Audlem FC take on Betley

Well – would you believe it. On the day that the eastern states of the USA suffer massive snowstorms, we are able to at last play a game. Our very first in this year of 2016. And in such mild weather and thankfully no rain.

We set off at 9.30am from the village, collecting Joe Benson as we leave, with the freshly laundered kit (courtesy of our twin sponsor, Sevi at Audlem Dry Cleaners). Set off in my trusty utility car, my Toyota Rava. Well old and fresh from a successful MOT. My Volvo Estate had died a death in a deep flood in Buerton just after Christmas and sadly it is to go away this week to the knacker's yard.

We drive through sleepy lanes to Betley for a first visit as a team to their ground, set nestled behind the Betley church down a tiny lane to Betley Cricket ground.

Bentley, a strong team with young players full of running, but when we met them in August at the start of the season, we held them to 2-2 draw. And then they scored in the last minute to make that draw.
16 players put their name forward for the game as all are keen to play after such a long layup. We last played on 20th December!

Referee sets us off and the play is 100mph. Pressure by Betley is hard and from the first kick they have the edge and most of the passion. They score after 5 minutes. We concede a corner and – again – a set piece – we concede a goal. So often do we do that.
0-1.

The playing surface is good and well drained, in a lovely setting with many mature trees and fine houses. A banking slopes up behind me to make for a natural grandstand, riddled with entry holes for a badger sett. Nature all around us. A light breeze as we play – but our opponents really well on top and we get very frustrated and silly in our passing. All still at fast pace and I note Betley's coach telling his players to slow down a little.
11.28 and our defence sliced open. They score. So easy.
0-2.

Pass by Andrew "Beko" Betterley after receiving a long ball up field is met by Connor Jones, but his shot goes over the bar. Our nearest chance so far. Great shot by Brad Jones – hots the upright. Are we waking up? I ask myself. From the sloth of Christmas and the New Year.

11.40 and a chance for us and then we score . Yes. We score. Free kick by Kev Rodgers rebounds and Connor follows up and puts it away . His eleventh of the season.
1-2.

Half Time

Too much mouthing off by our players and not enough calm cutting play. Pete Jones off with bad back. Gary Jones on. Restart and within minutes we let them score again.
1-3.

Dear me , how easy we let them score. Joe Benson off and Kev Mort on. Re-jigged line up with Connor dropping back to a central position.
Bang. They score yet again
1-4.

Pass by Beko to Brad Jones, but his drive is over the top. Then at 12.08, Beko scores – his 12th of the season
2-4. Then a set piece again as we give away a foul. They score!
2-5.

Awful defending. Awful stuff. Brad Jones off. Sam "Nemo" Maddocks on. Great run by Nemo up the pitch. His pass is met by Connor and his shot rebounds and Beko slides it in!
3-5.

We have a chance to emulate the finish of Liverpool F C at Norwich. Beko's tally now 13 goals this season. Then, how I tire of writing this, then an easy, easy goal as they pass through our defence like a knife through butter.
3-6.

A fight breaks out and many "hand bags" being thrown at each other. Luckily the Ref missed seeing the worst of it and so no bookings. A scramble in their goal mouth and Kev Mort poaches a goal for us.
4-6.

Full time and we finish a bit more respectful at 6-4 for them. A game of which I am not proud. Off we all troop.

Next game is away versus Wistaston in the President's Cup – second round. A team on the very top of the league. On today's performance be ready for a potential thrashing. But, can we do it?
Full of hope, I sign off today's report

Ralph Warburton
Audlem F C

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.