[Haughmond won 4-1 after penalties & AET]
Train (Stockport-Stoke) = £13
Entry = £4
Programme = £1
Tea = £1
Bus = £5
Total = £24
Eccy, as it is affectionately known by locals, is one of the trickiest outposts of the NWCFL to reach by public transport. The town is about 7 miles from Stafford, but lies in the 'nether region' not far from the Welsh border, with Market Drayton nearby. I had carefully planned the trip, and arrived at Stoke in time to catch the 12.42 bus. When I asked for a return to 'Eccles-hall', the driver looked confused and said 'Eccle-shall?' in response - clearly the correct pronunciation was one including the 'sh'. For a fiver, I managed to reach the town/village, about an hour's ride from outside Stoke station.
After exploring a couple of streets, and finding a variety of independent shops and bars (including a Belgian bar!) I headed to the ground. As the footpath ran out, I decided to trek through some fields, only to discover that I seemed to be on a cattle path, which headed down to the River Sow (and which seemed to be on private land). I sucked it up, and made it back to the road, using the slim grass verge for a while, and crossing over when I reached Pershall Park.
The chap at the gate-cum-table gave me a friendly welcome, and I parted with £5 for entry and a programme. The ground was what I had expected (in a good way). To the right of the entrance was a blue club-house, with what looked like breeze blocks, and to the left was a covered area with 3 'church hall' chairs. The dug-outs were on the far side opposite the club-house, with a blue roof covering a bench behind the away dug-out.
After the obligatory cup of tea from the intimate club-house, I took up my place behind the far goal. By virtue of my position and the lack of spectators I became a default ball-boy for most of the first half! In a white kit resembling Spurs, Haughmond came here as underdogs. From Shrewsbury, they were plying their trade in the West Midlands Regional League, one of the weaker leagues in the Midlands. They began positively, with 6 forcing a save to the keeper's right early on. Eccleshall looked threatening when they attacked, with a corner flying agonisingly across the face of goal. Their 8 and 9 then both screwed shots wide. I was particularly interested in the away side's formation, as they had clearly set out to stifle their slightly superior opponents - playing with 3 at the back with 8 acting as a kind of sweeper. Haughmond had the best chance of the first half, when 9's overhead kick volley rattled the cross-bar (think Benteke at Old Trafford). The home side were clearly frustrated, and an altercation in midfield resulted in bookings for the home side's 6 and Haughmond's 11. Haughmond's unfortunate 9 then rounded the keeper, only to fire into the side netting.
The away side had been much better in the first half, but the game became more even in the second period. Eccleshall's right-back was booked early on for a nasty late tackle on the Haughmond winger, before the home side's number 8 hit just over with his second touch. Haughmond's excellent 8 then had a rasping shot which the home keeper nearly spilt. The home keeper looked particularly at sea and lacking authority when the ball came in the box. The challenges continued to fly in, and Eccy's 7 was booked for a late tackle on 10, who shortly after fired wide with his left foot. 7's free kick was then saved, which proved to be their best chance of the second half. At the far end (where I had resigned as ball-boy!) Haughmond's 14 then rattled the bar (this time from close range), and then 9 could only snatch a shot wide.
So, like the Ashton-Atherton game, extra time beckoned. Unfortunately this time I had to leave early, as I had to make the 17.14 bus back to Stoke, so could only stay for 5 minutes of it. I felt sure that if this match went off for another 90 minutes, neither team would score. This was confirmed when I checked the result on 'The Cloud' at Stoke station. Haughmond had won 4-1 on penalties, and (based on the 95 minutes I saw) they deserved the victory, particularly for setting out so well tactically. Eccy is a nice ground worth a visit, but go in a car - it's a nightmare to reach by bus!
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