Ashton Athletic (Tuesday, November 6)

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6

Ashton Athletic 0 Norton United 2

IT is a relief to hear that my chosen match – Ashton Athletic in the North West Counties League – will go ahead tonight despite the persistent rain.

It is a good job I leave in plenty of time being as the M6 is solid with traffic right the way from Stoke to Wigan.

Brocstedes Park is literally within spitting distance of the motorway (especially in this strong wind!) but one has to take a three-mile circuitous route to get to it.

The car park is as black as coal and it is difficult to spot the water-filled potholes. I manage to obtain a dry programme (£1) and rush it back to the car to preserve its pristine condition. It is the issue from the original game, postponed from early October, but is well-laid out and has an eye-catching yellow cover.

After paying £5 at the gate, I head straight for the sanctuary of the clubhouse. It seems to be new and is certainly dry! The lady serving tea is soaked to the skin but
remains resolutely cheerful
and chatty. Unfortunately,
pies are sold out long before
kick-off (‘only seven were
delivered!’)
Outside, the roar of
motorway traffic forms a
constant soundscape. My
lorry-spotting mate seems
pleased with the view. All the
ground’s facilities – two
seated stands, the changing
rooms, etc – are situated
along one touchline with
training pitches and the M6
bordering the other sides.
The pitch is decidedly
squelchy.
Messrs Fogg, Winkle and
Coffin appear on the
teamsheet, a veritable gaggle
of Dickensian names if ever
there was. The latter name
has me sharpening my pencil
in readiness for a few puns:
the atmosphere was funereal;
his moves were well
re-hearse-d but tombed to
fail, he gets into the box, etc.
Even at this stage of the
season, this is looking like a
must-win for United. In a
scrappy game, the visitors
snatch an invaluable three
points.
Curiously, they seem
reluctant to shoot once the
smallest player on the pitch
takes over in goal for the
injured Ashton keeper.
I am now within three
grounds of completing this
division, so the excitement is
beginning to build!