AFC up against Sandbach again

Yesterday dawned bright and cold with a very frosty pitch, so looked at it at 9.00am and a very hard surface resulting in a consultation with the referee before he sets out to see if we should consider calling it off. We agree to wait a while as the sun gets a bit warmer.

10.30am and pitch OK. Opponents, Sandbach Town are happy to play. Referee Carl Betley is also satisfied with pitch.

Our team as selected by Geoff Stretch, our manager, from a good turn out of players is:
Rob Lowe as stand in goalie; Gaz Jones; Kev Brindley; Kev Walters; Mike Gibson; James Bebbington; Kev Rogers; Pete Kulak; Ian Chalker; Kev Mort (Capt.); James Kingpin Adams.

Kick off on time and the first half quite even in both defence and attack. Our opponents have big fellows at the back and their number 15 is shadowing Kev Mort very keenly. A shot on their goal is saved well by their big goalkeeper and AFC are playing with more purpose and discipline.

11.30am and a good save by Rob Lowe – but five minutes later and they score, followed in the next two minutes by a superb own goal giving us a score of 1-1. Sandbach Town play a sub with the twin Andy Bailey coming on to join his brother Darren, two very committed and fierce players.

Ten minutes from half time and a melee in front of our goal results in a tap for Sandbach. 1-2
Three minutes later and we are down 1-3.

Half Time

We, AFC, in the first half did play as a better team with improved discipline. But in the second half we did ourselves no favours. As the sun went behind the cloud and a chill descended, so our play dropped in standard. Just a few minutes in to the second half and we are down 1-4.

An injury – a bad one on James Bebbington – by Daren Bailey (who was booked by the ref.) effectively put paid to James' pace. A free kick to Sandbach 35 yards out from which they score but the goal is ruled offside.

James Bebbington goes off as Geoff sends on James "ferret" Brookes. Our defence is leaking as Sandbach are forcing attack after attack, and then get a penalty which they convert. So 1-5!

Kev Walters off and Darren Broadhurst on. The game is getting very uptight and a confrontation involving a severe tackle by Andy Bailey starts fisticuffs with players face to face and words fly in anger. Ref. Betley books the two Baileys – even though Kev Mort (who was in the middle of the players) tells the ref. he and D Bailey were only messing about – this does not impress the Referee. Lots of verbal's and disrespect aimed at the Ref. by Sandbach player which does him no good as number 10 is sent off.

Game over. We lose 5-1 to Sandbach. And we did not score a goal.

And the day ended badly as Man Utd scrape a win over Liverpool.

Ralph Warburton – Chairman Audlem FC

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