16th April 2018 - Cheadle Town 3 v 3 Eccleshall FC - The weather is warming up just as the season approaches the end, it is surely the creation of a perverse mind that has seen many of us dither in the cold, run for shelter when the cruel skies have haemhorraged and swill tea by the bucketload in the hope of generating a little inner thermality. It is a welcome change and after a day of cycling, wildlifing and sorting out a few trips I arrived at the ground in good time to settle in and have a natter with a few familiar folk. The match tonight, like many at this time of the year, carried little importance and was one of those latter end fixtures fought for pride and a slightly advanced position rather than an encounter filled with relegation fear or promotion-based hopes. Despite this I expected a keen contest and one that was perhaps in favour of the home 'erberts. A recent fixture saw The Greens travel to Ecky's home ground and come away with a 3-4 victory. Therefore, on form, a home win was on the cards. We all know about 'form' though, a reliability-free scenario that cons the unwary and sees the gambler caught, over and over again, with his trousers down. I wisely leave others to make bold public predictions but now and again I suffer a weakening and commit myself without a care - tonight I was going for a 3 - 1 home win, I'll see you at the end of this report, hopefully with privates covered and with a sagacious slant in my scribblings, then again...!
Out came the teams, the initial swing of the pushing pendulum hovered the way of The Town via a free-kick that ended in a tame shot by the wide awake No 11 (Callum Collinson). Soon after the same team advanced once more, No 10 (Richard Whyatt) to No 9 (Jake Ambrose) and swiftly to No 7 (Michael Sherrington) who walked the ball home and finalised a quite sweet move made slightly easier by some lethargic marking. Cheadle now added extra pressure and all Eccleshall could offer in return was a bonus-boot that fell into the realms of shittery. A blank period came, we were in an action-free zone with both teams busting a gut but failing to grasp any chance of glory. From an Eccy corner, a breakaway came, No 10 (Shay Finney) put in a pearling cross and it was with gnawing disappointment that takers were late on arrival. The home side were starting to play some decent football, the away team just didn't seem at the races and were still a touch off the pace of the game. Another Town free-kick, Collinson stepped up and clouted the ball with added dip. The ball went up and over the wall, fell with pace and needed a firm hand by the visiting No 1 (Matthew Johnson) to see it over. The corner saw No 4 (Liam Delaney) connect with an overhead hook but the result was poor indeed. Eccleshall now tried to cultivate a ray of hope, the best they could manage was a shot from No 4 (Jack Warren) but the home No 1 (Daniel Whiting) easily collected. The visiting tribe though were warming to the task with No 7 (Thomas Wakefield) trying a shot at the angle but again finding fresh air rather than the targeted net. As The Eagles tried to swoop back in Cheadle flew free, a laser cross was put in to the perilous zone and Whyatt flashed in with an outstretched leg looking to get the killer touch, alas he was a fraction of a second too late, the guest keeper looked a trifle relieved.
Into the back stretch of the first half we went, Cheadle looked to be holding all the trump cards but one should never underestimate the powers of unpredictability within these intriguing leagues. Eccleshall stemmed the flow, a floated cross was hoofed out but Wakefield cracked one back, got a deflection and earned his side a corner. The ball was fizzed in with pace, the home defense became static, in glided Wakefield and executed a quite simple header - this mucky and stodgy game was back on a level par. Within the blinking of a buggered eye Eccleshall were granted another corner after a Cheadle defensive blip. The globe was put in with equal accuracy and zest, this time The Town dealt with matters and eventually saw the half-out via some scrambling play. This first 45 hadn't been a classic, I chatted with a fine couple who considered it a real poor show, the second half didn't have much to live up to, it was a bit like following Jimmy Cricket at the London Palladium, things were looking up.
Cheadle Town created the first attack of the second period, a throw in, Whyatt with a cross and Ambrose denied on the line. The ball was clattered clear, Eccleshall reacted, great flank work from Wakefield saw a cross follow and a header from No 11 (Daniel Needham) that failed to bulge mesh, it should have been nailed if the truth be told. A Cheadle error allowed The Eck to break again, a pass, a cross and a last minute clearance kept the animation levels high and for a few players it all became too much and tempers flared. 2 bookings were given, one to each team, both pointless. The game took a turn for the worse, it became a sketchy debacle with the midfield mush producing only the odd hopeful ball for an attacker to try and do something with. No 8 (Daniel Wood) for Cheadle Town had the next effort, it lacked grace, finesse and...accuracy. As matters progressed it seemed a goal was the last thing on anyone's mind when suddenly No 14 (Christopher Sherrington) worked the wing and tossed in a half-decent cross. The keeper came to gather after a moments hesitation. The ball floated over the mitter's raised arms and dropped into the net - it kind of summed up the quality of the game.
From here an overdue upswing arose, The Town's intelligent No 2 (Joseph Nield) produced a solid run, put in a delightful ball and was unfortunate not to see the move finalised by a hungry striker. Christopher Sherrington came again, some great feet helped him punt one over to the bonse of Whyatt who saw his effort blocked on the line - now this was more like it! From here the home lads had a free-kick that was wonderfully delivered, it was regretful that no toe could make contact and nudge home. Eccleshall bounced back, Needham blazed one across the goal and just missed the far upright. We returned to the other side of the pitch, No 5 (James Dunn) for The Greens picked up the ball and went on a superb weaving run. His pass was delectable and it was gratifying in the extreme to see Whyatt collect and slip home with a strikers precision and complete a ruddy fine footballing sequence. 3 - 1 to the hosts, my powers of foresight knew no bounds, bang on the money I was...well until...
Into the last 10 minutes we went, The Eagles were pecking, a free-kick was hammered. The home No 1 spilled the ball, up stepped Wakefield and nodded home his second whilst giving his team unexpected promise. The away team came with desire, one break was interrupted by an offside call, the Eccy bench erupted, they left their seats like synchronised Jack-In-The Boxes, although the language used was not that associated with children's toys. Cheadle stormed back, Sherrington to No 12 (Luke Cotton) who let rip with a forceful thump. It looked like icing on the cake but the keeper had other ideas and produced a blinding save, well done that man. Another fractious moment came, Cheadle were too easily rattled for a team in the lead. A long discussion between the official came but no action was taken. A Cheadle player was clobbered soon after, another delay was had. The match was nearly done, a throw to Eccleshall was taken in an innocuous situation. A hoof forth was had, a quick pass and in slipped Needham to stun the home crew, to bring joy to his fellow fighters and to give the game the exciting finish very much needed for all we neutral fans. The referee blew soon after, from a struggle came many surprises and, if truth be told, a score draw was a very fair result for all concerned. Farewells and a quick chat to the home mitter's Dad and off I pootled, still bewildered by what had transpired. Man of the Match by the way goes to Eccleshall's No 4 (Jack Warren) - a stout performance with a steady head that helped gain some semblance of decency in a quite vulgar and unappealing contest and also went some way to the Eagle's sharing the spoils.
FINAL THOUGHT - I am usually upbeat about the matches I attend but this was far from an uplifting game although the last 20 minutes did give much consolation and sent me home in a better mood than expected. Both teams are in the lower half of the table and there was much evidence on show tonight as to why this is the case. The game at times was too rushed and so lost fluidity and induced frustration. From the frustration distraction came and therefore focus lost and, when this happens, you can guess the outcome. The best players on the park were the ones who kept their heads down, that is the way the game should be played, forget what others are getting involved in, do your thing and enthuse your colleagues to follow suit - therein many victories await! I think next year both squads will have an improved output, I hear changes are afoot at the home club and Eccleshall have improved on last years efforts and no doubt will hope to do the same again. I can feel a trip coming on, it has been has while since I graced their ground, I best get the diary out.
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