[themaclad]

Given the overnight soaking the choice of matsches to go too was reduced considerably therefore playing it safe went to Lancaster to watch them take on Colwyn Bay.
Bay's last visit to the Axe was memorable for all the wrong reasons for City in 2009/10 City had finished second in the league having wracked up 97 points with Bay finishing fourth 25 points behind them. So both teams were in the play offs and met in the final at the Axe. It hadn't rained for weeks until about 15 minutes before the kick off. To say it hammered down was an understatement on the pitch By won 1-0 with a last minute penalty, deservedly so on the day and I had wade my way through six inches of water to attempt to get into my car.
Fast forward to today and the two sides met at an again damp Giant Axe.
The visitors started the better one volleyed effort flew over the top of the bar, City began to exert pressure and following a series of corner they took the lead, Connerton, Gregory and Winder combined well with Gregory's cross being put into the danger area where Grant decided to put the ball into his net under pressure from Connerton.
Connerton classy header set up Gregory minutes later but his final touch let him down and the Bay keeper smothered the chance. Although not at their best City always looked the likelier of the two sides to score but Bay did come close with Bakkor firing narrowly wide. Not the greatest of first halves the seconed was better, Bay gained the initiative but City again came close to scoring when Winder went close. On of the Bay's management duo described their quality as being a bit shit but they kept pegging away and missed a glorious chance when one of the substitutes caused havoc down the left hand side, his cross found two unmarked Bay players not more than six yards out, cocked it up did they! Another goalmouth scramble almost met the same fate of no goal being scored and you got the feeling the Bay would end up with nothing from the game.
City mounted some pressure Connerton wasd unlucky with a fine effort but with seven minutes left the Bay equalised with a tap in from close range Andrews, which was no more than they deserved, with virtually the last kick of the game City keeper Hale had too make a fine save to tip a 20 yarder arond the post, personal view fair result.

Lancaster City 1 Colwyn Bay 1 Att 230

[themaclad]

A perfect nightbfor football as AFC Blackpool took on Bacup Borough in a North West counties league division1 match at Jepson Way last night.
Arrived with the ground in total darkness apparently delayed kick off due to travel problems for the visitors, the lights were not on due tothe AFC chairman being a tight git so said the gateman.
AFC fresh from actually winning a game whilst the visitors were at the wrong end of the table after last season being beaten in the play off final. Promise to be a tough game for the home side.
The early stages were all Bacup's and they took the lead when from a cross Gervan in acres of space had the simple task of heading home from close range. The visitors threatened to run riot with two direct wingers Leather and Hall causing carnage. Leather seemed to have the pace of Usain Bolt with a bit of skill, he was hacked down in the area should have been a penalty wasn't given the referee must have been the only person in the ground who didn't think it was a penalty. Gervan chipped the keeper but hit the bar and they also had a goal disallowed.
From out of nowhere AFC full back back Dickson went on a mazy run his cross was perfect the header from a home forward was perfect but the save from Ashley was superb. It wasn't long before AFC levelled when Charnley netted from about 12 yards. It was ebb and tuck until half time as the sides departed for the break level.
Home managers team talk at half time was heard throught the clubhouse much to the amusement of those listening, his words work the oracle as soomn after the break Bacup retookthe lead, free kick for the right Garven in acres of space again simple header, goal.
Bacup dominated and on the hour made it it 3-1 the home defence was cut apart and Garven duly compoleted his hat trick hammering the ball into an empty net from about 1 yard.
Game over not quite within a minute Charnley had reduced the arrears with a blitzer of a shot from the edge of the box following great work by Stephens. The home side were back in this Charnley being the main danger narrowly missing with a free kick, but chances for the home side were not often and the visitors were holding on without too much alarm until a free kick near the end when Charnley's free kick curled in towards the goal it might of got a touch on the way through but Ashley again pulled off a worldie stop to deny the goal.
Decent game AFC improving but just need some experience in the side.

AFC Blackpool 2 Bacup Borough 3 Att 61

[themaclad]

Sad news from Lancaster City, Neil Marshall who retired st the end of the 2015-16 season sadly lost his battle against cancer and died today at the age of 31. RIP Marshie

[themaclad]

A tough week for supporters of Lancaster City following the death of last season's captain Neil Marshall ended with three points in a chaotic match against Mossley in front of an excellent crowd of 531. All gate receipt went towards the Memorial fund for Marshall as did all the raffle proceeds. In the prematch speech all players wore number five and there was applause on five minutes.
It would have been understandible if City had struggled however they were up against a Mossley side who had shipped in eight at Scarborough.
It was easy to see why the visitors had been hammered several players looked overweight, some couldnot tackle and some were just shite.
City bombed out of the blocks and took the lead after seven minutes when Waters advanced on the Mossley goal before firing home unchallenged from about 20 yards. Action was all one way and if it had not been for the excellence of the Mossley keeper City would have been out of sight, a double save being the best of them, City also hit the post.
Having been battered Mossley almost reduced the arrears with an outrageous back heeled effort from 10 yards, it beat the keeper but not the full back on the line. City duly doubled the lead on the stroke of half time Waters from close range.
Within minutes of the restart City should have scored two more another fine save from the keeper, but it was Mossley who reduced the deficit when Keogh sored from close range. Within 30 secons City were 3-1 ahead little sign of any defender as Gregory scored from close range. City hit the post then another was cleared of the line, Gregory again was in acres of space when he made it 4-1.
Moss;ey decided that lobbing the ball forward was the way to go to their bulky forwards of which one Mike Fish bulldozed his way through to reduce the arrears again.
City continued to go close but the visitors keeper was having a worldie with six minutes to go Burke gave the score a bizarre look by scoring from 12 yards to give the visitors a sniff of as point, they did not get it as City held on.
So City now third in the league a couple of points behind leaders Scarborough with four games in hand.


Lancaster City 4 Mossley 3 Att 531

Neil Marshall 1985-2016

[themaclad]

Given that there was a full schedule of fixtures on New Years Eve many cllubs have got wise and changed the dates of their games to get fans the chance to d what they normally do on New Yers Eve and that is to get completely hammered, I won't though as my body is a temple worshipped by none these days.
Anyway back on track Lancaster took on Burscough at a chilly Giant Axe last night (Thursday), it hadn't beena great week for the home side losing a Kendal on Monday in a game which was delayed by 20 minutes due to a minority of alleged City fans battling with stewards and anybody else who happened to get in teh way, so there were quite a few Old Bill at the game last night plus a couple of grippers acting as security. Sadly the events will cost the club money with beefed up security.
On the pitch though City moved back to the top of the league with a fairly straight forward win against Burscough who at kick off were bottom of the league.
The visitors arrived late, their kit didn't arrive at all and by 25 minutes they were 3 down and the points had long since been lost.
City scored in the first minute from a corner when Connerton powered home a header. Eight minutes later it was two, Connerton sliding the ball home from 12 yards it was threatening to become a rout. The visitors soon made a tactical substitution they took of a James Corden lookalike midfielder who looked to have eaten well this Christmas. The change didn't work and thanks to some absolutely pap defending it was three down game over, Mayers being the scorer.
Amidst the chaos in the Burscough box the visitors had one chance which narrowly wide. They did possess one weapon they were able to take inswinging corners and just before half time substitute Smith curled one straight in, possibly game on again.
City had chances to increase the lead especially Connerton who hit the bar from about 12 yards but stout defending and good goalkeeping kept them out. The second half was more competitive as Burscough thanks to a couple of change looked a better side and made City work for the points but sadly for the visitors they could not reduce the arrears and they will end the year bottom whilst City will end it top.

Lancaster City 3 Burscough 1 Att 195

[themaclad]

A first visit in a few years to one of my old stomping grounds Victory Park, Chorley, having lived in the area for about 30 years spent many a happy hour or so watching the Magpies in various legues.
Today they were at home to top of the table AFC Fylde in a local derby. The two sides had met on Boxing Day at Fylde'sswanky new home and had won 2-0 in front of an impressive 3800, today's return attracted the non to shabby gate of 3100.
The ground hasn't changed much over the years although the Duke Street End now has a new cover after the previous one was condemned, the grass banks down the side and behind the Pilling Lane end are still there but in these days of elf and safety you cannot stand on them. One thing is that the ground is still probably one of the coldest in the entire world and on the first day of the year it still was a fridge.
The first half started brightly with both keepers having early action although Taylor in the Fylde goal was slightly lucky to get away with an air shot outside his area. The game settled down into an aerial slug fest with occasional bouts of football breaking out. A brief spell of action when a Bradley snapshot was kept out by Chorley keeper Rowley and within seconds at the other end Taylor made a fine save to deny Charnock, and that was it for the first half.
Chorley took the lead within 30 seconds with a goal of stunning brilliance out of context with anything that had gone before, a long ball found Blakeman 30 yards out his shot hammered into the far corner Taylor clutching fresh air. Advantage the hosts but not for long, within minutes Fylde had scored Collins heading home from a right wing corner. Fylde were in the ascendency although Chorley came close with a header that went narrowly wide, but soon Fylode were ahead, right wing cross Bradley stealing in between defenders heading home from about 8 yards. Fylde were dealing well with Chorley's aerial assault and looked the more likely to score but a collision between Carver and a Fylde defender led to a lengthy stoppage about 15 minutes. Carver needed a lot assistance and due to the delay the players left the field although not before the referee had booked the unfortunate Chorley man.
Following the delay the game became a little disjointed with Chorley still bombing it forward whilst Fylde relied on the break to try and snaffle a third, another Blakeman howitzer went narrowly wide but more gaps were appearing at the back for Chorley and in the 16th minute of injury a Fylde break down the right, Rowe centred and Bond had the easy task of slotting home from close range to seal the points for Fylde.
Fylde stay clear by six points and it is hard not to see them getting promoted to the Conference National at the end of the season.

Chorley 1 AFC Fylde 3 Att 3100

[themaclad]

Lancaster remained top of the Evo Stick North League with a 3-1 over Radcliffe Borough at the Giant Axe last night although sounds convincing it was a bit closer than the scoreline suggests.
A Jordan Connerton hat trick proved decisive on a sodden and heavy pitch which given the special twice as heavy non league ball that they use at times made moving the ball difficult.
At the start of the game Borough were 17th, five points above the drop zone although having seen them consider they are better than the position they are in.
The Borough side had some exotic Manchester names which Eric the announcer had somne difficulty with Mbolokele, Nalatche, Kpohomouh, Belezema and the quaintly named Stanislav Zhekov who you would think would be Eatern European but no a young coloured lad who came on a s sub late on.
Radcliffe satrted well adapting to the conditions better than City who took a while to get into gear, City should have taken an early lead when a super 50 yards cross field pass found winger Gregory sadly his cross was just to high for Connerton.
Borough were playing with wing backs and Metz one of them went on a mazy run which lead to a shot by Saeed which was blocked by Hale. City took the lead just before half time there was a bit of fortune on the goal a deflection on a cross defeated everyone except Connerton at the back post who nodded home easily.
Borough levelled the score on the hour when some hapless City defending let Saeed into score from about an inch. They were not level for long as City were awarded a penalty four minutes later following some poor work by the number five who having lost the ball brought down Connerton who duly scored from the spot.
Fair play to the visitors kept trying to play passing football but were finally beaten three minutes from time when Connerton completed his hat trick scoring from 10 yards.
Deserved win in the end the kind of performance you need if you hope to win leagues, City five points clear althouigh Farsley sre nine points behind with three games in hand, building nicely.

Lancaster City 3 Radcliffe Borough 1 Att 218

[themaclad]

Been far too long since I ventured to a non league game, the International break was just the ideal opportunity to get my backside down to Jepson Way to watch AFC Blackpool take on FC Oswestry Town on a lovely sunny early spring day although out of the shade there was a keen breeze.
Oswestry is a place I know little about apparently World War One poet Wilfred Owen was born there, as for the football team I saw the previos incarnation lose at Chorley in a Cheshire League game about 30 years ago. The new team have only been in existance a couple of years after sweeping up everything Shropshire had to offer they joined the North West Conties Football league. They share their ground with the World famous the New Saints who are a full time plastic side who win the Welsh League every season being the only full time club in it.
Oswestry have had a decent season and were in 11th place before kick off although they do not seem to attract a lot of support with only 25 rocking up for a recent home game. The home side have been extremely inconsisant have pulled off a couple of decent victories although did manage to lose at home 5-0 to the bottom of the league Ashton Town who had previously only won one game, last Saturday AFC lost 7-0 at Chadderton.
It was fairly obvious why AFC have found it hard this season they have a very young slightly built side whereas visitors Oswestry had a mixture of experience and youth.
An open first couple of minutes with the visitors playing 352 and getting plenty of joy down the flanks especially the left and after four minutes that is where the visitors first goal came from, coss into he box shambolic defending and Price scored easily. The home side were in difficulty when defending and it looked as Oswestry would get a shed load before half time however after a rocky start the home side had brief glimpses of hope at the other end with a coupkl of near effort plus they hit the post. It was also obvious from Oswestry style of play that they play all their home games on an artificial pitch with a decent passing game. AFC survived until half time only one goal down although Oswestry had chances to increase the lead.
In truth AFC never really threatened in the second half although substitute Shaw's long throw did cause a few problems for Oswestry but once Tinsley had passed the ball into the net on 70 minutes to make it two it was game over, six minutes from time Graham scored with his first touch to make it three and only good goalkeeping. kept the score down. On the upsides was an attendance of 172 which is good money for the home side.

AFC Blackpool 0 FC Oswestry Town 3 Att 172

[themaclad]

The only saving grace for Lancaster following their 1-0 defeat at Droylsden was that league leaders Farsley drew 2-2 at Colwyn Bay so the gap between the two clubs is two points with two games to play however given City's dip in form, personal view it that it will be the play offs for City.
Droylsden in East Manchester home of one eyed cop killer Dale Cregan was todays footballing treat at the quaintly named Butchers Arms ground, the ground being named after the pub that used to stand next to the ground. Sadly since my last visit a few years ago the pub was demolished due to the simple reason there was not cellar which you apparently need these days to run a pub, so down came the pub.
At one time the Bloods were actually in the National league but have tumbled back down the leagues since those heady days of success. During their slide down the leagues the Bloods conceded an absolute shed load of goals in some seasons and took some quite hideous hammerings, a 13-0 defeat at Chorley after being seven down in 20 minutes and a couple of seasons ago Spennymoor did the double over them soring 18 goals to none in the process, however these days they are made of sterner stuff and have tightened up at the back whilst retaining their play a passing game at all times.
A tight game it was, an early chance at each end, Kilheeney should have scored for the home side but Hale saved well for City at the other end Droylsden cleared an effort from the line, after the opening salvo, City dominated the play but had trouble getting into positions were they could score, but credit to the home side they battled well, as the game got towrds the break Droylsden took the advantage, had a couple of good chances all spurned the best of which Kilheeney took the ball round Hale before the keeper dived on the ball to retrieve the situation.
The second half was all City but apart from an effort from Earl which ended in the hands of the grateful home custodian again rarely looked like scoring and with eight minutes to go the home side struck after some good attacking play down the right, the ball ended up at the feet of centre half Smith who fired home from close range, from then on the Bloods sensed more goals as City looked resigned to defeat, there were no alarms for the home side as they completed a league double over City.

Droylsden 1 Lancaster City 0 Att 251

It was windy and cold as well.

[themaclad]

Lancaster go top with one game to go having won 3-0, Farsley lost at home 2-0 both sides away on Saturday at Glossop and Kendal respectively