AFC match report

I am awake very early as I wrestle with the coming Music & Arts Festival – trying to pull together all the sponsors that give us their most valued and welcome support in putting on 5 days and nights of Music and Art for all tastes and all free to those who come to our village for what is now the 17th year we have been presenting this event.

As I say, I am awake early and this is tempered by the joy of listening to a growing cathedral of bird song as the dawn chorus grows in intensity. What a real pleasure it is to hear the myriad of songs as our native birds seek to please their mates. I have had a cock pheasant come here now for many a year. Same bedraggled fellow I believe as his tail feathers get more and more stringy. But the colours he has – so exotic. Enjoys the seed I put out.

And allied to this, the wonderful show of blossom all around us. The winter cherries and almond trees are in such great flower this year and in truth I have not enjoyed such abundance of bloom for many a year. The crocus are plentiful and the best ever in my lawn. The rhododendron I show has been in flower now for some 5 weeks,. Such an early harbinger of spring. Camellias bursting open their fat buds, snowdrops aplenty and golden daffodils trumpeting the coming of Spring.

And on Spring – as they say " Hopes springs eternal" – we face a team from Nantwich today after many weekends of being washed away, named White Horse. Last time we met them we won!! Yes, won – 2-1.
So perhaps we can repeat that pinnacle this day.

At least 13 have declared they are available fir the game, if they all turn up.

Referee is one Terry Smith. Not sure of the way he handles a game of Sunday players, with their inevitable hangovers and fruity language, but hopefully he is fair and balanced in his judgement.

Pitch still the very worst in all of Cheshire but CE have promised to put things right for the village once the playing season is over – and before the summer village events get going from Carnival Day onward.

Fingers crossed as we get to the kick off. Bells of St James fall silent. I have promised to buy the first round if – IF – we do win.
(David here as our most regular supporter and sponsor, offers me a trophy cupboard for the new annexe to the Hall. Such confidence but sadly it will mostly used for tea cups.)

Car park at this hour very empty but by noon crammed!

Kick off and we have the luxury of 14 players to choose from. Four weeks of no game has encouraged them – but in that number we have 2 more new signings. Must have signed 40 or more already this season in the hope of getting a regular team.

White Horse in bright red strip.

11.15

20 minutes gone and no goals.

11.30

Still no goals but we have been on top .
Then – Big controversy. Player kicks out at Connor Baxter – our goalie. Vicious kick. Red Card. Off he goes with very fruity words filling the air.
Atmosphere getting quite tense. Kev Rodgers – our skipper – is booked for kicking their player. Yellow card.

Half time 0-0 .

I leave the scene to for cappuccino and lattes from JA's café . And inevitably, miss them scoring!! Just after the kick off.

0-1

Sun still so warm. Me. In just a sweater and no hat. A very pleasant change from last Sunday's wind , sleet and rain.
Referee Smith is having a very bad game. Missing lots of hand balls. Off sides. Poor show
We score – but ruled offside which was in truth a tad too harsh.

12.10 0-2 White Horse score.

Only good thing is that sun is even warmer. Lovely to feel it on my face and my follicly challenged head .

Tempers on the field of play so frayed. Language awful.

Final whistle . Game over

Hopes dashed .
I invite all opponents back to the Lord C for the chip butties and they all accept this

Home again next Sunday- versus Bank Corner

No beer for me to buy – yet again .

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.