CLEATOR MOOR CELTIC 0 AFC DARWEN 2

THE North West Counties League is one I like dipping into, so Cleator Moor Celtic has been on my radar for quite some time.

Thankfully also, the League’s website is one of the best around: extremely easy to use, even for this techno-idiot. Cleator’s Twitter feed seems confident the game will take place as well.

On route the scenery is amazing. The moorland hills are bathed in glorious sunlight. Once in the town, I have trouble finding the entrance to Inglenorth Park. At one point, I find myself on a housing estate below the actual pitch, a hand’s width away through a fierce fence, and have to shout out of my window for directions from the players warming up along the touchline! They find it highly amusing but I eventually find my way to the large, dusty car park.

The wind has really got up now and I have to shield my eyes from the billowing grit flying through the air. I pay a measly £3 at the gate (£2 Concessions) and another £1 for the programme. Now that’s value for money!

I make for the clubhouse up the stairs. It looks like a relatively new building and must be a superb venue for receptions, etc. within the local community. Food is being served from a small window next to the bar. The pie, chips and gravy are okay. The Fox has Meat & Potato and I have a Steak variety. The M&P is very dry without the gravy.

Outside, the wind is really bad. The double-decker clubhouse building is in one corner of the ground. Also on this side is a seated stand and a covered terrace. The rest of the ground is open to the elements. The surrounding hills give Inglenorth a certain charm

Moor’s opponents this afternoon are AFC Darwen. This present incarnation were reformed for the 2009/10 season and arrive here struggling in the relegation zone. Their hosts find themselves in mid table.

Celtic grabbed a point away in midweek after being two goals down. Interestingly, according to the ‘From The Dugout’ programme notes, everyone who turned out for the team that night “were a credit to the club”. This included a player sin-binned for “strongly contesting a penalty decision”. Hmmm, not my definition of being a credit to the club, I must say!

Darwen steal the points thanks to a goal in each half. Celtic fail miserably to adapt to the conditions and deservedly lose. The theme of “strongly contesting” every decision starts right from the off and doesn’t let up for the whole game. Apparently, some people consider this as being “a credit to the club” you know...

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