Curzon Ashton v Clitheroe

... with the (fast) trains between Stalybridge and Huddersfield being (slow) buses (!), Harrogate RA v Mossley became a "no-no" much earlier in the week, so it was back to Curzon Ashton to see them entertain Clitheroe. I "did" this game last season when Clitheroe beat Curzon 1-0 just after Curzon had been guaranteed a play-off place so .. maybe a lucky charm for the "Pride of Lancashire" (that's what one of the flags says anyway !).

Fraid not (for Clitheroe) - Curzon in total control throughout to be honest - although Clitheroe did have a lot of possession - just didn't know what to do with it ! Here's the pix ..

Curzon Ashton 4 Clitheroe 1

After the game there were some of the Curzon "backroom staff" talking about how badly THEY'D played - and the Clitheroe Message Board has been highly critical of their boys as well - so weigh that one up !

Came home on the train (1737) - and a big "Well Done" to Northern Rail - NOT. Despite there being no Trans-Pennine trains, Northern decided to soldier on with 2-car units ALL DAY - reliably informed that people were left on the station at Ashton going into Manchester earlier in the afternoon, and the train I caught back to Mossley was "rammed" as they say. It completed four days of sh*te on the trains anyway (been saving these !!) - Wednesday 15 late out of Mossley (trespasser on the line) - Thursday - 20+ late out of Stalybridge (points failure @ Mirfield) - and Friday 20 late out of Man Picc to Cheadle Hulme (including one of those "It's coming in on platform 6 - no it's coming in on platform 10 - no I was right the first time" scenarios - no proper "excuse" given either !). Looks like the silly season has now started.

We've had visitors tonight, hence the lateness - in fact I've only just found out that Mossley won 3-0 @ Harrogate and Stalybridge Celtic have stuffed Stocksbridge 7-2 away in the FA Cup. Met someone on the train who'd been to Droylsden (home to FC Halifax in the Cup - 2-0 to Halifax) and he reckoned Droylsden put up a poor show against their "two divisions below" opponents. Ashton United have lost 2-1 @ Chorley (Cup again) and Hyde's FA Cup game was "postponed pending ....." (no walkover for Salford City just yet !).

Next midweek - don't know yet - in another cruel twist, Mossley are at home on Tuesday - when I have a "Parents Evening" @ Salford College !! We'll get the "Non League Paper" in a few hours time and decide from there I think ...
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