HOLKER OLD BOYS WIN TO CHARGE INTO THE PLAY OFF ZONE

STOCKPORT TOWN 1 V HOLKER OLD BOYS 2
NWCFL 1 @ THE STOCKPORT SPORTS VILLAGE
6 FEB 2016 --- 3PM

GAME ON AT THE STOCKPORT SPORTS VILLAGE

A Bradley Hubbold goal midway through the second half separated these two promotion chasing sides after the game was in deadlock after an early goal for each side had seen the half time score line at 1-1.  Holker Old Boys have now gone 10 league games unbeaten and see themselves just 9 points off the top spot with 5 games in hand.  If this well drilled defensive performance was anything to go by teams will find them difficult to break down as was the case for Stockport Town today.  In a game played in dreadful condition of heavy rain and a gusting wind, free flowing football would always be difficult but much as the home side tried to break down a resolute visiting defence they just could not and in the end Hubbold's finish on 69 minutes saw the three points return to Barrow In Furness.
So here we were again at a Saturday that once again forecast continuous rain all day long and from morning departure to evening return the wet stuff never left us with at times some of the heaviest downpours the blog has seen this season.  The day was blighted by rain and having viewed the forecast the planned game was changed to the Stockport Sports Village [SSV] home of a 3g pitch and of course now the base for Stockport Town.  Fixtures around the East Midlands, North West and Yorkshire were decimated by the conditions and so the decision to make a further visit to Woodley was a good one and as ever its level of interest is always increased by the chance of a visit to Taylors fish and chip restaurant home of the quality English delicacy.
Departure from base station was very quiet and then we took the all stopping train through a wet Peak District before departing at Bredbury station to of course heavy rain which saw us take a brisk walk to decamp in Taylors in Woodley precinct.

A NEW VIEW BUT DONT WORRY THE FISH AND CHIP PICTURE FOLLOWS

As regular blog readers will know we like to review our food but when you make repeat visits to grounds its always difficult to find a new angle and here with our food stop its also the case too, apart from saying the quality of the fish and chips and superbly friendly staff is well worth repeating, photographing and of course eating!  Today the food and service was as good as ever with an admirable consistency it was also good to meet one of the owners in Anne and have a quick chat and pass on our thoughts and why we revisit when the blog is in the area.  If you find yourself here for a match or visiting don't miss calling in to this little gem.

WORDS NOT NECESSARY

So the time had arrived to venture back into the rainy conditions and this time we took a slightly different walk to the ground over the railway line bridge at the rear of the shops and through the estate to our destination.

WE TURNED THIS OFFER DOWN

We made a headway for indoors and a gathering of ourselves as we dripped around the function room within the centre.  The blog has covered a ground description over the last few visits so we wont repeat this needless to say since our last visit a few months ago for the Barnton game in The MEN Cup the catering facility that is The Hatch has now been closed and their is no catering company supplying through this outlet or bar upstairs, but the club are doing their best with drinks and confectionery snacks.

Once again the weather had brought many hoppers to the SSV for a guaranteed game and it was good to meet John McClure much travelled non league fan, Dave a Cheadle fan who we met last time out, plus along side this a hopper from London and many others from Macclesfield, Stockport, Bolton and the North West of England.  The crowd of 82 was swelled by may non locals travelling in from afar its always surprising how few people come to watch sides from the local area.  It was also nice to receive a warm welcome from home secretary Rob Clare, who has over 200 Football League appearances to his name for both Stockport and Blackpool, who had remembered us from our earlier visit.
Holker Old Boys had made the long journey down from Barrow In Furness in some poor road condition but thankfully they knew that the game would be on as the heavily rubber crumbed 3g at The SSV.  Visiting manager Scott Redhead had taken on the number 1 role in mid November and due to the weather he had so far only took charge of five matches but with some good returns they were in an excellent position to mount a challenge for the play offs however todays game against third placed Town would not be easy especially following the home clubs mid week thrashing of Eccleshall.

USE OF ANY CLOTHING IS ALLOWED TO KEEP DRY OUTSIDE THE HOME BENCH

Having completed our circuit early we popped back to pay our entrance fee and at just after 2pm the rain stopped and the sky brightened slightly although not for long as the rain returned and the first half was played in some horrendous condition as the downpour got heavier.  If local games had started on grass this 45 minutes of rain would have seen probably all of them abandoned.
Both teams kits looked good on this dark and dismal day and they certainly brightened up proceedings with the red and blue of Stockport well matched by the green and white hoops of Holker Old Boys.

A DARK DAY VIEWING OUT TO DENTON

The game had a, probably appropriately, storming start with two goals in 3 minutes, first on the score sheet were the visitors who caught Town off the mark when Phil Coombe found himself with space on the edge of the box and he fired home a low drive inside the left hand post after 2 minutes.  Stockport were level on 4 minutes with a screamer from Andrew Graham who unleashed a near 30 yard effort that crashed into the visitors goal off the underside of the bar.  As the home side upped the tempo it was Jamie Kay who struck the bar on 25 minutes 5 minutes before half time Jake Pollard forced Holker keeper Callum Liddicott into a snap save.
Half time saw the sides level with possession benefitting Stockport but the visitors determination and organisation making things very difficult for home side.

The second half continued in this vein with Stockport pressing to the edge of the Holker box but some strong and determined defending gradually giving the visitors the belief that they could win the game.  On 65 minutes the cross bar and post came to the rescue when Gareth Smith wrapped his foot round one from 25 yards.  Then just 4 minutes later Holker shocked Stockport with what proved to be the winner Billy Moss supplied the cross for Hubbold to strike the ball home from close range.  Stockport looked for the equaliser and were very unlucky on 81 minutes when Ruben Abreu saw his shot well pushed away by the visiting keeper Liddicott.

REFEREE DAVID CRITCHLOW THINKS ABOUT TAKING A QUICK FREE KICK

Departure at the final whistle was sharp with not much hope of catching the 5.03 train and indeed we were about 500 yards short of the station as it entered Bredbury station over the road bridge.  Nothing for it but to make our 2015/16 debut appearance in The Rising Sun which is situated on the approach to the station were we sampled before the next train one hour later.
As usual a packed pacer train as far as New Mills which soon became more comfortable for the trip to Sheffield a quick change of platforms and base station was arrived at around 7.45pm in the company of still more torrential downpours. 
Onto next weeks games and the forecast I hear you ask, well its RAIN.

REFEREE CRITCHLOW WAVES AWAY PROTESTS