After the
first day back at work following the holiday break myself and my eternally good
lady needed a spirit lifter to keep us hopeful. I have a soft spot for
the 74 set-up, what they do they do mighty well but my most local team is the
Nomads and they have a lovely set of folk involved and are always accommodating
so, as per, I was split down the middle. Tis best to stay neutral though,
one can be more lucid in the end report (he says hopefully) and avoid any
maniacal tribalistic tendencies. The last time I did anything tribal was
when I hung around with a gang of cannibals in Botswana and ended up with a
dose of the shits after indulging in an elbow and testicle sandwich and a
savoury labia and armpit pie - very tasty it was but the mess made afterwards
was not for the faint-hearted - ooh it were nasty.
So, after arriving at the ground, all safe and sound, we had a brew, chatted to
some good folk of which there were a few and then parked our arses on a chosen
pew (poetry hey - I should invoice the lot of ya for reading such highbrow
weavings) and watched the following encounter unfold.
The first corner of the game came soon after the ball got rotating with the
hosts the recipients and playing things short allowing their No 11 (Lee Knight)
to thump one first time over the bar - it was worth a try. The Nomadic
bunch soon recovered and had a period of good steady pressure with No 9 (Richard
Tindall) eternally in the mix and showing one or two tidy touches. The
first serious surge for the guests came, No 2 (Craig Coates) knocked forth a
precise ball that started the move, No 8 (Daniel Browne) provided the end shot
that forced the home No 1 (Tony Aghayere) to produce an above standard save.
This was an intriguing encounter thus far with no real advantage had for either
team. The 74 mob cultivated the next onslaught, the ball went up, two
shabby headers by the Nomads helped propel the ball further into trouble but
thankfully the guest No 5 (Luke Taylor) read the situation and put in a
strike-stopping tackle - well played that man!
As things remained touch and go the hosts put together a fluent move that the
connoisseurs would have surely been salivating over. 2 swift and
razor-sharp passes were followed by a laser-lit cross with Knight there to bury
the ball and break this seemingly stubborn stranglehold. The touch
however was far from convincing and the ball was knocked wide - it was, in
truth, a howling miss best archived in the cabinet of 'well-forgotten'.
The home team soon advanced again, some keen probing saw No 3 (Jack Tinning)
finalise proceedings with a look, a short dart and a shot that went straight
into the keepers midriff - the first goal was surely just around the corner!
The hosts were now turning the screw, they eventually found the back of the net
but an offside decision doused rising emotions of joy and then No 10 (Callum
Gardner) was released and looked set to finish but the guest No 1 (Aaron Tyrer)
was down quicker than a corn-inspecting foot doctor and saved in good style.
The tide kept flowing one way, a free-kick looked to be much needed respite but
was terribly mis-kicked. The resident ranks regained possession, Knight
advanced, placed a shot that was destined to sneak in the far post. A
defender got in the way, the deflection was wicked to say the least and the
ball ended up in the net anyway - it had been coming, now the onus was on
Cheadle Heath Nomads to get back into this one.
The game continued with much gusto, 74 found the net again after another cruel
deflection, the goal was ruled out but then, in the flick of a tadpoles tail,
the home team wriggled a way through once more with No 8 (Matthew Woolley) taking
on the role of pornstar and quivering the upright with a right old sizzler.
The return shot came via Knight with a top notch save putting the ball behind
for a corner which, as it turns out, was hoofed with too much momentum.
The half now began to wind down, the guests dug deep, a handball claim was
waved away, a corner duly earned. The delivery from the angle was
flicked on, No 6 (Joe Hare) connected after the ball was chested down.
There was only a foot or so between the globe and tootsie contact and the back
of the net - how on earth did the player manage to blaze one way over the bar -
cor blimey guv-nor, that was some miss. Again the travellers came, a
free-kick found the hairless dome of No 8 (Daniel Browne) whose effort looked
to be travelling right to the far corner of the mesh - somehow it drifted shy
of the vertical - I was as surprised as anyone! Before the break we had
one last talking point when a Northwich free-kick was drilled toward goal, hit
a Nomadic bonse and flew into the net. It seemed like the second strike
of the night, the referee gave an offside decision - was he in possession of a
new rule book no-one else knew about - hey ho, 1 - 0 at the break it was.
Me and the good lady stayed put for the interval, chatted with a few good eggs
and shared some ginger cordial. We also had some Revels but due to
wearing gloves it was well into the second half before we managed to open them
- oh isn't life a trial.
The game soon recommenced, the impetus moved back and forth like a rubber man's
buttocks on a sexual oscillator (no, I don't know what one is either).
The Nomad's No 11 (Kyle Foley) fired straight at the keeper who punched well
and as the guests pushed on once more they were caught with their kecks around
their ankles and could only watch as No 7 (Sam Hind) galloped away and put in a
mouth-watering cross. The globe refused to wait for an attacker though
and the ball drifted out of the danger zone and allowed the Cheadle chaps to
breathe a welcome sigh of relief.
As the trailing pack had the better of things the hosts had to dig in and earn
a very toughened crust. They did just that with their No 6 (Nathan Okome)
starting a reactive move of such a scintillating standard that several home
supporters were seen to be dipping certain aroused parts in kindly provided
buckets of bromide. 3 passes came in double quick time, a cross followed,
Hind popped up to certainly double the lead, once again Tyrer was quick to
react and put in a fantastic save - a wonderful moment indeed.
The 1874 squad now mounted some serious mither, Okome was at the end of one
move, the shot spot on, the save of outstanding merit - the keeper was having a
blinder that was for sure. Free-kicks and corners came, the Nomads
managed to survive until Gardner
Soon after the same wave crashed against the same rock, Cheadle Heath Nomads
were now on the back foot, one moment they defended well, the next things went
awry, time was generously given to the opponents. Hind provided the cross,
Knight slid in at the back post and the third goal was had - I think it was
safe to say, that was indeed...that!
Substitutes came each way, 1874 Northwich finished the game with good measure
and cool control despite the opposing team still huffing and puffing and
striving to get a consolation. Browne for the visitors went on a rectal
rupturing run only to earn a corner that was snuffed out and then, with many
tired players on the pitch, the referee decided to call a halt to proceedings
and duly vibrated his pea (the unlawful git). Man of the Match goes to
1874 Northwich's No 6 (Nathan Okome) for being a well-drilled and
considered player who put in a huge stint, played with a controlled tempo and
produced many sweet touches that led to so much potential - a very good player
indeed who knows his footballing onions and is always liable to make the
opposing team's eyes water in admiration.
After farewells we roamed homeward, another good visit had watching a team on
form do the business and a team on a sticky run show that a corner is soon to
be turned - here's hoping!
FINAL THOUGHT - On paper, prior to the game, this looked like an easy
home win, at the end of the night the result looked to reflect this but it
wasn't a true reflection of what transpired. Although Cheadle Heath
Nomads are on shitty run they had many positives to consider tonight that duly
highlighted where they are doing well and where they are lacking. From a
personal standpoint the team have the right battling attitude and give a good
account of themselves as far as effort goes but, and tis a very big and
questioning but, they are lacking in composure when the time calls, they seemed
to always flounder at the last when building with much promise and options,
when in a position of threat, always seem limited. I feel 2 reliable
frontmen need a constant buzzing satellite player around them and immediate
midfield assistance to make the most of goal scoring chances with an extra
confidence at the last a veritable must. It is a mere minimal change
perhaps, it could reap big rewards. 1874 Northwich are at the top of the
North West Counties tree, they deserve to be and the reason why this is is, in
truth, quite simple. They have a pack of players who get on with
the job and even when under pressure don't get on each others cases and play
with a rigid disciplined style built on a game of quick passing and incessant
on and off the ball running. They are a pleasure to watch, have an
attitude to applaud and, if they stick to this well-drilled ethos will
certainly hold their own when moving up to the next tier. The whole set
up is welcoming and one rarely witnesses a duff game. We are certainly
fans of the whole shebang and even when they progress away from these great
North West Counties leagues, we shall still pop in and have a gander - it would
be rude not to.
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