Not be needing this again this season

Mark Clement gets his piece ready

They think it's all over it is now

End of season argument after final whistle Alex Kenyon in blue Mossley sub in orange

Salt Mines of Wincham Part 1

Lancaster City v Belper Town @ Wincham Park, Wincham, Northwich

On a breezy but dry April night, the final of the Copa del Presidente took place at Witton Albions ground in the small Cheshire village of Wincham. It's a unique village as the areas other non league football team also play in the same village, both clubs having built newish grounds in this area of Cheshire.

218 turned up for the Final with about 130 from Lancaster, an extremely noisy support as well.
A turgid first 30 minutes with the ball being launched into the stratosphere on a regular basis, City looked the better side but there was precious little in the way of goalmouth action.
12 minutes before half time City took the lead with a goal which was not in keeping with the play that had gone before. Swarbrick found himself 25 yards from goal, decided to chip the ball over the keeper, the ball seemed to be drifting over the bar when at the last moment it dipped under the bar and into the net, cue mass celebration behind the goal. (Lanc 1 Belp 0)
City visibly relaxed and started to look dangerous every time they went forward. The single goal sepearted the sides at half time, Belper had not forced Fearon into a save.
Belper started quickly in the 2nd half finally having a couple of efforts on goal, but normal service was soon resumed and it wasn't long before City doubled their lead. Henry persistence on the right led to his cross being bundled home by Swarbrick. (City 2 Belp 0)
City were in total control, Belper began to get desperate with a few X rated tackles going in. One particular tackle led to a bit of a melee between the players but the situation was quickly calmed down by the officials.
City should have had a third when the Belper keeper Barcherini made a complete horlicks of throwing a ball out of his area, his throw only went 10 yards to Swarbrick who beat the keeper to the ball but then tried to be too clever and the keeper made up for his mistake.
Within a minute that chance didn't matter the ball arrived at Swarbrick's feet in front of goal, he picked his spot and scored his and City's third. (Lanc 3 Belp 0)

It was a case of playing out time Belper duly pulled one back from the penalty spot through Froggatt just as the cup with it's blue and white ribbons was being placed at the side of the pitch. (Lanc 3 Belp 1)

The final whistle brought a mini but good natured pitch invasion, Neil Marshall was presented the cup,not by the President but by his widow, the celebrations would have gone on all night but the hosts turned the lights out.

Belper Town 1 Lancaster City 3 Att 218

Lancaster City cruised to victory at Ossett Albion’s Dimple Wells ground, on a chilly Yorkshire afternoon the team from the Red Rose county simply outclassed and overwhelmed their hapless Yorkshire opponents.

City took the lead after 2 minutes when Johnson’s lob hit the bar, the ball fell to Rushden who centered from close range to Jonson who bundled the ball home. (Alb 0 city1)

It was all one way as City powered down the slope to pile on the pressure, a Kenyon free kick was well saved and other efforts went narrowly wide before Duggan bravely headed home from close range. (Alb 0 City 2)

On the stroke of half time Swarbrick brushed off some feeble defending to make it three. (Alb 0 City 3)

Albion offered absolutely nothing, so Rogerson who was making his debut in the City goal had a very easy first half.

Ossett made 3 changes at half time within 2 minutes they were four down, a Wilson free kick from fully 45 yards was completely misread by the Albion keeper who could only palm the ball into his own net. (Alb 0 City 4)

Albion were then reduced to 10 men when one of the substitutes limped off injured, down to 10 and being hammered. Interest started to wain as it became little more than a training game. City should have scored more but offside, decent goalkeeping and wayward shooting kept the score to four.

It was a relief to all and sundry when the referee brought an end to the game. Easy for Lancaster.

Ossett Albion 0 Lancaster City 4 Att131

A non thriller at the Crilly

Leigh Genesis v Lancaster City @Crilly Park Atherton



71 hardy souls turned up to watch this epic encounter, when the match should have been played Leigh had just lost their previous home game 8-0 however in the meantime better players had been brought in therefore this would not be a walkover for City.

A less than enthralling first half, lots of running around with very little to show for it. With a desperately small crowd the words of the players were clearly heard, totally surprised to hear that most footballers actually swear. Stunned and shocked by it.

Neither keeper had a shot to save and for those anoraks there were 2 trains on the line behind the bottom goal. The one thing you should no about Crilly Park is that it makes the ski jump at Innsbruck look like a flat surface.

City kicked down the hill in the first half and possibly shaded the first half but as neither side did anything of note you could possibly say neither side shaded it.

Ambled into the clubhouse for abit of warmth and noticed that Jamie Redknapp had failed to find his razor again, too busy taking free holidays with Tompson’s.

2nd half began with the tempreture plummiting toward zero, happily the game was better, Hall hitting the bar for Lancaster and Priestley the loud and wide keeper for Leigh twice saving well.

Leigh had a spell of pressure and a shot from 30 yards was superbly tipped over the bar by Fearon the City keeper. Leigh also had a shot cleared from the line but that was as close as we got to a goal, City finished the game the stronger but could not break down the resolute home defence.

During the 2nd half there was the sight of a car being driven down the railway line towards Wigan, British Rail obviously have gone on an economy drive
The referee brought an end to proceedings into the cold Atherton night the 71 went.

Leigh Genesis 0 Lancaster City 0 Att 71

Swansea v Preston

6/4/1993 will a day that I will always remember, it was a day the Grand National was won by Esha Ness which didn't count due to a false start, it was the day of the all Sheffield cup final and it poured down. How do I know this?
At 2.45pm I was stuck in a traffic jam about 2 miles from the old Swansea ground the Vetch Field, the radio was on and were listening to the above game when the presenter stated that the weather in London was dull and grey but not as bad as Wales and the West Country where the games at Torquay and Swansea have been postponed because of waterlogged pitches.
Fast forward 17 years and it was back to Swansea only this time to the Liberty stadium.
An early start 6.45am picked up my mate at 7.30 and away we go, decided to go the scenic route down the A49 through Cheshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire also it was 60 mile shorter than using the motorway.
An early pit stop at a very cold Church Stretton before lunching at Ross on Wye.
A bit of stale bread and a meat filling passed the good food test only just though.
Arrived at the park and ride outside the city this appeared to be the local gypsy encampment as well, so the question was , "Will there still be wheels on the car when we get back?"
A decent stadium shared with the rugby team, plenty of leg room with the seats.
The game was very entertaining for the first 20 minutes both teams having chances and Preston appeared to be in the ascendency, however young winger Danny Mayor had a nightmare 60 seconds firstly he lost possession outside his own penalty area Cotterill's shot hitting the post, however he then tried to dribble in his own area again lost possession this time though Dobbie made no mistake. (1-0 Swansea)
That was the end of the contest Swansea dominated, North End were chasing shadows. The guy behind me commentated hope we don't go in 2 down at half time, we didn't we went in 3 down.
Shocking defending from a corner led to Pratley scoring from close range, with the defence again missing Dyer scored easily 3 minutes later. (Swansea 3 up game over)
To compound the misery North End's nearest and dearest rivals were 3 up at Wigan.
Swansea should have been 4 up shortly after the break but a great double save by Lonergan saved them. The reprieve only lasted a couple of minute when Dyer was brought down in the box. Cotterill scored easily from the spot. (4-0)
Still 35 minutes to go before the 5 hours journey home. Swansea eased off although still could have scored more however North End kept on trying, King missed a sitter and Treacey hit the bar however the away sides day was summed up by an offside effort from Parkin who almost managed to put the ball out of the ground from 5 yards out.
It was raining as we got on the coach back to the park and ride and yes the wheels were still on.
The journey back wasn't to bad stopped for some Fish and Chips in Ross on Wye, the only downside was listening to gloating Tangerine fans after their 4-0 win at Wigan, felt happier after Chelsea scored 6 to keep them from the top of the league.

Swansea City 4 Preston North End 0 Att14010

Next up Fleetwood/Mansfield on Tuesday night.

Game 1 Preston v Doncaster 7/8/2010

As usual expectations for football fans run high at this time of the season. At Preston we've had a summer of turmoil, winding up order, a take over and lots of new faces and departures on the playing front.
Going back about 20 years or so expectations were also high when we opened the season against Peterborough and were a goal down within 30 seconds that year we struggled. So up to the ground I strolled on a humid Preston saturday and got ready for this years promotion push to the Premier league.
After 18 minutes Doncaster were 2 up not exactly the start you want, after an even opening Donnie took the lead with their first attack, the ball ended up with O'Connor on the right hand side of the box, his shot was going wide until a deflection took it into the net. 5 minutes later a cross from the left fell to Sharp whose effort on goal was well saved by Lonergan but the ball fell well for Hayter who didn't miss.
North End who were slightly injury hit for the first game fought back into tthe game and a cross from Tracey should have been buried into the net by Brown who missed contact with the ball.
Doncaster apart from that scare pass the ball about and rarely looked in trouble in the first half much to the delight of their large travelling support.
The second half brought a couple of early chances for the visitors both were narrowly wide.
After 10 minutes of the 2nd half Coutts was brought on for the home side and for a period of 10 minutes up their game and missed another chance which should have been buried.
The game had been slightly tetchy with a bit of handbags between players 5 having been booked in the first half, there was only one booking in the 2nd half that went to Gillett for a horror of a tackle on Jones, it was his second yellow which gave him a red.
So Donnie were now down to 10 and didn't look in any trouble until a bizarre spell of football near the end of the game when North End contrived to miss 4 absolute sitters, Brown twice, King and Treacey should have done better.
Although he missed his chance King came on and showed pace with 1 run Usain Bolt would have been proud off. When King stepped onto the pitch he was the 1000th player to play for Preston.

Left the ground with the thought that buying a ticket for the Swansea away game next Saturday may not have been the brightest of ideas.

Preston North End 0 Doncaster Rovers 2 Att 12190

Macs football blog 2010/2011

Afternoon all, will be blogging my way through the highs and lows of the forthcoming football season mainly following two football teams, league wise Preston and non league Lancaster, although my first match will take in a Scottish cup tie on 31/7/2010.
There will be some inaction shots of games and grounds. So be warned