Audlem FC Report

Sunday 4th and off we go to a new season of challenge.

We are now promoted to top division and will face a welter of strong teams and all that that means .

I pen this report having had the really good news of the rebirth of our Lord Combermere pub as new owner Paul Haywood takes on the task of following on from the truly wonderful Allan and Jo . He promises to be a force here in our village and to take part in our community at large .

But.

The game today.

We travel to Winsford versus Winsford Over3 FC .

A strong squad in number with many new names in the team , all here for the first blooding of season 2022/2023.

Long standing member Kev Mort has stood down after 10 years and management is now a triumvirate of Kev Rodgers, Ross Henderson and Sam Morgan .

Drive off, after suffering match of the day as I see Liverpool FC continue with their poor form as they only manage a draw at Everton .

We have 17 players report for the play. Can only name 5 .

Kick off sharp at 1100 with Rick Bradfield refereeing the game .

Players keen to get off the mark .

We play on the huge pitch by the big oak tree. A pitch with such a crossways slope .

Playing in our red/black Marstons kit. Opponents in yellow and blue. Normal fast and furious start as place is awash with the adrenaline and testosterone.

No serous fouls so far .

1111

First corner goes to Winsford Over. WO . Team . No gain .

Such a change in the weather ,as lowering clouds fill the sky and a goodly breeze blowing across the pitch .

1115

Flurry of fisticuffs between Shea Bebbington and their number 9. All calmed down . But a free kick to us. .our subsequent shot flies over the crossbar. Closest we have come to scoring.

Yet another free kick for us. Opponents manager gets very angsty and referee has to lecture him.

Play very frantic with some hard tackling.

1120

Good shot. by WO hits our cross bar. Close that was .

Sky still full of cloud and pleased I had put warm jeans on. Connor in goal saves a fierce shot. They are dominating play . Then Connor spills a kick and thankfully Ross Henderson clears it away for a corner.

Wind getting up a bit -- as forecast by the Met service.

1130

Sub played by Kev Rodgers as Sam Mason comes off and Seb Burrows comes on .

On balance , play is about 50/50 so far. We are accounting well for ourselves against strong team.

1142

Blow me down. Penalty awarded to WO . They put it away.

0-1

What a time to concede that

1145

Half time and much discriminating on the side line ,as players shout at each other over the way we are playing . Some blue language .

Andrew "becko " Betteley comes on for Shea Bebbington who was getting very hot under the collar.

Another change as Fab Tuardon is replaced by Seb Muszyski .

1152

A chance shot , high in the sky , drops right in our goal. A fluke goal ,but they all count

0-2

1158

Free kick on edge of our box. No gain.

1200

Long throw by Seb Burrows gives us the chance to score but goal is saved. Goalie has hardly been tested all the game so far .

1204

First corner for us . No gain

Corner after corner goes to WO as they attack and attack.

1208

A bit of blue sky and a bit of sunshine is welcome.

1209

Bekko is chopped down. Last man standing , but referee just awards a free kick to us . Ben Walker takes it but no gain.


1212

Fierce fracas breaks out . Ross Henderson in the thick off it and gets a red card. Off he troops . Bit of a problem that as Ross is a vital cog in all our play . We are getting too angry and in some disarray .

Sub. Ben Walker off and Brian Oakley on. Ref sends Toni Sindstat to the sin bin. Things not looking good for us . Team in tatters in many ways .

1229

They score again

0-3

Shea Bebbington back on and Cameron Rodgers off. Cameron is such a fierce and unafraid player , even though he is so young and so slender.

1232

Free kick to us . Taken by Alex Smith . Results in a corner. Our very first one !!!

No gain

Shea comes off badly injured , suspected broken ankle !

Last moments of the game .


Final whistle .

We did not play well. Did not play as a team . Too many frantic moves.

Will need to be aware that we are up against strong teams and make sure we do play well and play for each other .

Not the start I had hoped for.

Next game is at home. September 11th.