I am not an historian to go back to early Cheshire League days, but I am not aware of any competitive games with Warrington until our promotion back to the Northern Premier League for season 2016/17. Our first encounter was a 2-2 draw at home on 5th November 2016. The return fixture was to be played on17th December. We started brightly and quickly got into a 2-0 lead when brightness was the concern. Warrington’s pitch runs alongside the Manchester Ship Canal and as the game developed so too did the fog. The referee allowed no leeway and once visibility made it impossible to continue, he abandoned the game. Had he waited about 30 minutes he would have seen the fog clear, but sadly too late. The game was eventually replayed on 8th April and justice was seen to be done as we won 2-1. Last season we lost 1-0 away and drew 0-0 at home. Therefore, our record with Warrington is won 1, drawn 2 and lost one, but with us leading the abandoned game we will take that as a win to give us the edge over Warrington.

Warrington away we all know will be a difficult game. They are top of the league with a home record of won 10, drawn 4 and lost only 2 home league games. Warrington had a shaky start losing their first home to Farsley Celtic and draws with Stalybridge and Bamber Bridge. There only other defeat was in October when Matlock were the winners. They have since drawn with Basford and Lancaster. You never know how a football game will finish and with the right attitude who knows what could happen. As Jimmy Greaves often said, “football is a funny old game”. To sum this up, you only have to look at last Saturday’s National League South Division when bottom of the table Weston Super mare won at top of the league Torquay.

I hope that has whetted your appetite for a short tip up the M6 into Cheshire to see if we can pull off a shock. If travelling by car you need to tolerate the M6 road works through Cheshire to get to Canteliver Park on Common Lane, post code WA4 2RG. Trains are roughly every hour changing at Crewe for Warrington Bank Quay. Do not go to the Halliwell Jones stadium as you may end up watching the “egg chasers”.

Games played on March 9th this century

2002       Tamworth           H             0-1          Southern League

2004       Welling                 H             3-2          Southern League

2013       Buxton                 A             1-2          Northern Premier League