Cheadle Town 1-0 Oswestry Town

On the back of last week’s stupendous shellacking of Premier Division Bootle the million-dollar question was could we keep things going and prove that last weekend wasn’t a one-off?

In short, yes we could.

This was a performance as solid as the scoreline doesn’t actually suggest; we had plenty of chances - particularly in the first half - to have the match out-of-reach.

The penalty nine minutes in was the first notable incident of the afternoon.

Ben Brooks’ jet-heels took him clear on the left and the result of him being unceremoniously upended was swept home by Joe Neild for his eighth goal of the season.

Joe Neild’s penalty sends the keeper the wrong way to put us 1-0 up

Danny Whiting was then called upon to make a smart stop down to his left before the tireless Matthew German - captain for the day - narrowly fired over after a great run by Nathan Ntalu.

Just short of the half-hour mark we had two golden opportunities to stretch the lead.

Ben Christopher put Ryan Rogers in down the right for a clear shot on goal but he sliced his shot horribly wide with Ryan on the end of another chance just four minutes later, lashing wide after Ntalu’s shot had been blocked by the keeper.

Matthew German: captain for the day and Man of the Match

The visitors recorded one more decent chance just before half-time but thankfully when the ball was cut back from the byline it was mis-hit.

They almost got an equaliser seven minutes into the restart but were thwarted by an excellent piece of defending by James Dunn who spotted the danger and nipped in at the last minute when Danny Whiting had been rounded.

Ryan Rogers had another effort saved before substitute Rhys Clooney was found by Ben Brooks in acres of space in the box, only for him to plant it wide.

All eyes on the ball

We were given a let-off on 76 minutes when Oswestry shot wide from a left-wing cross (when the player was totally unmarked) before Matt German sent a looping header inches over the bar from a corner.

The final act of the day was Ben Christopher latching onto a through ball by Chris Sherrington down the left but his chance to really seal the deal ended up in the side-netting.

A big five weeks lays ahead. If the performances of the past two weeks can be maintained then it may be a happy new year after all….

Next up is the visit of St Martins this Saturday.

TEAM: Whiting, Neild, Wallis, German, Dunn, Hatfield-Banton, Rogers (Clooney), Naughton, Ntalu (Sherrington), Christopher, Brooks. SUBS: Huynh, Sherrington, Russell, Clooney, Lilley (gk)

Cheadle Town 1-2 Wythenshawe Town

Not really sure where to start with pigeon-holing this one.

The consensus on Twitter last night from those neutrals that attended was that it was “an entertaining game”. It was, to an extent, but it was also terribly scrappy in parts with both teams surrendering possession cheaply and/or resorting to long ball. It didn’t feel as “high key” as perhaps it should have been.

All plans I had of avoiding the use of Halloween cliches in this match report were thrown out of the window in the fourth minute when the visitors took the lead.

A ball that had been sent down the left channel and heading harmlessly for the byline was retrieved and then cleared, inexplicably, straight back into our own penalty area and into danger. Waiting on the edge of the area was Wythenshawe’s Sam Marshall who looked up and cracked home a fierce drive.

Horror show of a goal to concede. The nightmare start. Et cetera.

In the opening ten minutes the visitors had given us plenty to think about as we failed to get going.

James Dunn had to intervene with a fantastic last-ditch tackle even before we had conceded and an opportunity from a good position was wasted, thankfully, when they were in down the left-hand side once again.

Rhys Clooney’s long-range effort that went just wide on 11 minutes signalled our awakening and we were level just three minutes later.

Collecting a ball in from the left wing, Tom Ratican [and not Rhys Clooney as I had originally reported on Twitter] did very well to evade a series of challenges before rounding the keeper and slotting home from close range.

Just a minute later Robbie Wallis was sent scampering down the right but could only drag his resulting shot wide of the far post.

Danny Whiting then had to claw an awkward cross-shot from underneath his own crossbar on 20 minutes but then could do nothing about Wythenshawe re-taking the lead four minutes later when Brad Byrne latched onto a dinked ball down the right and waited for it to sit just right for him to unleash an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

And that was that in terms of goals, but certainly not in terms of chances as both teams poked and prodded each other in the second half.

Wythenshawe had two great chances within the opening six minutes of the restart.

A ball in from the right was met in the area with a great turn but the resulting shot was screwed well wide with Danny Whiting then doing very well to beat away a fierce shot at his near post.

Ben Brooks was then sent clean through down the right but was denied by a great stop by the keeper before a lull in proceedings was broken by substitute Rhys Webb’s fancy footwork down the left, annoyingly resulting in his shot cannoning off the post.

A Danny Whiting save at the far post in the 72nd minute was the final act on goal as the match petered out to its unsatisfactory conclusion.

The gap between us and the top spot is now 10 points. Of course there is still time to challenge for it but that will have to start now as we have a clutch of key matches coming up, mainly against those that have the same promotion ambitions as us.

Next up is a visit from high-flying Abbey Hulton United this Saturday.

TEAM: Whiting, Neild (Webb), Sherrington, Russell (Collinson), Harrison, Dunn, Wallis, Hincks, Clooney (Ambrose), Ratican, Brooks. SUBS: Collinson, Ambrose, Knight, Webb. Morrison (gk)

Cheadle Town 1-1 Cammell Laird

Cammell Laird always seem to time their visits to Park Road when change is in the air.

Last time they were here the club had just announced that they had become part of the Little Sports Group; this time it was to herald caretaker manager Will Griffiths’ first match.

Will Griffiths - king for the day

The opening exchanges were fairly balanced.

Lairds put Danny Whiting’s hands to early work as he easily held a free-kick that was fired straight at him with an excellent chance then falling to us on the 5th minute; Rhys Clooney getting on to the end of a Chris Sherrington cross, seeing his effort loop towards the line only to see it hacked away at the lat minute.

Lairds were in down the left moments later where it looked as though Danny Whiting has been rounded but he recovered well to make a stop.

On 13 minutes a free kick of ours caused all manner of mayhem with us unable to force it home from close range with Rhys Clooney then seeing a snap-shot from the edge of the area turned around the post with half-time looming.

From that we opened the scoring as Luke Hincks opened his account for the club for this season by glancing home a corner from the right.

All smiles after Luke Hincks’ opener

The pressure that we had been gradually building up continued into the start of the second half.

Within the opening minute of the restart Ben Brooks found himself in a good position with a free header but could only nod it straight into the keeper’s hands.

Rhys Webb then got himself onto the end of two crosses from Callum Collinson and Ben Christopher respectively but was denied by a great tackle and the legs of the keeper.

On the 68th minute Lairds were given a free header which was completely missed but this seemed to herald a strong finish from the visitors, one that would ultimately result in them getting an equaliser with just 11 minutes remaining; Ben Dutton-Kelly latching onto a ball popped into the right of the area and having plenty of time to tuck home.

A civilised discussion taking place

Danny Whiting then had to beat away a shot on 84 minutes and was breathing a sigh of relief when he came-for-and-missed a corner a minute later; thankfully the Lairds player air-shotted his opportunity to snatch the win.

On balance of play, all things considered etc. a draw was probably a fair result. With a swathe of home matches coming up, we have the perfect opportunity to close the nine-point gap that now exists between us and that single promotion spot.

Next up is the visit of Wythenshawe Town this Wednesday.

TEAM: Whiting, Wallis, C Sherrington, Hincks, Harrison, Dunn, Brooks, Christopher, Webb (Power), Clooney (Russell), Collinson (Rogers). SUBS: Huynh, Russell, Rogers, Power, Smith (gk).

We're Looking for Volunteers!

We have an exciting opportunity to be an integral part of the future growth of the club.

There are three roles available that will provide an excellent opportunity to work within a vibrant club with aspirations to be in the National League by 2025.

With plans well underway to develop a new stadium and training facilities, we are ambitious and keen to speak to candidates who share our ambition.

We are looking for volunteers to help out in three distinctive roles. Click on each below to download a full description:

• Matchday Co-Ordinator

• Matchday Supervisor

• Stadium Assistant

Each of the volunteer roles comes with highly-attractive benefits.

If you’re interested in becoming part of the Cheadle Town community, please call James Tilley (Commercial & Facilities Manager) on 07714 829696 or email him at james@cheadletown.co.uk

Please attach your CV and a short covering letter.

Club Parts Company With First XI Management Team

Anthony Trucca and his coaching team have left the club by mutual consent.

We would like to thank them for their time at the club and the considerable effort that they all made to contribute with both on- and off-the-field matters.

Having joined the club alongside Terry Hincks midway through the 2013-14 season, Anthony went on to take the helm for the start of the 2017-18 season achieving a 12th place finish in the NWCFL First Division.

As a result of this announcement the club will be looking for a new manager for the First XI..

Potential candidates must be able to demonstrate relevant experience at Northern Premier League standard, have extensive contacts in the football world and access to coaching expertise.

Expressions of interest including a short covering letter and relevant CV should be sent in the first instance to the club secretary, Stuart Crawford, by e-mail at secretary@cheadletown.co.uk

Click here to download the job description

No applications will be considered after 5.00pm on Friday 26th October.

The club will be looking to make an early appointment after a formal interview process.

Until that point the club’s Academy Manager, Will Griffiths, will take control of team affairs.

Alsager Town 2-0 Cheadle Town

The team minibus was some fifteen minutes into its journey before having to turn back because the kit had been left behind and one of the players was left stranded at Park Road stadium awaiting a lift that never materialised, thus having to hotfoot it back to his own vehicle and drive his own way to Alsager.

‘Twas ever thus that it was going to be one of those days.

Mssrs Trucca and Seaton all smiles pre-match.

A match that looked like it was sauntering to a 0-0 draw (that nobody would have complained about) suddenly came to life - not necessarily in our favour - within the final five minutes.

Two well-placed thunderous efforts did for us. One from Shane Williams from the edge of the area after we failed to deal with a situation and the other from Dominic Smith from wide left deep into stoppage time.

It was a mildly-promising first half performance and all, albeit we were reduced to half-chances most of the time.

Ben Christopher let fly from range as early as the 6th minute with the 25th minute then seeing Callum Collinson tearing down the left and squaring for Christopher whose shot was parried.

Matthew German

In and around those chances, Alsager had troubled us a couple of times.

On the 10th minute they really should have punished us from a corner with Danny Whiting being called upon a minute later to block a volley at his far post.

On the half-hour Matt German went in for a 50-50 challenge. Nobody screamed or complained and nobody was hurt, but the referee saw fit to reach into his back pocket and produce a red card. The general consensus was he was unlucky to have been given a red card…and that includes the opinions of those from Alsager.

Collinson was in again down the left on 39 minutes but his deflected cross couldn’t find anybody to pick up the pieces and newcomer Ofori’s ball from the same spot moments later was met by a stooping header from Ryan Rogers when perhaps a wallop with the foot would have been the better option.

Newcomer Derryn Ofori

Unfortunately we failed to get anywhere near the same level of productivity in the second half.

Danny Whiting was called upon twice early doors, making a good block when Alsager’s Smith had wriggled his way clear on the edge of the box and then having to push an effort onto the post when Alsager’s no7 was allowed to join in play after being off the pitch and advance on goal.

The closest we came in the second half was on 82 minutes when Chris Sherrington’s fizzed free-kick had to be tipped over the bar.

Drinks break. Instructions given.

A truly naff day at the office. Thankfully the footballing gods are giving us another well-timed break from league matters this week and sending us to Crewe Alexandra for the Cheshire Senior Cup and St Helens Town for the Macron League Cup in successive matches.

By the time league matters return we should have all of our suspended and injured players back, a roll call that is longer than we care to mention.

Onwards.

TEAM: Whiting, Harrison, C Sherrington, German, Huynh, Delaney, Rogers (Knight), Hincks, Ofori (Clooney), Christopher (Ratican), Collinson. SUBS: Knight, Ratican, Clooney, Lilley (gk)

Sandbach United 5-0 Cheadle Town

Deja vu. Times two.

For the second successive season Sandbach United have all-too-easily elbowed us out of the First Division Trophy and for the second successive competitive match against them, they have handed out another severe beating.

As well as being sick of the sight of Vauxhall Motors this season (three matches, two draws and a hefty defeat), Sandbach United have also added themselves to the list of persona non grata (two matches, no goals scored and twelve conceded).

All smiles. It was good to see Matthew German returning to the Cheadle fold.

A relatively promising start saw us hold our own with the most telling venture into the Sandbach area coming on the 12th minute as Rhys Clooney just couldn’t stretch his legs out long enough to connect with Callum Collinson’s driven cross.

Both Tyler Devlin and Dane Smith then worked their defensive wonders to keep the home side at bay with a well-timed header and a superb reflex save respectively.

But then, on the 39th minute and on the back of what looked like a soft decision, Sandbach’s Buckley swept home a free kick from just outside the area.

We were almost on terms straight away as Ruben Abreu charged down the left channel and looked set to score only to have his effort smothered by the keeper.

With half-time beckoning Sandbach extended their lead. A swift counterattack saw them advance down the right with the resulting cross volleyed home at the far post by Kirby.

Newcomer Ryan Rogers

The next goal was always going to be vital. At 1-2 we still had a chance; at 0-3 it was always going to be difficult.

Unfortunately it turned out to be the latter.

Sandbach had already clipped a decent chance wide of our post on 49 minutes before they actually popped it home two minutes later as Kirby - him again - raced down our left and made the most of us not dealing with a clearable ball before tucking it under Dane Smith’s body.

Just after the hour mark Ruben Abreu missed a glorious chance to get us on the scorecard as he stabbed wide from a Luke Hincks cross.

Sandbach’s fourth came shortly after that when O’Riordan bundled home from close range after a corner of theirs seemed to travel across our goalmouth in slow motion with their fifth coming on 73 minutes after Lane curled an effort right into the corner from the edge of the area.

Mssrs Sherrington and Clooney

There was two more gilt-edged chances for Sandbach to edge closer to matching their seven-goal haul at Park Road but thankfully they were in charitable mood.

Rhys Clooney’s scorching effort that flashed inches wide was the final note on another defeat where the ‘against’ goals tally has been freakishly big. We’ve only lost five matches in all competitions this season but those five have seen 2 goals scored and a massive 27 conceded. Very odd.

Next up is a tricky away trip to Alsager Town (for league business) on what is the annual Non League Day….

TEAM: Smith, Wallace, C Sherrington, German (Ratican), Devlin (Naughton), Delaney, Abreu, Hincks, Rogers, Clooney, Collinson (Knight). SUBS: Christopher, Ratican, Knight, Naughton, Whiting (gk).

Ellesmere Rangers 0-1 Cheadle Town

The North West Counties Football League is enjoying something of a goalfest at the moment.

Goals galore. Goals, goals, and more goals. Goaly McGoalface. It’s certainly the league to watch at the moment if you want your money’s worth. A 4-2 here, a 5-0 there and even an 11-3 over the weekend.

Goals!

Trouble is if you’re at the wrong end of such, for the want of a better word, tonkings your enthusiasm for such excess is blunted. That has certainly been the case at our end of late. We have been at the wrong end of a 5-1 here, a 6-0 there and even a 7-0.

If ever we needed to be just a little bit antisocial and refuse to join in with the goal glut with “just a 1-0 win” then it was away at Ellesmere Rangers….

…and that very result was duly delivered thanks to Ruben Abreu’s effort on the 55th minute after he cut inside from the left and drilled home at the near post.

“Come here and give me a hug”. Chris Sherrington is the first to congratulate Ruben after we went 1-0 up.

It was deserved reward as we had the lion’s share of chances and whathaveyou up to that point.

A very bright start saw the returning Mssrs Collinson and Sherrington force the keeper into two nervous clearances within the first five minutes.

They both had chances again shortly afterwards. Collinson swinging an effort inches wide and Sherrington seeing one of his crosses almost turned into his own net by an Ellesmere defender.

Tyler Devlin had an exemplary game in the back line and could have got himself on the scoresheet twice in the first half, leathering a volley into the side-netting from close range and then getting his head to a corner that was gathered by the keeper.

Tyler Devlin receiving his (deserved) gratitude from Chris Woods after the match

In between Tyler’s two efforts Ruben Abreu went close with a free-kick and a lovely dinked pass by Sherrington through to Collinson saw the latter narrowly plant a shot wide of the post.

Ellesmere were much-improved in the second half and fired their first shot across our bows on the 54th minute when Dane Smith produced a spectacular one-handed save to beat away a shot that was arrowing towards the top corner.

The next passage of play was when Ruben gave us the lead. Fine lines and all that.

One of Chris Sherrington’s teasing crosses from the left almost found a Cheadle boot on the hour mark and that was pretty much that in terms of chances for us.

Substitute Callum Knight receives his instructions

We went through a bit of a nervous patch in the last ten minutes as Ellesmere pressed for the equaliser. Dane Smith had to come out sharply to snuff out danger on 85 minutes as Ellesmere were clean through and he produced another smart stop in stoppage time, getting down low to smother.

A much-needed win. Ellesmere Rangers are, as yet, winless in the league; given our past history for being a registered charity when it came to assisting teams with their first wins of the season the win feels that little more satisfying.

Hopefully we can press on with another win versus Stone Dominoes this coming Saturday.

Cheadle Town 0-7 Sandbach United

In football if you make mistakes then, more often than not, you will be punished; this was the lesson writ large at Park Road on Wednesday 12th September 2018.

At the risk of sounding ungracious we offered a helping hand with at least five of Sandbach’s tally.

Usually only a small percentage of those mistakes would go unpunished but Sandbach were devilishly efficient and we got the deserved cane on the backside every time we didn’t clear our lines or gave possession away all-too cheaply.

Danny Whiting was called to action just 17 seconds in when he had to get down smartly to make a stop and then had to push a shot around the post some moments later.

In between those two moments we had a glorious chance to open the scoring.

Sheer determination from Rhys Webb put him in a great position to round the keeper but his final shot was cleared off the line.

Joe Shaw makes an early exit

Rhys Clooney then used his strength to break down the right before firing just over the bar before our visitors got the first of their seven of the evening; a cross in from the right wasn’t cleared properly and was eventually bundled home by Allcock from close range. A really scruffy goal to concede.

Seven minutes later and they were two-up. Possession was stolen from us in our own third with the eventual cross in from the right being stabbed home at the near post by Kirby, the first of five he would net for Sandbach.

34 minutes and it was 0-3; again a cross into the box wasn’t dealt with and the ball ricocheted off Cheadle bodies straight at the feet of Kirby who swept it home.

Two minutes later, 0-4. Another cross not dealt with and the loose ball was gleefully popped home by that man Kirby again.

I’m pleased to say that our second half showing was much better, albeit we didn’t have a goal to show for our efforts.

Callum Knight fizzed a dangerous one in from the right that Rhys Clooney clipped just wide with Rhys then forcing a decent save from the keeper moments later. Tom Ratican then tried his luck from range but his shot was deflected wide.

Our decent spell was tempered by Tom Russell’s sending off for an alleged stamp on 56 minutes. We couldn’t really get going again after that and Sandbach took control of the game once more.

We had already cleared off the line before Sandbach scored their fifth on 70 minutes after the ball was given away on the halfway line with Kirby racing free down the right and slotting home for his fourth.

Danny Whiting then made three excellent stops before Sandbach got their sixth on 80 minutes - Cain converting a cross from close range - and then their seventh five minutes later when Kirby was put in on the left.

Luke Hincks’ long range effort when it was 0-6 didn’t even have the decency to give us a consolation, crashing off the foot of the post instead. It was that kind of night.

No banal “we’ll draw a line under it” platitudes here. It wasn’t good enough from a club that is looking to make a serious challenge this season. We need to be more consistent.

So, goals galore at the moment, not all of them in our favour. Those coming to watch us at the moment are getting their moneysworth, but we’d take a 1-0 win this Saturday at home to Vauxhall Motors in the FA Vase, thank you very much….

TEAM: Whiting, Neild, Ratican, Delaney, Dunn, Shaw (Russell), Abreu, Hincks, Webb, Clooney (Hewitt), Knight (Christopher). SUBS: Wallace, Russell, Christopher, Hewitt, Morrison (gk).

Atherton LR 1-6 Cheadle Town

As responses to previous misdemeanours go, this was perfect.

The memories of last week's horror show at Maine Road were swept away by a tide of punishing, attacking play that brought a deserved hat-trick for Rhys Clooney, a brace for Rhys Webb and one for Liam Delaney.

We were making inroads into the LR box as early as the opening minute, forcing their defence into a series of key blocks before Liam Delaney stabbed an Abreu cross just wide a couple of minutes later.

Rhys Webb then had a go straight after, shooting just wide after cutting inside from the right before another foray into the box brought the opening goal on 11 minutes; Clooney meeting a right-wing cross with a pinpoint header into the corner of the net.

Tom Russell

The two Rhys' combined on 22 minutes when Webb put Clooney through with the latter's finish just lacking the legs to take it over the line before we stretched our lead just a minute later: good work by Ruben Abreu down the right saw him cut the ball across for the waiting Liam Delaney to drive home.

LR's best chance of the first half came just before the half-hour mark when they raced clear and looked set to round Danny Whiting but a slip at a vital moment - not his fault as the surface was on a greasy side - allowed us to hoof the ball clear.

On 35 minutes we went 3-0 ahead when the two Rhys' combined once more. This time it was Clooney feeding Webb with a threaded ball to the edge of the box where the latter took his time to pick his spot and place it into the roof of the net.

An LR free-kick did give us something to think about just before half-time which we had to hastily hack clear but we looked comfortable and very good value for our 3-0 lead....

....a lead that was extended even further on 53 minutes with an absolute beauty from Rhys Webb. 

Receiving the ball a good 35-40 yards out he advanced on goal but didn't look to have many options as he had three LR defenders for company. A few twists and turns later he opened up enough space for himself to curl a shot into the top corner that left the keeper stranded. 

Rhys Webb curls it home for Cheadle's fourth of the match

Four became five on the hour mark. A sweeping move forward made up of one-touch passing set Rhys Clooney free on the right. With the LR keeper bearing down on him he kept his head to slide the ball wide of him into the unguarded net.

Rhys Clooney about to score our fifth...

LR got themselves on the scoresheet on 67 minutes thanks to a penalty (that Danny Whiting almost got his hands to) with them also forcing Danny into a neat save at his near post on 73 minutes.

The final ten minutes of the match saw us create multiple chances to go even further ahead, all of them falling at the feet or head of Rhys Clooney.

He stabbed a Callum Knight cross inches wide and then did the same with a header from a Joe Neild cross before he finally got his hat-trick deep into stoppage time, sweeping home a cutback from Tom Ratican.

The next round sees us travel to Sandbach United on Saturday 6th October after they administered a similar hammering to New Mills. We will be able to get a feel of Sandbach this Wednesday as they come to Park Road when the bread and butter of league matters returns.

TEAM: Whiting, Neild, Wallace, Russell (Hewitt), Dunn, Shaw, Knight, Delaney (Hincks), Webb, Clooney, Abreu (Ratican). SUBS: Hewitt, Ratican, Hincks, Morrison (gk).

Job done!

Cheadle Town 3-2 Eccleshall

It's always a good sign in football if you're not truly at your best but can still come away from games with a result. We dropped off the pace at times in this one and perhaps should have put the match to bed earlier on but still came away the victors. Bodes well....

We started well and troubled the Eccleshall defence as early as the 2nd minute when Rhys Webb glanced a header wide from a Ben Christopher free-kick.

Just five minutes later Joe Neild swung a free-kick just over the crossbar with Ruben Abreu then latching onto a Christopher pass on the 18th minute, advancing on goal down the left but managing to scoop his effort wide.

Eccleshall reminded us a couple of times that they weren't here to make up the numbers as we had to clear a couple of dangerous crosses via attacks down our flanks.

Rhys Webb

On the 24th minute we had carved out another opportunity as Tom Russell broke down the right before pulling back for Joe Neild only for the keeper to parry wide.

From the resulting corner we took a deserved lead as James Dunn goal-bound header was turned home from very close range by the lurking Rhys Webb.

Just six minutes later and we were in again. Ruben Abreu down the left this time, sending over an awkward bouncing cross that Remeece Brown looked certain to connect with but he just couldn't get his legs organised in time and the chance was gone.

There was time for Ruben himself to belt one just over the crossbar after some good work on the edge of the box before everybody retired for half-time.

Ruben Abreu, plus company

Within 60 seconds of the restart our lead had gone as Eccleshall caught us horribly cold with the first passage of play, drilling in a low ball from the right that was converted at the far post by Reece White.

We were licking our wounds for just six minutes as we regained the lead thanks to a moment of brilliance from Remeece Brown.

Out on the left wing he cut in sharply and quickly made ground. Everybody was expecting him to perhaps slide a pass into the penalty area but instead he unleashed an unstoppable effort from 25 yards out that the keeper could do nothing about.

"Remeece! Where did THAT come from?"

Not to be outshone, Ruben Abreu got in on the act on 72 minutes to break a period of the match where we had, to be frank, gone quite stale.

Coming in from the right he travelled along the outside of the area before arrowing an absolute pearler into the top corner from around 20 yards out.

As it had at Rylands, the two-goal cushion sparked a period of measured game management.

On 84 minutes great work by Callum Knight down the right saw him lay it off for Clooney with his first-time effort whistling over the crossbar.

With literally the last kick of the match Eccleshall reduced arrears. A lapse in concentration had allowed them to break clear and whilst Stuart Morrison was able to stop the first shot, he could do nothing about the rebound that was tucked home by Ahmadi.

Not that it mattered. Another win and a place at the top of the tree. Just rewards for what has been a solid start.

TEAM: Morrison, Neild, Ratican, Russell, Dunn, Delaney, Brown, Christopher, Webb, Clooney, Abreu. SUBS: Knight, Wallace, Shaw, Whiting (gk).

Reflecting on another job well done

Rylands 1-3 Cheadle Town

As you may or may not know we have had a problem in the past with managing to get results if we have conceded first. Hopefully this match - won on the back of a second-half performance that was in stark contrast to the first - is an indication of us breaking that bad habit on a more frequent basis.

That first half was a truly woeful affair with only the hosts' penalty to speak of. That came on the 39th minute and was converted by Stuart Wellstead.

Up until then very little happened. Stuart Morrison easily stopped a Rylands attack early doors, Remeece Brown could have made something of a pass but slipped at the final moment and Morrison was called-upon again but not really troubled.

Tom Ratican gets his tackle in

It needed to improve drastically - from both teams to be honest - and it was us who grabbed the game by the horns and killed it dead with a three-goal salvo in the space of six minutes.

The signs that we had decided to up our game were there as early as the 50th minute. Callum Knight scampered down the left and pulled back for Rhys Webb only for his effort to be hacked off the line by the keeper's feet.

Five minutes later and we were in front. Liam Delaney sending in a high, hanging cross from the right that found Callum Knight at the far post to head home.

Add two minutes on and Joe Neild would be given the opportunity to keep his scoring streak going after we were awarded a penalty; Joe duly obliged by blasting the penalty home to turn the match on its head.

Add another three minutes and Remeece Brown delivers a teasing cross from the right which is met by Rhys Webb who sends a gorgeous looping header into the far corner to give us a two-goal cushion.

Ben Christopher - seemingly everywhere (except as goalkeeper)

In the blink of an eye the game had changed.

The only work that Rylands gave Stuart Morrison to do in the second half was to collect a header from a corner on 75 minutes.

At 3-1 up we managed the game well and carved out a couple more opportunities of our own. Tom Russell slid Rhys Webb in down the left but his effort was deflected wide and substitute Rick Whyatt had a shot saved when put in by the ever-industrious Ben Christopher.

In the end a comfortable win and a great base from which to launch the Bank Holiday weekend programme. Eccleshall were up next at Park Road.....

TEAM: Morrison, Neild, Ratican, Delaney, Dunn, Devlin (Russell), Brown (Abreu), Hincks, Webb, Christopher, Knight (Whyatt). SUBS: Russell, Whyatt, Abreu, Whiting (gk).

Job done!