just over the crossbar on the quarter hour before Rhys Webb got his head to a Matt German cross and was unlucky to see his goalbound effort deflected wide.

On the 25th minute Webb made a run down the left and cut inside before firing just over the crossbar before we finally broke the deadlock on the 35th minute, and it was down to some quick-thinking on our part.

Ashton Town were caught napping by a quickly-taken thrown-in to the feet of Magida who drove in from the left, poking the ball past the oncoming keeper for Nathan Tosum to tap home from close range.

Our next foray on goal didn't come until the hour mark when Webb found himself in on goal but could only shoot weakly at the keeper.

In the last fifteen minutes of the match we turned the screw further and put the match out of Ashton's reach, thanks to two substitutions that brought Rick Whyatt and Mike Sherrington into the equation.

On 74 minutes Magida got himself onto the end of a cross from Mike but, perhaps distracted by the attentions of a defender, stumbled at the crucial moment before he could get his shot away with Rick then heading over when unmarked just a minute later.

With nine minutes to go we got our second. On the counterattack Rick Whyatt made a run through midfield, feeding Thabiso Magida on the left to advance on goal and finish emphatically.

The deal was sealed in the 89th minute thanks to Mike Sherrington who outpaced his marker on the left before tucking home to the sound of collective relief from the Park Road sidelines.

We are just one defeat in our last five league matches now. That's a very "glass half-full" mindset but it sure sounds better than the half-empty view of it being one win in the last five matches in all competitions. How you perceive it is up to you.

And three clean sheets in the last five league matches - when clean sheets were as rare as hen's teeth for us earlier on this season - might be just another indication of a small corner being turned since that mauling at Charnock Richard....

TEAM: Smith, Banda, Pearson, German, Tongue, Shaw, Todd (Whyatt), Russell, Tosum (M Sherrington), Webb, Magida. SUBS: Whyatt, M Sherrington, Grant, Dunn.

St Helens Town 4-2 Cheadle Town

Thursday night football. Hardly a novelty to those whose teams have been in the Europa League but something relatively new for us, the last occasion being at the end of the 2007-08 season when fixtures had to be shoehorned in (a 0-5 defeat at Ashton Athletic, in case you were wondering).

Most certainly not a novelty to us is coming away with a defeat having created enough chances to have been in a comfortable position by half-time.

As early as the 7th minute Mike Sherrington squared from the right for Nathan Tosum but the resulting effort was blocked by the keeper; one of those where a couple of inches either side of the keeper would have resulted in a goal.

Joe Shaw met a corner with a firm header on the 16th minute that was blocked on the line before we finally made our bright start pay on the 22nd minute.

Thabiso Magida's run down the left saw him whip the ball in and, following a fluffed effort and a ricochet, Mike Sherrington finally tucked the ball home with ease.

Mike was in again down the left just four minutes later but ended up blazing his shot over the bar after working himself into a good position before the hosts cast their first shot across our bows on the half hour mark; Steve Piggott somehow managing to get the finest of fingertips to a low, skidding shot and tip it onto the post.

Steve was called into action again right on the half-time mark, beating away a shot after a slip-up in defence but at the break, and albeit only 1-0 to us, we looked to be comfortable.

Alas, in the first 15 minutes of the second half, the wheels fell off.

And those "fine margins" that I seemingly mention every week were at play again.

On the 48th minute Magida's cross from the right fell perfectly to the feet of Nathan Tosum. After digging the ball out he looked to be in a good position to score but harmlessly planted his effort straight at the keeper. Straight down the other end St Helens get a penalty and covert it to level matters.

Three minutes later and Korie-Butler's speculative long-range effort somehow deceives Steve Piggott and finds the corner of the net.

Add another six minutes and a cross from the right finds Edwards unmarked on the far side of the box and with time to pick his spot and rifle in an unstoppable effort.

From 1-0 up to 1-3 down in the blink of an eye.

Matters were made worse by an altercation in the centre circle that saw St Helens Town reduced to ten men and, with the home crowd's hackles now well-and-truly raised, the hosts were spurred on to score a fourth on 66 minutes. Steve Piggott had made a good stop to parry a drive from the right but the ball span up onto the head of the onrushing Gillespie to nod home.

Mindful of the fact that we had clawed an unlikely draw from a similar position back at Park Road earlier on in the season, the home crowd went quiet when Matt German almost reduced arrears moments later and were no doubt biting their fingernails when Nathan Tosum tucked home Magida's cross on 75 minutes.

Matters would have been made very interesting had Liam Tongue's free-kick whistled a couple of inches the other side of the post on 77 minutes and Joe Shaw's effort at the far post on 84 minutes had not been excellently saved by the keeper.

No cases of lightning striking twice here.

In another 24 hours or so from now we go again at home to Ashton Town who are having a worse season than us, but have markedly just come away from City of Liverpool with a creditable draw....

Onwards.

TEAM: Piggott, Todd, Pearson, German, Tongue, Shaw, Hincks, Russell, Tosum, M Sherrington, Magida. SUBS: Crosthwaite, Wood, Morrison, Banda.

Cheadle Town 2-4 Runcorn Town

A frustrating evening.

Not because we let a 2-0 lead slip but the fact that we played well enough - and created enough chances - to have had the match out of Runcorn Town's sight before they hauled themselves back into contention.

We couldn't have asked for a better start against opposition that are currently top of the Premier Division.

We were 2-0 up within the first six minutes.

On the 5th minute Luke Hincks called for the ball to be played inside from the right and netted a looping shot from 30 yards out. Barely sixty seconds later Sam Noar went on a run down the left before cutting inside and burying the ball low to the keeper's right.

The next significant chance didn't come until the 24th minute but it resulted in another goal, this time for the visitors when Craig Cairns connected with a low cross from the right and clipped home from close range.

Runcorn Town tried the same move again just after the half-hour mark but Steve Piggott was equal to it this time, getting down low to make an excellent block.

Four minutes later down the other end Rick Whyatt had a great chance to restore our two-goal advantage but thumped his shot over the bar when through on the right.

After the half-time break we then had two or three excellent chances to put the match out of reach.

On 49 minutes Luke Hincks made a neat turn in the box but his first-time effort was met with an excellent save by the keeper on the line with an unmarked Sam Noar then finding the ball at his feet in the area some six minutes later; perhaps he had too much time to think as his turn and shot sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Liam Tongue then sent one of his trademark piledrivers inches wide of the post before Rick Whyatt found himself clean through on goal on the 70th minute. Looking set to score the attentions of a defender seemed to put him off as he lost control of the ball at the vital moment.

Deciding that we had squandered enough chances that they had presented us, the footballing Gods turned their attention to Runcorn Town who gratefully accepted and turned the match around.

On 72 minutes a free-kick from the right found Simon Thelwell on the far side of the box where he placed a well-measured curler over the head of Piggott before Craig Cairns then netted his second of the match two minutes later, latching onto a floated free-kick to poke the ball over the onrushing Piggott.

With a minute remaining, Joe Holt sealed the deal for the visitors, collecting a diagonal ball from the left and finishing easily at the far post.

Despite the result, plenty of positives to take from the performance and plenty to take into the final chapter of #ThreeCupsWeek, a visit to City of Liverpool for the First Division Trophy.

TEAM: Piggott, Todd, Pearson, German, Tongue, Dunn, Hincks, Russell, Noar (Tosum), Whyatt, Magida (Grant). SUBS: Tosum, Flannery, McLaughlin, Grant, Shaw.

November Preview

Wednesday 2nd
Runcorn Town (home)
Cheshire Senior Cup Preliminary Round

If you follow us on Twitter you'll know that, courtesy of the hashtag of the same name, this is chapter two of "Three Cups Week".

The first part has already seen us exit the League Cup at the hands of Widnes. This second part sees us pit our wits against Premier Division high-flyers Runcorn Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup.

It's a competition that always gives us the opportunity to flex our muscles against loftier opposition as our ball is in the same hat as Stockport County, Tranmere Rovers (who we played last season), Altrincham, Crewe Alexandra etc.

We last faced Runcorn Town way back in the 2010-11 season when they were newcomers to the NWCFL and were promoted that very season. They currently sit high-and-handsome in the Premier Division.

Saturday 5th
City of Liverpool (away)
Reusch First Division Trophy

...and onto the final part of the "Three Cups Week".

The draw for the First Division Trophy - now sensibly split into "North" and "South" for the earlier rounds - sees us travel to City of Liverpool for what looks like a tough tie.

Thursday 10th
St Helens Town (away)
Hallmark Security League First Division

Yes, you read that right. Thursday night football.

We meet St Helens again after that incredible 3-3 draw at Park Road back at the start of the season when we scored thrice in stoppage time to complete one of the most unlikely comebacks ever in football.

More drama to come on this autumnal Thursday evening....?

Previous five seasons away to St Helens Town....
2015-16: drew 2-2
2014-15: did not meet
2013-14: did not meet
2012-13: did not meet
2011-12: did not meet

Saturday 12th
Ashton Town (home)
Hallmark Security League First Division

...and 48 hours later we welcome Ashton Town to Park Road.

At the time of writing Ashton Town weren't having the best of seasons, sitting bottom of the First Division table.

It may look like a formality on paper but past history means that caution must be exercised.

They have a decent record at Park Road - unbeaten in their last six visits - and have come to SK8 2AN before when down on their luck and gone away with a win; they were rock-bottom in 2008-09 without a win to their name but came away with a 2-1 victory and halted our run of five straight league wins to boot....

Previous five seasons at Park Road....
2015-16: lost 1-2
2014-15: lost 1-2
2013-14: drew 1-1
2012-13: drew 1-1; drew 2-2 (League Cup)
2011-12: drew 2-2

Saturday 19th
AFC Blackpool (away)
Hallmark Security League First Division

Like Runcorn Town, another club we haven't faced for a while.

Also since 2010-11 as they were promoted alongside Runcorn Town, enjoying a decent run in the Premier Division before being relegated at the end of last term.

AFC Blackpool are another team that - at the time of writing - were struggling a bit. That said, it promises to be an intriguing day out at the seaside and a welcome return back to The Mechanics ground.

Saturday 26th
Whitchurch Alport (away)
Hallmark Security League First Division

What a difference a season makes.

Languishing down at the bottom of the table last season, Whitchurch are having a rare one this time around and haven't been out of the top six to date.

It promises to be a different prospect to the 4-1 win we had last time around....

Last five seasons at Yockings Park....
2015-16: won 4-1
2014-15: did not meet
2013-14: did not meet
2012-13: did not meet
2011-12: did not meet

Widnes 3-0 Cheadle Town

At the risk of repeating myself ad nauseum (see other match reports), fine lines n' all that.

Five minutes into the second half, and with the match delicately poised at 1-0 to Widnes, Mike Sherrington robs the Widnes keeper of the ball and rolls a shot towards an empty goal; said ball doesn't do what it is supposed to do and nestle in the net, instead cannoning off the foot of the post where it it then hacked away to safety.

Two minutes later Widnes are awarded a penalty. Kevin Towey launches it high into the roof of the net and the game takes on a completely different outlook.

Ho-hum.

Mike Sherrington was also cursed by the woodwork in the first half after he had found an angle down the right with Thabiso Magida also troubling the upright early doors with a looping volley.

Wrapped around those two efforts were equally good chances for the hosts.

They forced Smith into a good stop as early as the 9th minute and had put a close-range stooping header wide on the quarter-hour before taking the lead on 30 minutes; Lomax finally driving the ball home some moments after an earlier effort had struck the post.

At the 0-2 point we were then presented with another decent chance to reduce arrears.

Liam Tongue rose well to meet a free-kick at the far post with his header rebounding off the underside of the bar; the loose ball was met with an overhead kick but it was straight at the keeper.

Widnes wrapped it up with minutes left when Lomax went on a jinking run on the left before cutting in a couple of times and rifling low to Smith's right.

That was chapter one in a triptych of cup fixtures. Chapter two comes this Wednesday evening when NWCFL Premier Division outfit Runcorn Town come to Park Road for the Cheshire Senior Cup.

TEAM: Smith, Todd, Flannery, German (Shaw), Tongue, Dunn, Hincks, Russell (Wood), Whyatt, M Sherrington, Magida. SUBS: Piggott (gk), Shaw, Wood, McLaughlin.

Aviva Community Fund Grant for Park Road - We Need YOUR Vote!

Cheadle Town FC have been shortlisted to receive a grant from Aviva to assist in the continued improvement and development of Park Road Stadium. All we need now is your vote to help it get across the finishing line.

Background

We have made a start in trying to reach our goal of being a focus of the local community by joining forces with Cheadle & Gatley JFC and attaining Charter Standard Community level. This makes us one of 26 clubs out of 900 in Cheshire to have this qualification. 

There is still some way to go to reach our dream and a successful application for the grant will be used in three ways at Park Road Stadium:

1. Junior Football Pitch

At the Tennyson Road end of the stadium there is a large piece of land with a seldom-used football pitch as its only feature. The pitch itself is in dire need of rolling, re-seeding and verti-draining. 

Once re-purposed this land would house the pitch currently in place alongside more smaller pitches to accommodate our junior teams that are finding it difficult to find pitches of a suitable standard in the area. The land would also provide an ideal place for the community to hold fetes and other functions.

2. Improvement of the Main Approach to Stadium

At the moment the "unadopted road" that leads up to the stadium gates is a fly-tippers' paradise making it a nightmare for the local residents and a drain on Stockport MBC's finances. 

On average fly-tipping takes place twice weekly and we have witnessed local residents clearing the rubbish away themselves because of the embarrassment it causes.

The suitable solution is to fence this part off with double gates that would be open when the stadium is in use alongside a pedestrian gate that would be open at all times.

This would, for sure, prevent any further fly-tipping.

3. The Clubhouse

The final piece of the jigsaw, if you like.

After we had to demolish our old clubhouse we were offered the use of two surplus modular classrooms from Stockport Grammar School as way of replacement.

The first of these has been a success with the other one due for delivery and installation over the next couple of weeks. 

With the grant money we will re-fit and equip the clubhouse so that we will be able to offer the local community a venue to host group activities, something that is sadly lacking in the immediate vicinity.

We will offer a senior citizens club during the day with the more able-bodied amongst them being encouraged to join our club volunteers in doing the small jobs that help a football club like Cheadle Town FC function.

Self-improvement groups such as WeightWatchers, keep fit groups, yoga, mother-and-baby etc. will be encouraged alongside minority and niche sports such as table tennis and martial arts. 

The local community will also be encouraged to hold birthday and anniversary functions at the clubhouse in the knowledge that all of the proceeds from such events will be put back into their facilities at their local community football club.

This will also ensure that Park Road Stadium is used throughout the day.

What You Can Do Now

Simply click on the VOTE FOR US button below. You will be taken to the Aviva Community Project site where you will be able to register your details and then place your vote.

Once you have registered you will be entitled to 10 votes.

Voting closes on 18th November and the winners will be announced in the new year.

Cheadle Town 2-0 Prestwich Heys

Cheadle Town extended their unbeaten run to three games following this well fought victory against Prestwich Heys.

The opening thirty minutes of the game was a rather lack lustre affair with neither side creating any clear cut chances.

It was Prestwich who had the first goal scoring opportunity on 36 minutes, but their close range shot went wide of the post.

HT: Cheadle Town 0 Prestwich Heys 0

Cheadle started the second half much stronger and were denied a goal on 50 minutes when a Matthew Todd shot fell to the feet of Michael Sherrington who could on,y fire his shot over.

On 60 minutes Cheadle were awarded a penalty for a foul in the area which Thabiso Magida converted the resulting spot kick.

Cheadle then sealed the game on 85 minutes when a Rick Whyatt cross found the oncoming Sherrington who scored with ease.

Litherland REMYCA 3-3 Cheadle Town

Cheadle Town were denied all three points following a late equaliser by Litherland's Tom Foley.

It was the hosts who took the lead on 2 minutes when Colin McDonald struck a low shot past debutant keeper Dane Smith. Cheadle equalised on 5 minutes when a Matthew German looping shot from 25 yards ended up in the back of the net with a bemused keeper unaware the ball was back in play.

Cheadle took the lead on 36 minutes when a Chris Sherrington corner was headed back across the goal to the head of Rhys Webb who scored.

HT: Litherland Remyca 1 Cheadle Town 2

Litherland began then second half well and forced Smith into a spectacular save on 48 minutes when he tipped a long range effort onto the bar before the rebound hit the post.

Litherland were rewarded on 50 minutes when James McGrane scored from close range.

Cheadle continued to press for another goal and on 68 minutes German got his second goal following good passing between Flannery and Sherrington that found an unmarked German at the far post to score.

As the game drew to a close, Litherland continued to press for an equaliser and that came on 86 minutes when Foley meets a cross at the far post to share the points.

Free Winter Check by the AA This Saturday

If you are driving to Park Road for this Saturday's home match vs Prestwich Heys then why not make use of the free winter health check that the AA will be providing?

Get ready for winter and come along to see the AA patrol between 2.00pm and 4.00pm for a free tyre and light check and make sure that your vehicle will be ready for the colder spell.

There will also be the chance to win a 12-month AA membership in a raffle!

Atherton LR 0-3 Cheadle Town

Cheadle Town came away from Crilly Park with three points following a comfortable victory against Atherton LR. A brace from Rhys Webb and a wonder solo goal from Thabiso Magida were enough to earn Cheadle Town a morale boosting victory.
 
Cheadle began the game with a lot of early pressure on the Atherton LR defence and were rewarded on 18 minutes when Webb picked up the ball on the edge of the area and cut inside to score via the inside of the post.
 
Cheadle’s lead was doubled on 23 minutes when a Joseph Shaw long ball found Webb who beat the off-side trap and scored with ease past the oncoming keeper.
 
Cheadle finished the half strongly with further chances falling to Matthew German and Thomas Russell.
 
HT: Atherton LR 0 Cheadle Town 2
 
Atherton had their first real chance on 60 minutes, but Cheadle keeper Stephen Piggott was on hand to pull off a good save, which then saw the resulting shot hit the post.
 
With the game drawing to a close, Cheadle sealed the game on 83 minutes when Magida picked up the ball inside the Atherton half before running unchallenged to the edge of the area and firing a low shot into the net – a superb solo goal and contender for Goal of the Season.
 
FT: Atherton LR 0 Cheadle Town 3