TOWN TRIUMPH

7th March 2018 - Cheadle Town 4 v 1 Bacup Borough - My third night of football on the bounce, I need to catch up in many other areas, as in William Cowper's poem The Task 'variety is the spice of life' and I for one like variety - wildlife wandering, gigging, family time, theatre and numerous other interests keep me on my toes 365 days a year so I must remember not to get too carried away with this globe-kicking lark.  The day had been fruitful and after catching up at work, noting the year's first hoverflies (Eristalis tenax take a bow) and sorting out the ever-rammed diary, I chomped tea with the good lady and arrived at the ground in fine fettle.  I chose a seat, sat alone and perused a tome about 'Ground Beetles' and immersed myself in reading about their habits, environment and the difficulty of identifying the said beasties.  The teams took to the emerald parade ground, shook hands and set about their nightly task, so I hunkered down against the chill and watched events unfold.  Report 72 of the season, 12 over-schedule, I must behave!

Early play was primarily dictated by the home squad who, as is the norm, ran like rectally-loose Camels in a quite torrid sandstorm.  The Town's No 9 (Luke Cotton) grabbed an early thread, raced through and was met by a vigilant mitter who dashed and duly blocked.  The ball trickled behind, an angled wallop came, an offside rule tempered the rising trouble and Cheadle were forced to rebuild.  Initial impressions were of a match with much space to be had and room to express oneself there to be taken.  The Greens continued to make most of the running before suddenly finding themselves 1 goal to the good after a quality cross from the right came via the feet of No 4 (Liam Delaney) and found the crust of No 10 (Richard Whyatt) who nodded home with sanguinity and finalised a quite liquid move.  Cheadle pushed on, several more balls were put into Bacup's rear zone, confusion reigned, Whyatt was being a constant pain in the plums, the guests were in for a long night it seemed.  The travelling pack, like that lunatic King Canute, eventually quelled the tide and fought against the stress-inducing spume.  They splashed and crashed their way forth, a few tame attempts were there to be improved upon, a hand-ball decision drowned the impetus.  The black and white clad lads were undeterred, came on with No 7 (Ewan Cooper) putting through an exquisitely timed pass to No 10 (Matthew Bryan) who thumped a close-in shot but was met by a sturdy goalkeeping block.  The ball however tried to trickle on, it needed a defensive thwack clear and that is what it got, peril squashed. The referee now started to get 'peep' happy, like having sellotape over one's oriental eye, it was impeding the flow - could this help Bacup I wondered?  

Cheadle fought through the patchy period, a drilled shot by No 2 (Joseph Neild) was deflected and fell to the feet of Cotton.  He shot but a block at the last kept that second strike at bay.  A Cheadle free-kick followed, the ball went in, No 5 (Joseph Shaw) had time to fire the trigger, but like a virginal Bantam, it remained uncocked and the chance disappeared into the now nipping night air.  No 3 (Thomas Ratican) of the hosts was put in, he fluffed his chance and the keeper saved.  Moments later a replica move was had, Ratican surely couldn't have believed his good fortune and this time he made no mistake and deftly struck the ball with the outside of his foot and watched it fly inside the far post.  Sweetly taken, a sign of soaring confidence.  A lull followed, I caught sight of a moth near the floodlights, I admired its hardiness, I wondered what species it was, I shall be mothing again very soon (ooh aye).  Ratican was the first to break from the bleak spell, he raced forth and won a free-kick.  Ball in, a mittman fumble (ooh heck) and a kick wide of the mark.  The final throw of the first half dice, Cheadle with some fine interplay with No 4 (Liam Delaney) letting loose a thunderbolt.  The save that came was economical and solid but Bacup were right on the back foot and not given a moment to stretch their toes.  With the half nearly done a ball came through the Bacup pack and found Whyatt.  The bounce was favourable, a leg was swung and a fine dipping goal was the result.  It was quite a looper, not quite as impressive as members of the Geometridae complex but I am biased.  It was still a good strike though and sent the home team into the changing rooms 3 goals to the good.

Half-time - a read and a handful of Jelly Babies followed by a short chill.  Sometimes it is good to sit quietly and ponder one's navel.

And back at it we went with The Borough putting up a good fight and showing some urgency but Cheadle were the first to cause consternation when No 11 (Christopher Sherrington) slapped a cross in and found the rising bonse of Cotton who, from mere inches out and with the goal gaping, could only hit the crossbar - a terrible miss for sure!  A free-kick followed, this time at the opposite end of the park.  No 15 (Joshua Walne) of Bacup put in a firm crack and was met by a reliable regulation save from the home No 1 (Daniel Whiting).  Bacup advanced straight away, a swift cross finding the head of No 6 (Charles Collinge) who could only nut wide and not salvage any hope for his team to build on.  The good Bacup spirit was nearly shat upon when Cotton for Cheadle had a shot go wide and Whyatt had an effort fly over - The Borough had best be warned and the impetus that they had built was not allowed to slip away.  Having said this, a cross saw No 9 (Wayne Morrison) have a chance to tap home but he somehow managed the impossible and put the ball wide - now that was a howler and maybe the last chance of getting anything from a game going AWOL.  Another lull arose, a cross from Sherrington needed the slightest touch to kill the game stone dead but was missed and a close in header for Bacup was blocked and Cheadle countered.  The move was a delicious treat, a final ball was played and Ratican pounced and slid home with precision - 4 - 0 to the hosts, call the undertaker, an order is going in for many walking dead.

From here we went into the dregs, Cheadle became wasteful and somewhat lax, Bacup, to their credit, would not lie down and ultimately die and when a surge came in the 81st minute and No 10 (Matthew Bryan) poked home I felt it was thoroughly deserved for a team still digging deep on what was an obvious off night.  A late Bacup free-kick could have doubled their tally but Morrison blazed over and Ratican at the other end followed suit rather than adding icing to a quite well-baked cake.  The game was called to a halt soon after, I am giving the Man of the Match nod to Cheadle's No 3 (Thomas Ratican) for a quite convincing performance, some quick feet and a couple of well-taken goals that exuded much potential.  He was part of a team who put on a good show, the question is, can this continue and are Cheadle, like Dale Winton's hairdresser, on the turn?

FINAL THOUGHT - Done, dusted and the witnessing of a fine Cheadle Town performance against a team who seemed a little out of sorts and with an increasing back-log of matches that must certainly be a distraction.  Cheadle impressed tonight, the stint they put in was more than efficient with several players showing a good turn of pace and an alertness as to what is happening around them whilst they are in possession of the ball.  Bacup are better than they were tonight, they are a solid looking team with some hefty chaps in their midst who just needed a bit of luck during the 90 minutes observed.  They have a long run in, it will test the resolve but I am sure they will be OK and will live to fight another day in these highly competitive leagues.  I am due a pop back up to Bacup's ground, last time was a right adventure, I have only just recovered, go on get the kettle on lads and sithee soon.