Cheadle were probably the quicker side to get into any rhythm albeit without giving Whaley’s Tattersall anything to do.  Whaley were quite wasteful in the final third and didn’t ask enough questions of Cheadle’s keeper young O’Rourke when in shooting or crossing positions.

George Burgess looked the biggest threat for Whaley but after missing a season he was still rusty however when he did get to the bye line he delivered crosses more suited to the forwards and not their defenders.  Whaley then began to dominate play and should have gone in at half time in front, Broome put both Scorer and J. Burgess clean through on goal; Joe's touch was always taking him away from goal giving him a poor angle for shooting and O’Rourke saved; Scorer got dispossessed when trying to cut inside a defender when the possibly the best option was to shoot. Adam Barlow came off with what looked like a serious injury to his hip, he was escorted up to A & E, and replaced by Will Bailey who was unlucky not to score when his edge of the box shot clipped the cross bar.  It seemed however much Whaley were in control Cheadle’s Woodhead in particular was always constant threat.

Whaley started the second half with the same tempo and could have scored on a couple of occasions, J Burgess getting to the bye line and crossing but for O’Rourke to smother loose balls. Gilbride & Jamie Kay began to dominate down the left and their good play led to several corners which Gilbride delivered andl eventually Whaley got there just reward as G Burgess opened his account with a perfectly executed header.  Whaley squandered several opportunities to put the game safe and it was another nervy last ten for everybody but the back four of Gregory, Sutton Streets, Kay and Keeper Tattersall held out and worked very hard to keep a clean sheet.

Whaleys man of the match Bill Sutton

J Tattersall; J Gregory; B Sutton(C); T Streets; J Kay; J Burgess; J Broome; A Barlow; D Gillbride; G Burgess(1); T Scorer

A Hodges; W Bailey; J Howell