[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