The Park Road Stadium, home of Cheadle Town based in Cheadle, Stockport, Greater Manchester and they play in the North West Counties Football league. It’s 3 games in 3 days for me!! Cheadle the chosen destination today for their game against 1874 Northwich!! Let’s hope it’s a cracker just like I hope the England game is tonight!!!!
Train to Stockport and then bus into Cheadle and here we are. £6.50 ticket to get into this pre-season game! Emphatic! Plenty of green Northwich shirts on show today, let’s hope they bring some atmosphere too!
Kick Off! Northwich starting the better of the 2 teams so far. 7 minutes in and Northwich come down the left, an early cross into the box, number 10 is there with a free header… He scores!! The keeper wrong footed and Northwich take the lead! 0-1!
17th minute now and Cheadle have a free kick in a crossing position on the right, in comes the cross, number 10 has broken free at the back post… He can’t divert his shot goalward but it goes into the air to be attacked… It gets defended by Northwich and they head clear.
Northwich still just the better team having just that little more of the ball, Cheadle giving it a right go but not carving out any clear cut chances so far. 28th minute now and Northwich win a free kick on the corner of the edge of the box on the left, the free kick is crossed in, number 4 is totally unmarked at the far post… He’s headed wide! Good chance but I think it was just a bit away from him to divert goalward.
40 minutes now and Cheadle come forward, number 4 runs at the Northwich defence, he’s brought down by Northwich’s number 5 and it’s a free kick around 20 yards out, number 7 stands over it, he goes for goal… Wide!
Right on half time now and Northwich come forward down the right, the ball is crossed low and here’s number 9… He’s put it wide… Should be 2 for Northwich and that is the last action of the half with the score at 0-1.
Second half, 1 minute in to the second half and Northwich come straight out the blocks, the ball falls to number 7 on the edge of the box and he shoots… Deflected… OFF THE POST!! Cheadle clear.
Can Cheadle finally stamp some authority into this game in this half? 54th minute and Cheadle come forward now, they work it on to the left hand side, number 12 gets himself into a crossing position and he delivers, here’s number 9… And they do equalise!!! 1-1!! Good header!
68 minutes on the clock now and Northwich have a free kick in a crossing position on the left, in it comes, number 5 is free… He scores!!! It’s the day of the headers!! Number 5 with nobody on him heads it in and it’s 1-2!!
75th minute now and Cheadle win the ball back in the Northwich half, number 12 gets it and charges forward, he gets to the edge of the box and goes for it… Great save by the keeper!! He gets a fingertip to it and the Referee has given a goal kick… Cheadle not happy! The Northwich fans shouting “good save keeper!” In response.
1 minute later and here come Northwich now down the left, crossed in towards number 9!! Point blank save by the keeper! It’s a corner, in it comes… Cheadle clear.
Can Cheadle find an equaliser again here? 83 minutes on the clock and Cheadle have the ball in their own half, a long ball forward is played, number 9 runs onto it with the keeper committed… He beats the keeper and he’s got an open goal from the left wing, he shoots… He’s missed… Tight angle you could say but you would still expect him to hit the target!
Into stoppage time now and one last charge for Cheadle perhaps? Number 15 wins it for Cheadle and charges down the right wing, he crosses low, Northwich clear, Cheadle’s number 9 wins it back brilliantly and he runs at goal, he gets just inside the box and shoots…… Straight at the keeper! Cheadle will not find that equaliser.
FT: Cheadle Town 1-2 1874 Northwich
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 2/10 – A few in attendance today, no chanting as such but you could tell there was a crowd there today.
- The Ground: 7/10 – It’s a nice ground! Got a lot of personality too it! A good facility for junior teams and a decent little café in the porta cabins, they have made the best of what they have got! And the stand is absolutely fantastic!!!
- Expense: 9/10 – £6.50 is no problem whatsoever but the game wasn’t the best I have ever seen and was a bit flat at times. The food and drink was definitely cheap enough.
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – A decent day out all in all, a decent game of football! The 2 ladies working the café were exceptionally friendly! They gave me a free chocolate bar too! They thought I was Australian for some reason which gave me the excuse to put on an Australian accent which made them chuckle… because it was terrible but a good day here nonetheless!
24/40
Check out where that leaves them in the table here