AFC in dramatic finish

Awake to a real foggy morning with trees across the fields standing as ghostly statues. All so silent . But as the morning grows in age, the sun comes out and chases away the mists . A promise of a very fine day.

Off I go to the village full of hope as we face Crewe F C, a team reborn and fresh as we were two years ago. A chance methinks of a victory. To the COOP for their superb croissants and thence to pick up Geoff, the practice balls! medical bag and kit etc.

Off we drive under a complete blue vault of a sky to the Bentley sports ground. The Legends. Arrive and greeted warmly by Ben Cox of Crewe F C. Good changing rooms with showers, toilets etc, the very antithesis of our own facilities.

Team arrives in dribs and drabs. Initially we have just 11 players, but I am able to sign on two new players in the form of Graham Brown – a buddy of Jimmy Murphy, our goalie and Darren Walker.

So we field a team plus two subs. Not a very heart warming position yet again. One day we will have the chance to select from a larger number I hope. Not a good position for Geoff and James.

Referee is a stickler and gives due warning to all players. Any cursing of him will get a yellow. And excessive foul language will get a yellow. Subs must be present at the touch line and at the centre line. Hey ho – looks like it will be fiery.

Kick off sharp at 1100.

Pitch good if bobbly in places. Bright sunlight. Opponents sponsored by a pub with the intriguing name " The Eight Farmers".

A rough scramble in our goal mouth and they score.

0-1 Already.
Pete keeps up the good firm as he races up the pitch again. Merits a cross by Andrew Bettely. His fired in shot Just saved. Pete is on fire! Then a penalty fir a hand ball by opponents. Up steps Pete. Scores.

1-1 Wonderful.
We are playing well and keeping our shape. Our forward line very colourful as we have Graham Brown and Jordan Green as our strikers. Corner to us and Pete scores with his header.

2-1 Ahead at last. Great feeling of a chance for victory.
1128: A good cross and Graham Brown scores on his debut fur us.

3-1 Wow. If this carries on I will need oxygen!
Jimmy playing well in goal as he pulls off some good saves. Alan Brindley gives a good impression of a walrus as he tackles – but wins the ball!
Kev Mort sets on a mazy run, but his pass intercepted. All playing with good heart. Language good.
Then a superb strike by them – even though jimmy got a finger to the ball – and they score.

3-2.
Late rally and Kev Rodgers fires over the bar.
Ref blows up for half time.
Good talk and all feeling good as we troop on for the second half.
We play sub Darren Walker for Alan Brindley .
Jordan Green has a pop at goal but just wide.
A harsh tackle by Kev Rodgers. Ref instantly there. Yellow card for KR. Oh . Not againI think. Kev is such a hot head.
Kev Mort playing well as he bamboozles their player with his running.
1215: A so soft goal and they score!

3-3 Followed almost immediately by another.

3-4 and they are in the lead !
Another easy goal for them. Our shape going wrong.
1220: Another hard tackle by Kev Rodgers. Yellow and the red card. Yet again. His second in only 5 games !!
Down to 10 men – pressure now all on us.
We sub james Bebbington for Jordan Green who has run out of puff.
Another fine finger tip save by jimmy as Crewe F C attack in numbers.
Ref books one of their players – harshly in my view.
We win a free kick. Again a hand ball. Fine hit and Kev Mort scores!

4-4.
Shot by Jim Davies. Just wide.
Then a tackle judged a bad one by the referee – by Gary Jones and this earns him a yellow card. They take the free kick just outside the area and, bang straight in our goal. The very last minute of the game!

We lose 5-4.
Not a happy ending. A loss, two yellows and a red!
My man of the match is Pete Jones for his overall performance and his 2 goals.

Next game

Home versus Leopard F C of the premier division in the Presidents Cup tie.

Ralph Warburton.
Chairman AFC

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