North West Counties League
Division 1 South
Tuesday 30th October 2018
Kick Off 19.45 On Time !
Wythenshawe Amateurs 3 Maine Road 1, attendance 308
41’ 1-0
45’ + 3, 1-1
71’ 2-1
78’ 3-1
@ Hollyhedge Park
Altrincham Road
Sharston
Manchester
M22 4US
£3 Admission
£2 Programme, 20 pages.
I had visited Wythenshawe Amateurs back on 28th February 2004, when they beat Atherton Town 2-1 in a Manchester League, Premier Division match. In those days they played at Longley Lane, in Northendon, but last season they moved into their brand new home at Hollyhedge Park.
This season has seen them promoted into Step 6, as members of the North West Counties League and tonight was their first match under their newly installed floodlights. The move here has certainly attracted a lot more spectators than the couple of dozen or so when I saw them last time, with tonight’s crowd of 308 setting a new attendance record for them.
The ground just about coped with this size crowd, but the fact that we endured frequent rain showers during the first half didn’t help, especially with a lack of cover, not helped with it being all one level, so the view is really poor. The entrance to the clubhouse was also a real bottleneck, caused by the bar being right inside the door, rather than further inside the room. At least you have no problem finding a chair here, with about ten per table, but it gives very little space for much else !
Three quid for this level is good value for money, but the programme was well overpriced, probably due to being on really thick glossy paper and containing little content, as well as having the wrong kick off time on the cover. The catering did a good job, but £1.50 for a very small, luke warm, cup of coffee is certainly something to avoid !
On the pitch, Amateurs, who are fourth in the league table, are a really good team, but they struggled to break down a very gritty Maine Road side who belied their third from bottom league position. In the end the score line was a little harsh on the visitors, who were much better than a two goal defeat might suggest.
Unlike some of our more recent trips to the North West, the M6 between Junctions 14 and 19 behaved itself in both directions, which is something that can rarely be said these days.
