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Audlem FC take on Crewe

31st August 2015 @ 6:06am – by Ralph Warburton
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We drive away from a very sleepy, quiet village to travel to our next game in Wheelock. Venue is the Sandbach Town Football Club complex. It's a fine brand new set up with quality facilities for teams which we too will have in Audlem around the year 2017.

Today we face Crewe F C. a team of some history with us, but now with many new young players as the team has been re- built. Referee is Darren Barnes. Good calm weather with a 100% cloud cover.

Once more we have 15 players from which to choose the kick off team. a rare luxury again. Kick off sharp at 11.00am. Pitch firm and dry. Both sides very keen and very vocal. Their number 2 is like a cheetah with a fantastic burst of speed and I feel sure he will be one to mark – and to mark well. Alex Carter brings him down to give away the first free kick of the game.

The shot flies to our goal but Ed Holmes, in between the sticks today, is fouled in a melee. Corner to us – one of many to come – and a super cross by Kev Mort is met by Pete Jones, racing in – and he scores. Just 12 minutes in and 1-0 to us!

Pressure is paying off for us. Corner to Crewe – their first, but no gain for them. Sun comes out briefly to kiss us with some welcome warmth. Andrew Betterley, our top scorer, is hacked down with a kick on his ankle. Free kick to us. Voices quietening down a tad now – but Kev Mort is full of yelled advice as normal as he tries to drive all of us on.

Play is roughly 50/50. 11.35am. Long ball up the field by Kev Rodgers, met by Andrew B, and he scores. Hooray. We are 2-0 up!

Great feeling. Referee books their racing number 2 – for his mouth! Dale Bradbury brought down and needs treatment. Thankfully he is OK.

Beautiful save pulled off by Ed Holmes at full stretch. Andrew Betterley off with groin strain and James Fernie on. Then at 11.44am referee awards a penalty to the opposition. Alleged push by Graham Brown. They slot it home, even though Ed went the right way. A killer blow just before half time. 2-1 now.

Second Half

Restart at 11.56am. We now have the down slope of the pitch before us.. Crewe definitely more on top now with play 60/40 to them. Kev Rodgers has had a good game so far, with intelligent running and keeping it clean. Sub made as James Fernie off and Joe Benson on.

12.20pm. A free kick to them, just outside the box. We build our wall, but they fire over it and straight into our goal. 2-2 Yet another set piece goal given away. Diabolical.

Opponents really well in charge as they press and press forward, buoyed up by their goals. Set piece free kick once more and – can you believe it – they plonk a goal in again. Just 4 minutes to go! 2-3. Crewe win the match.

A game of two halves as they say. We had the 1st half. They had the 2nd. We concede three goals – all to set pieces, a story repeated time again and time again as we are useless at defending set pieces. We have now conceded 11 goals already! And all this pain on my birthday!

Next march is Tuesday 1st September when we play a night match versus Alsager, hoping for a better result.

Ralph Warburton.
Chair Audlem F C


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