To The Coast!

Is there a better way to spend to spend a Bank Holiday Monday than at a local game that not only makes travelling easier for away supporters but ensures a bumper crowd for clubs that need the money? No, there probably isn't!

But that hasn't stopped the Unibond North's fixture computer spewing out a lengthy list of forehead slapping holiday games and this is the first of them for Mossley – a trip to Lancaster on a day that's marginally better for long distance travelling than the choice of Boxing Day for the return fixture at Seel Park.

I’ve only ever been to the Giant Axe once before and that ended in a 2-0 cup defeat for the Lilywhites many moons ago. My memories of that game though are solely the corner flags being made of what seemed like rotting bits of a wooden window frame and a toilet block that was way too small, necessitating users to stand outside and aim in. However I am prepared to admit that maybe the vestiges of time have clouded my memory but I swear that that is what was there.

If being lumbered with one of the worst nicknames in non-league football wasn't bad enough (the Dolly Blues in case you were wondering), City's financial problems over the past twelve months meant that they had to do the double drop from the Conference North last season, bypassing the starry lights of the Unibond Premier to take up a place in the re-jigged First Division..

Though games between us were a regular occurrence in the 1970’s/early 80’s, the last meetings between the two sides came during our first spell in the Unibond First Division. In the four matches played between 1993 and 1995 Lancaster ran out winners on each occasion, scoring 8 goals in total and conceding none. All of which adds up to the fact that we haven't scored a goal against Lancaster for nigh on 28 years. Oh well...

Prediction: My non-attendance will probably guarantee us our first win of the season.