27th March 2018 - Chadderton 1 v 2 Eccleshall - Today I had been leading a walk for a bunch of carers in the dreary weather - we did just fine though and saw a few decent things along the way. Once home I did the previous night's football report, had some scram and watched some idle TV. 'On The Buses' is an eternal favourite though and Blakey is a one helluva amusing character. I once had a nightmare about this TV show whereupon I found myself involved in a menage a trois with Olive and Jack Harper. It was a skin-crawling terror that I eventually woke up from only to find that I had been sleep walking again and ended up in the sack with a blacked up William Hartnell and a rubber Dalek - we channel hopping anxiety sufferers have a shit-life at times. Of course, this digression has nothing to do with the night's football and having readjusted my mental gears and got back on the tracks of sanity I welcome you back to Planet Football in the sub-galaxy Nonus-Leagueoid. We travelled forth, landed in the competing crater and awaited to two squadrons to do battle. STP Stu joined us and we nattered away whilst swilling cha' - eternal good company this chap and a keen stalwart of things real and non-league. Both teams, like a pair of Lovebirds, sat side by side in the table but who would be the ones to suck seed, and who would be the ones to succeed! My pecker of observation was out, I got my claws into the action and amidst the touchline squawkers I happened to witness the following action (God bless my pocketful of tangents).
The start we were blessed with was enthused and fervid with Chadderton testing their opponents mettle with a few early balls in. Eccleshall remained predominantly unflustered and set about playing a passing game that was to make the home side work for every scrap during every second of the game. An Ecky surge came, No 4 (Jake Standbridge) nipped in and looked to cause mayhem but the home No 3 (Michael Woolfe) had different ideas and put in a quite substantial and rescuing tackle. Chadderton duly broke from here, No 9 (Aaron Scholes) was slotted through and only had the keeper to beat. The strike that followed was decent enough, alas the post was rattled and quivered like an upright member in a Swedish sauna - phew what a scorcher! The guest brigade were not to be distressed and played their patient game with admirable focus. A head clash knocked the flow out of the early action but both bods soon recovered and matters recommenced with the same gusto. Chadderton advanced once more, No 7 (Jordan Butterworth) to Scholes who struck first time. The shot had no venom and no angle, the keeper collected without breaking sweat. Eccleshall came back with a break that saw No 6 (Reece Lyndon) of Chadderton round his own keeper and duly clear - it could have been a moment of high embarrassment if a less cool head had been involved. The perpetual motion of the game continued with the visitors having two quick sorties, one just lacking the merest killer touch, the other resulting in a fair but hopeful handball claim. Chadderton were holding their own though and had a penalty shout and two mediocre shots in the manic mix but we stayed put at 0 - 0 and wondered where the first breakthrough would come from!
The hands of the clock progressed, it was time for a strike methinks. Eccleshall came on strong, a delicious ball was played to their No 11 (Louis Downs) who looked destined to ripple the mesh. He chose his spot, he dug in with determination, he dragged the ball...wide! I was disappointed, perhaps I was not alone! At the other end Chadderton put a ball across the park, knocked it back to their No 8 (Jack Ward) who side footed home with steady poise and exactitude - it was against the flow but well taken nonetheless. Some tasty tackles now flew in, both teams were primarily playing 'on the deck' football and in truth, it was making for a very appealing spectacle. The hosts now put several balls into the danger zone, Eccleshall dealt with each but No 5 (Devon Matthews) and No 2 (Ryan Shenton) for Chadderton were pushing further up the park and putting in some decent work. The guests attempted to break several times, eventually they got some space and a quite precise cross saw No 11 (Louis Downs) bag the equaliser and make for a few frisky final minutes. Eccleshall finished the half better, another cross found the crust of No 9 (Thomas Wakefield) who put over but Chadderton found it within themselves to have one last crack with a corner and header close in stopped from crossing the line by a tremendous reaction save. The ball was cleared, we went into the break all square.
A pie and tea for half-time, I was feeling queasy, this ruddy virus is lingering around longer than Max Wall in an Orthopedic Centre (ooh me knobbly knees). The pie was a stunner, the tea very much needed and myself and Stu tootled back to my missus who was also feeling a trifle off side and refused any refreshments. What a pair hey?
Both units came back out, they were still indulging in their neat brand of football and I was very enthused. Matthews of Chaddy was exhibiting some quality work along the wing, Downs for Ecky was always a viable option and super keen, these were small examples on a pitch of decent doofers striving to contribute to a winning night's work. Chadderton began to build, Scholes was running well, a ball to No 8 (Jack Ward) was had and quickly followed by a firm hoofing. The ball bounced just before the keeper went to gather, it slipped his grasp and bounced against the post, now that was a close shave if ever I saw one. The home team's No 11 (Jack O'Leary) came next, he left the battling midfield pack, charged with purpose and thumped one just over the bar - the warnings were getting too frequent! Eccleshall replied with a free-kick, in it came and the mittman fumbled but thankfully recovered and spared himself a rubicund countenance. The game had a quiet period were action was all in the centre of the park with no quarter given. The hosts saw a free-kick fall into their opponents box, a mass of legs swung this way and that, not one made any sort of contact - how the ruddy heck did that happen?
We travelled deeper into the game, a loose ball from a thunderous tackle saw the Chaddy No 10 (Jack Turnbull) shoot on the turn. He didn't burst the net and should have produced a much better effort. Eccleshall were not on the ropes as yet and when No 7 (Daniel Needham) flashed forth all he had to do was add some elevation to the ball and dink it over the advancing keeper. The effort that came was too low and the gloved guardian blocked with relative ease. The oomph and heave ho by both teams was still considerably high, the brief glimpses of light at the end of the attacking tunnels were had several times but who would be the one to grab the ultimate glow? A tussling contest carried us into the dregs, Eccleshall threw caution to the wind, Needham pounced on a goalkeeping blip, he took his time to shoot and lost the chance, the ball pinged out another shot came via George Burslem and the bottom corner was found. Almost the final kick of the ball and victory had been grabbed, the Eccleshall lads whooped with joy and celebrated like they had won a night on the tiles with Erroll Flynn. The referee stopped the action after a couple more kicks, this was a last minute steal, the Chadderton lads looked gutted but they should take pride in their style and commitment and as for Man of the Match, I think their No 6 (Reece Lyndon) deserves the nod as he played a true Captain's role, steadied the ship when need be, offered options up front and was strong in the air - a role played out with authority!
FINAL THOUGHT - Despite feeling a trifle icky I thought this was a splendid match played in a cultured way with both teams refusing to clobber and clout their way to a crude victory. All concerned should be slapped on the back for their efforts and Chadderton, as a ground, is always a pleasure. For me, playing football of this kind is deserved of greater things, it is just a question of being able to add a few crudities within the quality that will make the difference. Like Old MacDonald getting his cowsheds ready for an open day, all the polish and fancy work need to be done whilst getting covered in a bit of shit along the way - tis the only way to win the biggest rosette of all and possibly the blessings of non-other than a Jethro Tull look-alike - now that is a honor! So, off we pootled, happy with a game at ground level being played the correct way and using it as a nudge to make sure we get back down Eccleshall way mighty soon. Tis all travelling, chewing the cud with like-minded folk and supporting the cause - onwards!
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