POYNTON GET THE POINTS TO FINISH FIFTH

POYNTON 2 FC ST HELENS 0
CHESHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER @ LONDON RD NORTH
11 MAY 2019 --- 3PM

ACTION FROM POYNTON FC AT LONDON ROAD NORTH

Two second half goals from Jason Leach and Luke Jones would be enough to secure Poynton a fifth placed berth while leaving their Merseyside visitors in third bottom spot in The Cheshire Football League Premier Division.
As silly season continues and a plethora of games are coming thick and fast in both finals and bank holiday fixtures I quite looked forward to a debut at a Cheshire Premier League game although Whaley Bridge have previously been covered in a county cup fixture.  Poynton came to the fore after a look around the fixtures and seemed a steady option with no big games to worry about re train travel over the peak district.

NEW AND NOSTALGIC AT POYNTON STATION

It all started well, for a change, but by the time base station was arrived the train was late and had received a full unit change at Nottingham so deciding to hop along to Sheffield and increase my options I still boarded the delayed train at steel city and was arriving in Stockport just ten minutes down with plenty on hand for the connection to the leafy suburbs of Poynton.

ITS ALL VERY AGREEABLE VIEWING BY THE GREEN SHOOTS

Poynton station is a little gem with memorabilia dating back to the fifties from signage to gentleman's a first class waiting room, now a store room it would appear there are even a few milk churns awaiting collection on the platform.  Walking into this affluent area south of Stockport I spotted a collectors item in the form of a Labour election garden board I guess there aren't many others in the posh houses along Chester Rd.  The town as you would expect has a Waitrose, a beauty bar by the moniker of Bethany Jessica, had apparently fought against a Aldi coming to town I think I've got your number Poynton.

EARLY MATCH ACTION WITH FC ST HELENS IN CONTROL

I lowered the town substantially by visiting Poynton Fish Bar for the best chips sampled on the road for a while and wandered the streets eating them, much like my faux pas of eating a Coop cheese sandwich on the cobbles of Knutsford.  While discovering the make up of the town centre The Strawberry Pig came to notice a fish and chip shop the name I have no idea about I couldn't really ask while eating the rivals chips could I.

POYNTON NOW IN CLOSELY CONTESTED POSSESSION

Poynton is also famous for being a shared space were everybody gives way to everybody else in a pedestrianized type of central road system I did try waking out in front of the traffic, cautiously and it appeared to work with the upmost courtesy from all.
Moving along to Poynton Sports which is a small run up along London Road North the site contains cricket where North East Jets, a merger of Poynton and Disley, had a home fixture today, bowls, tennis and the football ground which had seen a noon kick off between the reserve sides of Poynton and Pilkington.  The far end has a club/bar area which was in need of refurbishment, call of nature found the toilets so small that walking in set the hand dryer off and the cat swinging competition had been changed to bring your own mouse.

SECOND HALF POYNTON ATTACK

Pre match communication re the safety of this fixture happening had taken place with secretary Mark Warburton and it was good to meet him and his assistance in obtaining the teams and excellent communication was much appreciated.

LUKE JONES [RIGHT] IS CONGRATULATED ON THE SECOND GOAL FOR POYNTON

The ground then sides onto the cricket which could be a little dangerous I guess if the big hitting had commenced at any stage during play, today it didn't.  It is a railed pitch in corporate colours with two tired dug outs, the side nearest the cricket had a paved terrace and there is no cover save for a small tree which wold have struggled to cope with the forty or so at the game had the wet stuff commenced.
End of season affairs can be dour well this one struggled to get near that level with in fairness the defence of a bobbling pitch and no shortage of endeavour it didn't live up to much for the neutral.
The first half was a shocker with just a late effort from a Leach 25 yard free kick striking the woodwork and that was you lot.

POYNTON DEFEND A ST HELENS CORNER WITH THE DOMINANCE OF THEIR KEEPER

The second period did move up half a notch and during the game the referee had to be on his mettle with the game approaching feisty on a few occasions during the ninety.  Like the proverbial London bus two goals came along in relatively quick succession first on 53 minutes Leach fired home before on 59 minutes Jones forced home the ball from close range after a close range scramble.
Overall it had been poor fayre as a game that would not remain in the memory for too long but the visit was a pleasant one making for an interesting afternoon in Poynton.
Departure back to Stockport at 5.30pm saw a comfortable connection, I know what is going on, and a return to base station just short of 7pm.