And the Answer was .. Steve Burr

Well the world's best-kept secret (?) is out ..and the Stalybridge Celtic Message Board is humming !

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mo.../BridgeManager/

Tonight's Gig ...

...has to be up at Stalybridge Celtic's ground where the new Manager is to be unveiled by new Chairman Rob Gorski. There's been plenty of names bandied about, although the post was allegedly filled last midweek (so that should discount ex-Northwich boss Steve Burr - shouldn't it - eh - eh ??). All will be revealed later on - I hope to bring exclusive pix too !! (For what it's worth my educated guess has been Peter Davenport - but hey - what do I know about football ??)

One for the Forgers.....

They arrived on Saturday whilst I was away walking up Dent way ....

Please note that this site does not condone any forging/scamming by idle/unemployed/students/chavs in any way or form. I've gone to work - I've paid my taxes - I've earned my gig - all ticket forgers should either be summarily shot or kept in a small cell in preparation for the next war now that Donald Pleasance is sadly no more. By all means practice on gig tickets - but your time will come when the POWs need an "ausweis" or a European Health Insurance Card.

Football - yes I watched the game today - right result (in this "50% Derby" household anyway) - but the better team lost - didn't they ??

The Close Season

S'pose the thing to say here is - don't expect too much during the close season - I could write a blurb about the Morecambe v Exeter game (it's rare I can sit at home and watch football on a Sky channel - I refuse to pay daft money, and it was a welcome surprise to find the Conference play-off on the Sky Sports News Channel !!) - but I won't - suffice to say I'm dead chuffed for Morecambe.

Loads to think about over the next few months - Mossley - still no Manager; Stalybridge - still no Manager; Hyde - grumbling about admission rices hitting the magical £10; Droylsden - eagerly awaiting the Conference National; Curzon - promoted (including a local derby against Mossley); Ashton United - beating the drop and getting ready for action with new Manager Danny Johnson (and a fourth turnstile !!!!). At least Woodley appear to have a new Manager !

Summer also means time off football and time with family - trips arranged include Dowload Festival at Donnington with the two eldest kids, a long weekend in the Yorkshire Dales and a week climbing mountains in Ireland (OK Carrantoohil). Also arranged however is a three-day trip to Holland with Belper Town FC in early August. The big "Mossley handover" happens on 30th June - the day after is the annual Mossley sponsored walk around the grounds of Tameside - six grounds, several pubs !!

Watch this space - but the updates may not be as regular - you have been warned !!

Cup Final Day ....

So Chelsea won with a goal - with an only goal in the 116th minute. Bet that was painful to watch - especially if you'd paid daft money for the privilege. Still it probably wasn't much better in the pubs'n'clubs of Greater Manchester - and beyond.

Still I managed an 11 mile walk - a pint of Moorhouses "Blonde Witch" - got soaked up to my knees - and have also done some serious damage to my left hand - it's still swelling up several hours after the "incident" - have had to remove wedding ring due to a large amount of swelling on that finger - and the bruising's looking cute as well.

For my view on the Cup Final afternoon see...

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/WalkingPix/Whitewell%20Circular%2019May07/

Beats watching that overpaid, overhyped stuff....I think...several beers are not acting as pain-killers though !!!

Bad luck Oldham as well ...

Looking back on the week ...the end is nigh...

Following last Saturday's game at Dukinfield Town, I think it was pretty well certain that football as we know it is coming to a close this season. A tricky one - think tomorrow - think FA Cup Final - I can't remember the last time I watched one - and with it being an all-London affair (ha ha) .....

This week I've seen a couple of "first halves" in the play-off stakes - Monday's 45 mins betwixt Shrewsbury and MK Dons (?) was awful - a sad/sodden end to Gay Meadow really. I caught most of the first 45 of Derby v Southampton - although arriving at the pub after 9 mins I missed both opening goals - and then had to return home before the real action started (although I was in full txt contact with Darlo who was there at Pride Park - fingernails ?? !!!). Final twixt Derby and West Brom...

That's probably the only game left where I have any interest - because I know Dave Bax from Ashton is a "Baggie" and was there for the second leg against the Wolves (a team - where if I really went back in my life - I wanted to win).. sod it - here we go ..when I was a lad, no when I was a baby in pushchair - my Grandad Sid - who worked at St Georges (the mental hospital as it was in those days) in Stafford - used to take me to Marston Road to watch the Rangers - gave my Mum and Dad a break ..as time went on - and I grew biggerer - we'd do Stafford one weekend and Wolves the next - because they used to take a coachload from the hospital down to Molineux (putting it in the nicest possible way, it was a coachload of the "safer" patients) - we'd all go in the disabled enclosure (just adjacent to the old North Bank) - and I'd "tag along"....saw some good stuff back in the mid/late 60's....oh shut up Michael ...

Thursday saw me up at Hurst Cross for the Ashton United Quiz Night - a well-attended effort despite Mossley having a quiz night on the same night, and Curzon Ashton holding their Presentation Evening and Droylsden .....(fill in excuse - not heard one yet). The quiz was won by the Dukinfield Town team who belied their relegation position in the Manchester League to come out with an amazing 91 out of 100. The Mossley team (i.e. me !) managed an almost respectable 57 out of 100 - and DID NOT finish bottom (OK we/I were/was still in the relegation postions but ...) - a good night was had by all and over £100 was raised for the local Willow Wood Hospice - for more info (and pictures) try..

http://www.takeforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=853&mforum=aufcforum

So who's gonna win tomorrow - s'pose I should err towards the mighty Reds - but I reckon the biggest winners will be the beer sellers, the hot dog sellers and so forth - I'm looking forward to a three-dayer in Holland in August with Belper Town - I bet in total that 72 hour bash will cost me a lot less than most people will spend tomorrow in less than 15 hours.

Long live Non-League.

Dukinfield Town v Rochdale SH - Update

The weather was not too promising as I left Mossley on the 1257 train to Ashton – a valid attempt was made in Ashton to buy a cover for the monopod – failed, so sulked ove a quick pint of Phoenix “West Coast IPA” in the “Station” pub before catching a bus in the general direction of Dukinfield Town FC. My choice of bus (i.e. wrong) left me with a brisk 15 minute walk to Woodhams Park. On one of the adjacent pitches I clocked the (very) end of the first half of a game between Stalybridge Celtic Supporters and a team of Liverpool fans, before stepping “through the wall”.

I then met Jason, the Duki Town secretary – who I haven’t seen for the best part of 20 years ago !! He was then called “Oscar” and was Mossley secretary Brian Cowburn’s “right-hand man/oppo”- now he finds himself as a Club Secretary – and running the 3rd team as well ! It was a “must win” game today – and hoping that Breightmet failed to beat Royton Town.

Onto the game, and I noticed a couple of familiar faces from the Cup-winning Woodley Sports team of a couple of weeks ago, Rob Parsonage (today wearing 5) and Sam Walker (today wearing no bloodied bandage !). Also spotted were Mark Phillips (ex-Mossley – top defender) and Councillor Brian Wild, supporting his local team. Duki started the more positive team – however after about 10 minutes Rochdale got a free-kick just outside the box which pinged against the bar. This had the desired effect – straight down the other end, one-on-one with the keeper…..missed ! However it was Dukinfield who raced into a 3-0 in a heavily-extended first-half – due to a clash of Duki keeper’s head and Rochdale forward’s teeth/mouth – not pretty – and there is no photographic evidence of this one ! Hope he's OK.

On Jason’s advice I popped into the Duki Town clubhouse (which I never knew existed !) for a half-time pint. Noted they were also doing pie & peas (may have been the norm – may have been due to the Stalybridge/Liverpool supporters game mentioned earlier).

When I came out, Duki were just kicking-off…start of second half – no….3-1…no…it was bloomin’ 3-2. All the hard work of the first 45 (OK 59) minutes almost chucked in the first five minutes of the second d half !! However the return of the strange man with a camera on a big stick seemed to settle them down a bit (well you never know !!) – and I wandered round the other side of the pitch to listen to an amusing spat between linesman and several of the left-sided Rochdale team vis-à-vis the offside rule – and the lack of flagging. When the opposite linesman popped his flag into the air one player turned to “my” linesman and said “Look – he knows how to do it !!” – made me laugh anyway. Naturally the next goal – the Duki Town 4th - was tinged with a bit of offside – although in fairness I was fairly well-positioned to judge - and I’d go with the liner’s decision. 4-2 – safe ?? Not a bit of it – still time for Rochdale to grab a third and tighten a few sphincters - but 4-3 was how it finished up.

A quick pint in the club before shooting off (Manchester with Mrs Smiffy in the evening). Just time to check the score of the other game with Jason – not good news unfortunately – Breighmet had won – so Duki’s position in the Premier Division of the Manchester League in severe danger – we’ll see what the summer (and the AGMs/ground grading committee’s etc) brings …

Incidentally how many football grounds do you know, where the adjacent pub has a Sea Harrier Jump Jet in the back garden ?? It was going to be a blooming Vulcan at one stage !! I give you "The Snipe" in Dukinfield...

Dukinfield Town v Rochdale SH

Yes it's late - as usual (been in Manchester for a meal - and NOT to see Meat Loaf - I beat that particular rush back in 1977 - thanks to BBC Radio Bristol - but that's another story !)

Some pix from today for starters...

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/DukiRochdale/

Words to follow...

Football for Saturday

Right - all sorted for Saturday - it's a Manchester League relegation battle betwixt Dukinfield Town and Rochdale SH (that's Sacred Heart for the "dunnos"). A relegation battle only for Duki Town by the way - it's perm one from three between Dukinfield Town, Breightmet and Monton Amateurs to join AVRO for the drop - so only a win is good enough for Duki - the match will be followed by a barbie (indoors or outdoors, weather permitting), for me and Mrs Smiffy and friends - strangely enough in Rochdale - well Whitworth - near enough ..

Now here comes the kick in the teeth - yesterday I promised myself - and someone else - I'd be there for the Duki Town match - in fact I've even given it a plug on all the local message boards. What happens tonight ? A mate from outside the local area rings up with that immortal line "Fancy a freebie to the FA Trophy Final at 'New Wembley' on Saturday ?? if you can get to mine, transport will be sorted ??"

Ouch... what would you do....call me stupid - most folks do - but I had to turn down the Trophy offer - admittedly with mucho regreto. being honest, if Curzon Ashton had planted 6 past Truro City, me and half of Tameside would have been at "New Wembley" on the Sunday for the FA Vase Final - but they didn't so we won't.

And I won't be there Saturday either ..... "come on Duki !!"

Oxford United v Exeter City

It's football Jim - but not as I know it - home, then out on the 1946 train to Greenfield - cus I had this uncanny feeling that the "Railway" would have the game on - in fact when I got there the TV was off - it took a small ask off Richie - then within minutes (OK 2) twas on ....

The game - I spent much of it talking to Carl - the "pro-snapper" of the Saddleworth area (got some tips for big camera too !). In 1972 I went to the FA Trophy semi-final between Yeovil Town and Stafford Rangers - played at the old Oxford ground - got a thumping from a Yeovil fan as well - strangely enough this put me on the side of Exeter tonight - and they got there eventually - took some bloody work though - and I'm talking "before the pens".

Anyway - Morecambe and Exeter in the final - my thoughts are of course "get a non-league" team in there

Pictures - why ?? (But I've (sadly) got some though !!)


Oh go on then - happy Grecians and one seriously hacked-off Oxford fan...been there done it - think 119th minute - 1976 - Wembley - FA Trophy Final - now THAT'S seriously been there done it felt it.....

Holbrook MW v Radcliffe Olympic

Yes yes, I promise to do some words - but in the meantime here's 9,000 words - ha ha !

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/HolbrookRadcliffe/

Left Mossley about midday - mistake - everyone seemed to be on the roads in Tameside; probably something to do with getting all the jobs done before "couch potatoing" the Manchester derby at 1245. Once we were away from Glossop and heading for Chapel-en-le-Frith, it was plain sailing. Drove straight to Holbrook, leapt out, allowing Mrs Smiffy the final couple of miles back to Belper. It was about 1350 - and they'd run out of programmes - rumour was that only about 10 were printed - and 8 of them were in the dressing rooms !! Took a "wrong turning" in the car park, walking past a quaint little hut (pictured) before ending up on the bowling green (well the surround !).





Retraced steps and found "ticket hut". It was £2-50 - I proffered a tenner and was asked if I had the right change - I had about £2-14 - this was greeted with "That'll do !". We sorted it out in the end - and yes I paid full whack !

Met Andy, his cousin and his lad - and not long after the start Tim (aka "Snapper" from Belper Town) turned up as well. I don't think the five of us actually doubled the gate - but we certainly gave it a mighty percentage increase !

To the game - I reckon 30p a goal is a pretty good return for your money. The home team (in blue) bossed the first half - playing uphill no less - and were good value for a 3-0 lead. Expecting some more in the second half I remained at the same end. OK so I nipped into the bar for a fine pint of Fullers "London Pride" on the pump - with a sparkler on (a touch rare in these parts I feel) during the break..

The expected avalanche failed to materialise - at my end anyway - instead I watched FIVE goals go in at the other ("wrong" ?) end - with each goal you could see the confidence draining out of Holbrook and surging into Radcliffe - by the end, I'm afraid Radcliffe were walking the ball in past a devastated defence and a much-bemused Danny Tollerfield (played a few for Belper Town this season) - apart from the penalty which was blasted in.

Into the club after the game to watch the Sky videprinter - with it being a 1400 kick off we got to watch most of the second half - the howls of anguish came from me when Bristol Rovers went in front at Hartlepool on 86 minutes were from me - having been at Edgeley Park only three days earlier - and having a Stockport County fan in the office. The anguish had already gone from my fellow drinkers (Derby fans y'see) 7 days or so earlier....never mind they've beaten Leeds today (12 minutes of stoppage time - in the first half ???).

Back into Belper - and into the "George" to meet Pistol and Davro who were watching the Villa v Sheff United game - Dad with Villa shirt on - non-Dad with Sheffield United shirt on. Oh dear...oh dear - so it's all down to the wire for the Blades next weekend.

Back to mother-in-laws - sat dutifully through "Grease is the Word" and "Any Old Crap will Do" whilst mother-in-law, sister-in-law and wife talked through them both (!). Sleep - home today - and this - tonight - a 40th birthday bash in Top Mossley - Happy Birthday Lynn !

A Game on Saturday...

If you look – you will find !! Down in Belper this weekend so it was a case of checking out the Central Midlands League Supreme Division for possibilities.

BINGO !! Less than three miles from Belper (i.e. a brisk walk) we find Holbrook Miners Welfare are at home to Radcliffe Olympic (need to check kick-off time though – believe it’s 1400).

Game on ..

Woodley/Nomads - more pictures

Pardon the delay - I've been out to vote - and me and Mrs Smiffy always follow a vote with a bit of a walk taking in a few Mossley pubs and tonight it's been :

Church - Thwaites "Lancaster Bomber"
Rising Sun - "Black Sheep Bitter" and Millstone "Three Shires"

Anyroad up - look here.....if you see nothing it's because you've been too quick (set link up first - pictures to follow !!)

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/StockportSeniorCupFinal/

Tonight's Big Game

Yes, I am talking about the Stockport Senior Cup Final between Woodley Sports Reserves (Woodley for the rest of the post) and Cheadle Heath Nomads (Linotype), (CHN for the rest of the post) which took place at Edgeley Park tonight.

My clock says 2355 - I need to be up at 0630 - this may be short !!

Suffice to say Woodley won 2-1 in a less than gripping game (sorry guys !). Nomads employed a ruthless offside trap for well over 90 minutes - unfortunately offside traps do not win games. At half-time (0-0) there was a mention of "pub team" directed at CHN - which turned out to be rather unfair as they took the lead when a free kick was met with a cracking header by (....sorry...). This did serve as a wake up call for Woodley who then proceeded to score two in five minutes !

Towards the end there was a little inexperience in "running the clock down" - and credir to CHN they really put the pressure on towards the end, which was unnerving the Woodley fans/officials that I was adjacent to !


End of the day - the best team won - I've always had a great deal of respect for Woodley Sports the Unibond 1 team - these guys tonight must (should) be training with the first team (I may be wrong !!) -well done to Neil Rourke (Manager) and his squad tonight.


First time I've been at Edgeley Park since 1973 (?) - when they drew with Stafford Rangers in the FA Cup 1st Round - (old age kicking in) I missed the replay at Stafford as we had a school play rehearsal that night - someone may remember the play - it could have been "Maria Marten and the Murder in the Red Barn" (I was a copper in that - Pharos Lee) - or it might have been the Joan of Arc one ("The Lark") where I played Beauchamp Earl of Warwick. Oh yes - Stafford won 1-0 - and then embarked on their best ever FA Cup run,losing to Peterborough in front of 21,000+ at Stoke's old ground - don't talk to me about Rotherham away !!!

Enough of this reminisk - remiscic - rmeniisck - looking back - here's one pic for starters (there's 158 of the b*st*rds - and that's with me "editing" on the trains home (all 3 of em) ....it's got "b*ll*x to United/Milan" written all over it - in blood as well...





trust me there's more to come.- and I will put that CD together with all the ones that pass muster for me..

The cup winners (I'm sure I could have blagged my way a touch closer - but rumour is you need a "Nikon" camera strap to do all the blagging in the sports photo area/arenas !!)

..hope mum/dad don't mind - any probs let me know ... twas the ball size vs head size that made me click !!

Yeah yeah - I'll sort the action pix as well - will tomorrow (Thursday) night do ???

10,000 visitors - THANK YOU ALL !

..and 9,000 of them were not me updating/checking the site !

Thanks to all for your visitations this season - starting from scratch at the end of August, and as you've probably noticed, changing tack ever so slightly towards the end of the season with the arrival of the "new" camera (i.e. less chat, more pix) - it's been a laugh, some good stuff some crap stuff, some controversy, some music (even some lambs and ducks !) - it's not just football you know !! As the weeks went on 10,000 looked like a good number to aim for - bang in a few controversial posts here and there - gets the numbers up - and of course those controversial bits are straight from the Smiffy heart - witness the "goings-on" on the Ashton United message board this weekend - unfortunately (??) at times "I say what I see" - and that doesn't half upset some folks.......and here I go again ..

No idea whether I'll keep this on next season - come 30th June, I may well be throwing my lot back in with the new regime @ Mossley - although I make no promises after an "initial post" by one of the "new" directors which, rather misguidedly (I hope) sounds like more of the same. I post this link purely for information - although in true Smiffy style I'll probably get accused of stirring it - probably cus I think this is predominantly aimed at one person (who I know and it's not me - for a change) - unfortunately you DO have to be registered on Mossley forum to clock the thread..

http://z6.invisionfree.com/Mossley_AFC_Forum/index.php?showtopic=1965

Football will of course continue as long as is possible - had an e-mail at work today from Mrs Smiffy which said "working till 8-30pm tomorrow night" - which knocks the Witton v Matlock play-off on the head (didn't fancy the drive to Northwich anyway if the truth be told)

So ... Wednesday it is - at Edgeley Park (now advertised as "Home of Sale Sharks" rather than Stockport County - now that's sad) - yes it's the Stockport Senior Cup Final betwixt Woodley Sports Reserves and Cheadle Heath Nomads (Linotype I think still comes into it somewhere !!!) - hey I've not been there since they built the new stand -so it'll be worth a peep - and I get a couple of hours o/t at work (viz Cheadle Hulme) befor getting the train direct to Stockport !!

Cus you won't find me down at the "ticket only/photography pass required" Tameside Stadium on Thursday night for the NWCFL Cup Final twixt Curzon Ashton and (you guessed it) FC United of Manchester - had it been Bacup Borough v Castleton Gabriels - I fear it may have been a little more relaxed .. my thoughts will of course be with Curzon - a win would round their season off nicely ..

I might get a game on Saturday (down in Derbyshire) if - Cammell Laird lose their play-off semi and Eastwood Town win theirs ,, there may be other options "daarn there" - but I still haven't got an NLP (Pimlotts in Cheadle Hulme let me down today !) ..

Once again though - THANKS TO ALL - I'VE ENJOYED IT - HOPE YOU FOUND SOMETHING OF INTEREST ..

Ashton United v Fleetwood Town

Not fannying about too long here ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/AshtonFleetwood/

sums up the game. Although apparently police brutality is a situation that should be left to lie... we don't want people going on message boards alleging that the police are heavy-handed.

MIght say more later - but I'm not a booze-fuelled moron - yet

Woodley/Brid Update...

Lightened up a bit .....on ...

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/WoodleyBrid/

Woodley Sports v Bridlington Town

Too late for too much... a few pix only for now ..suffice to say.. - monopod made a dirfference - plus being firm about shutter speed !!! again time dictates - no chance of messing with Photoshop either !!




There's more but .....I have "real work" in 7 hours !!

Quick Postie thing - blah blah blah....

Daft really - I bog off to Belper for the weekend - when there's a veritable plethora of footy on the old Tameside door step - but when it's a family thing - and it's the wedding anniversary weekend - one puts up and shuts up - and is thankful to get any sort of game in !!

So Droylsden up - with a little help from Stalybridge - now that does take you back to one of the old Tameside Council slogans viz "Socialism at Work" (long since ditched since Blair reinvented Labour/Socialism more as the "New Tories"). I'm dead chuffed for the Bloods - and Manager/Chairman/Supremo Dave Pace - he's put his money where his mouth is - he's put his mouth there too - ruffled many a feather - but got there in the end. It may be a bit of a culture shock next season, up against 99% of full-time teams - but I reckon he's a few tricks up his sleeve. Droylsden may not turn out to be one of the crowd pullers in the "Blue Square Whatever It's Called" - but I'm sure they'll hold their own - in fact I'd check out the Blue Square site and put money on the Bloods staying up - no sweat !

Stalybridge Celtic are now all but safe - which pleases me too, as I've spent an above average amount of footy time at Bower Fold this season - and it's good to have alternative Tuesday night options, given my usual Monday/Wednesday "jujitsu" taxi-driving thingy type stuff - easy to get to from Mossley on public transport - Buffet Bar - etc.

I'd have liked to have seen more of Hyde this season - but the transport thing is a bit of a bugger when you want to have beer on a Saturday afternoon - and one thing I've noticed this season with the "Six Tame Sides" - every Saturday there's either 5 at home, 1 away - or vice versa - this hasn't helped much in the Ewen Fields area, as - from Mossley - it is the most awkward to get to via public transport (still haven't forgiven th damn busco's for Good Friday - grr !)

Ashton United - could still go down under the ludicrous "worst of the 4th bottom teams rule" - they must sit up at night even later than me (with better drugs !) to dream this sort of cr*p up - never mind - we've got the Unibond 1st Division reorganisation circus/roadshow to keep us entertained over the summer - who knows Mossley might end up in the Conference South - and I might win the Transylvanian Lottery ....there's a good crew up at Hurst Cross - the new regime at Mossley could do well to learn from these peeps about how to do it with minimum this and minimum that...

Curzon Ashton - a great season - great FA Vase campaign - should get promoted to Unibond 1st - but see comments above re reorganisation - we'll see - but on the games I've seen this season - they should go higher, and should hold their own as well.

Mossley - I'll hold my peace until the 30th June....

Started as a quick postie this - but then I do ramble some times - in fact on Sunday me and Mrs Smiffy were round Froggatt Edge....we bought a new tent as well - note it hasn't stopped raining since ! Football tomorrow/today - United on the telly ? No chance - back to Lambeth Grove to see Woodley Sports take on Bridlington Town - and if it all works OK - I might sneak into Stockport at lunchtime to pick up a monopod for the camera, to try and get a handle on this night stuff "sans shake" - this assumes Stockport Jessops have a Manfrotto 679 in stock ! And it could be another "tea towel night" looking at the weather forecast - and yes Tim, I've seen that fancy "condom type" thing you pointed out - I may well go down that road for next October/November/Wettember etc !!

Belper Town v Chorley

Another trip down the A6 - maybe the Chorley team coach should have gone the same way (!) - after all Chorley IS on the A6 as well. As the Smiffymobile was pulling into Belper I (driver) spotted Darren and Nellie, i.e. "One Man and his Dog", who had walked it from Chorley over a four day stretch. I pulled baby camera out of pocket and passed to Mrs Smiffy (passenger)...here's Darren and Nellie less than 300 yards "from the finish" (together with bits of Vauxhall Astra - and the car behind !!).





I believe they've raised well over £1,000 for the club - if anyone out there would like to donate, you should be able to get in touch via ....


http://www.magpiesinspace.co.uk

I leapt out of the car in Belper (it was going to Derby to pick up daughter, and a first stab at moving some of her "Stuff" back from university) - a quick beer in the George and Dragon before arriving at the Meadow. When I arrived there was a large bag of balloons on the pitch - then I noticed the officials having a wander round as well - oh the juxtaposition !!! If you're unsure the match officials are in the top right hand corner - the balloons are red....

As you've gathered from the first sentence, the Chorley team bus was stuck in traffic, which led to the kick-off being put back 30 minutes - so you're guaranteed that phrase "they were still getting off the bus when Belper took the lead" as Chorley's 345th goalkeeper of the season Threlfall fumbled a shot, and Stevenson finished it off.

1-0 to Belper ..... Lee Stevenson "wheels away" ...

Ten minutes later however Chorley equalised - yes they'd "got off the bus" - a very dodgy goal this one, with offside players everywhere - still if Belper 'keeper Ogden had connected with his original clearance.....anyway 1-1 it was.

Chorley's equaliser was a "Tale of Two Adam's" - Roscoe & Ogden.

Belper regained the lead just before half-time when Paulo Piliero got on the end of a corner - the second half - it could have gone either way, as there was next to nowt between the two teams - however with about twenty minutes to go, a ball into the Chorley box was "not dealt with", and in the ensuing melee, Danny Hudson was fouled - Rushbury converting the resultant penalty.

Bodies everywhere - penalty the only outcome ...

Chorley might well be in one of the automatic relegation places as the moment - but we still have the close-season and the "Unibond re-orgainisation" - anything could happen.

There are some other (bigger) pix to be found at....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BelperChorley2/

Last word however goes to "Nellie" - after a 90 mile walk - this looks like a good option !!