Witton Albion v New Mills

Witton's MOM (IMHO) Danny Andrews ...

I can say "I WAS THERE !!!" - not necessarily for the game (?!) but I took the camera anyway ...

New Mills gained their first point of the season on Tuesday night - and it was thoroughly deserved.  They took the lead twice, got pegged back twice, and in the last 10 minutes they survived "The Alamo" with dogged defending and many bodies in front of balls.  When the whistle went it was like a cup had been won !!  All credit to the Millers.  Some pics from the game at

Witton Albion 2 New Mills 2
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Curzon Ashton v Stalybridge Celtic

Curzon Ashton are NOT in the Evo-Stik League any more - can you guess ?!?

... on a cold Monday night at the Tameside Stadium ...

A closely-fought encounter in which I guess Celtic will be the happier - especially as they went down to 10 men when Aaron Chalmers was shown a second yellow for what looked like a good solid challenge (IMHO !!).  Chances were few and far between at both ends to be honest so 0-0 was a fair result.  Some pics (Celtic bias - left Maxine to do the Curzon stuff !) at 

Curzon Ashton 0 Stalybridge Celtic 0

Tonight ?  Witton Albion v New Mills ... and not necessarily for the photos/game !!
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Mossley v Kendal Town

 Getting ready for "Pin The Tail On The Donkey" ...

So .... the mid-season break is over (for me) - OK I have missed a couple of midweek options but mostly the weather has intervened over the last couple of weeks.
Naturally - one of those days where I was spoiled for choice - so naturally I go for the easy option ... up the road to Mossley.  The home team started well but were given a rude awakening when Kendal scored a couple of well-taken goals to go in 2-1 up at half-time.  Even so, I reckon most people there couldn't see that lasting - Mossley looked dangerous throughout and it was only brave defending and some wayward finishing that kept the score down.  Pics from the game at

Mossley 3 Kendal Town 2

Big local derby tomorrow night when Curzon Ashton entertain Stalybridge Celtic - should be there ..
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Found This ...

... on one of the regular "cameraphone clear-outs" - had to stop and think for a while (before engaging brain and clicking on 'details' - uuuuuhhh !!!).  Pic taken at approx 1517hrs on Christmas Eve on the 350 bus on way home to Mossley from Greenfield (with trains being only once an hour etc etc you can pay twice the price and take seven times as long by using the bus - ho ho ). Anyway I took a few on the bus for the hell of it - and this one looks rather good - so I offer up ...

... in Photoshop it's been auto focussed and I've slightly darkened it by adjusting levels - but I like it - not bad for a phone ...
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Curzon Ashton v Boston United

The two best players on the pitch IMHO - Jordan Wright(L) and Liam Marrs(R) ...

One of those days when games get called off - and you hope and pray "something" will be available locally - and sure enough Curzon came up with the goods...

A 2-0 defeat in the end against a very well organised Boston - many bodies were thrown in front of the few chances that Curzon managed to create - in a sense Curzon were "out-experienced" (is that a phrase ??) - a little bit physical - knowing how to work the officials - all part of the learning process in the National League North .... pics from the game at

Curzon Ashton 0 Boston United 2

(obviously putting this up at 2300 on Tuesday - and yes I know what I've missed tonight - two postponements(Glossop and Stalybridge) and a 6-0 win at Ashton United - aargh - trust Jez and Juel have done the business there !!!)
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Mossley Academy v Mickleover Sports Blacks Academy

Prince Owusu getting stuck in for Mossley ...

A Wednesday off work ... and a chance to see the Mossley youngsters in the NPL Academy League.  Unfortunately the young Lilywhites were missing several key players and having fought back to 2-2, succumbed to two late goals by the visitors.  Pics from game at

Mossley Academy 2 Mickleover Sports Blacks Academy 4

Today ... a family wedding ... 
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Damp Day - Let's Walk !!!

Just a hint of water - 1/12th second and NO tripod !!

 ... so we did - headed up and over the Snake Pass for a walk ... madness, utter madness !!!  Pics at

Wet Walk 05Jan16

Slight change of plan - the Mossley Academy game is now being played at home tomorrow - I'll be there ... weather permitting of course !!! 
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Mossley v Ossett Town 02Jan16

Michael Thomas attempts decapitation of Tawanda Rupere ...

 
First game of 2016 ... and yes I turned up late !!!  The number of people who say to me (in postie mode) "Bet you're glad Christmas is over eh ??" just don't know the half of it.  As Christmas cards dry up ... holiday brochures appear - and they're bloody heavier.  Plus when your oppo phones in sick at 0600 on Saturday morning and everything then goes totally to c*ck ... suffice to say as I'm walking up the hill (no way was I running !) I heard the cheers as Tom Dean put Mossley 1-0 up - bugger !!

Hey ho - I managed the next 80 minutes - turned out to be a hard-fought victory in the end against to so-called "lesser" of the two Ossetts (based on league position).  Some pics from the game at 

Mossley 2 Ossett Town 1

A few days off work now - one of those holidays "imposed" by the vagaries of Royal Mail - back in on Friday - naturally one of the few chances I get to see the Mossley Youth team in the NPL Academy League (which play on Wednesday afternoons) sees Mossley ... away - more bugger !
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Walking into 2016

 

"Barbed wire in black and white" ...

... first wander of the year - and it was bloomin' cold !! Hence staying fairly local.  Just to add a bit of fun ... I restricted myself to just a 24mm prime lens ... all pics below are uncropped and "straight out of the jar" (OK .. with just a teeny bit of Photoshop - but it does show that this 24mm lens can do long and short pics equally as well).

NewYearWalk01Jan16
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Droylsden v Mossley 28Dec15

Mossley goalscorer Godwin Abadaki ...

 Final game of 2015 for me - and not without a touch of controversy - see report here.  A few pics from the game at

Droylsden 1 Mossley 1
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