Ashton United v Witton Albion

 Ashton's Gary Gee - in "stylish mode" ..

Home from work - to find my five-minute walk up the road (viz Mossley v Harrogate RA) had been called off due to the torrential morning downpour (tell me about it - I was out in it !!!!).  Not to worry though - the Ashton United game had been called "on" so it was up to Hurst Cross for me.  A fairly even first half  - OK Ashton probably edged it (one disallowed goal as well) - but hopes were high for the second half.  In the club at half-time we watched some footage from the Bury game that was abandoned due to some horrendous weather - and sure enough that same weather made its way down from Gigg Lane to Hurst Cross - I've stood out in some pretty awful weather before now, but the deluge had both me and Noah cowering under the stands - and I don't think anyone could argue with the ref's decision to knock it on the head after 65 minutes ... some wet and dry pics from the game at

Ashton United A Witton Albion A

It will be interesting to see if tomorrow's game at Curzon Ashton goes ahead - more awful weather today with the promise of more to come - we wait and see ...

P.S. Well done to Glossop North End - another trip to Wembley awaits (sadly I don't think I'll be able to make it this time around ...).
.

Mossley v Farsley AFC

Tom Pratt and former Lilywhite Lewis Nightingale ...

Fresh from the six-pointer at Stalybridge on Saturday ...Tuesday saw a six-pointer up at Seel Park where Mossley (7th) took on Farsley AFC (8th) in the chase for a play-off place.

A fairly even - if cagey - first half saw chances at both end, but it was Farsley who went in one goal to the good as Aidan Savory scored right on the half-time whistle.  I was comfy at half-time whilst downing my bottle of Black Sheep ... "we'll do 'em downhill"...

... and for once (!!) I was right.  Pretty much one way traffic in the second half, with Mossley scoring the requisite number of goals !!!  Pics from game at

Mossley 2 Farsley AFC 1

A result which saw Mossley climb up to sixth - with another home game on Saturday against Harrogate Railway  to come ...
.

Many Thanks ...

My Dad ..


 
... to all those have have passed on their kind thoughts and best wishes over the last couple of weeks or so.  Dad's funeral went well yesterday - I managed a reading without cracking up (!) - reckon the only problem was when we got to the "wake/gathering" venue at about 1130 - they wouldn't open the bar until 1200 !!  A fair few tears throughout the day on and off however - such is life/death. Living two hours away doesn't help - my sister Jane has copped for a lot recently - she might be retired but .. she's been great.

Anyway - closure of a sort - and we all move on .. once again thank you all for everything.
.

Stalybridge Celtic v Gloucester City

 Harley Wigley equalises for Celtic - joy on and off the pitch ..

A "must win" game for Stalybridge if they were to keep their hopes of staying up alive - and with 24 minutes on the clock things were looking pretty grim - 0-1 down and very little going on up front.  However a rather fortunate equaliser - when Gloucester 'keeper Paul White "dropped the ball" saw the game level at half-time.  As the weather got chillier (despite the bright sunshine !!) it looked odds on a draw - to be honest it was two poor teams with not an ounce of confidence between them (the League table never lies !).  The introduction of Tom Bentham (now to be known as "supersub" !!) and a little bit of "route one" saw a late late winner for the home side - the final five minutes (plus 4 added on) must have seemed like an enternity to the Celtic faithful.  They got there in the end though - a first win in 11 games saw them move a few inches/points closer to escaping the bottom three.  Still a helluva lot of work to be done though - "7 cup finals" as new boss Liam Watson has said.

Pics from the game at

Stalybridge Celtic 2 Gloucester City 1

In other news - Hyde were confirmed as relegated yesterday despite a 1-1 draw at high-flying AFC Fylde ... Ashton United continued their quest for automatic promotion with a 2-0 win against Matlock Town ... similarly Mossley kept up the quest for a play-off spot with a 2-0 win over Radcliffe Borough ... no games for Curzon Ashton and Droylsden.

Last - but by no means least - well done to Glossop North End who made the long journey down to St Austell for the first leg of the FA Vase Semi-Final ... and came back holding a 2-0 lead (both goals scored by ex-Mossley players incidentally ... Lee Blackshaw and Benji Richardson).  Second leg next week - and Wembley beckons again.  Check out the highlights on youtube ...



Midweek football will be Mossley (7th) v Farsley AFC (8th) - the quest for play-off spots continues ..
.

Mossley v Spennymoor

 Rio Ahmadi makes it 2-0 ... and the smiles are EVERYWHERE !!

... late again - it's becoming a habit (although I've got a decent excuse at the moment - sorting out "stuff" - my Dad's funeral on Monday, so any pics from the Saturday game may be late as well - unless I work hard on Sat evening and don't drink too much !).

Anyway Tuesday - hot on the heels of a 2-3 reverse at lowly Brighouse - and Spennymoor whacking 8 (eight) past Clitheroe .. the form book went right out of the window didn't it ??  And Mossley looked comfy throughout - I can say no more - if you need more check out the Mossleyweb report.  Pics from the game at 

Mossley 2 Spennymoor Town 0

Certainly NOT my greatest efforts (OK they're cr*p) - but you get the picture !!!

A pretty cr*p week at work as well - does nobody in Greenfield ever go to "a shop" ??  It appears not - anyway fingers crossed we can get away with it tomorrow somehow and I can get to a game on time - my aim is the "absolute crunch" for Stalybridge Celtic at home to Gloucester City - Celtic in dire relegation straits - Manager Keith Briggs resigned after last Saturday's defeat - new Manager appointed (Liam Watson) - but he's sitting out tomorrow's game in the stand.  Three points is the only option for Celtic - I'll be there as quick as I can ...
.

Brighouse Town v Mossley

Caldon Henson shoots - Leon Henry flinches ...

A rare chance for an awayday with Mossley - fairly straightforward train journey to Brighouse - ground miles away from the station though.  We attempted to walk it (!!!) but gave up after the second pub (!!!!).

Then treated to a 45 minute horror show by Mossley - disjointed, disorganised, and 2-0 down - which became 3-0 not long after half-time.  Only then did Mossley start to play like we know they can - a couple of goals back and a nervy last 10 minutes for the hosts ... however it was a case of too little, too late, and a 2-3 reverse makes the play-offs a touch more distant.  Pics from game at

Brighouse Town 3 Mossley 2

On to Tuesday then against Spennymoor Town (who thumped 8 - eight - past Clitheroe yesterday - eek !).
.

Mossley v Prescot Cables

Caldon Henson ..

Sorry I'm late - my Dad died on Monday ...

Pics from game at

Mossley 3 Prescot Cables 1

We're getting there ... an administrative nightmare - notwithstanding the grief ... cruel ...
.

Curzon/Belper; Mossley/Bamber Bridge - Late Late Stuff

... for a number of reasons (family-based - so I'm not going into it now).

Nabil Sharif has just put Belper 2-1 up ... but they couldn't hang on ...

Monday saw Belper's third trip "up here" - I'd seen 'em draw against FC United (at Stalybridge Celtic) - I'd seen 'em lose at Ashton United (at Ashton United) ... I was hoping to complete the set on Monday against Curzon Ashton (at Curzon Ashton) ... although I wasn't really expecting it !!!!!!

However - they took the lead - got pegged back - and took the lead again - it was only a 90th minute equaliser from Sam Walker that ruined my "set" (strange as it may seem it would/could have been Belper's first "double" of the season !!) However a 2-2 draw looks good for the team who are (let's be honest) going down ... unless they now go on and 11 match unbeaten run ... we hope we pray - cus if they go down, it's back to Evo South.  Pics from game at

Curzon Ashton 2 Belper Town 2

Tom Pratt looking for a way through the Brig defence ...

24 hours later it was Mossley v Bamber Bridge - and Mossley picking up the "Team of the Month" award - as is the norm 'twas the "kiss of death" as the home team lost 0-1 to a very efficient Bamber Bridge team who nudged themselves into the play-off positions.  No complaints - the better side won.  Only a few pics from the game (my mind was elsewhere - see above).

Mossley 0 BamberBridge 1

Crap week at work as well - which never helps - let's see what the weekend brings - where I'm going no-one knows - least of all me ... mostly down to work ... but much depends on "other stuff" as well - hey ho...
.