Today the young un' was helping clean up the nursery where she works, well she is one of the leaders so must set a good example. The missus and I headed out with Plan A scratched, Plan B, abandoned, Plan C down the pipe and Plan D adopted. The cause of the diversions was the weather with forecasts shite, pure shite and double shite in several areas we were aiming for. Astley Park was the first destination, a place we had never visited and one which looked half decent. We arrived, had a niggling in the tums and so headed to the cafe and... indulged. A good breakfast and a brew and then some walking with fungi, birds, the odd bloom and a few lichens noted. A new fungus was found too - Ceriporia excelsa, what a bonus.
From here we had a potter around some shops, had a fine brew to avoid a downpour and considered a few purchases but only ended up with some quite appealing candlesticks. Time ticked on, not a bad day at all.
And to the ground. A park up, a walk around the cricket pitch and into the ground proper. We shared a tray of chips, had a brew each and found a couple of fine perches. Predictions were made and then we awaited the teams, ooh I was hoping my goal healthy season's average would be maintained.
From the embryonic gambits of the game some slick passing gave the guests the first hoofing from the angle. The delivery was tidy, the defensive header that came was effective but led to another corner. Another posting, a flick on and a handball shout. The referee was in no doubt and awarded a penalty. No 11 (Takura Sambizi) stepped up, paused, picked his spot and blessed the onlookers with the first goal of the game.
The Heys Brigade continued to push and make most of the running as the hosts struggled to settle. The home team did win a free-kick which was played short, dinked in with No 7 (Ethan Eccleston) crossing only to find no takers waiting. The home lads built again soon after with a back to front move that was finalised by a shot over the bar. It looked as though an equaliser was on the cards but The Heys advanced and a couple of balls into the box followed. Time temporarily froze as the globe went loose and No 7 (Bryson Appleton) poked home.
The resident crew now had a tough task ahead and after a minor sortie forth they could easily have been 3 down when a quick move saw a cross find the crust of No 9 (Louis Holt) whose free header dropped inches wide. This was a very good game and a home goal was now getting more than crucial but the visitors were looking the most likely to bag a third with several smooth moves only just snuffed out at the last by what could be only describe as desperate tackles.
Eventually matters became more balanced with the only real attempt on goal coming via Sambizi for The Heys who had a sugar sweet pop just fly the wrong side of the upright. The half fizzled away and Charnock began to make a little more headway and looked on the brink of making a real impression. Suddenly a back pass was made by the leading team, the home No 9 (Jordan Darr) accepted an unexpected gift, kept his cranial conkers intact and stroked the ball home. What a bonus indeed and duly throwing the game up in the air. With seconds from the restart Charnock looked to strike once more with a free-kick taken by No 8 (James Nolan) who sent in a real dandelion decapitator only to see the keeper right behind the ball. Things were suddenly looking a whole lot brighter for the CR fans and players.
The last phases of the first period saw the guests have a couple of pops and then Charnock Richard indulge in a quick break with a turn, a touch and Nolan looking to bury but somehow managing to find the outside of the target zone. A few more pushes came, no further thrills or skills were exposed although CR's Eccleston should have at least hit the strike zone but blazed over. Things were all to play for.
We stayed put for the break, idling away, watching the world roll by and nattering. This had been a good game so far, my 50th of the season in fact, it is better than supporting the money-soaked big teams methinks and when combined with a walk and a few cafe visits, tis always a good day out.
Half two - Prestwich Heys played an early possession game when a Charnock long ball saw the opposing mittman and defender get in a muddle and nearly a allow a poacher to nip in and regain parity - the chance was not taken however and it was Prestwich Heys who had the first two cracks at goal with No 6 (Joshua Tinker) way off target and No 4 (James Badrock) linking up with No 8 (Robert Worrall) who turned at pace and sent forth a shot with too much uplift.
From here the guests continued to take their time with one attack seeing a finalising header strike the upright. Charnock responded with a slick move that brought no joy and then Appleton for The Heys was at the end of a Holt pass and had the chance to seal the game but fired wide. In return Eccleston for the home crew pilfered, raced away and set his sights only to fire straight at the keeper.
Charnock began a good industrious period of pressure, a bout of eager football that produced several shots and forced the guest No 1 (Kyle Haslam) to produce several quality saves. A free-kick for Prestwich was a poor decision and thankfully for the trailing team the shot from Worrall went shy of the netting.
Into the end stages we went, Prestwich had a break with a corner won. The ball was played in, No 14 (Shay Stansfield) had a header cleared off the line with a break leading to bugger all. Prior to the final peeps Charnock had a rapier attack, a shot came and in all the excitement I couldn't tell if it was saved or pinged off the post. Either way, the outcome was a corner with Prestwich Heys surviving and, as it turned out, seeing out the game and bagging the full 3 points.
In fairness a draw would have been a just result but Prestwich Heys put in a good stint and the Man of the Match for me goes to the No 4 (James Badrock) who read the game well, was always on hand to clear up any dangers and played with a sanguine style that kept things fairly steady at the back.
We had enjoyed this return visit to a club we were last at in the 2016/2017 season. By crikey we best not leave it this long again.
FINAL THOUGHTS - Well, there is little to add here only that these two teams were similar in many ways, are both mid-table and have had a season with some good wins and poor losses. This North West Counties Premier League is a very tough affair and with some teams chucking money about and some running on a restrictive budget it is a real slog to make any progress. I think both units have enough to keep on competing at this level but to push on they may be not far off the mark but investment is needed and, of course, a bit of good fortune. I really enjoyed todays visit and like the set up here. The season just now needs to be seen out and next year minor adjustments and a few extra players are needed and each club can hopefully make adequate improvements. I am looking for a club to make my most watched next year, could one of these be in the mix, we shall see. In the meantime, good luck to all and here's to a flourishing finish.
