#abbey hey

[urbangoals]

Urban Goals. Abbey Hey, Manchester.

[footymanccave]

Non-League: Frank Hannah Manchester Premier cup first round round-up

Non-League: Frank Hannah Manchester Premier cup first round round-up @Manchester_FA #MCRPREMIERCUP

16 teams have been in action in the Frank Hannah Manchester Premier Cup this week and most games were very close or went to penalties.

Here’s a quick round-up of the games brought to you by The Football Manc Cave.

Radcliffe Vs FC United

It wasn’t the first time this season that these two teams have met at the Neuven Stadium and it was all to play for. It remained goalless until half…

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What Comes Around

GAME OF THE WEEK

CORINTHIAN CASUALS A MOLESEY A

I think at time a little bit of chaos invites further chaos, a day with fairly little planning certainly held some surprises.

After the short train journey into Manchester, I decided to upgrade to 1st Class for my game deciding Virgin Trains trip to Euston. Ten games picked, as the train pulled away from platform 8 I started the stopwatch. Train manager, Michelle, soon announced that the 'Reservation Management System' was not working, neither was the the member of staff in the shop, they had gone home sick. 

Once you see the arch of the National Stadium it is not too long before we rolled into Euston, and came to a stop, my timer seconds read 6.03, by 3 hundredths of a second I was off to Tolworth to watch Corinthian Casuals vs Molesey, so close Sporting Bengal United, but no cigar. 

Whoever runs Euston Station bizarrely decided that a Saturday would be a good day to have an escalator out of action, so we queued halfway across Euston's vast concourse to walk down a stationary escalator, if only somebody had thought of doing that permanently, might even call them, say, steps? Tube to Vauxhall and I was on a platform outside the Oval Cricket Ground, before another train took me further south.

Following a short walk from Tolworth Station alongside the A3 I arrived at King George's Playing Fields where the Corinthian Casuals have finally found a home. Once inside I bought a golden goal ticket for the 'last' goal scored, impressed with my ticket for the 70th minute I was off to check out the rest of the club. 

Apart from the side opposite the main stand the other 3 ends have covered areas, the uncovered side does have the dugouts. Both ends have covered standing, the 'London End' is where you enter the ground and behind the Main Stand is the clubhouse, shop and food hut, where you can buy one of the best burgers in football.

As the teams came out and it soon became obvious that the hosts were attacking the 'Chessington End' then the Casuals casuals came round and I met Roger whilst he was hanging up his teams flags and banners. What a gent, not only did he make time for a chat, hand over some team stickers and badges, he also introduced me to a number of his fellow Casuals. When I do come back I will make sure I have more time after and buy this man a pint (or two), thanks Roger.

As the opening minutes of the match unfolded, it soon became apparent that Corinthians were the better side and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 5th minute a through ball finding club legend Jamie Byatt who coolly lifted the ball over Molesey's keeper into the top corner for an excellent strike, 1-0 to the hosts.

Chances were being created by the Casuals, most of the threat coming down the left hand side with ex-Hillmen Dave Hodges a thorn in the Molesey side, but with the visiting keeper in inspired form and the hosts missing the target with a number of efforts, the score remained the same at the break.

Joined at the 'London End' by Roger and his fellow fans we watched 25 minutes of the second half as their team looked to add a second, which they did in the 70th minute through Shaun Okojie went through and put the ball away for 2-0. As the move started a number of the floodlights went out, however visibility was still good. Did I win the golden goal folks?

Ultimately, this power issue, I understand it was outside the ground, led to the game being abandoned. Now, if the otherwise impressive referee, had carried on as there was still daylight, we would have been able to finish the game. A week or two later, no way, but on this afternoon it was a yes.

A forlorn Mr B made his way back to Euston, this time via Victoria Station, I encountered a number of Stoke City fans on the concourse, decision made to upgrade on board. As we made our way onto the platform to get on board the first couple of 1st Class carriages were off limits, pre-booked, but I was soon sat near Nick Hancock, once of that TV programme fame, cannot remember what it was called now. The other carriages were for the Stoke City team, returning home after a 'SkyBall' match at the Olympic Fighting Arena.

Not often I travel home from one of my games with Mark Hughes and Bojan.

TUESDAY

TRAFFORD 5 PRESCOT CABLES 1

Sometimes the unplanned nights are the best, whilst not quite 'one of my best' I was not expecting something quite so entertaining. Goals started after a couple or so minutes, starting with a spectacular diving header from Ally Brown, the second a sublime side-footed volley by Aaron Burns at the end of a sweeping move by the hosts followed minutes later, Burns adding another on the quarter hour mark, the contest was over. Midfielder Williams adding a fourth shortly before the break.

One Cables fan had seen enough at this point and headed off for the early train home.

Early in the second half the referee did something I thought all referee's had long since forgotten about, he enforced the 6 second rule for keepers, though to be fair, Pilling had been holding the ball for about 30 seconds when the whistle went. Indirect free-kick given. Taken, the ball ends up in the back of the net, referee gives the goal, someone protests, goal disallowed, melee in the goalmouth, McIntosh shown a straight red, Cables down to 10. Retaken free-kick wasted. 

Cables night to forget go worse on the hour as Burns completed his hat-trick, though they did get one back late on from a penalty, Quirk sending the keeper the wrong way.

WEDNESDAY

PADIHAM 6 ABBEY HEY 3

In mid September I saw Padiham put a stop to a losing run of 6 consecutive games by thumping Squires Gate 4-1 away, since then they have played another 11 games before this one, only title chasers Bootle, Atherton Collieries and 1874 Northwich have beaten them and victory in this match made it 7 unbeaten, 6 of them wins.

Things are definitely on the up for the Storks, and they flew out of the blocks tonight, a goal in the first minute followed by another 2 inside the opening 10 and it was effectively game over, Abbey Hey tried their best to get back in the game, adding one of their own on 12 minutes. However, another 2 before the half hour mark put the hosts 5-1 up. After the break was really just a formality to finish the game, 6-3 the final score. 

For me the final score could have been more and whilst credit must go to the visitors for not giving up I think they can count themselves lucky not to have conceded double figures. James Dean, the experienced Padiham striker is making teams pay, averaging a goal a game since his arrival, he notched 2 in this game, is on a 5 match scoring streak; this is the best current streak amongst the teams in the NWCFL Premier Division (Bootle's Steve Jones managed 7 earlier this season and the following also did 5 - Scott McGowan of 1874 Northwich, Craig Cairns of Runcorn Town & Ash Woods of West Didsbury & Chorlton). You have been warned Winsford United.

FRIDAY

ABBEY HEY 1 ATHERTON COLLIERIES 2

Just 48 hours after being on the receiving end of a Padiham thrashing, Abbey Hey were lucky not concede a similar number in this game. Apart from Nico Collins' equaliser after 5 minutes and a close effort late on they rarely threatened the Colls goal. At the other end it was a different matter, leading 2-1 at the break, they could have had a couple more in the opening 45 minutes.

After the break, it was all Collieries, they could have scored 6 easily, in a match played in a downpour the boys in green certainly showed their promotion credentials.

Colls goals came through Mark Battersby, a perfectly timed run to nod in Truffas cross for the winner. Their opener was the 50th goal I have seen them score, Danny Lafferty netting from close range in the third minute. Of the current squad, the following have scored, Mark Battersby (12-2pens); Jordan Cover (10); Ben Hardcastle (4); Brad Cooke & Mark Truffas (both on 3) and a goal each for Bailey, Lafferty & Sherlock. Keep them coming lads. 

7 DAYS OF INFO

Matches: 3

Goals: 18

Attendances: 392

Penalty: 1 (scored)

Red Cards: 1

Female Officials: 0

Milestones: Hat-Trick Aaron Burns (Trafford); 70th Red Card (McIntosh - Prescot Cables); 102nd penalty (Prescot Cables); Highest Scoring Game of the Season - 9 (Padiham v Abbey Hey); 150th goal of the season - Christopher Taylor (Padiham's 6th v Abbey Hey); 

SOUNDTRACK OF THE WEEK: Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys

[misterbfootball-blog]

Clap Hands

GAME OF THE WEEK

ASHTON TOWN 1 ABBEY HEY 3

Every couple of months or so I realise that there is a club and ground that I like that I haven't visited for a while, I try my best to get there as soon as possible. I have thought that about Ashton Town on a number of occasions and then failed to carry out my wishes. So for just the second time in over 300 matches I was determined to return to Edge Green Street and I finally got there.

It was going to be a day on the buses, a short ride to the Trafford Centre followed by the 126 to Leigh Bus Station. Unsure whether or not it was because it was Hallowe'en but there were a number of characters out and about before the 600 finally turned up to drop me outside Town's home ground.

This really is one of my favourite grounds. It is far from perfect. Probably the reason I love it. A great slope from one end to the other, a great old clubhouse, 2 fantastic seated areas along the South-East side it is a gem. Love it.

The teams emerged a minute before 3pm and we therefore kicked off unsurprisingly late. I think the late start might have thrown the hosts slightly, they took a good 10-15 minutes or so to get going, by which point they were 1-0 down. Left back Hardy scoring , what turned out to be a 'Mr B' hat-trick, full details in the game below, finishing from inside the box with ease.

It looked for the opening 15 minutes like this could be a bit of a whopping, however, slowly but surely the hosts settled, they started to cause their Premier Division opponents problems, Abbey Hey looked rattled at times at the back, but were still the team looking more likely to score. At the break the game was intriguingly poised, the visitors still leading by the early goal.

Early on after the restart it looked as though Town's chance had been and gone as Abbey Hey again threatened, Nico Collins making more than a nuisance of himself to the Town back four. We then had a few moments where the officials decisions appeared to be wrong and possibly changed the game. Firstly, Town should have been awarded a penalty, a cross from the right evaded everyone apart from Hey's Moore at the far post, he controlled the ball with his left arm, the referee would never have seen it, however, his assistant should have, but he was well behind play.

Minutes later, the main official made up for it, Abelwhite was tackled in the box, cleanly from my viewpoint, but the official pointed to the spot; the striker picked himself up and equalised from 12 yards. 

Now came the biggest 2 calls, Collins was booked for dissent, followed about 60 seconds later by committing a late and poor foul. It was a yellow card all day long, he should have seen a red. Moore should have too, an awful challenge, luckily it did not cause any injury, but that was more down to luck than judgement, two-footed and studs showing. Abbey Hey should have been down to 9.

Life was to get more cruel for Town as the impressive Collins was on hand to tuck away the ball from close range in the 70th minute, he got another right at the death. Overall I thought Abbey Hey deserved to go through, but Ashton Town certainly gave them a fright and on another day with a different referee, who knows? More puzzling, is how on earth is this team bottom of the First Division?

Abbey Hey's reward is a home tie in the last 16 against Barnoldswick Town.

TUESDAY

ABBEY HEY 4 CAMMELL LAIRD 1907 0

I have so far seen 135 goals this season, the 26th was scored by Tom Hackett for Lairds. It was in the 30th minute of their FA Cup replay against AFC Darwen and put them 3-0 up at the time. Lairds hung on to win 3-2. 62 of us where there that night in August. 62 of us saw Lairds win. Their only win so far this season.

The surprise in this game was that it only finished 4-0. Abbey Hey were dominant from start to finish, led 3-0 at half-time through goals by McNamara, McKenzie and Hardy, and should have won by more than the final 4 goal margin. Hardy rounding off the scoring shortly after the break.

So, 2 goals separated by half-time for Hardy were for me as a spectator, then split by a game that had the same player scoring again early doors in my match of he week. Three goals on the bounce all scored by Hardy, a Mr B hat-trick, by far my strangest.

If all goes to plan, I'll see Abbey Hey again twice this week, decent side to watch.

7 DAYS OF INFO

Matches: 2

Goals: 8

Attendances: 116

Penalty: 1 (scored)

Red Cards: 0

Female Officials: 0

Milestones: 145th clean sheet (Abbey Hey); 101st Penalty (Ashton Town). Lowest Attendance of the Season (49 - Ashton Town vs Abbey Hey)

SOUNDTRACK OF THE WEEK: Rain Dogs - Tom Waits

[ameremancunian]

Who needs Twenty-Four Hour Party People?

Ace film produced by Year 6 Abbey Hey kids and their teacher. Creative geniuses, the lot of 'em.