CHORLEY FC (Victory Park)

FA CUP 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY, CHORLEY 3-1 RUNCORN LINNETS, ATTENDANCE: 603

As it was nearly 18 years since my last visit to Victory Park (when I saw Chorley lose a Boxing Day derby 1-0 to Bamber Bridge) I decided tonight was the perfect opportunity for a revisit. I'm happy to report that in the days of Arena stands and 3G cages, Victory Park still remains a proper ground and full of character.

Chorley began life as a Rugby club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. Victory Park has been home since 1920 and was named to commemorate the end of the First World War.

Chorley are mainstays of the National League North, the second tier of non-league football, and regularly make the end of season play-offs, though they have only won them once, back in 2019, to earn promotion to the National League. Of course, season 2019/20 then ended early due to the covid pandemic and Chorley were relegated back to the National North on a points-per-game average.

Tonight The Magpies were hosting Northern Premier League West Runcorn Linnets in an FA Cup replay, after Jack Hazelhurst scored a 72nd minute equaliser at the Millbank Stadium.

Tonight though Chorley eased into the next round with a routine win. All of their goals came in the first half courtesy of headed goals from David Moyo (24) and Harvey Smith (32) then a penalty kick converted by Carlton Ubaezuonu (39).

Like most of the crowd I was expecting a second half onslaught but it never materialised as Chorley settled for what they had and The Linnets upped their game. The final goal of the tie arrived in the 93rd minute and was the best of the bunch as Max Woodcock curled an absolute beauty into the top corner, this was not long after Runcorn's Lewis Doyle had recieved a second yellow card.

Chorley will now travel to Curzon Ashton in the next round on September 30th.

HALLAM FC (Sandygate Road)

FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND, HALLAM 3-3 IRLAM, ATTENDANCE: 638

The FA Cup got underway this weekend as 416 clubs headed off on the road to Wembley. I managed to watch two of the 208 ties and for the second of my choices, I headed the suburbs of Sheffield.

Founded in 1860, Hallam is the second oldest football club in the world. Hallam have played at their Sandygate since their formation, with the ground being officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as "The Oldest Football Ground in the World". The ground is three sided as it is shared with cricket, which is the reason this game was being played on a Sunday. The fixture attracted a bumper crowd and there were a few familiar "groundhopping" faces in attendance.

The tie was an an absolute humdinger, complete with a grandstand finish. Kicking up the slope, Nicholas Taylor (16, 18) and Declan Daniels (37) gave Irlam a 3-0 lead before Daniel Pudill (41) netted to give Hallam a lifeline.

Hallam gave it a good go in the second half but, in truth, rarely troubled Toby Hurst in the Irlam goal. When the homesters were awarded a penalty in the 90th minutes, converted by Oliver Fearon, the partisan crowd sensed an unlikely comeback. The Shed End roared on Hallam and in the 95th minutes Kieren Watson duly equalised. Cue scenes. As a neutral it was a fantastic afternoon of football, proving the magic of the cup was still alive and kicking.

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TUESDAY 8th AUGUST 2023, FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND REPLAY, SILVER STREET, IRLAM 5-2 HALLAM, ATTENDANCE: 350

After Sunday's superb FA Cup tie, I simply had to head to Silver Street for the replay. Once again the two teams produced another excellent game.

To my amazement, it had been thirteen years since my last trip to Irlam so to say this visit was long overdue would be an understatement. The most obvious change at the ground in those intervening years is the construction of a clubhouse, which was pretty busy this evening. As a non-drinker these days I contented myself with a coffee to wash down the pie, peas and gravy.

The game followed a similar pattern to the first tie with Irlam playing quick counter attacking football. Declan Daniels (2) and a cracker from Alfie Walker (18) got the homesters off to a flying start before Keiren Watson (23) halved the deficit. Nicholas Taylor (40) scored to restore Irlam's two goal advantage but on the stroke of half time Iren Wilson made it 3-2. A pulsating opening half of football.

Hallam came out in the second half on the front foot and to be fair, did everything but equalise, even the woodwork denied them. Irlam were still threatening on the break and in the 88th minute Walker broke and unleashed a rasping shot into the bottom corner to seal the tie.

There was still time for a bit more drama as in stoppage time Nico Digirolamo conceded a penalty and was deemed last man, so was shown a red card. In the arguments that followed goalkeeper Hugo Warhurst spoke out of turn to the linesman and was also shown a red card. When the dust settled Daniels converted the spot kick to ensure Irlam will be at home to Goole AFC in the next round.

BEDFORD TOWN (The New Eyrie)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL, BEDFORD TOWN 1-0 St NEOTS TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 657

Wishing you and yours a very happy and prosperous New Year.

For me 2022 began with a trip to Bedfordshire and the Southern League clash between Bedford and St Neots.

This was a bit of trek for me for a New Year's Day, so why Bedford? Is there any rhyme or reason to this groundhopping lark? Well, with the FA Cup looming large on the horizon for my beloved Everton, this presented an opportunity to step back in time and connect with a small piece of blue football history.

Everton won the FA Cup in 1966 and en-route to the final they were drawn away at Bedford Town in the 4th Round. The Toffees won 3-0 courtesy of goals from Fred Pickering and Derek Temple (x2). The tie resulted in Bedford Town's record crowd attendance of 18,407.

I was very happy to pick up a copy of the programme from the Everton game in Bedford Town's superb heritage centre at the ground.

That game was played at Bedford's old ground, in Queens Park which was demolished after the club folded in 1982, after the lease on the ground was terminated. Bedford Town were resurrected in 1989 and a new ground was built in the village of Cardington, on the outskirts of Bedford, after the reformed club initially played on a pitch in Queen's Park.

The New Eyrie, with a capacity of 3,000, opened in 1993 with a friendly against Peterborough United. It was a full house and that remains the record attendance at this ground. Prior to 1982, Bedford were a major force in the Southern League, winning the title in 1959.

Since they reformed the highest level the club has reached is the Conference South, but they finished rock bottom and were relegated back to the Southern League. This season the club are competing in the Southern League Division One Central (step four in the National League system).

After heavy rain in the previous days, the match was played on a very heavy pitch. Most of the chances that came by went either high or wide and, in truth, neither goalkeeper was properly tested. 

It was The Eagles who dominated the majority of play and carved out the best opportunities and St Neots held out for 54 minutes against the league leaders before eventually conceding, Rene Howe heading home from close range. Two minutes later The Saints were reduced to 10 men, Charlie Johnson shown a red card and that was effectively that.

Bedford however couldn't find that elusive second goal and the final moments of the game a defensive mix-up nearly gifted the visitors an equaliser but The Eagles held on to begin 2022 top of the table.

As well as the programme shop, I must also mention the tea hut in the corner of the ground where a cuppa with a slice of homemade bread and butter pudding was a bargain £1.20.

A most pleasant way to start a New Year!