Squires Gate vs Winsford United (MEN United Cup)

Saturday 29th November 2014 Kick Off: 15:00

Winsford United

Dave McCann Says Good afternoon and welcome to The Royal British Legion Stadium for today’s MEN United Cup 3rd round fixture. First of all may I welcome all associated with our opponents today, Winsford Utd, I hope you feel welcomed and have a safe journey home.

Overall, November has been a really busy but positive month for all at the club and today will hopefully conclude a successful end to it.

This will be our 8th fixture of the month compared to the 4 we played in October.

This is a major contrast but one which the players have handled admirably and for the vast majority of games have performed well and finished games with positive results. Injuries have started to take there toll on the squad but I feel that whoever has found themselves playing have stepped up to the mark and performed as we had hoped. We don’t have a large squad but we have a close knit squad and I feel that the togetherness and spirit that they have shown has played a major part in the successful form we have demonstrated of late. We know that there are plenty of tough games ahead of us and there is still a long way to go before the end of the season but I’m confident that the relegation battles that club has been involved in over the past few seasons won’t be occurring this season. The squad has demonstrated that they can play well and gain positive results in a lot of games they have played and I hope this continues.

Today’s fixture is a good opportunity to continue our good form whilst progressing further in the competition. There’s not many teams left in this cup so both teams have a good chance of making the quarter or even semi finals. We obviously hope that will be us but realise that Winsford will be making it very hard for us today and will be hoping for a victory themselves. We will need to be clinical at both ends of the pitch today if we are to be successful.

I hope you enjoy the game and come and see us again in our next home fixture…. up the Gate!!

Squires Gate 0-0 Colne Royal British Legion

Attendance: Tuesday 18th November 2014

Squires Gate hosted Colne Fc on Tuesday night looking to continue there good form shown on Saturday night after there 1-0 win over Bootle. Gate sat 11th coming into this game with visitors Colne in 7th.

It was a very tight and nervy first half with both sides having chances.

Gate could have been ahead after 10 minutes But the Colne keeper got down well to keep outHarry Dunn. Colne replied and could have gone ahead but Danny Penswick was back on the line to save what would have been a sure goal. Gets last real chance of the half fell to Alex Murphy but his drive from the edge if the box could only find the post. Gate finished the half showing a and impressive defensive display to see the and through to half time.

Gate started the second half on top and had Chances to go ahead through Murphy and Penswick but neither could finish. It was down the other end where Gate will be counting there blessings Colne coming inches from scoring but no one could react quick enough as the ball trickled along the line and was cleared. The next 10 minutes saw Gate keeper Ben Fletcher pull off a string of fabulous saves as Colne piled on the pressure. Fletcher well and truly keeping Gate in the game. After Gate had soaked up the Colne pressure they had another chance to go ahead but the Colne defender just got his head on the cross to put the ball out for a corner. Unfortunately Gate couldn't capitalise from the corner. Substitute Sean Holmes had a chance to win the game late in but his shot roll straight into the gloves of the Colne goal keeper.

Gate next play away to Maine Road on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Reported by Mark Ashmore

Gate 0-0 Colne

Today’s Fixtures Saturday 29th November 2014 MEN United Cup Round 3 1874 Northwich v Colne

Abby Hey v Atherton Collieries Alsager Town v AFC Liverpool Bootle v AFC Darwen Glossop North End v Widnes Runcorn Town v Cammell Laird 1907

Squires Gate v Winsford United West Didsbury and Chorlton v Rochdale Town Premier Division Barnoldswick Town v Ashton Athletic Congleton Town v AFC Blackpool

Nelson v Runcorn Linnets Silsden v Maine Road St Helens Town v Bacup & Rossendale Borough A round up of Todays games:

Today we have quite a few games, from the Premier Division and the NWCFL Premier Division. A top of the table clash in the cup, as 1874 Northwich take on Colne, and a tough fixture for Glossop North End as they play at home to Widnes. In the league, bottom of the league Bacup & Rossendale are away to St Helens Town in a tough fixture at the bottom end of the league. After beating AFC Blackpool, AFC Darwen play away to Bootle.

Winsford United Football Club Nickname: “The Blues”

Kit Colours:

Founded: 1883 Capacity: 3,000 Ground: Barton Stadium Winsford United have a long and proud history, having been formed way back in 1883. In those early days, the club was called. United became a Limited company and the 1950’s saw the glory days on Non-League football when crowds of over 3000 were the norm. In 1959 Winsford won the Cheshire Senior Cup against Ellesmere Port Town in front of a 12,000 crowd at Gresty Road. . In 1974 they reached the Senior Cup final again, this time against the then-mighty Macclesfield Town. The final was an epic with three replays and the Silkmen only clinching it after extra time in the fourth match. All the ties were played in front of crowds of over 3,500.

The Blues won the Cheshire Senior Cup again in 1980 with a 4-1 victory over local rivals Witton Albion. The goalkeeper in that final was Neville Southall who was then was sold to Bury for£6,000. A sell on clause later netted United a club record figure of around £30,000 when he moved to Goodison Park.

The club was given a boost during the summer of 1996 when they received nearly £90,000 from the sale of Wayne Collins to Sheffield Wednesday from Crewe Alexandra.

Three seasons later under the management of Dalton Steele, The club received another tremendous boost early in 1999 when goalkeeper Andy Oakes who had signed for Hull City for a modest fee but with a 25% sell-on clause was signed by Derby County for £480,000 giving Winsford a record amount for a Non-League sell-on clause. The board of directors were determined that this money was to be spent sensibly on improving the infrastructure of the club, the first move being to install Football League standard floodlights.The Club appointed former Flixton Manager Lloyd Morrison with Kevin Bircumshaw remaining as his Assistant. E.ON adopted the club for their 2013 Community Project and carried out a great refurbishment of the facilities including a new toilet block, a first aid suite and help in restoring the floodlights. However, with everything in place for a serious assault on the league title and over £20,000 spent on improving the facilities and pitch, the club was rocked when two weeks before the start of the season Lloyd Morrison announced he was going to Mossley AFC as Joint Manager and not only that, he expected to take sixteen registered players with him. This led to an acrimonious situation between the two clubs with Mossley unable to register the players and Winsford refusing to allow their dual registration. Eventually an agreement was reached on Winsford’s terms.

The board acted quickly to appoint Eddy Haslam as Manager with Rob Byrne as his Assistant and Kevin Bircumshaw remaining as coach.

Maine Road 2-3 Squires Gate Barntingham Road Attendance: 60 Saturday 15th November 2014

Squires Gate travelled to Maine Road on Saturday looking to continue their impressive run which has seen them lose just once in the last nine games. Gate made two changes to the team that drew with Colne. Josh Westwood came back into the starting 11 in the place of Alex Colquhoun who dropped to the bench, Jake Forshaw was unavailable due to injury so was replaced with Brett Ferguson. Gate sat 9th coming into this game with their hosts 11th but level on points. Maine Road came into the game after winning 3-1 against Stockport Sports, whilst Gate drew 0-0 with Colne on Tuesday.Gate started the better of the two sides and could have been ahead after just 5 minutes but Alex Murphy's strike was always rising. Harry Dunn was next to take aim but Maine Road's keeper got well behind the ball. It took the home side near 10 minutes for them to have a real chance but their left back's shot from outside the area was tipped over by the ever impressive Ben Fletcher. The opening goal to the game came in favour of Squires Gate. The ball falling to Mark Buchan in the area and with the Maine keeper in no man's land Buchan had an empty net and couldn't really miss. That makes it 2 goals in 3 games for the Scot as he looks to cement his place and continue to make an impact. Soon after Harry Dunn had the chance to put Gate further in front but his shot flew straight across goal. Maine Road started to improve as the first half went on and equalised on 33 minutes. Gate struggled to defend from the free kick and Rory Breslin scored directly from the free kick to make it all level going into the second half.Into the second half and it started much like the first, both teams clearly getting a telling off from their managers at half time as both appeared early and fired up. Both teams looked alot more attacking in the second half with both having several chances early into the half. But it was Gate who made the chances count first Alex Murphy beat the last man easily slot past the goal keeper on 50 minutes. Then just 3 minutes later Murphy struck again, slick movement in the box to create space from himself allowed him to smash the ball into the bottom corner to make it 3-1 to Squires Gate. Gate looked to hold onto their lead and for large periods of the second half had alot of possession in their own half. Maine Road came at Gate more and more but Gate held on and looked resiliant. Unfortunately for Gate they couldn't hold out and the home side got there second goal late on. That wouldn't matter for Gate who stood firm to see out the 3-2 win. The win moves them up to 8th in the table and makes it just 1 loss in 10 games.After the game Gate manager Dave McCann said: Today wasn't our most convincing performance but we did well enough to earn the win. We never got going in the 1st half but were better for the vast majority of the 2nd half. It's been a tough month of league fixtures but the lads have done really well in all but 1 game. I'm really pleased for them as the character and togetherness they have shown has been 1st class.Gate next game comes in the MEN United cup on Saturday when they host Winsford United.

Reported By Mark Ashmore

Maine Road 2-3Gate

Last Time Out Gate 2-2 Winsford United Squires Gate hosted Winsford United on Saturday at the Royal British Legion Stadium, looking to improve on their 0-0 draw with St Helens last Saturday. Gate made three changes from Saturday’s draw, Mark Buchan dropped to the bench with Ryan Riley coming in, Alex Colquhoun came in for Jack Cook and Hothersall came in for Jake Forshaw. It was a fairly even start to the game with both games looking even in the opening 20.

Gate's real first chance came when Chris Anderson played a clever ball down the line to Jack Sowerby. Sowerby knocked the ball back to the on-rushing Harry Dunn but his shot was saved well and Gate couldn't capitalise from the corner. Gate could have had a penalty on the 35th minute, the ball swung in the penalty area was punched by Winsford's keeper who seemed to get more of Josh Westwood's head than the ball but the ref awarded a free kick to Winsford. Gate opened the scoring on the 44th minute Jack Sowerby picking the ball up on the edge of the area after a loose pass from the Winsford goalkeeper, after beating two defenders Sowerby slot the ball into the back of the net with great confidence.

Into the second half and it didn't take Gate long to double their lead. Straight from kick off Harry Dunn attacked into Winsford half and passed the ball to Sowerby, he managed to control the ball in the box and side foot the ball to score his and Gates second goal. It would be fair to say that between the 44th minute and the 48th minute were the most entertaining of the game. As Winsford took the kick off after Sowerby's second of the game they managed to get themselves back into the game. The long ball up to the Winsford winger who nodded down for Ryan Mathews to get one back on the 47th minute for Winsford.

Winsford could have had a second in quick succession had it not been for the quick, cat like reflexes of Ben Fletcher who saved well with his legs. Josh Westwood had the chance to make Gate's lead comfortable but his header from the corner was cleared of the line by Winsford. Gate were made to pay in the 66th minute the ball clipped in to defender Alex Bryne at the back post who finished well to equalise for Winsford. After the game Gate manager Dave McCann said: It was a very entertaining game but one that provided us with lessons that we must learn from. From being in a position of thinking 3 points a near certainty we were grateful with 1 come the end of the game.

We know what we didn't do to secure the 3 points, we were disappointed at the end of the game but we move forward and will be aiming to improve in our next game.

Gate Fixtures in Full Sat 2nd Aug

Bootle

A

1-1

109

6th

League

Tue 5th Aug

Nelson

H

3-0

102

6th

League

Sat 9th Aug

Maine Road

H

3-1

72

6th

League

Wed 13 Aug

Slisden

A

0-0

98

8th

League

Sat 16th Aug

AFC Liverpool

A

0-3

172

N/A

Cup R1Q

Sat 23th Aug

Congleton Town

A

0-0

108

11th

League

Tue 26th Aug

Ashton Athletic

H

1-2

105

15th

League

Sat 30th Aug

New Mills AFC

A

2-3

101

N/A

Cup R2Q

Tue 9th Sep

Barnoldswick Town

H

0-0

65

15th

League

Sat 13th Sep

Bamber Bridge

A

2-2

264

N/A

Cup R3Q

Tue 16th Sep

Bamber Bridge

H

2-3*

155

N/A

Cup R3QR

Sat 20th Sep

Alsager Town

H

7-2

55

13th

League

Tue 23rd Sep

Colne

A

3-0

151

16th

League

Sat 27th Sep

Bacup & Rossendale

A

3-4

45

15th

League

Sat 4th Oct

Glossop North End

A

3-2

273

16th

League

Sat 11th Oct

St Helens Town

A

0-0

56

16th

League

Sat 18th Oct

Winsford United

H

2-2

65

16th

League

Sat 25th Oct

Nelson

A

1-3

66

N/A

MUCupR2

Sat 1st Nov

Stockport Sports

H

3-2

51

14th

League

Tue 4th Nov

Barnoldswick Town

A

1-3

94

14th

League

Sat 8th Nov

Runcorn Town

A

2-7

97

12th

League

Tue 11th Nov

Ashton Athletic

A

4-0

56

12th

League

Sat 15th Nov

Bootle

H

1-0

85

11th

League

Tue 18th Nov

Colne

H

0-0

82

9th

League

Sat 22th Nov

Maine Road

A

2-3

60

8th

League

Sat 29th Nov

Winsford United

H

N/A

MUCupR3

Sat 6th Dec

Silsden

H

League

Tue 9th Dec

Glossop North End

H

League

Sat 13th Dec

Winsford United

A

League

Sat 20th Dec

Abbey Hey

H

League

Fri 26th Dec

AFC Blackpool

H

League

Sat 3rd Jan

Nelson

A

League

Sat 17th Jan

St Helens Town

H

League

Sat 24th Jan

AFC Liverpool

A

League

Sat 7th Feb

Bacup & Rossendale Borough

H

League

Sat 14th Feb

Runcorn Linnets

H

League

Sat 21th Feb

Stockport Sports

A

League

Sat 28th Feb

West Didsbury & Chorlton

A

League

Sat 7th Mar

West Didsbury & Chorlton

H

League

Sat 14th Mar

AFC Liverpool

H

League

Sat 21th Mar

1874 Northwich

A

League

Sat 28th Mar

Abbey Hey

A

League

Sat 4th Apr

Runcorn Town

H

League

Mon 6th Apr

AFC Blackpool

A

League

Sat 11th Apr

1874 Northwich

H

League

Sat 18th Apr

Congleton Town

H

League

Sat 25th Apr

Alsager Town

A

League

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

PTS

1

Runcorn Linnets

24

19

5

0

62

19

43

62

2

Glossop North End

21

17

2

2

63

9

54

53

3

1874 Northwich

19

14

4

1

37

10

27

46

4

Ashton Athletic

24

12

8

4

37

22

15

44

5

AFC Liverpool

23

13

3

7

56

35

21

42

6

Nelson

21

11

4

6

44

32

12

37

7

Colne

20

11

3

6

40

25

15

36

8

Squires Gate

20

9

7

4

40

28

12

34

9

Congleton Town

21

8

8

5

37

28

9

32

10

Slisden

19

9

4

6

34

31

3

31

11

Alsager Town

25

9

4

12

43

50

-7

31

12

Maine Road

21

9

4

12

40

47

-7

31

13

Winsford United

21

8

5

8

41

39

2

29

14

Bootle

21

8

4

9

33

30

3

28

15

West Didsbury & Chorlton

21

8

2

11

31

43

-12

26

16

Runcorn Town

18

7

3

8

42

36

6

24

17

Abbey Hey

23

6

2

15

29

55

-26

20

18

St Helens Town

22

6

2

14

30

63

-33

20

19

Barnoldswick Town

23

4

4

15

30

51

-21

16

20

Stockport Sports

23

3

5

15

34

78

-44

14

21

AFC Blackpool

25

2

6

17

19

54

-35

12

22

Bacup & Rossendale Borough

21

1

9

17

18

55

-37

6

;

Head To Head Records TOP SCORERS

Record vs Top Half

Alex Murphy

10

Brain Matthews

8

W

D

L

W

D

L

Jake Forshaw

6

Kylie Riley

8

3

1

4

1

2

3

Harry Dunn

4

Alex Byrne

7

Record vs Bottom Half W

D

L

W

D

L

4

4

0

8

0

3

Record when scoring first

GAMES SINCE

W

D

L

W

D

L

3

1

0

5

2

1

10 SEASON RECORD

0

Win

2

2

Home Win

2

0

Away Win

0

3

Defeat

3

8

Home Defeat

2

1

Away Defeat

1

7

Score Draw

0

7

No Score Draw

24

0

Conceding 1+

0

0

Scoring 1+

0

1

Clean Sheet

1

4

Back To Back Wins

15

1

Gaining A Point

0

2

Losing A Point

2

Facts And Stats Winsford United - last 6 matches until 28/11/14

Squires Gate - last 6 matches until 28/11/14

All Competitions

All Competitions

Home

W

D

W

W

W

D

Home

W

L

D

W

L

D

Away

D

W

W

W

L

W

Away

L

L

D

W

L

W

Collated

W

W

L

W

D

W

Collated

W

W

L

L

W

D

If you’d like to get the latest programme straight to your phone, follow the Programme Editor on Twitter. @HaydeJay

Match Preview Good afternoon and welcome to the Royal British Legion Stadium, for this MEN United Cup 3rd round fixture with Winsford United. It is the second time the two sides have met this season, after the first fixture ended in a 2-2 draw back in October. Back in that fixture, Squires Gate took a 2-0 lead through Jack Sowerby, however Winsford United pulled it back to get a draw.

Since the last game here against Colne, where Gate picked up an impressive point. Gate travelled to Manchester to face Maine Road, and after just 12 minutes Mark Buchan put us ahead, Alex Murphy then added to his tally for this season scoring twice, which was then cancelled out by a late Maine Road consolation goal. A well fought win, has now put Gate up to 8th in the league after 20 games!

Our last game in the MEN United Cup, where we played away at Nelson, running out 3-1 victors. Winsford United beat Irlam 2-1 to get into today’s game.

Squires Gate have an impressive home form, having only lost one game in the league at the Royal British Legion whereas Winsford have lost 3 of their last 6 away games. We all know what cup games are like though, the upset of MK Dons putting 4 past Man United, so form means nothing going into today’s match.

Having lost top scorer Jack Sowerby to Fleetwood Town a few weeks ago, everyone thought Gate’s form would start to slip, however Alex Murphy has now stepped up to take his role and will hopefully carry on his great run of form.

We would like to thank everyone for their continued support and for attending today’s game. Feel free to come in the clubhouse and treat yourself to one of our delicious meat and potato pies and a hot drink!

Enjooooooy the game!

By Daniel Hayden. Programme Editor.

Results Tuesday 18th November 2014 Ashton Athletic 0-0 Runcorn Town Bootle 0-5 Glossop North End

Squires Gate 0-0 Colne Winsford United 3-3 Stockport Sports Saturday 22nd November 2014 AFC Blackpool 1-3 Runcorn Linnets Barnoldswick Town 2-1 Alsager Town

Bootle P-P Abbey Hey Colne 2-0 AFC Liverpool Maine Road 2-3 Squires Gate Nelson 2-2 West Didsbury & Chorlton Stockport Sports 1-3 Silsden

Winsford United P-P Bacup & Rossendale Borough

For the latest scores straight to your phone, follow the @NWCFL twitter page.

Or you can go to the website - www.nwcfl.co.uk

Season In Numbers...

24

Runcorn Linnets have now been unbeaten in 24 league games this season, yet to lose a game!

Atherton Colleries are now unbeaten in 13 games in the 1st division, a new record for the club.

27

Ryan Cox of AFC Liverpool has bagged 27 goals so far this season, netting 19 times in the league and 8 times in the cup.

Squires Gate have only lost 4 games so far this season, Last season, Gate had lost the same amount after the first month.

1

13

4

Bacup & Rossendale have played 21 games this season, but have only won once!

Squires Gate had a record attendance of 155 when they played Bamber Bridge in the FA Cup qualifying round.

155

Prediction Corner For those of you who like Premier League football, why not have a go at predicting some scores for this weekend’s games? Award yourself 1 point for correct result and 2 points for a correct score.

Score to beat: 9

Your score: _____

West Brom

-

Arsenal

1-3

Burnley

-

Aston Villa

2-2

Liverpool

-

Stoke

0-2

Man United

-

Hull

3-0

QPR

-

Leicester

1-1

Swansea

-

Crystal Palace

2-0

West Ham

-

Newcastle

1-2

Sunderland

-

Chelsea

0-4

Club Information Chairman Stuart Hopwood Secretary John Maguire Treasurer

Ben FLECTHER

Andrew JONES

Andrew RICHARDS

Alex BYRNE

Chris ANDERSON

Paul MCGURE

Jack COOK

Jon JONES

Joshua WESTWOOD

Jamie WALKER

Jonathan HOTHERSHALL

Matthew TURNER

Alexander MURPHY

Marly GOUGH

Groundsman

Steven EYANGA-BWANGA

Danny EGAN

Brian Addison

Daniel PENSWICK (C)

Kyle RILEY (C)

Harry DUNN

Harry NOON

Brett FERGUSON

Tom WILLIAMS

Alexander MCKENDRICK

Liam BAKER

Ryan RILEY

Daryl WESTON

Emma Hopwood

Jake FORSHAW

Sam MARSHALL

Christine Walsh

Mark BUCHAN

Tom CLARKE

Alex COLQUGHOUN

Jordan RUTTER

Shaun HOLMES

John Stokes Manager Dave McCann Assistant Managers Richard Thomas Mark Shaw

Micky Farrar Peter Bryant Steve Bellamy Bar & Hospitality Denise Gibson

Media Steve McLellan Albert Cooper Danny Braid Mark Ashmore Programme Editors

Match Officials

Daniel Hayden

Jay Hayden

Referee: Steve Rudd

Twitter

Assistants: Kieron Jones, James Sheppard

@squiresgatefc