Audlem FC in cup match

Our very first Cup Tie yesterday in the Crewe FA Vase Completion Versus Crewe Town FC of the Mid Cheshire League.

The day starts quite early, with nets being put up on the goal posts. Corner flags in place. Balls pumped up. Water bottles filled. Medical bag checked and replenished.

Players from our opponents arrive very early and are soon on the well marked pitch – practising and performing their warm-up routines. They look very together in their bright orange strip. A good number of their staff with them.

Weather fine if cold to start with as a keen wind is coming across from the southern end of the cemetery. Our players much denuded as only 15 turn up and of these one is truly not fit – James Bebbington has a bad groin strain so he will not be called on.

Referee Kev Crump from Cheshire arrives and I pay him his fee. We shake hands and off we go. Kick off at 11.00am on the dot. Sun in their goalkeeper's eyes and I think to myself that could work for us. How wrong I was.

First half

From the very start they are attacking in numbers and blow me down – within 4 minutes we are a goal down. A free kick conceded some 35 yards from goal. Up steps the player, and his shot direct into our goal. 0-1 What a way to begin!

15 minutes in and the pressure is intense as attack after attack. As one of our defenders said after the match – it was like facing the charge of the Light Brigade. CTFC very vociferous – in sharp contrast to us.

Good free kick taken by Sam O'Hara misses the goal. Referee warns opponents to stop "gobbing" so much as they make their complaints loudly when tackled. Great shot by them stopped by the cross bar – then our defence in tatters as their attack brings another goal . 0-2! And this after just 25 minutes.

We race up the field from the kick off. Kev Mort meets a good cross and puts the ball in the net – but offside. Attacking again in numbers, CTFC are awarded a harsh penalty as Kev Walters adjudged to have handled. Sure shot and yet anther goal to them 0-3.

Five minutes to go in the first half – and yet another free kick as we are held back in our own half. Kick straight from the spot of the foul and into our net. 0-4. A thorough whitewash of a first half.

Second half

How much worse can it get? But this half we get our act more together. Kev Mort full of running and exhortation of his players. As an aside, I have to say that this match saw the very least use of expletives I have witnessed in a year!

Great shot by Sam O'Hara but saved by their goalie. We are now shaping more like a team, with Gaz Jones yelling hard as he too drives from the back. A good number of chances for us but with no reward yet.

Geoff, our manager, plays a sub as off come Ash Burroughs – who has worked very hard – and on comes Joe Benson. Kev Mort here, there and everywhere, as he is attacking one minute and then the next in defence. But, a scramble in our goal mouth and they score in the 65th minute: 0-5.

Another shot – but fine fingertip save by Connor in our goal. Our skipper gets his ankle clouted and at last a strong word! Joe Benson, playing well on the right wing, fires a shot towards goal but hits the side netting.

Free kick taken by Sam O'H but cleared away by our opposition. Rob Lowe on for Ian Chalker (he has tweeked his groin ) and Ref blows up to finish the game. We lost to a very well organised team. A good clean game. No bookings. No handbags. No bad language. No bad
tackles.

But yet again no win. We are out of the cup. Man of the Match – as chosen by a learned spectator, Barry, is Sam O'Hara, and all agreed with his choice.

Ralph Warburton
Chairman AFC
( Next game – home match versus Salvador at 1100 on the 15th )

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