Audlem FC Match Report

Before I begin with our football, a few culinary words . I spotted a recipe for potato peeling soup . Yes. Potato peel . Intrigued , I set to and made it . And in truth it has turned out quite palatable . A mix of peel, onion, garlic, milk, chicken stock, bay leaf , salt and pepper . Served with pancetta on top. Quite tasty and a true first for me. As I worked in my kitchen, I said to myself -- " how about making a rice pudding" . Not made one before as my Jo made it in the past , and my mother many times when we were children . A low cost, filling food. My gosh how we loved the skin produced by the butter and the nutmeg.

The nutmeg. Another wonderful spice. First found in the Banda islands of Indonesia. The Dutch East India Company, in the 17th century , warred with the Banda people and from 15000 population just 1000 were left . Muskets versus spears . It can be said the spice was born with blood stains upon it . Then the Dutch took all the trees to other lands they had colonised And even planted some in India . Twas in Kerala that Jo and I saw the bushes with the nuts way back in the 90's . Quite magical to see them growing there. Mace is the skin wrapped around the nutmeg. World trade in 2019 was 142,000 tonnes!

My rice pudding is baking as I write .

But , our game.

Off we drive to Winsford for our game against Princes Feathers ,playing on the Knights Grange Sports Complex pitch . Will take me about 40 minutes to get there and unload . Stopping on the way for the fabulous croissants at our COOP . The road from Reese Heath passes through Aston Juxta Mondrum and Church Minshull. A lovely twisting switchback of a road through beautiful fields and many trees. Would be a great car rally road .

Referee if Rick Bradfield . Good turnout of players . And I hope a change from the two defeats in a row suffered by us .

1100
Kick off. Playing in our home kit colours . Red and Black .
Opponents turn up with just 9 players . This time here we do have a changing room, but no showers .
Rain spatters as we get going but thankfully stops so my Lakers do not get too damp .
All the action is in their half as we press hard to score .

1110
Fast run at goal by Ben Walker -- shoots , but goes wide .
Then PF make a dart into our half -- briefly . No gain.
A chance for Callum Mese , enjoying his game to the full.

1120
Chance after chance for us to score -- a fast run forward by Ross Henderson ,our number 2 -- and his fierce shot is driven home .

1-0

1125
We win a corner . No gain
Very frustrating we are , lots of running but no goal ...
Sub played by Mgr Kev Mort as Callum Mese has to come off with a slight injury. Send on Andrew Betteley .
(Kev Rodgers and Rachel -- our secretary , arrive . Good to see them . )

1130
Referee books Tom Smart for diving ,

1135
Fast run by Toni Sindstadt ( having a great game) feeds a ball to Ben Walker who drives it home

2-0

1144
Corner to us but no gain

Half time

9 men team really giving a good showing and denying us goals
1150
Off we go
Yet another great ball to Ben Walker by Toni Sindstadt . Ben scores- his second

3-0

Cold , cold wind chilling my bones as sit as I do on the sidelines

1200
Sub. Will Cork comes on as Stefan Kotowski off. Small injury to his foot, but needs to be good for skiing next week.

1210
Ref getting much abuse from PF.

1215.
Superb drive by Andrew Betteley brings off a great save by their keeper .
Tom Smart comes of with a blister as Callum goes back on .

1220
We win a corner but no gain

1225
Great move by PF and in the melee in front of our goal, they slot home a shot.
Game over. We win 3-1 . In truth should have been more for us

Man of the Match ..... Ben WaLker -- our youngest player and a born striker

Next game at home verses Nantwich Pirates .

(Got to mention Ronaldo of Man Utd . What a player . Getting close to 40 years of age and playing like a teenager . 59 hat tricks !!! 807 goals !!!)

Ralph Warburton
Audlem. F. C .

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