AFC report – first league game of 2020/21 season

Out to my garden early as the sky lightens. All so still and peaceful. A few birds giving some voice, and overhead two buzzards lazily circling up high. Emitting a cry like that of the Aye-Aye of Madagascar . Sound so hauntingly wonderful to behold here in our locale .I see Match of the Day -- of games played on Saturday -- and wonder just how the pay of Gary Lineker can be justified -- £1,400,000 for just a few comments on the games, backed up by Alan Shearer on £370,000!! . Who was absent ! Good to know where my TV licence payment goes .i reckon that GL's comments cost around £1,500 a word !

But then I enjoy my morning fruits including the sweet strawberries as grown by Annabel Makin of Yorkshire -- labelled as such by Morrison's .

To our game.

The very first on the new 2020/2021 season, versus White Horse of Nantwich , well known foes .

Referee is Keith Curzon.

Kev Mort , our manager has a good turn out from which to select the staring eleven.

Full temperature checks taken. Sanitizing fluids here for use.. Taking all the cautions we can.

The puppy that was hurt last Sunday in a crash of players is happily OK.

Lovely little fellow.

11:00 And we kick off on a superb looking pitch . Usual fast play as the combined testosterone of 22 men boils up .

Great weather, cool breeze as sun is still quite low. Some talk of the FA stopping grass roots football given present scares of COVID . Governments Testing system is near to collapse. And Singapore was doing this in March ! What an inefficient a bunch we have in government.

We are in our number two kit awaiting the one carrying the logo of Marstons who will be our part sponsor. Opponents in yellow and black, like wasps about to sting us – we shall see.

11:02 We win the first corner. Sun in the eyes of their goalie. Good ball but he saves . Yet another corner, taken by Kev Rodgers. No gain .

11:10 Shot on our goal and Connor Baxter saves very well.

Bells of St James ring out. I do mentally pinch myself that we, my Joan and I, so luckily found this place in which to put our roots down . What a superb place and so fine a community .

(Car Park toilets much appreciated by all, including cyclists, walkers, shoppers and us. Best set in all of Cheshire I reckon)

11:18 Super shot by Andrew Betteley (Beco) saved .

1st free kick goes to WH. 12 yards outside our box -- and central. No gain as our wall stops the ball.

1 – 0 to us

11:22 jack Welsh shoots hard- through ruck of players and under their despairing goalie . And scores !

First blood to us .

Fast moving Will Cork is brought down -- free kick to us .
We are camped in their half.
Air a tad cool as sun climbs a bit higher.

11:28 Cross met by Skipper Thomas Capewell . His header loops high and drops to their goal. But goalie grabs it. A very good chance of a goal.

WH fire a drive at our goal – just scrapes over the bar. Phew.
3rd free kick and it goes to WH . Good cross to our goal and punched away by Connor .
Getting a but feisty now and some of their players are bulky fellows.

Half Time – water bottles to the fore

11:44 And off we go again. Corner to WH but no gain. They have been stung by our goal. And they were bragging on Facebook as to how they were to take us apart .

Lovely high kick by ever running Ross Henderson . Super ball forced by Will Cork , racing ahead and he feeds Beco whose shot is pushed away for a corner.

Sun fully out now and so very pleasant .

(Ben Walker, Seb Burrows and Tom Smart here to watch our play . All have been injured and now getting fit again which is good news as all are young and very good players.)

Then 1-1

11:54 WH score! Big appeal for offside and I do honestly feel their number 7 was off side when he met the ball. But a goal, as ruled by the referee.

2-1

12:00 Kev Rodgers sends a ball to fast running Will Cork who fires in a shot.

12:05 Corner to WH. No gain . Another for them .

3-1

12:12 Great run up field by Will Cork. Ball from Jack Welch is met by Dan Rooney who puts it away

All men full of confidence and playing as a team . Good to see that on day one .

4-1 !!

12:20 WH pressing hard to seek revenge by scoring .Kev Rodgers races forwards and attacks their goal. Ball bounces around like a pin ball machine . Beco pounces -- and scores!

Subs played . Kev Mort and Pete Jones on.

4-2

12:33 and blow me down – Defence dithers and White Horse score

Game over . What a fine start to the new season . Team played well together and played the full 90 minutes showing their fitness.

Man of the match -- Jack Welch .

Next Sunday we travel up to Northwich to play new club. Winnington Sports Club F C . Unknown team so a blooding for us .

Ralph Warburton

Chairman AFC