Following the delights of last weekends top of the NWCFL table clash between New Mills and Newcastle, the Vodkat League Cup Final held at Curzon Ashton gave the same small but intrepid band of Mossley supporters the chance to sample the kind of fare that was on offer at the opposite end of the division.
Would we be treated to some similarly sparkling football or be witness to something else entirely?
Well it turned out to be something else and not a good something else either as we went from the sublime to the sub-standard in the space of five days. I'm not saying it was bad but... no, it was bad. Very bad.
Actually I don't know why I'm surprised at the poor nature of the match given the type of season both sides were having. Winsford were sitting fourth from bottom of the league while their opponents, Abbey Hey, were actually rock bottom and playing their first game since being condemned to relegation. Not exactly omens for a great game.
The warning signs that things would be slightly rubbish were increased when the sides were introduced to the guest of honour, Eric Tate, before kick-off. What do you mean you've never heard of him? It's the Eric Tate, the assistant manager at Northern League side Tow Law Town.
Yep, that's right, the V.I.P. for the Vodkat League Cup Final was the second in command - not the actual manager but the assistant - of a mid-table club in an equivalent league. Goodness knows who their back-up choice was should Mr Tate not have been able to make the game. Armthorpe Welfare's coach driver? The window cleaner at Bishop Auckland?
And all this was done to a backdrop of wrong announcements and terrible mispronunciations over the p.a. system which, as you can imagine, (despite being par for the course at the Tameside Stadium) really added to the prestige of the event.
Although I had gone to the match with the intention of being neutral, my support swung behind Abbey Hey for two reasons. The first being the presence in their team of three ex-Mossley players (John-Paul Lewis, Gareth Wager - who was probably man of the match - and Matthew Kemp) and the second reason because they were the only side who attempted to play some football on the night.
The first half was memorable only for the one goal scored in it. A rare outbreak (i.e. the only bit) of quality football opened up the Winsford defence and gave Abbey Hey a lead which they carried into the interval without too much duress. No, scratch that, under no duress whatsoever.
The second period was marginally better, down purely to Abbey Hey raising their game a couple of notches rather than anything Winsford did, and two more very well worked goals gave the Gorton based side an unassailable lead.
I appreciate that it isn't a pleasant epithet to label a team with but Winsford were laughably bad. Being in the company of their fans though, we tried to keep our amusement in their on pitch endeavours in check but with fifteen minutes of the match remaining we couldn't stifle the giggles any more.
For the first time in the match United's number nine found himself goal side of the Abbey Hey defence and only the goalkeeper standing between him and the chance to give his team a glimmer of getting back into the game. With glory awaiting he swung his leg, missed the ball and almost kicked himself in the head before stumbling around like Norman Wisdom in search of Mr Grimsdale.
Winsford were by far and away the worst side I've seen on my travels this season and by some considerable distance. Admittedly they've had something of a fixture pile-up recently but if you can't raise your game just one iota for a cup final it's a sign that football isn't the sport for you.
Still, it was an entertaining match in a way (if for the wrong, wrong reasons) and marginally better than not only last seasons final, but the one seven years ago at Gigg Lane when when we beat Clitheroe 2 - 1 to lift the same trophy.
Maybe my lot in life is to never see a good final again? If it is I think that in the grand scheme of things it's something I can live with. I would though like to end the season with a reasonable entertaining game to carry me through the summer months so hopefully Saturday's fixture between New Mills and Squires Gate will do just that.
The emphasis of course being on the word 'hopefully'.
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