AFC Match Report – March 15th

This world of ours .

So beautifully photographed in colour from those aboard Apollo 17 in 1972 . Such colour in the blackness of space . But -- sadly , man is so destructive in his drive to make a buck .
Example – Such disturbing news of the work in tearing down the magnificent forests of Indonesia. To then plant immense areas of Palm Oil trees. These virgin forests are home to that wonderful creature , the orang-utan with their long arms needed to swing from tree to tree, oft with a baby clinging to its mother . Palm oil in such demand -- for use in lipsticks, ice cream, pot noodles, soap, detergents , chocolate etc. The list is long . But all this at such a high price .
I wonder how long it will be before this noble beast is gone from our planet , joining so many others in such danger.
I saw them face to face (if you like )when I travelled for my company up country in Indonesia . So so gentle and in their way, so trusting . I do fear for our young as they will miss so much of the nature that we have now and that which is being lost as such a pace .
But

Down to Earth – The football

We are at home. Versus Sydney Arms of Nantwich with one of our ex players in their squad -- Joe Benson .
Referee Jen Cornes, One of the best referees . Very fair and very firm .
Very large number of players have put them selves forward for selection , giving manager Kev Mort a real headache , but better than scrambling to get 11 out to play .

Goalkeeper Simon Cavell
Defence Ross Henderson. Thomas Capewell. Dan Rooney . Kev Rogers
Mid field Danny Mahoney . Will Cork. Paul Ashley. Sam Mason
Attack Mark Parker . Andrew Betteley

Pitch in good order with the prolonged drop in the water table . Cutting up of course.
Reasonable day weather wise .
All keen to go as we line up. Sydney Arms win the toss and elect to kick off .

1057. Bells of St James pealing out and off we go .
May be the last game for a while , we will have to see how the Cheshire F A react to virus news and moves.
Very lively start as both side test each . Super strike from distance by Paul Ashley as we press hard on their goal .
First corner goes to us as we attack.
Cold air and I sit here.
1103 . Free kick goes to us as Will Cork is taken down.

Taken by Kev Rogers who sends is a screamer from all of 30 yards and his ball is met by a jumping Thomas Capewell who heads home !!

1-0 . Ahead already

1107. Free kick to Sydney Arms , but we are safe . They are pressing hard on us trying to negate our score .
1115. And Simon Cavell -- in goal -- pulls of a superb save. Phew, that was close.
1120 Corner to SA . No gain Play about 50/50 .
1128 . Another corner to them, but no trouble .
1130 . A free kick to us , taken by Danny Mahoney from a spot say 10:yards it, but goalie saves well .
1139 Andrew Betteley is taken down . Free kick . Taken by by Beco and Sydney player turns his shot into his own goal !

2-0

We are playing so well and keeping our shape . Attacking and defending so well. A treat indeed.

Half Time

1155 And off we set with a fine shot by Will Cork that just flies wide .
Then . A great cross by Sam Mason, met beautifully by Thomas Capewell and he scores !!

3-0 ! Going great guns.

1200. Ref awards SA a penalty following a fierce foul.

3-1 Wham

And they score
Danny Mahoney comes off. Injured . Alyn Burcea comes on.
Corner to them. No gain . Followed by yet another one, but again no worry for us.
1215 Free kick to us , just 6 yards out if their box, but no gain .
Kev Rogers fouls an opponent badly. Booked. .

3-2 And from the free kick, they score

Tom Smart on, Kyle Doughty on and Seb Burrows too as Manager Kev Mort plays his cards right.
Still playing very well and keeping it together. Some hard tackling by both sides but a clean game .
1220 Header by Beco goes just wide .
1230, and a great scoring chance by us is saved .
Dying moments and Sydney win a corner. Happily no conversion .

Full time.

We win , and we win well against strong team .
Second victory on the run.
Man of the Match goes to ever running, fearless Ross Henderson .
Off all troop to the Bridge Inn for beers and snacks . Mood very high and deservedly so.
Next game is on the 22nd versus Nantwich Pirates .
Virus allowing
Ralph Warburton
AFC