[themaclad]

Chorley 3 Ellis, Grant og Calveley Buxton 0
Att 719


A ground I rarely visit these days having moved from the area just shy of 30 years ago, spent my formative teenage years watching the Magpies although has time marched on went less and less due to the fact the big lads club took more time.
Twice saw Victory Park have gates of over 6500, the first a Northern Premier League game against Wigan, home side won 5-4 in extra time, stlll one of the best games I ever saw, also massive gate against Wimbledon in FA trophy a replay, this ended in a draw and Chorley won a second replay 2-0 at the old Fellows Park ground at Walsall, went to that as well. Never been the warmest of grounds played a Trophy match against Cheltenham? coldest day I have ever known watching football, even surpassed a frozen afternoon at Hereford watching North End draw 1-1.
The ground like the town has changed wouldn't recognise the town centre these days, the club now has an outside bar always a godsend in February, how do you like you ice, with or without beer, the main stand now has seats in it, used to be benches, the home end is new the previous one being blown down , sadly the grass bank down the side has virtually all been removed, still scene of one of the finests comments from a spectator to this day.
Colin Potts son of one time Sheff Wed player Eric, was playing for Chorley an aimless ball was played to him, he turned round and enquired of his team mates, "Where do you think, we are going?" A mid Lancastrian accent from behind me shouted "Down"
One thing that has improved is the pitch, top notch these days compared to the mudpatch it used to be.
A couple of years ago some Irish boy groups chappies became shareholders in the club hoping that one day League football will be watched at Victory Park,(It won't)
https://www.chorleyfc.com/blogs/news/boy...otted-line

As for the match after weathering the first 20 minites when you Buxton forward Brady twice should have scored, Chorley eased to victory which took them into the play off zone at the expense of their visitors, wasn't a great night for Buxton keeper True Grant an 18 year old on loan from Manchester City, a header from vastly experienced Mark Ellis seemed to go in far to easily

The secoond goal was a Grant own goal, he channelled his inner Jack Butland and punched the ball into his own net from a corner and the third Claveley inside right channel Grant got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out of the night. Buxton offered little in the second period.
Chorley manager Andy Preece was sent off for comments made against the slightly inconsistant referee.


The drive home via the many roundabouts Chorley had and the thing you notice more than anything is the vast majority of pubs you collapsed in when you were younger have now gone, closed or demolished.

[themaclad]

Longridge Town 2 Eastmond, Anderton pen Stockport Town 2 Kouam, Lomakin-Rogers

Inglewhite Road, Longridge

A Tuesday night in late winter no better place to go than Longridge whose ground is on a similar elevation to Mount Everest, luckily it was dry and no wind and not too overly cold.
Blagged a lift of my mate Malc and meet up the Derek another long time associate, three OAP's at a game, was like a really iffy version of Still Game.

Parked across from the ground could have watched it from there but paid the entry of £5 and stood pitch side, the pitch looked in decent nick for this time of the year.

For 70 minutes although there were two goals there was little in the way of excitement, both played a similar passing style of football although the home side were so slow in the build up that Stockport had plenty of time to get men behind the ball.
There were chances Longridge narrowly wide from a shot from outside the box
Stockport started to get on top and it was probably not s surprise when they took the lead from the best weapon in the game, a decent cross into the danger area, Kouam being the recepient of the cross. The home side thought he was off side and complained to the liner who looked about 12 but he was not for changing his mind.
Second haf similar and another cross into the box towards the six yard box keeper didn't come and Lomakin-Rogers made o mistake from close range.
Two down with 20 minutes to go ex North Ender Lee Ashcroft manager of Longridge played his final card a triple substitution and within a minute the defeceit was reduced, wicked ball in from the left the goal was given to Eastmond however looked like an own goal to me.
Being pitch side you instantly picked up the fact the game was now played at a faster pace, all towards the Stockport goal, the visitors made substitues to try and stem the flow of the game but to no avail, another ball into the box, mistimed tackle and penalty given.
Anderton just about beat the keeper level with about five extra minutes to play, the home side could have won when McLean from about 20 yards for all the world it looked like it was going in, cannoned against the bar to safety and within seconds the full time whistle went.

Image server down will put match squads and a picture on later

[themaclad]

[themaclad]

Droylsden 3 Kasali, Kattah, Van Darwen 2 Bailey, Severino
ATT 1184

Just down the road from the Etihad Stadium in Manchester lies the Butcher's Arms ground home of Droylsden FC, the name of the ground was taken the pub that was next door to the ground, sadly the pub has gone for the simple reason it didn't have a cellar. Droylsden is where the one eyed cop killer Dale Cregan started the series of events which eventually led to the two female policewomen in 2012.
The club also has a chequered history owned and managed by the potty mouth Dave Pace(Take my word for that) they went on an upward path and astonishingly ended up in the Conference, they not surprisingly got relegated the same season and the season after got expelled from the FA Cup due to playing a player who was suspended. They eventually landed back in the Northern Premier League but the Covid pandemic caused them to withdraw from the league due to financial pressures, the lack of income from the Social club on the ground being a factor.
Three years ago they restarted still under Dave Pace and were placed in the NWCL Southern section, they lasted one season before probably rightly being put back in tthe Northern section of the league, they lost in the play offs last season.
The reason for a Sunday game was that it was Groundhoppers weekend, were varioius matches kick of at differing times so non league fans from all over the country can visit grounds that they are usually unlikely to visit hence the crowd of over 1100


The game itself was good entertainment from their first corner Darwen scored with a header at the back post from Bailey, they dominated the first 15 minutes before the home side took control and led 2-1 at half time may possibly be slightly harsh on the Darwen keeper but personal view should have done better with both goals from Kasali and Kattah.
Darwen level just after half time ball bounced between centre back Moran and keeper Latham, Severino capitalised in the hesitation to flick the ball over the keeper and into the net.
All to play for but home side back on front within ten minutes from the inside left position Van drove a right footed shot into the net at high speed.
The end of the scoring but not the end of the enteratinment, double save by Hood in the Darwen goal in the space of ten seconds kept themm in the game. Visitors thought they had scored direct from a corner by appparently foul on the keeper they were also unlucky when Emery from 45 yards lobbed the keeper the ball it the top of the bar.
Sadly no Mr Pace to swear his way through the afternoon serving a ban, which meant he was banned from the ground under NWFL rules

[themaclad]

The Macron Cup semi final between AFC Blackpool and Stafford Town at a wet, windy and cold Jepson Way ground didn't produce a classic. Add into the heady mix and bone hard pitch which didn't make for great football. A game which AFC missed some great chances and were beaten by two dead ball kicks.

Early chances for AFC came through Gregory on the right wing one mazy run led to a chance at the back post, might have scored but the pass was behind the incoming forward. A shot from a free kick was well saved by the rather large Stafford keeper Adam Jenkins wh despite his training regeme of pies and pints looked a decent keeper.
The visitors second in the Southern Section of the league played out from the back, but looked a little light weight unlike their physically stronger host.

Stafford took the lead from a free kick just before half time, free kick about 25 yards out whipped over the wall and into the net by Hearsey, the aftermath led to an argument between the keeper ane his defenders, lots of finger pointing,unhappiness reigned.
The second period didn't amount to much, the wind got stronger and the rain got heavier, the home side by now were getting a tad frustrated with the official who had sin binned a player for telling the liner to go forth and multiply, they were even less impressed when he gave a penalty against them, Hunter sent the keeper the wrong way and the noisy support from Stafford with drum(yawn) horn and wigs celebrated en masse with their team.

The Keepers

HOME


AWAY




As with the first half the home side twice failed to take chances and fell at the semi final hurdle

[themaclad]

On a day that can be described as not overly warm, took a jaunt to Bamber Bridge, not been for a while, queued to get in behind the Ashton massive. Decent attendance for te home side, welcome income seeing as per usual they are cash strapped.
Windy, dry pitch would probably not make it a classic and it certainly wasn't.
Slight difference in footballing styles, Ashton more eager to play the ball on the floor, Brig a bit more up and at em, given Brig's centre forward was over 6 and a half feet tall probably explains why.
12th minute lead for the home side, Poilly from the inside right position, first shot block, his second effort hit the inside of the post and went in.

Goal spurred Ashton on, began to pose problems to the home dfence and scored after 24 minutes, it was coming and Osei supplied the a shot which he curled past the keeper.
Back to an even game, Brig unlucky from a free kick, keeper Eastham pushed the first effort away, then brilliantly saved the rebound.
Level at the break, the second period was disappointing to say the least, the first 15 minutes of the second period was tepid until Brig regained the lead, cross from the right caused havoc, second cross from the right headed home by the giant Bange

Ashton had run out of ideas, gone was the passing game, it was hoof it down the pitch, hence the introduction of ex Huddersfield and Chesterfield giant Tom Denton, who'se header late on was well saved by Casper to ensure that the points went to the home side to edge them closer to safety

[themaclad]

Chorley 1 Ellis Kings Lynn Town 0 Att 2665



A goal ten minutes from time sent Chorley into the Semi Final play at Scunthorpe on Saturday afternoon, the goal from a free kick was probably the only bit of inventive football the home side played, instead of lobbing evry free kick into the box, this was played down the inside left channel, ball then into the 6 yard box, not cleared and veteran Mark Ellis scrambled the ball home from close range to set up an afternoon trip to Lincolnshire.
First half was awful the ball spent more time in the air than Katy Perry, long throws and free kicks were the order of the day, didn't make for a great spectacle. Blakeman forced Jones in the Lynn goal to make a decent save and from a throw in Ellis somehow managed to miss the target from close in.
Only one chance from the visitors, Taylor down the left deep cross into the box Omotayo header straight at the keeper.

Quick start by Chorley in the second period Jones saving the visitors with a good save, then a miracle Lynn started to play the ball on the floor and they actually looked decent began to dominate but this didn't last it was back to the hoof ball stuff and with extra time looking nailed on Ellis scores. Chorley should have got a second but a great last ditch tackle denied a home forward when he was through on goal.
Can't see Chorley progressing past Scunny but it's a funny ole game