[themaclad]

On a glorious late summer's day Bamber Bridge and Lancaster City served up a game of such utter dross that you really wished you were somewhere else as probably did the other 337 who were also at the game.
A pint of Hobgoblin before the game did not help combinged with the effects of the sun made your correspondent a bit drowsy, a first 20 minutes of absolutely nothing, led to a very brief outbreak of action at either end, with Dodd taking the ball around City keeper Hale however his effort hit the side netting, Westwood headed narrowly wide for City from a corner City shold probably been awarded a penalty when Mayers was dropped in the area, nothing given much to the disgust of the City massive.
Dodd meanwhile forced Hale into a save,he thought he should have scored, and City got a corner and that was about it for the first half.
The first Bridge attack of the second half ended up with a cross flying into the empty sponsors box, so you began to fear the worst and indeed it was no better.
Just after the hour mark Bridge took the lead from a corner, an inswinger was met by Lawlor whose header flew into the net. another corner almost led to a second but the header went wide. City had a Connerton effort blocked as well as an Akrigg shot but in rfeality neither side looked like adding to the goals tally, as the referee blew thankfully to end a miserable game.
If both sides are to achieve mediocrity they will need to improve.

Bamber Bridge 1 Lancaster City 0 Att 338


https://youtu.be/DDCH1L5DR04 A city corner in the first half

[themaclad]

A famine on Monday but a feast on Tuesday, decided to take in the Squires Gate v Darwen game after deciding not to bother watching Pakistan attempt to chase 444.
So it was off to the south side of Blackpool to see the Gate who at time of kick off were 10th whilst their visitors were rock bottom with zero points, having let in 15 oals in their previous three games.
The programme which cost £2 had a visiting fans feature asked for a player to look out for the Darwen fan listed their keeper Danny Jackson, it said really decent keeper you may struggle to beat him.
Within 15 seconds of the kick off Danny had indeed been beaten, the visitors kicked off and the ball ended up being passed back to Jackson, he completely missed his kick and with the ball racing towards the net, the custodian scrambled back and cleared the ball only to Gate forward Rick Seer who scored easily. Within a minute Darwen were level an attack down the right and the ball was fed through to Hepple who beat Fletcher on his near post.
Gate retook the lead after 3 minutes more chaotic defending by Darwen and Tanser made it two one. (Darwen had kicked off three time in four minutes. There were no further goals for 5 minutes until Turner equalised again from the right hand side of teh box with a shot that went in off the post.
Turner was the stand out player for Darwen apart from the man bob in his hair, (it's non league football no need for this!!!!)
After four goals in the first eight minutes the football settled down, Gate were prominent and against the non too sure visiting back line lookmore likely of the two to score. Fair play to Darwen though played passing football from the back even the slightly haphazard Jackson, even header the ball clear at one time. Darwen began to dominate but could not get any efforts at goal although they did force several corners although as is common footballers these days cannot take corners.
Gate started better in the second half although the now better organised visiting defence was coping with any thing the home side threw at them. On the hour Darwen took the lead for the first time a cross from the right found left back Morris whose shot took a couple of deflections before finding the back of the net, probably deserved to lead. They grew in confidence and went close a couple of more time, Gate's only real effort came from for once a well delivered corner Seers headed the ball into the danger area but it was cleared without too much fuss.
Gate could not get through, did not test Jackson and in the end the visitors ran out deserved winners 3-2.

Squires Gate 2 Darwen 3 Att 105

[themaclad]

Due to the monsoon season starting earlier this season, the last cricket match of the season was called off, hence an added bonus of a non league game at a new ground for me. Mossie Park, Charnock Ricard was the destination of choise on this soggy Saturday. The visitors for the North West Counties Division 1 game were Chadderon who are based in the outskirts of Oldham.
Charnock are in their first season at this level having been promoted from the West Lancashire League prior tothat they were plying their trade in the Preston and District Saturday League.
Interesting ground, decent looking playing surface and if you did not want to pay you could quite easily watch the game from the cricket club next door, no concessions so I had to pay £4 for the privillage not complaining though, the programme is of an excellent standard although the pre match brew left a lot to be desired.
The home side looked physically stonger than Chadderton with some big lads in the line up(apologies for lack of names in this report) The home side took the lead from their first corner when Grimshaw headed powerfully home after 6 minutes it looked all too easy for Charnock keeping the visitors penned back, on their occasional venture up field Chadderton had one chanced but the No 10 was unlucky with an acrobatic attempt at goal.
Missed the build up to the second goal which was scored by Parkinson from the left side of the penalty, for a while it looked as Charnock would score every time they went forward but gradually Chadderton got into the game and every credit to them for playing passing football in the conditions it would have been very easy to hoof it ut neitrher side did.
Chadderton looked dangerous but just kept delaying passes to better placed players whilst the two up front for the home side whenever they got a sight at goal they shot.
The second half brought strong wind as well as rain and Chadderton started well, the No 5 had a glorious chance to reduce the arrears went for power instead of precision and the ball went over the bar. On the hour Charnock went three up with a good move down the right, the cross found Grimshaw he did not miss from close range. Game over Grimshaw was narrowly wide with a shot and headed just over although he was called offside. The Chadderton keeper pulled off a couple of good sdaves to keep the score at three. Chadderton kept gong foward had chances but could not beat the home keeper Hatton who despite the scoreline was kept busy.
Decent game despite the conditions however ifd you do venture to Charnock be warned there is very little protection if the weather is poor.
With the victory Charnock go 2nd in the league although they have played a couple of more games than their rivals. They will do well this season.

Charnock Richard 3 Chadderton 0 Att 128

[themaclad]

Another new ground on Tuesday with a first visit to Mill Farm the swanky new home of AFC Fylde, with it's bars, resterant and other corporate hospitality it's hard to believe that this is a Conference North club who also happen to be a club whose players are full time. Now my view of clubs like Fylde, Salford, Veggie Green Rovers, Eastleigh and any other club who think they can buy their way through the leagues is that they are not providing the true ethos of non league football.
In respects of Salford, did love the as they are one irony of the BBC stating Salford's rise was against the odds, when you have a billionaire chairman and five extremely wealthy directors it means yours odds are considerably shortened.
Anyway back to Fylde they have the aim of being in the Football league by 2022 however they are at the moment finding that getting closer by one more promotion is being a tad difficult as they seem each season to find two clubs who are just slightly better. This seasonwill also prove tough as the Conference North now has some severely strong clubs, as Darlington, Halifax, Stockport, Kidderminister plus the likes of Harrogate who also arevthere or thereabouts every season.
Tonights visitors were Curzon Ashton from Greater Manchester, the Nash as they are called have done exceedingly well to survive at this level as they are one of the smaller clubs at this level. Their season had started with a 6-1 home defeat to Kidderminister followed by 2 4-4 draw with Bradford so at the back they were a bit pourous.
No concessions so it was £12 quid to standl, luckily it was a barmy late summer's evening, Fylde began well and were one up within 12 minutes when Rowe causes curled the ball past Burton in the Curzon net. Fylde looked like they would score more having one effort go close and hit the post with another effort.
Curzon gamely got back into the game and tested Thompson with a free kick which he saved easily, credit to both teams they both played passing football from the back which started with both keepers(Pep would have been impressed) however the crisper passing came from the home side.
Moved from the side of the pitch to behind one of the goals in the second half and it was obvious to me that there was a distinct lack of passion from the supporters although both had drummers. Fylde went 2 up when the Nash defence disappeard and Dixon fired home from the inside right position. Tough task for Nash but they had reduced the arrears within two minutes the home side switched off at a corner and from the resulting play Flynn's possibly deflected effort beat Thompson.
Curzon had probably started the better in the second half but the feeling was that the home side would score again and following a mazy run and shot by Hughes was only partially saved by Burton and the rebound was casually put away by Rowe. There was to be no comeback this time as with virtually the klast kick of the game Rowe completed his hat trick from a free kick, has to be said it was a poor wall by the Nash.
this was Rowe's 14th goal of the season not bad from a player who rarely does anything throughout the game apart from shoot and score.
Odd experience probably summed up by the Nash fans who sang, "You're only here for the money" Little empathy for bankrolled clubs especially at this level.

AFC Fylde 4 Curzon Ashton 1 Att 1362

[themaclad]

Forgoing the 540 mile round trip to Bournemouth it was up to Lancaster to watch City take on Ramsbottom United, the Rams relegated from the Evo Stick Premier were a couple of places above City before the game started.
Ex City players Meaney and Green were in the visitors line as was the star of the first series of Class of 92 Gareth Seddon, apparently he's bought himself a cheese shop and still is a male model'
It was the cheese shop owner who put the visitors into the lead after three minutes intercepting a back pass and cooly slotting the ball past Hale. Rammy dominated the first quarter of an hour of an hour with a spectacular volley by Green being well saved by Hale.
City made an early substitution and with it the course of the game changed. From then until the end of the game City battered the visitors, they created countless chances which they didn't take, great defending, excellent keeping by Shenton kept them out until one minute before half time, when a cross was final headed home by Mayers to give the home side a very deserved leveller.
Within 30 seconds of the restart City were ahead, Mayers escaped down the right, his cross found Connerton who headed home.
A shot by Seddon went close for the visitors before the seize began again. Post was struck, ball cleared off the line within the space of 10 seconds, more good goalkeeping kept City at bay, however they had a great chance when a break down the left eventually found Gregory in acres in space, he found the net however it was the net above the stand to stop the ball going out of the ground.
Given the amount of chances they had missed was that Rammy might sneak an undeserved second goal, two chances went close but not close enough.
City finally sealed the points with a goal that their play deserved late in injury time when Connerton ran past the remnants of the Rammy defence to slid the ball past the keeper.
Tremendous performance by the home side.

Lancaster City 3 Ramsbottom United 1 Att 190

[themaclad]

On a chilly early October it was off to Jepson Way to watch the new look AFC Blackpool side take on Charnock Richard. Having seen Charnock this season thought this would prove to be a tough ask for the home side mainly due to there lack of experience and lack of age playing at this level.
AFC have recruited and most of them seem to be late teens which doesn't half make me feel old. Even the ref looked about 18. Charnock also seemed to have a few players who did not play the last time I saw them, both well built forwards were absent although one Grimshaw was on the bench having just got back from holiday.
Charnock started well and forced the home side back a couole of early efforts went narrowly wide, whilst at t'other end Fleming went close for the home side. A couple of stoppages disrupted play. Charnock were soon back on the attack with Fairhurst and Smith having efforts that went close. AFC defended manfully getting bodies in the way at the right time, but ironically they had the best chance to take the lead in the first half when Williams hit the bar with a free kick.
The home side did well to get to half time level and it was not long before the goalscoring machine Grimshaw arrived on thepitch, the first goal soon arrived but for AFC, Fleming got away on the right hand side before sliding the ball past the keeper.
A flare celebrated the goal from those ex Blackpool fans who have changed clubs to support and the chorus" You must be s**t we're winning at home. Their happiness did not last long from a corner the ball bounced around the area until Fairhurst hammered the ball home. Only one result was now on a Charnock win 10 minutes later a cross from the left, Grimshaw headed home 2-1 Charnock.
As the home side tired Charnock added a third when Smith who was probably their best player on the net drove the third past the keeper from 18 yards.
Deserved win for Charnock, could be a long season for AFC but bringing young players through will help them in the long run.

AFC Blackpool 1 Charnock Richard 3 Att 175

[themaclad]

A fantastically expensive week personally ended with me scraping my car against a wall, to add to the emergency repairs my house needs, apparently the gable end could collapse at any time and Lancaster failing to see a side who had to play with 10 men for 70 minutes before eeking out a 1-1 draw in the F A Trophy match against Droylsden at City's Giant Axe ground.
Droylsden's recent history has been quite entertaining, they reached the Conference about seven years ago, since those lofty days they have rocketed down the leagues mainly due to not being able to defend, last season they conceded a whopping 160 goals including two 9-0 hammerings by Champions Spennymoor.
The Bloods play in Manchester at the quaintly named ground the Butchers Arms, a pub which was next to the ground, decent pub it was as well, however due the absence of a cellar the pub is no more. The Bloods have improved at the back only 21 have gone past their keeper in 11 games so tbey are improving.
They were soon one behind early doors as City's Gregory ran on to a long pass/ball to easily beat Coates in the Blood's goal the goal came against the early run of play as they had gone close with two headers from the gigantic ex Prestron player Heaton from early corners. Bloods dominated and were playing some great passing football, the pacy Hassler-Cregg was giving city a nightmare down the left flank whilst well built forward Lewis looked a danger.
City were handed a man advantage after 20 minutes, when ex City player Winder tangled with Wills, the upshot being a red card for Winder, fair play to the visitors kept three up top and still even with a man light looked dangerous, Hale being forced to tip a header against the post to revent the scores being level.
City were extremely ponderous and just before half time Heaton headed home to level the scores no more than they deserved.
The Bloods started in the same vein in the second half although City were slightly better, in truth there was not a lot of goalmouth action in the second half as both teams seemed to be relying on the quick break, sadly City's passing let them down whilst the lack of a player hindered the Bloods, cannot recall a shot Coats had to save whilst Hale dealt with everything that came his way.
When City did get through Rouse stopped Mayers with a super tackle in the box, would have been un just if Droylsden had lost. They replay on Tuesday should be an interesting game.

Lancaster City 1 Droylsden 1 Att 233

[themaclad]

Back to Jepson Way to watch AFC Blackpool take on St Helens Town on a cool night, with both sides struggling towards the lower half of the table to what in the main was a closely contested contest apart from a five minute spell before half time when the home side completely switched off.
Given the lack of away support this was not a bad attendence for the hom side 72 of us avoided the pap what is commonly known as England and watched honest football within the non league.
Saints dominated the early stages pinning the home side back for about the first 10 minutes, only one decent chance that just went wide. AFC gradually got on top and had one effort hit the side netting but were playing well enough to force Saints back, sadly though the homew forwards were caught offside or the final pass or cross was ofetn poor so the Saints keeper was relatively untroubled, a pity really as the away siude looked distinctly iffy at the back early doors.
Towards half time the Saints got on top and should have taken the lead when Edwards well positioned headed wide, five minutes from half time from virtually the same position he made amends and sent the visitors 1 up, slightly harsh on the home side but worse was to follow, the team switched off went two down on 44 minutes Gillespie easily beat a couple of defenders in the box to fire home and within a minute it was three as Presho fired home from outside the box, this may have been a fluke but in it went.0-3 at half time game over. Dined on some decent chips from the club tea store, great on a cold night.
Stuart Parker's words of encouragement to his troops worked wonders far from giving up AFC started really well reduced the arrears when Willians curling shot looked in from the moment it left his boot. It could have been closer within minutes but this time some good goalkeeping again denied the diminutive striker.
Saints went close as the game went from end to end, the home keeper saved one effort and from the rebound Saints fired narrowly wide. If AFC had got it back to one goal difference, then it could have caused a bit of panic in the Saints defence but when AFC's substitute dallied too long when well placed to pass, the game was up for the home side.
The five minute collapse cost them dead on half time, personally feel they need a couple of older players but experience will do them good in the long run.

AFC Blackpool 1 St Helens Town 3 Att 72

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Just for note Lancaster won the Trophy replay at Droylsden 3-1 and now visit Jamie Vardys old club Stocksbridge

[themaclad]

Lancaster City moved up to third in the Evo Stick North League with a rather unconvincing win against a decent Prescot Cables side at a dampish Giant Axe last night, goals by Connerton and a stunner from Sumner secured the points for the home side.
Lancaster started well and it only looked a matter of time till they took the lead but after Waters miss from about four yards, Cables began to take the initiative, a shot from about 20 yards looked to be heading towards the top corner until Hale caught it, then probably the best chance of the night to the visitors when they had three to on advantage in the City area, after a couple of step overs the chance disappeared with Hale saving at the feet of a Cables striker.
Both sides played some decent football but it was the good old fashioned hoof that brought the first goal, into the night sky it went, down to a race between Connerton and Cables keeper Brocklehurst, the home forward just won it flicked the ball over the keeper from about 20 yards and the ball just dipped in under the bar.
The second half was all Prescot they played some excellent football until they got to within sight of the posts when all ideas went out of the window, they missed several chances some easy some not. One flowing passing move down the left flank rippwed holes in the City defence but when the cross arrived there was mnobody on the end of it.
City had a couple of chances, one well saved by Brocklehurst the other Russell went on a mazy run beating four or five players before running into the keeper and losing possession. Both sides had good penalty shoots neither given, then with 15 minutes to go City sealed the win, Mayers flicked the ball skywards towards the corner of the box on the left hand side it bounced once before Sumner hit it first time past Brocklehurst into the far right corner, points sorted.
Never at their best tonight this City side is showing plenty of promise could be a really decent season for them.

Lancaster City 2 Prescot Cables 0 Att 159

[themaclad]

On a chilly November Squires Gate took on high flying Atherton Collieries in an entertaining game, seven goals, one sending off and tackles that would have earned red cards in the namby pandy Premier League. This was good fashioned football with no quarter asked or given.
Colls took the lead after two mintes a quick beak down the left hand side a couple of passes and Hardcastle rifled the ball home. It looked like it was going to be a trying night for the home side when from a quality cross from the left Cover powered home a headed to give Colls a 2 goal advantage.
Little had been seen of the home attack when out of the blue a shot went narrowly the wrong side of the post from 20 yards, this lifted the home side and the Cols defence came under pressure finally cracking after 33 minutes when Higham curled one in to reduce the lead, they were nearly level shortly afterwards only being denied by an offside flag, the game was end to end until half time, no further goals though.
Colls increased their lead after 55 minutes, cross from the left, poor defending Cover headed home again.
On the hour Colls were reduced to ten as Forbes was deemed to have gone over the ball following a tackle. Gate changed formation and went for goals and reduced the arears with 15 minutes to go, canny goal it was as well, inch perfect pass with the outside of the foot, chip over keeper by Dawson 2-3. Game on until Gate fell asleep at a corner some hapless defending and Battersby powered home Colls fourth.
On the stroke of full time Gate scored again following an epic fail by Colls keeper Reid who cocked up a clearance and gave Buchan the easy task of rolling the ball home from 20 yards into an empty net. One more chance for Gate but good defending cleared the danger. On the balance of play Colls deserved the win.

Squires Gate 3 Atherton Collieries 4 Att 130