02/10/2024
By Chris Gibbs
Another hard-earned point on the road for Castle
Atherton Collieries 0
Newcastle Town 0
After the drama of a very late equaliser at Wythenshawe on Saturday, we didn’t quite have the same experience last night on our second visit to Manchester in four days, but any point you get on your travels is one you’re always happy to get.
Our manager Neil Baker rang the changes for this hard-earned point at Atherton Collieries with Ethan Vale and Ty Webster – who both came on as subs on Saturday – this time making starts and Nathan Barry preferred to Tom Jones up front with Jake Avery.
George Lewis started in the middle and Jack Derbyshire slotted once again into the back four. So, with five changes to the side, it was perhaps no surprise to see the hosts start off strongly, especially as they were kicking down the slope in the first half.
It was hard work but through a lot of steel and determination we got to the interval on level terms.
Slinny made one impressive stop in the first ten minutes, but it was more a case of the home side having plenty of possession as opposed to lots of chances, although it has to be said that they did not look like a side propping up the rest of the division.
In a mostly uneventful first 45 minutes, it was what happened at the interval that probably caused more excitement. One of the assistant referees was unable to continue in the second half and after a rallying call was made at half time, Slinny’s old man Pete – a fully qualified referee it should be added for the record – came to the rescue. Had he not been on hand to run the line in the second half – the game might well have been abandoned at half time so take a bow Slinny’s dad. You did a cracking job 👏👏👏
There was a definite improvement to our play in the second half with Jack Sherratt notably helping to get us up the pitch but there weren’t many chances. Ten minutes into the second half Jake Avery did well to spin his marker on the halfway line and then played in Nathan Barry but the big fella placed his shot too close to the keeper. Jack Sherratt then fizzed one wide after a decent move, as we looked for a winner.
Nathan had another half chance five minutes from time after Tom Jones – on as a sub for the excellent Ty Webster – had slipped him in but it would have been a little harsh on our hosts had we taken the three points and it was our ever dependable keeper Slinny who did make sure it ended goalless when he tipped a stinging effort from Toba Obitayo over the bar in the closing stages.
It might not have been a game that will live long in the memory but it’s another point gained on our travels and means that going into our home game with Stalybridge on Saturday, we have only lost one of our opening six league games.
Team: Slinn, Derbyshire, Ritchie, Sherratt, Thorley, T. van der Laan, Lewis, Vale, (Dos Santos 66), Barry, Avery, Webster, (Jones 73).
Man of the match: Jack Sherratt – on a night when there wasn’t an obvious choice, Shezzer’s ability to make space and get the team moving up the pitch was important in easing the pressure on our back four.