Cheadle Town 2-0 West Didsbury & Chorlton

Another good run-out. Another step towards the exorcism of ring-rustiness.

A well-balanced first half saw only a handful of chances.

Danny Wood was the first to show when his rasping drive forced a good save from the West' keeper on 22 minutes.

Ten minutes later and perhaps we should have gone in front but the keeper was equal to Rick Whyatt's effort after he had capitalised on some hesitant defending.

Ryan Allcock was called into action just two minutes later, pushing a long-ranger from Matty Kay around the post.

The second half was a bit more productive where chances were concerned.

West's no11 was through on the left on 53 minutes but could only clip his effort wide with Mike Sherrington then being inches away from connecting to a gorgeous cross from Aaron Fleming.

Back down the other end Allcock was on-hand again to deny West', this time stopping Tom Bailey with a fine block with West' then dominating the possession for quite a while.

During this period they saw a header crash back off the underside of the crossbar and forced us into some rather hasty defensive work in the area as all manner of limbs were trying to scramble the ball away on 76 minutes.

But then the tide suddenly swung back in our favour.

Rick Whyatt was through one-on-one again on 78 minutes but saw his effort blocked before Mike Sherrington found himself in a similar position on the left two minutes later; his shot was also blocked with the loose ball falling to the feet of George Clary who unfortunately mis-kicked and the chance was gone.

Enter the head of substitute Luke Cotton.

On 83 minutes it guided a whipped ball from Mike Sherrington into the corner of the net - with Luke somehow arcing his body shape to connect with a ball that was effectively behind him - and sixty seconds later it rose majestically to nod over the advancing keeper for Cheadle's second.

Just one more pre-season run-out before the real business starts and plenty for the management team to think about re selection for the starting XI on 12th August at Atherton LR.

STARTING XI: Allcock, O'Donnell, Fleming, Russell, Harrison, Shaw, Ambrose, Wood, M Sherrington, Whyatt, C Sherrington. SUBS (used on a rolling basis): Ratican, Brocklehurst, Christopher, Clary, Dunn, Hincks, Rigby (gk)