Prize Draw Winners

The winners of the latest prize draw have been announced. Were you one of the lucky ones??

1st Prize (£1000)
Mr Hill, Offerton
Ticket no: 0846

2nd Prize (£500)
Mr Ramsey, Hazel Grove
Ticket no: 01592

3rd Prize (£250)
Mr Bond, Poynton
Ticket no: 02264

Cheadle Town 3-3 Whitchurch Alport

Happy New Year.

And what a match to kick 2017 off with. A rambunctious affair with six goals thrown in, one of which will be remembered for many years to come by those that were lucky enough to witness it.

From a neutral's perspective a draw was probably a fair result but from our point of view it was the least we deserved for a spirited display, refusing to bend the knee as we came from behind thrice to claim our richly-deserved point.

This game didn't take long to spring to life. As early as the first minute the Alport no9 - Simon Everall - found himself through on goal but was thwarted by an excellent stop by Dane Smith.

It was our turn to then get a hold of the game as George Blackwell scooped a shot just over the bar from the edge of the area and Justin Pickering then fired an effort just wide of the post following a neat move.

Dane Smith then had to make another block from a tight angle as Everall almost profited from a loose pass in the defence before his dangerous-looking cross from the right was scrambled away by Banda on the 20 minute mark.

Three minutes later Everall got his reward for his industry by latching onto a through pass from the Alport no11 and slotting home to Smith's right. This came at a bad time for us as it was becoming evident that centre-back Joe Shaw was struggling with his asthma, a struggle he eventually lost soon after Whitchurch's opener meaning that Magida was brought on to replace him with the back line being shuffled.

As the half came to a close Dane Smith denied Everall once again before Justin Pickering then got himself in a promising position on the edge of the box but just couldn't find the space to get the shot away.

And then, within stoppage time of the first-half, we drew level.

And it was the most direct of goals. A route-one clearance from Smith was misjudged by an Alport defender who allowed it to bounce over him; the alert Matthew Todd was able to sneak around the back of him and jab the ball over the head of the oncoming keeper.

The second half was only nine minutes old when another goalscoring opportunity presented itself to Alport, this time in the shape of a penalty that Blundell smashed home.

And just five minutes after that, the moment of the match and the early contender for goal of the season that drew us level.

To the untrained eye there didn't seem to be anything "on" for Justin Pickering when he picked up a pass in the middle of the field but in a flash he caught the ball on the bounce and unleashed a dipping 40-yard shot that nestled into the top half of the net.

Our tails were up and we then could have edged ourselves in to the lead. Webb was denied by a good save at the near post with a George Blackwell corner then scuttling across the face of the goal with nobody around to perform the simple task of poking the ball home.

Straight down the other end Alport's Everall performed a neat turn-and-shot in the area that flashed just wide of the post before the visitors regained the lead on the 65th minute with their own pick of the goals when Blundell cut inside from the right and unleashed an unstoppable effort.

On 78 minutes another of George Blackwell's corner caused problems for Alport as Matthew Todd went sliding in at the near post and almost connected before Banda was on-hand to hack clear after Dane Smith had seen a shot squirm out of his grasp.

With just three minutes remaining we were back on terms. A corner in from the left was met by all manner of heads either trying to head home or head clear with the ball spilling loose to the feet of Thabiso Magida to crash home from close range.

And we could have won it.

In stoppage time Liam Tongue went on a mazy run down the right and clipped a cross in to the far post where Matthew German was unmarked and looked set to score, but somehow the ball bounced over his feet to safety. Had he connected I'm sure he would have enjoyed it as it would have been perfect redemption in the face of the unwanted attention he was getting from the more vocal members of Whitchurch's travelling support.

We're starting to drum up a half-decent run of form: two wins and one draw in the last three against a team that certainly fancies itself for the play-off picture (our local rivals), a team that might have fancied itself for the play-off picture (Bacup Borough) and a team that most certainly will be up there at the end of the season (Whitchurch).

Next up is an interesting-looking home encounter against Silsden: one of the relegated sides from the Premier Division and in-form going into 2017.

TEAM: Smith, Dunn, Banda, German, Tongue, Shaw (Magida), Todd, Russell (Wood), Webb (Tosum), Pickering, Blackwell. SUBS: Piggott (gk), Magida, Tosum, Wood.

Cheadle Town 2-0 Stockport Town

Merry Christmas.

A little stat for you first: believe it or not, this was the first time that we have managed back-to-back league wins all season. Seriously. It is - go and look at the Results & Fixtures page.

And what a time to get it, in front of a bumper Boxing Day crowd of 108 that had decided they'd had enough of the indoors and wanted a bit of fresh air for the afternoon.

They would have enjoyed a measured performance from us that eventually got the rewards it deserved.

After an opening quarter hour of nothing much happening Justin Pickering was the first to make an attempt on goal, being put through on the left but managing to slice his shot wide.

Just four minutes later and Webb was presented with his first chance, seeing the ball rebound to him on the edge of the area and, with the goal seemingly at his mercy, being unfortunate to have his effort blocked at the last.

With four minutes of the first half remaining our poking and prodding paid off; Justin Pickering finding Reece Webb in acres of space in the box and with all the time in the world to pick his spot.

Justin was through again just three minutes into the restart, shooting wide after being put through on the right before George Blackwell went on a mazy run down the right, cut inside and forced a great stop from the opposing keeper.

With a quarter of an hour to go the lead was doubled.

A long ball forward was chased by substitute Buckley who beat the keeper to it, nodding the ball onwards into the path of the onrushing Webb who had the simplest of tasks of prodding home into an empty net.

There was almost a third but it took a superb save to deny Rick Whyatt's excellent turn-and-shot from close range.

If our keeper Dane Smith had an energetic Christmas Day then he can be thankful that our opposition gave him very little to do, bar watching the ball roll wide of the net when one of their forwards was put clean through on the left on the 21st minute.

Three useful points...and onwards to Eccleshall away on Monday 2nd.

TEAM: Smith, Dunn, Banda, German, Tongue, Shaw, Todd (Whyatt), Russell, Webb (Magida), Pickering (Buckley), Blackwell. SUBS: Tosum, Magida, Whyatt, Buckley, C Sherrington.

Bacup Borough 2-3 Cheadle Town

Cheadle Town claimed a well deserved victory at Bacup Borough, even though they had to do it the hard way with two goals from Liam Tongue in injury time.

Last season’s fixture saw Cheadle Town share the spoils in a fantastic 5-5 draw following a great comeback after being 4-1 down, so we always knew that this fixture had the promise of goals.

Cheadle Town made a good start to the game and could have taken the lead on 2 minutes as debutant George Blackwell crossed to Nathan Tosum who could only fire his shot into the keepers hands. Then on 5 minutes Rhys Webb beat the keeper to a loose ball, but could only watch as his lob hit the bar.

Matthew German who was causing the Bacup players many problems in his advanced midfield role had a chance on 18 minutes, but his shot was well saved by the keeper.

Cheadle’s dominance was rewarded on 21 minutes when Webb managed to find some space within the area and fired a low shot past the diving keeper.

Cheadle continued to press for a further goal with some wonderful football and were denied on 28 minutes when a Blackwell’s cross found Luke Hincks on the left who put in an inch perfect cross to Webb who could only volley the ball over the bar.

HT: Bacup Borough 0 Cheadle Town 1

It was Bacup who came out the stronger side in the second half as Cheadle failed to repeat their form of the first half and the hosts were rewarded on 66 minutes when Tom Coulson headed home a corner at the near post.

Bacup then took the lead on 75 minutes when ex-Cheadle player Artjoms Butorins hit a speculative shot from 35 yards which sailed over the head of Cheadle keeper Stephen Piggott.

With 10 minutes remaining, Bacup were reduced to ten men when Nathan Emery was shown a red card for a bad challenge.

This seemed to ignite Cheadle as they pressed forward for an equaliser and Liam Tongue’s 25 yard effort on 81 minutes was well saved by the Bacup keeper.

As the game was drawing to a close, Cheadle got their equaliser as Tongue scored from an angle. Then 4 minutes into injury time a Tongue shot seemed to take a deflection and sent the keeper in the opposite direction as the ball rolled across the line to give Cheadle a much deserved and needed victory.

Oswestry Town 2-1 Cheadle Town

Cheadle Town failed to capitalise on their chances and possession as hosts FC Oswestry Town claimed all three points on a cold afternoon in Shropshire.
 
In similar fashion to the reverse fixture at Park Road Stadium back in August, it was Cheadle Town who had the majority the play throughout the first 45 minutes.
 
On 6 minutes, Michael Sherrington found space on the edge of the area but could only force his ling range effort wide of the post. Soon after on 9 minutes, a misfired shot from Liam Tongue found the feet of Rhys Webb who’s quick reaction could only guide the ball into the keepers arms.
 
Cheadle continued to press for the first goal and were denied on 16 minutes when Joseph Shaw received a corner at the back post and his powerful drive was well saved by the keeper.
 
FC Oswestry’s first real chance fell on 29 minutes when Dane Smith pulled off a good save with his legs and the subsequent shot was cleared off the line by Matthew Todd.
 
Webb then was presented with another opportunity on 37 minutes when he was played through on the left where his shot from an angle hit the side netting.
 
HT: FC Oswestry Town 0 Cheadle Town 0
 
FC Oswestry took an early second half lead on 49 minutes when Brendon Price found space between the Cheadle defence to fire a low shot from 10 yards.
 
Cheadle were soon back in the game with an equaliser on 52 minutes when Sherrington trapped the ball on his chest and fire a low volley past the keeper from the edge of the area.
 
No sooner has Cheadle equalised, FC Oswestry forced Smith to make great block to prevent a goal.
 
FC Oswestry took the lead on 61 minutes when substitute David Hartshorn tapped home following a cross that eluded the Cheadle defence.
 
Sherrington had a chance on 75 minutes, but could not find a gap to fire home from close range.
 
Late on in the game, a melee players were involved in an altercation which resulted in FC Oswestry’s Hartshorn receiving a red card.
 
FT: FC Oswestry Town 2 Cheadle Town 1

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.