The so called Summer break?

Its just the same as the winter up here on the Pennines, cold, miserable, windy and wet. The only thing missing is the football. The question is what can a moaning tw*t like me do to pass the time until the pre season friendlies kick in? For the last 6 years local league Cricket has been a soggy washout so thats no good, once upon a time I went to watch BRISCA Formula 1 Stock Cars but a lot of the nearby tracks have closed and the admission money is no longer worth it for the low number of drivers that turn up. As for Rugby League, I cannot watch it anymore, its more like bloody basketball these days, we never had silly scorelines like 48-66 in the old days. I can remember 5-3 slogs in a foot full of mud as 'meat pie' prop forwards slogged it out at places such as Thrum Hall and The Watersheddings, you didn't go for entertainment... it was an endurance test.

Looks like I'll have to get the Subbuteo set out of the garage again. I've tried playing the wife on a 1 to 1 basis but she's pretty much crap, its ok winning 38-0 a few times but it tends to get a bit predictable. What I do now is get her to dash around the table operating the goalies while I play all the outfield players for both sides. I think she reckons I've gone a bit doo-lally on account of my running match commentary (something thats followed me from my childhood), I'm best self-described as a bit of a cross between the smug calculation of the swarve Brian Moore and the over hyped hysterics of David Coleman.

Fancy a game?

Runcorn Town 1 Padiham 0

Saturday 4th May 2013
North West Counties League Premier Division
RUNCORN TOWN 1 PADIHAM 0
Attendance: 181
Admission: £5
Tea Hut Stuff: Tea
Weather: Sunshine, mild, nice
Parking: Despite kids football tournament, Pavilions car park

Town ended Padihams remarkable unbeaten away record in a scrappy but competitive encounter on a hard and dry pitch. The Costa Del Weston must be a groundsmans nightmare, one week its snowbound then its cracking the flags with sunshine. How the playing surface always looks so lush and well covered with grass is a credit to the ground staff.

The end of this final game of the season witnessed Padiham raise the league trophy as deserving NWCL Premier Division title winners. They will compete in Division 1 North of the Evo Stik Northern Premier League next season. Good luck to them and I hope their loyal supporters enjoy the experience.

I'm too sad to do a comprehensive report on this game, there will be no pictures either. The superb football Runcorn Town have provided this season has failed to reward them with the prize they deserved, I'm not going into the injustice of recent events and there is certainly no disrespect to Padiham FC intended. They are fine champions and a credit to the high quality of the NWCL. I just feel so sorry for all the effort Simon Burton and Danny Salt have put in alongside the very good players at Runcorn Town Football Club. I feel they got a bum deal at the card table this season and it just wasn't meant to happen. Its all water under the bridge now in any case.

One things for sure... this team will bounce back leaner, meaner and stronger for next season, the troops will regroup and the battle campaign will take no prisoners (experience has taught them that)... Come on Runcorn Town!

North West Counties League Challenge Cup Final

Thursday 2nd May 2013
North West Counties League Challenge Cup Final
FORMBY 0 RUNCORN LINNETS 3
Attendance: 580
Admission: £4 (courtesy of a £1 NWCL website voucher)
Tea Hut Stuff: No chance, packed out with punters
Weather: Mild sunny evening
Parking: Car park at the ground

This is the 7th season running that the NWCL Challenge Cup Final has been held at Curzon Ashton FC's Tameside Stadium. Curzon Ashton play in the Evo Stik Northern Premier League and it is fair to say the ground provides a suitable location for such a prestigious Final. There is plenty of decent terracing affording fine views of a well kept (if a little battle scarred) pitch, this is accompanied by an excellent Main Stand and hospitality suites. The two finalists both have a reputation for playing football the right way, particularly Division 1 Formby. 

'The Squirrels' include a large base of younger players who have previously witnessed rewards at Youth Team level, I caught them in an early round of the FA Vase tournament at Yorkshire based Nostell Miners Welfare and they impressed me with some fine passing football on the way to a 2-1 away win. Linnets are a hardy bunch with the biggest following of supporters in the NWCL, they've struggled to contend a top six league placing for long spells of the season and the Cup has remained their only chance for silverware.

The Challenge Cup obviously means a lot to the two protaginists, the Formby Secretary had even posted a picture of his brand new Cup Final tie on Twitter (I managed to catch the tie in-action pre kick off in the Main Stand).

Whilst Formby couldn't match Linnets for travelling support there were enough of them to cheer on their heroes around the stadium and they seemed well up for the event. As for the Linnets mobile 'Impi' they arrived on 4 coaches, planes, trains and automobiles. Most seemed to be wearing the garish bright green and yellow colours which clearly identify them in any kind of crowd. I overheard a good few of them moaning about a lack of Cup Final programmes? Apparently the well put together glossy publication had completely sold out 20 minutes before kick off (glad I got mine early doors then).

It appeared that Linnets fans had two other gripes as well, the long queues for the Tea Hut (or should I say Snack Bar counter) and the fact that the stewards wouldn't let people take pints of Ale onto the terraces from the Bar area, bearing in mind this was a Cup Final I think the complaints are a touch harsh really, If you want food & drink, get it before arriving or at least enter the ground at a reasonable time before kick off. 

It had been a wonderful days weather in the North West, a rarity I'm afraid, it seemed people were out to make the most of the mild sunny evening and it provided a superb backdrop to the proceedings. The officials had placed the Challenge Cup Trophy on a bit of a canteen table in front of the tunnel for the teams to march past as they came onto the pitch, unfortunately I do have to say its probably the worst looking Cup I've ever seen, dont know who designed it but I bet they've moved on in employment since, it looked bloody awful. I sat on the back row of the Main Stand for the first half and once the match was underway it quickly became evident that Formby looked very nervous and inhibited by the status of the event.

Passes quickly went astray and players struggled to keep tactical formation, Linnets immediately exploited the situation and drove forward with confidence and aggression, cheered on by the massed ranks of green and yellow behind the goals one has to verify that they fully deserved a 2-0 half time lead. Formby looked like rabbits in the headlights (or should I say sunshine) as critical mistakes gave the side from the 'Premier Division' all the bullets they needed.

It looked like two thirds of the 580 crowd were trying to get into the Bar area at half time, I got a sense that the green & yellow Linnets army were chasing a pre celebration 'taster' with a full 45 minutes still to play?

For the second half I stood on the far terrace near the halfway line, it provided a really good view of the action. With the Tea Hut full to over-flowing I had to open up emergency rations from my inside coat pocket, a generic bag of salt & vinegar crisps (not really Cup Final fodder is it). The hordes of Linnets fans had switched ends and began the almost non stop chanting and singing that they'd kept up with since the start of the match. I found it slightly puzzling that most of the songs were derogatory insults based at their local rivals Runcorn Town who finished above them in the NWCL Premier League, what greater respect to Runcorn Town could you pay than to sing your scorn for them at your own Cup Final? Certainly not the smartest trick in the box.

I was genuinely pleased that Formby played a different standard of football in the second half. They started stringing passes together and out pacing the Linnets midfield, a number of cross field moves finally resulted in some growing pressure which had the resolute Linnets defenders making some last ditch tackles. This was more like the Formby side who had gained so many accolades for good quality football, Linnets were definitely hanging on to maintain a clean sheet when a rare jaunt upfield witnessed an attacker go down under slightly dubious circumstances for a hotly disputed Linnets penalty, the net burster spot kick sealed victory for the Premier Division side but the second half belonged to their younger competitors 'The First Division Champions Formby FC'. All credit and due respect to Linnets, their experience and know-how, particularly in the opening stages of the first half had set the foundation for victory, their large following of supporters finally had the silverware they wanted so badly, up went the cheers and up went the volume, shame it was a Linnets song about a NWCL 3 point 'technicality' deduction forced upon their progressive rivals... you guessed it... Runcorn Town.

Stockport Sports 1 Runcorn Town 1

Saturday 27th April 2013
North West Counties League Premier Division
STOCKPORT SPORTS 1 RUNCORN TOWN 1
Attendance: 63
Admission: £7 (ouch)
Tea Hut Stuff: Tea £1.20
Weather: Bright and sunny, slight chill in the breeze
Parking: In the excellent car park facilities at the ground

This is Stockport Sports first season in football, never mind first season in the North West Counties League. They play at the rather nice Stockport Sports Village which has all manner of sporting facilities both inside and outdoors and is a very impressive set up. Many footy fans will remember the Woodley Sports side who once played at the same postcode in the Evo Stick Northern Premier League, that club is no more and the place has been significantly refurbished. What does remain is the tidy little Main Stand and the plastic pitch, or should I say 4G ground breaking playing surface? Some folk love em some despise em but this type of pitch is here to stay, they've even got them in Rugby League these days (Widnes Vikings) and there are a growing number of Scottish League sides employing them. I will always prefer grass but the 4G is miles better than the initial plastic pitches which were originally trialed through clubs like QPR and Preston North End, I remember the ball bouncing 20 yards high all the time. This new surface provides a much more natural experience and certainly provides a platform for decent standards of football. Compared to some of the uneven badly rutted surfaces in certain quarters of the NWCL its even a bit of a luxury.

I suppose the flash surroundings and the fancy pitch have to come at a price, in this case its a wopping 7 quid to get in (when the NWCL standard is normally £5) and you do witness an inevitable lack of character in the stadium which always seems to transpire when a corporate image is employed. Even a cup of tea is a tad more expensive than expected at this level. Perhaps these factors may be a reason why there are so few home supporters attending, I think its fair to say the vast majority of the 60 odd people in the stadium were following Runcorn Town.

Its a shame there are not more locals giving Stockport Sports a try as they do go out and play some good open football. The side they put out against Town had a bit of a continental feel to it with a sprinkling of French and East European players (which is a bit of a novelty for the NWCL). Despite the positive profile their current lower mid table league position has surprised a few pundits in the game, many people had expected them to be pushing for the title, they just haven't achieved the necessary consistency that is required in what is a very tough and competitive Premier Division.

Moving onto the visitors Runcorn Town, its fair to say the dream of winning the title has been destroyed by a Cheshire FA & NWCL directive to deduct 3 points from them during the crucial final furlong of the season long title race. I've already said my piece on the unfairness of this decision so I'm not dwelling on it here. Faced with making up the lost points 'immediately' Town found the pressure too great and failed to apply their usual quality football when it was needed the most, instead the Town side became victims of trying too hard and forcing crucial passages of play only to be exploited by the opposition which in turn was harshly complimented by some hard to believe refereeing decisions, when it rains it pours they say and Town certainly got a soaking when they lost 2 vital games in 3 days last week, both to title rivals at their home fortress 'The Pavillions', first it was Bootle on the Saturday followed up by another defeat at the hands of Winsford United on the Monday. This left them having to win their last 2 games (starting with Stockport) but more critically their respective title rivals, primarily Bootle & Padiham, had to lose all their remaining league games, a bridge too far I believe. With this in mind it was a more relaxed event for the good many Runcorn Town supporters who enjoyed some rare sunshine at the Sports Village, most acknowledged that the title had slipped from grasp with the consensus of opinion dictating that this would make the club double-determined to win the league next season (and I certainly wouldn't disagree with that, in fact they will probably start favourites). There are some fine sides in this NWCL Premier Division this season, classy Maine Road, the ruthless Bootle outfit, the steely grinders of Padiham, even Winsford have made a late run but the best side I've seen all season is by far and away Runcorn Town, the nearest thing to total-football this side of Non League. Who knows what may have happened if that bloody points deduction hadn't materialised? Lets get onto the action on the pitch.... Jakob Warchyka got free of the Runcorn defence on the half hour to put the home side 1-0 up, some full on challenges were being made in midfield with Burton & Keddie providing their usual 100% quality effort for Runcorn.

Unfortunately one of the Stockport overseas debutants Abdoulay Coulibaly just couldn't keep up with the speed and guile of the Town deadly duo and was sent off for persistent late challenges, I dont think Abdoulay was being malicious, it was more a fact that Scotty Burton & Mark Keddie were too quick for him. Both sides created good chances and a plentiful supply of decent football was provided.

With Town 1-0 down at the break Simon Burton took Chris Lawton off and put Will Dolan into midfield, Will took his opportunity well and put Town level in the 53rd minute. As the game moved into the final quarter Town started to dominate the proceedings and created chance after chance in the Stockport 18 yard area, how they didn't find the net is beyond belief, they just couldn't get the ball over the line, no wonder Simon Burton and Danny Salt were going beserk in the away team dug out.

This really should have been a clear away win but credit to Stockport for providing stern opposition even with 10 men, they never stopped trying to play their football. Sadly this was the last Runcorn Town away match of the season, I've seen them play some great stuff on the road when I've been lucky enough to be there, their supporters must be the friendliest bunch of fans on the circuit, if you're ever stuck for a game of football to watch and you find that Runcorn Town are playing nearby go along and give them a try, you wont be disappointed!

As the days other results came in it was a shock to learn Bootle had let 6 goals in at home to Barnoldswick, the defeat had opened the door fully wide for Padiham who won away at Ashton Athletic. Padiham now look odds on for the title, Bootle have to win their final two games and turn around a 14 goal differential with Padihams goal difference, looks done and dusted... unless there is a final twist in the last chapter of the book? Guess who Padiham have to play in their final game of the season next Saturday?...... Runcorn Town... away!

Runcorn Town 1 Bootle 2

Saturday 20th April 2013
NWCL Premier Division
RUNCORN TOWN 1 BOOTLE 2
Attendance: 218
Admission: 5 quid
Tea Hut Stuff: Too nervous to eat
Weather: Bright & sunny, mild
Parking: Pavillions approach road

Town hit the post, the bar, missed a penalty and had Phil Howard sent off (say no more).

Bootle still deserved the victory.

Title aspirations in tatters.

Sulking isn't the word!

Breaking News

Following recognition that I was right all along, I have diplomatically decided to review an appeal from previously unknown North West Counties League sources to restore a NWCL presence on the Wheres The Tea Hut site.

The appeal arrived in the post and was in the same format often witnessed in ransom demands, it used cut up newspaper text to make up a statement begging me to take the NWCL back into the fold and that they had been more than a little rash to (in what the letter describes) 'f*ck up the title run in'.

The letter was simply signed 'Yours Apologetically, Doreen'.

I would have favoured an official apology from the League but what the hell this Doreen woman sounds genuine and its only fair I consider the approach and review the situation accordingly.

My review of whether the NWCL get back in my good books will take place after a few pints and a big chippy supper later this evening (I can see them now... sweating on it in their 3 year old Vodkat League sponsored Car Coats).

Serves em right for messing about with the mighty Runcorn Town!

North West Counties League Administration

Due to unacceptable NWCL decisions resulting in unfair points deductions the Wheres The Tea Hut site has been suspended until further notice.

Wigan Robin Park 0 Runcorn Town 1

Saturday 6th April
North West Counties League Premier Division
WIGAN ROBIN PARK 0 RUNCORN TOWN 1
Attendance: 76
Admission: £6
Tea Hut Stuff: Meat & Potato Pie and a Tea £2.30 all in.
Weather: Bright and sunny, slight chill in the breeze.
Parkng: Club car park

I've done the Wigan RP experience already this season (see visit report v Barnoldswick) so no pictures this time around.

This was a must win game for Runcorn Town, anything less than 3 points would give their title chasing opponents a vital edge in the exciting end of season run in.

Most of the crowd appeared to be following Town in the wide open Robin Park Stadium and quite a number were already in the lounge area at the top of the big stand when I arrived. You cannot go to Wigan and not have a pie, last time I came here they had a kitchen fire 2 hours before kick off and burned them all. This time around I was fortunate enough to sample a Meat and Potato special and it lived up to the hype. A bit brown on the crust but a really tasty filling.

I found todays action on the pitch a bit of a let down really. The important factor was that Runcorn Town won, the fact that they won 'ugly' will be forgotten soon enough, its the points that matter. No disrespect intended to Wigan the stadium is not the most atmospheric ground on the NWCL circuit and being so far from the pitch behind the athletics track seems to alienate the spectator.

Paul Shanley got Towns winner in the 13th minute, my early optimism for a goal fest proved well short of the mark. The first half witnessed Wigan playing a rather tentative formation with only one man up front on most occasions. In response the more open tactics applied by Town seemed to get bogged down in a busy midfield area. Few chances and fragmented scrappy football was the result.

I'd sat in the stand for the first half which was a bit like a deep freeze in all the shade, the option to stand in the sunshine on the far side of the stadium was a much more favourable option for the second period. Once over there it became evident that the pitch seemed about a quarter of a mile away, a sinking sun also made clear visibility a bit of a pain, I chanced my arm like a few others to stand on the running track in front of the barrier to get closer to the action, fortunately nobody stopped the incursion.

Wigan came back into the game much stronger as the game reached the hour mark, they fed on the nervous indecision of the visitors as intricately planned moves fizzled out halfway through the plot. As in the previous encounter with Runcorn Linnets, Town gave away far too many free kicks deep in their own territory, whether fair or foul, it was hard work watching the outcome. Fortunately (for Town) Wigan just couldn't grab an equaliser, despite hitting the inside of the post with a fine long range volley.

The thought that a seasons effort could fizzle out in this ping-pong non spectacle of a game made the tension even greater as the final whistle approached, I for one was more than glad when the referee blew for full time. Runcorn Town took the points but in fairness to Wigan Robin Park they probably deserved a draw. 

Runcorn Town 2 Runcorn Linnets 1

Easter Monday 1st April 2013
North West Counties League Premier Division
RUNCORN TOWN 2 RUNCORN LINNETS 1
Attendance: 665
Admission: £5
Tea Hut Stuff: Tea £1 (From the new 'Heres The Tea Hut' cabin)
Weather: Cold, grey & very bleak for the time of year
Parking: On the crowded lane beside the Pavilions car park

I'd persuaded Frugal Glenn to come out of exile for this massive local derby, he's always had a soft spot for Runcorn Town ever since he came along to see them in a classic end to end NWCL Challenge Cup semi final at New Mills. I got the tight sod to pay me in as recompense for the 100 mile diesel costs, having got in for free (so to speak) I splashed out on a programme from Big Kev and even had a go on Stephanies £1 football card, when I extended the rash spending spree to a cup of tea Frugal Glenn was absolutely fuming. I couldn't miss buying something from the newly titled tea hut which has opened on the far side of the ground, they've named it 'Heres The Tea Hut' which I think is in response to the title of this blog, fantastic stuff! The new hut first opened for the Vase match against Walsall Wood and compliments the main hot food outlet in the clubhouse beside the dressing rooms.

The lads in the Tea Hut had their work cut out as hordes of eager Linnets Supporters descended on the place, it was like a scene from Rorkes Drift as the tiny Town Tea Hut was besieged by hundreds of Zulu's (or in this case people in rather garish yellow and green hoops). I've always likened Runcorn Town to the Brazil side, their superb fast flowing football with clinical passing and decisive finishing reminds me of the 1970 World Cup winning squad. I know this is absolutely barmy to 99% of people. Lately I've had to agree with others that my silly claim that a NWCL side such as Runcorn Town are equal to the Brazilian national side is childish and stupid, especially after the way Brazil played last week in that crappy friendly with Russia, Town are miles better than the latest crop of Samba Boys! How nice to see todays pitch lightly sanded to typify Copacabana Beach, all we needed now was that Barry Manilow tune and Duran Duran singing Rio beside an impromptu barbecue behind the Toilet Block. Frugal Glenn felt dizzy after parting with 10 quid at the turnstiles so we had to sit down. What a mistake! We soon realised we were sat amongst all the Linnets fans and it was obvious from the start that they'd rolled out some of their very best one-eyed mega-moaning supporters.

What is it with so many Linnets fans, some of them just love to belittle Runcorn Town in any which way they can, I know its not all Linnets people, some of them are very fair and open minded but me and Frugal got sat behind a couple of old blokes on the halfway line who just trashed everything to do with Town for the whole of the first half, the players, the pitch, the tactics, the ground, you name it they had a bloody good moan about it. You cannot help but say something in defence, which of course makes them even worse, they reckoned me and Frugal Glenn shouldn't be even sitting in the stand because it was meant for Linnets Supporters, eh? Unbelievable. It reminded me of the great album title Dark Side of the Moon. Needless to say we moved to the clubhouse side of the ground for the second half, not sure if Frugal realised how much it seems to hurt a lot of Linnets people to simply see their neighbours doing well.
Anyway, reflecting on the first half of football, my personal opinion was that it was a dog of a match, awfully scrappy and disjointed, both sides seemed edgy and nervous to play football, a few chances came at both ends including a nailed on Runcorn Town penalty when Phil Howard was fouled in the box, I suppose 0-0 was an appropriate scoreline at the break.

It was critical that Town took 3 points from this match, the pack of clubs around them at the top of the table, Maine Road, Padiham, Bootle and Winsford had all been picking up speed whilst Town could only manage a draw in last Saturdays tussle at defiant AFC Blackpool. The local fans were well up for it in the second half and it was a tremendous atmosphere behind Simon Burtons dug out.

It was impossible not to get sucked into the passion of it all, not only was this a big local derby, the chance of keeping title winning aspirations depended upon it. Trying to be fair about the football on the pitch I think Runcorn Linnets appeared the more likely side to win this match in the second half. They reappeared from the changing rooms with more composure and drive and seemed to retain the ball a lot better than Town. The home side were snatching at things rather than playing their normal methodical football. When Linnets went 1-0 up as Towns keeper Karl Wills unfortunately collided with a post whilst handling the ball, a dark cloud seemed to appear behind the half built waste incinerator plant behind the far side of the ground. The big Linnets contingent in the big 665 attendance went mad with delight! Rather than throw in the towel, Town somehow found new spirit and faced up to the gathering gloom.

Whilst the told-you-so Linnets army danced with delight and threw their bobble hats in the air, Town got the ball forwards from the back and Paul Shanley brought a blinding flash of light to the proceedings.... Town had somehow managed to equalise within 4 minutes! It was the turn for the opposite side of the ground to erupt. I knew then that as good as Runcorn Linnets were (and they do have some very good players) Town would not be beaten, the question was could they calm themselves down and find some clinical passage of play to get the chance of a winner? With 15 minutes left of what was now a totally gripping second half Super Danny Dalton sent a Small Town From Weston to Dreamland! He rose like Thunderbird 1 to head home a second goal for Runcorn Town, Simon Burton the Manager was dancing on the pitch as normal blokes in anoraks punched the air like trojans on speed. It doesn't get much better. Linnets did all they could to spoil the party as everyone kept checking their watches.

The opposition fans howled at the referee and the linesman down the far end of the ground, Linnets players were dropping like flys under harmless challenges and far too easily in my book, surely victory wasn't going to be denied because of easily influenced officials who bottled it amidst the baying mob? Town just couldn't keep the ball, Simon Burton told them to get it in the corner, there was only seconds left now... and then the referee blew and every Town supporter gave praise for victory! The big local derby had gone to Runcorn Town and the dream of the title still had a heart beat, a loss or even a draw could have proved critically damaging. I can honestly say I've not been so totally wrapped up in a second half of football for a very long time indeed, it was simply superb.

AFC Blackpool 1 Runcorn Town 1

Saturday 30th March 2013
North West Counties League Premier Division
AFC BLACKPOOL 1 RUNCORN TOWN 1
Attendance: 58
Admission: £6
Tea Hut Stuff: Tea 60p
Weather: Bright and sunny, chilly in the shade
Parking: Playing fields car park around the corner

I drove the Match Tank down from the Pennines, over the M62 and M61 westbound before skirting around the south of Preston to visit the vibrant town of Lytham on the A583 into Blackpool. I'd got a bit of business to do here before heading onto the big match later in the afternoon. I entered 'Seniors' Fish and Chip shop for my takeaway dinner, this place had won the 2012 award for best of class fish and chip shop in the UK, as I've already mentioned every other chippy on the Fylde coast seems to have won some kind of award or another? Seniors looked the part but I was a bit put off by 4 young kids running the place without a traditional looking fish fryer in sight. When I checked out the price board hung on the wall I realised I should have brought my cheque book as well! No way was I paying really silly prices for a piece of fish, I ordered chips and gravy instead, even this economy option cost me £2.45p. I sat on the sub zero promenade to scoff them, just across from the extra expensive rip off car park housing the Match Tank, they seem to be an affluent bunch in Lytham but there's no need to rob people blind for everything. I hit Blackpool around 1pm and had a stroll past the Pleasure Beach and the South Pier, the sun had come out and I felt the temperature rise to a comfortable level for the first time in weeks, should be perfect for the game ahead.

I'd been to AFC Blackpool earlier in the season against Padiham, its a nice ground with a really good playing surface, they charge a bit more than normal to get in but you do get the famous Effing & Blinding Show from the Blackpool Management Team thrown in. If you've not sampled these bigots in action you're missing out big time. The Manager and his big gobbed assistant see everybody and everything as fair game for their abusive foul mouthed tirade, the referee, opposition players (even their own players too) and a word of warning, they are also willing to take on visiting supporters as well. One Runcorn chap told the Blackpool Manager to quieten down to which he got confronted with "Whats YOUR F*cking Problem"!!! I really think it is about time the NWCL took these so called Management figures to task, it does nothing for the good standard of the league and the appalling behaviour needs to be stopped. The game itself was a must-win fixture for the Runcorn Town side, riding ever close to top of the league they are in close competition with four other sides for the title, namely Maine Road, Padiham, Bootle and Winsford. Any slip ups can result in lost ground that gets harder and harder to regain during the end of season run in. More than half the crowd had travelled over from Runcorn and after a 10-1 win last Monday night against Stone Dominoes expectations were high.

What I witnessed was a competitive action packed encounter with lots of chances at both ends of the pitch, the referee was getting lots of stick throughout the game, either for being too lenient or then too tough, some of the abuse he and the officials had to suffer was extreme to say the least. Having said that it was mind boggling how a large number of Runcorn Town attacks ended up with forwards being cut down in their tracks, many in clear goal scoring positions only for the referee to ridiculously wave play on? At least it kept the deranged Blackpool Management bench quiet for a short while. AFC Blackpool took a shock 14th minute lead through a harmless looking James Walker long range skidder, the ball seemed to bobble just before reaching keeper Karl Wills and the home side had something to hold onto. I must say the Blackpool keeper probably deserved man of the match status for his excellent saves keeping tidal waves of Runcorn Town pressure at bay, time and time again he came to his sides rescue as the Town forwards bore down on him.

Half time arrived and most of the Runcorn Town Army took time out for a bit of medication in the bar, rumour had it some of them had earlier been enjoying 2 meals for 9 quid deals alongside a few pints in the Shovels pub just across the main road from the ground. The second half started with a 47th minute Phil Howard equaliser and the game witnessed yet more Runcorn Town pressure as Stuart Wellstead mesmerised the opposition with his speed and dribbling, the only bloke on the ground not taken in by Stuarts skills was the Blackpool keeper!

Everything thrown at him this keeper stopped, even a James McShane penalty (after the Ref turned down 23 earlier appeals for a spot kick). Despite the pressure, Blackpool still threatened at the other end of the pitch and I honestly thought this game could have ended 4-12 rather than 1-1. Tension and desperation fuelled the final 15 minutes as the Town fans tried to will the ball into the net, it wasn't to be, AFC Blackpool held out for a gallant point (well, at least the players did, not sure about the bench), a good point for the home side, it edges them further away from the danger zone at the foot of the table.

As for Runcorn Town, everyone knows that 3 points was the primary target and a draw seems disappointing, however, the class is still there and I feel this Runcorn side have a battling spirit that will stand them in good stead for the dramatic title run in. That dramatic run in steps up a gear on Easter Monday with a derby clash against Runcorn Linnets.

Maine Road 2 Runcorn Town 0

Saturday 16th March
North West Counties League Premier Division
MAINE ROAD 2 RUNCORN TOWN 0
Admission: £5
Attendance: 108
Tea Hut Stuff: Tea 70p
Weather: Fair, bright start, clouded over a bit
Parking: Club car park

I'd been looking forward to this game all week. A real top of the table clash. Maine Road held second spot with Runcorn Town picking up speed in third. It was a nailed-on North West Counties League feast of football. The feast turned out to be nothing more than a dodgy takeaway, one that makes you sick in the morning, neither side played as well as they can do, Maine Road just about did enough on the day but Runcorn Town strangely failed to get going. With a good few games being postponed during the morning due to waterlogging, Maine Roads Brantingham Road pitch was a picture of perfection, flat as a pancake with a nice even covering of grass, it looked like they'd bought it from Carpet World, all the more puzzling why Runcorn Town in particular struggled to play their normal passing football. Maine Road are one of those charismatic little clubs who portray the special side of non league, they have a spick and span tidy little ground with a support of no nonsense regulars cheering on some very good young players, having been beaten 3-0 at Runcorn Towns ground recently, this game was going to be a stern test for the Road team but they certainly rose to the occasion with an obvious battling spirit.

They never let Town settle into the game, Road were hustling and bustling in defence and very quick going forward, the young lady referee had a tough task to control a tense and niggly first half but she coped well under the circumstances. Maine Road got the all important breakthrough with an 18th minute Tom Bailey penalty. Towns colossal defender Tom Spearitt made an excellent tackle as Road burst into the box, the ball bobbled free and fellow defender Danny Toone was deemed to have fouled in the resulting scramble, 1-0 to Maine Road.

The home side became even more resolute, they were first to the ball and Runcorns plan to play Phil Howard up front on his own was having little effect on the proceedings. Phil never got the quality supply of ball from midfield, it always seemed at least 3 big defenders were surrounding him which made it hard to understand why Town started lumping balls towards him down the middle. The lone forward got a terrible kicking throughout the afternoon via some clinical but well disguised defensive play which the referee failed to spot all afternoon. No wonder Phil was visibly annoyed at the lack of protection.

Half time mercifully gave everyone a welcome break from the very scrappy and fragmented proceedings, the subdued Runcorn supporters, who had travelled down the M56 in good numbers, ambled back to the clubhouse, I followed them down towards the tea hut and got a hot cup of tea, it had been a dogs ear of a first half, especially for Runcorn Town, I simply didn't have the enthusiasm for the offer of a steaming bowl of the well advertised chilli hot pot. Surely things could only get better in the second period? Unfortunately they didn't.

Apart from Scott Burton who played extremely well in an overrun midfield Runcorn Town just couldn't get out of the inside lane, there were gearbox problems all over the pitch, Maine Road kept it simple, hogged the pitch and got home first with plenty to spare. Tom Bailey got a well worked second goal in the 69th minute and from there on-in it was curtains. A tremendous result for Maine Road and their supporters, an extremely negative day at the office for Runcorn Town, the first defeat in 16 league games if I'm not mistaken? The day was made worse by Padiham strengthening top spot via a fine away win at Glossop. Town will bounce back from this, of that there is no doubt, that objective starts next Saturday when they are at home to bottom side Stone Dominoes. I can sense that a Perfect Storm may be heading for the Dominoes table next weekend? Bring it on!

Barnoldswick Town 3 Runcorn Town 5

Saturday 9th March 2013
North West Counties League Premier Division
BARNOLDSWICK TOWN 3 RUNCORN TOWN 5
Attendance: 128
Admission: £5
Tea Hut Stuff: Tea 60p, Sausage Roll 40p
Weather: Continual icy rain, bleak and cold
Parking: Club car park access road

I'd been out the country for over a week so it was a bit of a shock taking the Match Tank over to Barnoldswick amidst wildly inflated BBC weather warnings for deep and heavy snow. The London loving BBC weather team got it wrong (yet again) as hardly a flake of snow fell all day in this part of the country. What we did get was continual icy drizzle, it was bloody freezing at the Silentnight Beds Stadium. Last time I came here this pretty gateway to the Dales was bathed in idyllic sunshine, the sight of wet-through Runcorn Town supporters wrapped up in heavy coats and dark blue woolly hats trudging towards the covered terrace blew away any hopes that this was going to be a springtime stroll in the park. Its a good job Barlick FC (as the locals call em) have a nicely kept playing surface, apparently the town had missed recent downpours but it was copping for an afternoon of non stop drizzle for the match. The pitch stood up remarkably well considering the circumstances. A woman was attempting to write out the teams on a board adjacent to the packed out clubhouse, the felt pen was fighting a losing battle with the soggy elements, the locals started to push-by to take up their favourite spots in the charasmatically titled Sewer End, doubtless most of them would be suitably tanked to the brim with a few pints of ale and a steaming bowl of the internal tea huts famous hot pot and peas. They seemed a boisterous but friendly bunch, at this stage of the proceedings they were immune to the louder cutting wit of the travelling Runcorn supporters, something the locals struggled to come to terms with as the game wore on (probably not helped by some very strange refereeing decisions which understandably inflamed the travelling contingent). I took up a position alongside the halfway line under the covered terrace as the teams shook hands.

I had chosen this fixture as the NWCL match of the day and I was not to be disappointed. Both sides played some fine passing football and set out to score goals (lots of them). Runcorn Town emphasized the point by taking a lead as early as the 3rd minute through a close range Mark Keddie strike. Mark went on to have a fine game in midfield against some quality opponents.

Danny Horton and Ashley Alderson were having great games as they fought to get Barlick back in the match. The game went from end to end as both sides tried to adapt to the tricky conditions of a very wet pitch with a slippy top surface, poor Danny Toone was sliding all over the place in the Runcorn defence, at one stage it looked like he had a pair of cut price Primark slippers on? Danny held on (just). Barlick got their equaliser just before the break only for Stuart Wellstead to snatch back a Runcorn 2-1 half time lead. It had been an absorbing 45 minutes of entertaining football. We'd had gung-ho open attacking, flying hard tackles in defence and some mesmerizingly daft refereeing decisions, how the referee failed to award a Runcorn Town penalty when Paul Shanley was blatantly hacked down baffled everyone on the ground (even some hard nosed Barlick die hards). This fuelled the wrath of the vocal Runcorn Town supporters as they wasted no time in politely informing the referee in a true gentlemanly style that his birth right may be slightly questionable. Some of the more socially sheltered home fans seemed more than a little shocked at the colourful language normally so rarely used by the courteous Runcorn Town aficionados. As the teams and coaching staff headed back into the dressing rooms at the aptly named Sewer End of the ground there seemed to be some sort of coming together between some Barlick supporters and members of the Runcorn side, some loud bloke in a big high visibility coat could be seen affronting what looked like the Runcorn coaching staff, he was joined by others before the referee stepped in and got both of the teams in the building?

Don't know what sparked it off but it all seemed a bit handbags and hot air from where I was stood. The one thing it did do was inject even more urgency in the determination of both sides to come out on top in the second half. Half time action continued as I coughed up 60p for a nice cup of tea in the snug warm clubhouse, I also pushed the boat out for a luke warm 40p sausage roll (the lady said it was the very last one).

I have often touted Runcorn Town as the Brazil of the North West Counties League. What they provided in the second half of this game emphasized how accurate that statement is. Good as Barnoldswick were and try as they might, they simply couldn't live with the total-football which flowed throughout the entire Runcorn Town side. Scott Burton was having a sublime game as he took the ball off Barlick and split them wide open time and time again with pin-point passing and vision.

Can there be a better defender in this league than Tom Spearitt? I very much doubt it, Barlick threw everything they had at the visitors but Spearitt simply stopped them in their tracks. Instead of fearing a sustained onslaught from a fired up home side, Runcorn Town wupped them at their own game and went 4-1 up via a couple of goals from the irrepressible James McShane! Despite an Alderson super strike to give Barlick a minimal sniff of a comeback at 4-2 the classy Phil Howard (ex Wigan Robin Park) underlined his value as a clinical striker by slotting home a superb Paul Shanley cross to put things out of Barlicks reach at 5-2.

Barlick got a very late third goal but I was already down at the corner flag for a 'Le Mans' style dash to the Match Tank, I was that fast I even overtook a limping pensioner as he slipped in a puddle... goodnight Barnoldswick Town and well done to the visitors. I then found out that Maine Road had won away at top of the league Padiham (yippee), this means there is still every chance that the best side in the league can still win the title, come on Runcorn Town!!!

Runcorn Town 1 Walsall Wood 2 (after extra time)

Saturday 23rd February
FA Vase 5th Round
RUNCORN TOWN 1 WALSALL WOOD 2
Attendance: 233
Tea Hut Stuff: A bit too crowded (clubhouse packed)
Weather: Grim! Cold and bleak with occasional snow flurries
Parking: On the Pavilions pub car park adjacent to the ground

I've been to this Mecca of North West non league football before so there wont be any art-study photographs of frost bitten pensioners sat in a stand over shadowed by a half-built massive waste reprocessing plant. I'm going through one of my mood swings at the moment and it seems I have temporarily fell out of favour of doing the groundhopping thing. As an alternative I've started taking more of an interest in one of the more entertaining football teams that I have seen whilst slogging around the Northern circuit, the mighty Runcorn Town.

Town were pipped at the post in last seasons North West Counties League Premier Division, just losing out to the classy Ramsbottom United. This season they have just gone top of the league but they are hotly pursued by Padiham, Maine Road and Bootle. With 15 league games to go Runcorn Town will again be tested to the max to shake off the pack. I went along to see them kill off a stubborn Colne side last Saturday 5-3 away from home, first half they were all over the place as Colne took the initiative, second half Runcorn simply blew them away with a total-football performance that completely decimated the home side. The big question was whether Town could summon up that second half Colne performance for todays big FA Vase 5th round clash with Walsall Wood?

Wood are apparently big tree shakers in the Midlands Combination. They'd already done for a fellow North West Counties Premier League side, Wigan Robin Park in a previous round, although it was on a plastic pitch at Sutton Coldfield due to their own surface not being fit for play. The rumour was they were crafty, physical and had some decent players who could quickly turn a tight game. It was good to see them bring along a decent sized support as they thronged around the clubhouse griddle plate. Perhaps Walsall's regular burger outlets have been hit harder than most by the horsemeat scandle? The Runcorn committee appeared like wild west traders giving mirrors & whisky to a bunch of red indians (well they did have red and white scarves on).

A crowd of 233 braved the chilly elements which inspired Town to open a snazzy looking second tea hut for the game on the main stand side of the ground. It had its own generator (but I'm unsure about which substance was running it). There seemed to be quite a few hoppers and various FA dignitaries in attendance in the stand, it was all notebooks, sandwich boxes and compact camera's.

I'm not going to drone on about what happened in this match blow by blow, there are enough good quality reports doing that in detail already. I just want to record my reaction that Runcorn Town really put up a good fight in this game and with a bit more luck could easily have made it through to the quarter finals. They created the goal scoring chances and even had a second 'good' goal strangely disallowed. Everybody played their part and nobody let the side down, Scott Burton ran his socks off in midfield, Paul Shanley was looking ever-dangerous down the flank and James McShane never ceases to amaze me what a skillful striker he is. Alas it was not to be. What they did do was continue to play good open football throughout the game and never once did they resort to dirty tricks and diving. Unfortunately I cannot state the same case for Walsall Wood. Why the visitors resorted to niggling, bumping, nudging and continual shirt tugging is beyond reason. How their captain stayed on the pitch after 2 clearly bookable offences early in the first half is also a complete mystery, Walsall Wood should have been down to 10 men without any doubt whatsoever. In spite of this they genuinely have some very good players, why a lot of them spent most of the match trying to con the referee by blatant diving is a sad reflection on how they approached this game. They had a small striker playing solo up front who must have spent more game-time lying in the mud than he did on his feet, terrible to see such tricks, especially in a last 16 FA Vase tie.

I got the impression that the referee may have been slightly influenced by a very boisterous section of abusive Walsall Wood followers outside the clubhouse, some of the offensive bile this bunch came out with during the afternoon has no place in non league football. To taunt decent Runcorn supporters with comments such as 'Benefit Cheats' is completely out of order, I doubt the low brained idiot who came out with this will know his slur was picked up by me and other passers by, disgraceful!

To sum up the game as a neutral, I thought Runcorn Town were the better side over the 120 minutes although they did get stretched as extra time wore on. Walsall got a breakaway and took the opportunity for a fluked winning goal, they then spent the remainder of the game time wasting and hanging about near the corner flag, which they seemed very good at. Their supporters were ecstatic at their heroes winning a game they probably thought was beyond them, not many sides come away with a win from Runcorn Town, I wonder if they spent all their luck up on this game? The next rounds of the Vase will tell.

As for Runcorn Town the battle for the North West Counties League is about to be notched up a couple of gears, can the rest of the bunch keep up?  

Colne 3 Runcorn Town 5 (Unplugged)

Apology about the late posting (been busy).

Went to an enticing looking North West Counties game last week (Saturday 16th February 2013) and it didn't fail to deliver.

I couldn't be bothered taking all the groundhopper kit so I just went along and enjoyed the match. Nice not to draft up massive reports and skip editing photos for a change.

What I did do was post a brief summary on the Non League Matters website. The article below is what I placed in the 'Where Did You Go' section:

North West Counties League Premier Division
COLNE 3 RUNCORN TOWN 5
Attendance: 72
Admission: £5
Tea Hut Stuff: Molten lava Meat & Potato Pie, Crisps and Tea £2.30p
Weather: Dry, cloudy, bit of a chill up on the hill
Parking: You can't park behind the kop anymore, ended up on the Rugby Club car park

The best team in the NWCL finally went top of the league after this 8 goal end to ender.
The Samba Specialists from Runcorn struggled to get the latin beat going until the second half.
Colne pushed them hard in a hard fought niggly kind of a game (it was never really dirty though).
Despite banging 5 in away from home, the visitors looked a tad fragmented at times.
Mr Burton was giving the Runcorn lads a terrible tongue lashing in the half time team talk.

Colne still have a nice little ground high up above the town. Well kept with vista views.
Not much choice in the Tea Hut if you dont like over baked pies, 2 types of crisps & regulation mars bars.
Saw a hopper doing the rounds with the traditional rucksack and camera.
That was me a short while ago (before the sad loss of the Match Shed).
Can't be arsed writing up the blog reports anymore.
Have more fun cheering on Runcorn Town.

Match Shed goes this Friday!

The trusty Match Shed will be departing from Wheres The Tea Hut this coming Friday 11th January at 10.30am.

It will be sadly missed.

Long live The Match Shed and all who hop in it!

Alsager Town 0 Runcorn Town 2

Saturday 5th January 2013
North West Counties League Premier Division
ALSAGER TOWN 0 RUNCORN TOWN 2
Attendance: 92
Admission: £5
Tea Hut Stuff: Tea 80p, Cheese & Onion Crisps 30p
Weather: Dry with a fair sky, reasonably mild
Parking: Housing estate adjacent to the ground

My apology, it has been some time since the last Tea Hut visit report, November I think? A bad cocktail of rubbish weather, wall to wall postponements and some problems with the Match Shed resulted in a lot of blank weekends. Now the weather has improved (at least for the time being) and a solution to the Match Shed situation is coming to fruition means I can go and watch some non-league football again... and where better than the superb value for money North West Counties League. I've had Alsager Town as a visit-target for quite a while, its one of the few NWCL Premier League grounds I've not been to. The fact that Alsagers opposition this weekend are renowned as one of the best footballing sides in the division, Runcorn Town, made this an eagerly anticipated match day choice. After weeks of endless rain it was good to enjoy a stress free trip down the M6 and the A50 in the Match Shed, there wasn't much traffic and it was quite fitting that what could be the Match Sheds last journey was bathed in glistening winter sunshine. I should explain, the Match Shed has reached the age that demands a parting of the ways, I've put it off but now the time is right, my trusty pal will soon be gone forever, this may very well be the last game for The Shed, such a shame but change is inevitable in this fast moving world (some people say we should embrace it?). I know I will miss it. I was quite surprised to find Alsager so close to open countryside, I knew it was north of Stoke on Trent but I had imagined it to be more urban. There was a bright cheery welcome sign just before I swung the Match Shed through the housing estate which is described as being adjacent to the ground.

It seems a decent enough area, one strange fact is that all the houses seem to have flat roofs? Some groundhoppers have gone on about Alsager Town being a hard ground to find, I had no such problems, its even signposted? Although it was only 2.15pm there was the dreaded sign at the gate 'Car Park Full'! It wasn't really a problem as there is plenty of street parking close by on the housing estate. It doesn't look the kind of place where somebody would pinch your wheels. I paid my 5 quid and joined a few Runcorn Town fans walking down the slope to the ground, the entrance, toilets and clubhouse are much higher up than the pitch, the setting is quite picturesque as the tidy well kept stadium meets open countryside which sweeps behind what I am led to believe is The Farside covered terrace.

Apparently Alsager once had a colourful following of disgruntled Stoke & Port Vale fans who draped the stand in various flags and banners, they would follow Alsager home and away and called themselves 'Ultra's'? Not like the Italian ones who stab you in the bottom I hope? I think the Ultra support may possibly have dropped off over recent seasons? Besides the Farside stand which adorns the far touchline, you move right to the Tea Hut end which is stood back behind the nets, its a block of black cabin like units with an adjoining medical room at one end, its all black appearance gives it a strangely charismatic profile, the all important Tea Hut is slap bang in the middle.

A bunch of lovely ladies are on hand to sell you soup, pies, burgers and hot drinks all at very reasonable prices, nice not to see rip-off charges for a change. Due to an impromptu running buffet I had before leaving home I was still too full to get any food down so I just had a large tea at 80p, it was very nice too. The clubhouse side of the ground sees two stands running the length of the touchline, the larger one offers seating, the nice looking new clubhouse and changing room blocks loom high above in the background (unfortunately the old clubhouse burned down and Alsager have worked wonders to get a high quality new facility in its place). 

The stadium all looks spick and span with good hard standing and well trimmed perimeter areas adding to the 'welcome' feel to the place. I'd heard tales of "you wouldn't want to go to Alsager" but I must say, personally, I found Alsager Town to be a good location to watch football and it has that all important bit of character thrown in as well. Alsager Town currently sit mid table under ex Spurs & Portsmouths Andy Turner, a manager who really gets into the game coaxing on his side for the whole 90 minutes, I watched Alsager in the first game of the season at Squires Gate, they are no pushovers and would surely test the highflying Runcorn Town. The visitors were in third spot behind Maine Road and Padiham, chasing them in fourth position came Bootle who had 4 games in hand! It was essential that Runcorn Town got something out of this tussle with Alsager, preferably the full 3 points. I've banged on about Runcorn Town for some time now, when they put it together there is no finer side in the league, some of the football can be sublime to watch, however, not every game falls into the fantasy-island category, like every good side, Runcorn Town have learned how to win ugly when necessary, I was hoping the Alsager match would be a bit more Samba style Copacabana than a knees up in Rhyl? The first half went to Alsager in my book (just) despite Runcorn Town having a 0-1 lead through a 36th minute slightly controversial penalty from the striker they call Macca, James McShane. 5 blokes huddled around a tinny radio on The Farside thought the whole thing was totally 'Gareth Bale'! I've seen them given and to be honest, in my opinion, there was contact.

The elephant in the room was the fact that Alsager created piles of goal scoring opportunities and fluffed the lot of them, time and time again the Runcorn Town back four got pulled apart (much to the obvious anger of manager Simon Burton on the visitors bench) only for some very wayward shooting from the home side. After a half time packet of Cheese & Onion crisps (just to keep me ticking over) the first 20 minutes of the second half witnessed some of the Runcorn Town magic that makes them such an entertaining side to watch. Paul Shanley was having a fine game down the left flank and his wonderful jinking run and shot could only be half saved by the Alsager keeper, James McShane was on hand to slot home his second from the rebound, 0-2 to Runcorn Town.

Alsager battled on but the gaps in the visitors defence had been attended to, probably via a half time Simon Burton b*llocking! I sensed Runcorn Town eased down the gears after the second goal but how special it is when they hit the throttle, the ability to produce that extra piece of magic sets them apart from most teams in this league, thats 10 games undefeated for them, the real test comes with the unknown qualities of how sides like Maine Road and Padiham tussle with the draining aspects of the second half of the season? Will they slip up? I reckon Maine Road will be in the mix, not so sure about Padiham? Perhaps the biggest threat to Runcorn Town comes from the side just below them (with 4 games in hand) Bootle! Should be good to watch it happen. So there you have it, a decent game, scrappy at times but some Runcorn Town magic thrown in during the early part of the second half, it is worth noting that Alsager could have had this game won before the break if they'd had their shooting boots on. A good little ground to visit and a credit to the club helpers who've worked so hard after the clubhouse fire, well worth a visit if you are in the area.

I jumped back in the Match Shed and my trusty pal was soon negotiating a pitch black A50 on the way back north, how sad that it may be the Sheds last match day return to home?