All of the latest news from the club
New Mills 1-3 Cheadle Town
Cheadle Town’s half-decent form continued with this impressive 3-1 win at New Mills
A local derby (in a geographical sense) this ain’t but there was plenty of interest as Mssrs Antony Trucca and Chris Seaton - once at the helm at Park Road - now find themselves in similar roles at New Mills.
There were some familiar faces in the Millers playing ranks as well as Danny Wood and Luke Cotton were on the team sheet.
Thankfully the rain that had battered the Church Lane pitch all day hadn’t had a bearing on its playability; hats off to the New Mills ground staff for managing to get the match on…
…and thankfully said rain eased just in time for the kick off of what turned out to be a fairly entertaining contest.
The first chance fell to us as early as the first minute; a corner from the right was spilled by the Millers keeper but we just couldn’t bundle it home.
Straight back up the other end a neat Millers move down the left saw Aaron Dwyer cut inside and arrow a shot inches over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, the first goal of the evening. Tabby Magida looked to have run out of room on the right as he travelled along the byline but he found enough space to squeeze in a shot inside the near post.
The action didn’t let up as Ollie Hatfield-Banton had to cut out a dangerous low cross from the right just two minutes later before a lull in play was broken on 14 minutes when Ben Christopher found space on the left but his well-taken shot was excellently palmed away by the Millers keeper.
Aaron Dwyer then scooped a shot just wide of the post moments later for the Millers, Rhys Clooney had a close-range shot blocked by the keeper and Danny Whiting had to claw an awkward looping header from under his crossbar.
On 28 minutes New Mills got their equaliser as Ed Driver converted a penalty.
This heralded a good spell for New Mills as they put us under considerable pressure.
From our own mistake in midfield we had to hurriedly thwart a dangerous-looking counter-attack and were let-off when a cut-back found an unmarked player in the area who thankfully pulled his effort wide.
On 41 minutes we delivered a counter-blow. Tabby Magida, working down the left-hand side this time, drilled the ball across for an onrushing Rhys Clooney to ram home from close range.
Our tails were up again and minutes later Rhys almost added to his evening’s tally as he raced clear on a counter-attack and was prevented from netting by a world-class saving tackle.
The second half was less to-and-fro as we dominated a large proportion of the play.
Substitute Sheriff’s first touch was to fire just wide from the edge of the area on the 46th minute with Ben Brooks then being set free down the left, only for him to stab his effort inches wide of the post.
Ben’s turn of pace would turn profitable on 66 minutes as he was upended in the box; Tabby Magida stepping up to net his second of the evening from the spot and give us a 3-1 lead.
It could have been more. Matty German delicately dinked Ben Brooks in on the right on 70 minutes but he slipped at the vital moment, Sheriff just couldn’t stretch his legs long enough to get onto the end of a cross, Rhys Clooney latched onto a pull-back from Naughton but just couldn’t get enough purchase on the shot and Rhys again a minute later was put through on the left but allowed the keeper to get the slightest of touches on it; the ball squirmed loose and we couldn’t scramble it home.
New Mills were reduced to two late chances in the final minutes.
A shot from the edge of the box deflected just wide (with Danny Whiting rooted to his spot) with a free header then fizzed over from the resulting corner.
Just the one league defeat in five now and the biggest test of all coming this weekend as top-of-the-table Rylands come to Park Road.
Our thanks to New Mills for their excellent hospitality and our best wishes to Mssrs Trucca, Seaton and Bradburn for the rest of the season. We’ll see you again next term!
TEAM: Whiting, Neild (Ratican), Wallis, German, Hatfield-Banton, Huynh, Magida, Christopher (Sheriff) (Russell), Clooney, Naughton, Brooks. SUBS: Ratican, Russell, Ntalu, Sheriff, Dunn.
Cheadle Town 0-1 St Martins
It was a frustrating afternoon at Park Road as Cheadle Town fell to an undeserved loss at the hands of St Martins
St Martins FC can count themselves very lucky indeed.
Lucky that they turned up to Park Road on this particular Saturday in November 2018, a day where we decided that we were going to do everything right but then squander gilt-edged chances in front of goal.
It ended up being that kind of day….
To wit, on 24 minutes when Ben Brooks squared for an unmarked Nathan Ntalu to surely sidefoot it home and give us the lead and then Ben himself on 79 minutes when he latched onto a lovely through ball from Matt German, opted to round the keeper but then could only plough his effort into the side netting.
Other opportunities arose (for those we are giving the visiting keeper deserved plaudits) but those two chances would have obviously been enough for a deserved win that would have put us on a firmer foot for a tough-looking month ahead.
A very bright start from us was almost rewarded with our first attack in the opening minute: Ben Brooks working well down the right to cut in and unleash a powerful drive that the keeper somehow managed to get an equally powerful hand to and push around the post.
Nathan’s miss midway through the half was sandwiched by a couple of decent half-chances for the visitors.
A break down the right resulted in the cross being stabbed just wide and then Danny Whiting had to be quick to bundle a chested effort around the post.
Chris Sherrington came on for Ryan Rogers at the start of the second half and was immediately in the thick of things, shooting just wide after Conor Naughton had put him in.
Another great stop from the visiting keeper came on the 56th minute as he was equal to Nathan Ntalu’s effort after he had raced clear down the right.
Ryan Rogers
That seemed to herald a period where the match got really stretched, both sides making unforced errors and half-chances for both sides, the best of which for us came on 69 minutes when Rhys Clooney sent a looping header inches wide of the post.
Straight down the other end St Martins took the lead with a quick attack down the right, Brendon Price netting from the angle.
Try as we might it just wouldn’t go in over that last 20 minutes, not least for Ben Brook’s glaring miss but also for his effort on 86 minutes where he was thwarted by a combined defender/keeper wall and then for Chris Sherrington in injury time who had the ball invitingly within his reach but just couldn’t get it to sit down in time.
Frustrating to say the least.
We’ll try our luck back on the road next Saturday at high-flying Wythenshawe Amateurs.
TEAM: Whiting, Neild, Wallis, German, Hatfield-Banton, Dunn, Rogers (Sherrington), Christopher, Ntalu (Clooney), Naughton, Brooks. SUBS: Todd, Hincks, Sherrington, Clooney, Lilley (gk)
Will Griffiths to Continue as First Team Manager
A decision re the First XI management post has been made
Will Griffiths
First XI Manager until the end of the season
Cheadle Town are pleased to announce that Will Griffiths will continue as First Team Manager until the end of the current season.
Will stepped into the role at the end of October and the six matches under his stewardship has included an impressive 5-0 win over Premier Division Bootle in the Macron League Cup.
Will’s links with Cheadle Town extend much further than those six matches, though. He has been the club’s Academy Manager since August 2018 and is also Head Coach at Little Sports Coaching, a role he has held since August 2016.
He has also played at a professional level too, being part of the Halifax Town squad that won promotion from the National League at the end of the 1997-98 season.
By his side will be John Phelan; in addition to his current role as Football Coach at Oldham Athletic, those of you from Tameside will know his name from his days as Head Coach at Ashton United and his four years as Coach of Tameside Boys.
The club see the continuity in appointing Will as a key factor and look forward to building upon results such as the Bootle cup win.
Will said: “I am very happy to have been appointed 1XI manager at Cheadle Town FC. I am excited to work with a club who share my ambitions, and look forward to a bright, successful future both on and off the field. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Cheadle Town 1-0 Oswestry Town
A solitary Joe Neild penalty was enough to claim Cheadle Town’s first league win in six matches.
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
Another frustrating night at Park Road resulted in the visitors taking all three points
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
It was honours even as Cheadle Town returned to league action at Park Road
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 are looking for volunteers in three distinct roles. Could you help?
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:
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
Cheadle Town have parted company with their 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
Cheadle Town slumped to a 0-2 defeat at Alsager Town in a disappointing day all round
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
Cheadle Town tumbled out of the First Division Cup as the result of another heavy defeat to Sandbach United
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
A solitary Ruben Abreu goal was enough to clinch all three points for 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
Cheadle Town conceded seven goals without reply on a horrendous evening at Park Road
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).