Audlem face Bank Corner

A bright calmish morning as we meet at the car park. Quiet now and almost deserted as we set out the kit, the nets and the flags.

Cold airstream belies the sun. So still here with my coat about my shoulders. And my trusty hat. The smell of freshly mown grass is so evocative of this time of year as lawns recover from the many long wet days of the past weeks. Car park virtually empty at 9.45am. Quite unusual for Audlem.

Today we muster 14 players – thanks not to the mass of players on our books but because we signed three new ones but ten days ago. The danger of all this inability to put out a settled team is they have no rapport. No connection. No knowledge of their various talents. Just kick and rush, in truth, as each plays his own game.

Last week we had no goalkeeper. This week we hope Ed turns up.

We play Bank Corner today. (As I pen my notes a swan flies across the pitch and the cemetery – honking loudly as it effortlessly sweeps across the sky. Obviously not a mute swan.)

They are a stronger team than us but, of course, given our record, all are stronger than we are. We have conceded 100 goals!

Referee is Ron Bedson. Calm fellow and not a man who easily show a card.

Pitch firm and dry but in need of some TLC such as Turfing the gaol areas. Surrounding wooden fences in a very poor and dangerous state. I see a child slashing their legs open on the raw metal that is so evident.

11.05 and we kick off. Slight delay as Bank Comer await two late players.
1107. They score!
0-1
11.09 They score yet again. Defence in tatters.
0-2
Rain in the air and markedly colder. First corner to them but we survive. More rain now. More cold air too. Perhaps that is why our defensive line is slow. To quote the famous one liner Bill Shankly "Milk turns quicker than some players."
11.25. Yet another goal as they slice us open.
0-3

We have not had one shot at goal. Not one shot. Team not talking to each other. I feel they are very dispirited by it all. Heads are down.
11.35. More pain. They slot another in.
0-4
What can I say! It gets colder and colder and there is ice forming around my heart as my hopes are dashed.

A run up the field by Dag Searle who feeds Connor Jones. He shoots but the shot is saved – best effort all day. So confident are Bank in their total command of the play that their goalie is standing on the half way line as their forwards camp out by our goalmouth. Possession is 80% to 20% and I leave it to you to work our who has what.

I do want the half to end. And perhaps to regroup and put on a better show.
11.45. And Joe Benson saves a sure goal – off the line. Are we getting better? Is the tide turning our way? Bank players queuing up to score.

HALF TME and our team trudges off to hard words from Manager Geoff Stretch.

Kick off at 11.55.
12.00. They plonk another easy goal in.
0-5! Five goals conceded. It is a sorry tale once more
12.15. Our top scorer Andrew Beco Bettely gets a goal. Our top scorer of the season. 15 goals his tally now. A bit of daylight.

Pace slows down. One of the quietest matches ever. No big voices. No swearing.
Not much else to say. We have again been cut up and been filleted. On the butchers block and carved up so many times there cannot be much meat left on our bones.
Final whistle come to the rescue.

On this coming Thursday I face the executive of our football league to present an appeal against the loss of three points incorrectly taken away, in our belief. And to face a charge of playing a banned player at our last game. We will be punished and our disciplinary record is such that it may well be a harsh verdict against us. We shall see as I face the inquisition.

Next game for us is away versus Sandbach and then the final game is away at the Boot & Shoe team on the 8th May

Ralph Warburton
Audlem FC

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