2pm 4 September 2021
West Cheshire League, Division Two
Rainford United 3 Cheshire Lines 4 (att 20)
I'd never been entirely sure whether I might have already been to Rainford United's ground. They play at Edge Hill University, in Ormskirk, where I've seen games twice before.
The first visit, back when the university was a more modest college, was to a grass pitch that has since disappeared to make way for a huge car park. The second was for a friendly on a 3G pitch in 2015.
Apparently the pitch used by Rainford United varies match to match, but thankfully (from my groundhopping perspective) today's wasn't on the 3G but a grass pitch inside an athletics track.
The game was a slow burner, not helped by the time taken to retrieve the ball each time it went out of play and across the track.
Cheshire Lines spurned a chance to take the lead when a 30th minute penalty, for handball, was saved. It was only a temporary reprieve for the hosts as they went 1-0 down soon after. They hit back though, and it was 1-1 at half time.
Early in the second half a second spot kick, also for handball, was scored to put the visitors in front. Rainford had lost their goalkeeper to injury, and while his replacement made some good saves he could do little as Cheshire Lines took control with further goals.
They led 4-1 into the final few minutes, but got a late scare when Rainford scored twice, the second in stoppage time, to make it 4-3. They never had a clear chance to level the score though.
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