Stalybridge Celtic v Vauxhall Motors - UPDATED

Pictures at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BridgeVauxhall2008/

(I do have "something " of the Celtic 3rd goal but .....)

Well we got a game up at Bower Fold - heroics once again by the ground staff and volunteer "forkers" - and the pitch does seem to drain well. Caught the "baby bus" from Mossley over to Stalybridge - a quick "tincture" in the Buffet Bar - purely to check whether it was worth my while going up to Bower Fold - it was according to Trefor (resplendent in his "Huddersfield Hussies" - or whatever they're called - rugby tunic) something to do with fast cars after the Celtic game and over to ... Huddersfield I guess !!). just the one pinta before walking - yes walking - up to Bower Fold - it's only about 20 minutes - ooh, just time for a pint of Black Sheep in the H&H !!

Aah football - Celtic looking to consolidate a play-off place, Vauxhall Motors in "last chance saloon" mode. However the game was all but over very early one. Celtic were two up in the first 20 minutes, and if it wasn't for the heroics of the Vauxhall keeper - Lloyd Rigby - it could easily have been more - check out my piccies for some of his saves - having watched Mossley's finest - viz. Ashley Connor - doing exactly the same this season - viz keeping defeats "respectable" vis-a-vis goals conceded. he'd earned my MOM award in the first half-hour !! Within minutes of Celtic going 2-0 up there was a "lapse of concentration" at the back allowing Vauxhall to halve the deficit...

2-1 - and the Vauxhall faithful are well chuffed !!

This was only a temporary respite mind as a third goal went in on the half-hour mark, which for me effectively ended the contest. The second half was not as fraught - Celtic relaxed, Vauxhall had "a bit of a go" - but there was only ever going to be one winner. The fourth goal - some said oggy, I note the "BensonMeister" gives it to Celtic's Steve Payne - was the proverbial "icing ...." results at Hinckley and Hucknall made Vauxhall's relegation "official".

Mad rush back to Mossley ensued after the game as we had to be on the 1757 train back to Manchester for a trip to the Royal Exchange Theatre to see "The Glass Menagerie". On the way past the Urbis we somehow slipped into what looked like a "tented village" with a swimming theme (for those who don't - they've rigged up a giant paddling pool in the MEN Arena for the FINA World Short-Course Swimming Champs) - spotted a bar (plastic glasses - groogh - a jazz band and what can only be described as an "aquatic dance troupe" ... see for yourself ...

Hmm .... had time for a drink, so went somewhere different, "The Living Room" on Deansgate - didn't spot any superstars/footballers etc but enjoyed the "floor show" from the cocktail waiters, fling their bottles around and cutting up strawberries for the archetypal "fruit-based drink for the lady". Glass of wine + bottle of "Tiger Beer" = £8 - you have been warned !

The play - pretty good - second half went on a bit mind(plus theatre was a bit warm !). Just time for a quick beer afterwards before running through the rain to catch the 2300 "Pissheads Express" (viz. last train home).

Today - tidy house, buy new duvet (yep, cat was sick on the old one last night/early this morning !), a walk around "Pots and Pans" (local landmark) and finally this .....

This weeks football - Mossley are away at Ossett on Wednesday, so I'll be "at home" !! Fingers crossed to get down to Glossop on Tuesday night to see them against the new Champions of the North West Counties League - viz Trafford, managed by ex-Lilywhite Tony Coyne.... everything naturally contains the rider "weather permitting" .....

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