Audlem Football Club Match Report

Sunday 19th November

I am once more awake and to my study in the wee small hours of the new day.

The sky quite dark with few stars. Silent. So very silent. But for the haunting call of two owls in the beech trees, now stripped and naked, as all their leaves have fallen. The Too Whit Too Woo of the owl is that the Too Whit is one bird and the other replies Too Woo.

As the skies lighten with the new dawn, I see the very many high flying jets, chalking their way south. So many aloft in these very early hours, criss-crossing the high sky.

A huge skein of geese pass overhead, just about 100 feet above my head , as they honk their way to feeding gourds at nearby Doddington lake. I have learned that the lead bird changes position, allowing fresh leaders to take over as they journey through the air. Nature is so very beautiful.

But.to Football.

Today we come back to league matches after our heady ride in the cup run.

We play a team named White Lion , a team that does have strong teeth and will e a test for our players.

15 men have put themselves forward for selection. A hard task for Kev Rodgers , our player manager and his management team . But one that last season was hard to replicate. A wealth of riches that can only do us good as we strive in our stronger play. Roll-on roll-off subs helps this season as more men get a chance to have a go.

Game is again at Sandbach Town pitches. A few cold dry days will have done the drainage good , so I expect a firmer playing surface.

Loaded up and drive off at 0900. After watching BBC Match of the day and seeing my team., Liverpool, do well with a 3-0 win. (on that subject my very good friend of the past 50 plus years rang to invite me to go Anfield next Saturday to see LFC play Chelsea. An invite very gratefully accepted. Years since I was at Anfield )

At the Sandbach Community Centre many footballers arriving -- from little tots to the likes of us – a real buzzing place on an early Sunday morning.

Referee is Graham Sands who managed us last Sunday. Good Ref, Fair and Firm.

11.00 sharp – Kick off

Everyone goes hammer and tongues at this early part of the game with an ebb and flow on the pitch. Which is good if soft.

11.05 We concede the first corner, but no gain to White Lion.

Too many high balls to my mind which makes for a lottery in passing. . Shot on their goal- first of the game and by Andrew Beco Betteley who is very hungry for goals. Beco has been our top scorer each season so far.

11.18 We concede free kick. But again , no gain for WL.

11.20 0-1

A so easy goal by WL.. So easy .

11.25 And again we give away a free kick . Shot glances past our goal. We are a tad disjointed at present. A need to beef up our mid field as obvious that WL are playing 5 midfielders.

11.33 0-2

A super headed goal . By WL

11.35 1-2

We are awarded a penalty. Perhaps a tad harsh, but we accept, of course. Mark Parker steps up. A fierce shot in the right hand corner of the net.

A truly great shot by Danny Mahoney is just tipped over the bar. Danny is playing like a man possessed . Covering every blade of grass.

Half time

Many incriminations as the team takes in the water . A resolve to do better by all.

Need this midfield sorted. Subs played. Iain Chalker comes off . On comes Mo Haroon.

Net needs repairs so a slight delay to kick off .

11.53 and we are off again.

Great cross by Mark is met by Beco. Strong header but it hits the bar. A good chance of a goal.

Better play by us. Strong attack on their goal but a goal line clearance denies us.

Attack by WL brings off a superb save by Connor Baxter.

Ref books Mark, for his mouth I think. Yellow card which costs Mark a fine of £15.

12.25 1-3

They score as we stand watching -- shouting Off side. But goal was right.

Stupid play that was. And a silly goal to give away.

Sub – Kev Rodgers off and Brad Tucker on.

12.30 2-3

Magical cross -- again by Danny, and Mark scores with a downward header.

Pete Jones has to come off with Migraine and vision impaired. Iain has to go back on -- for one reason or another.

Now we are really piling on the pressure as we seek to win.

And keep up our streak of no losses.

Mark comes off with a back injury and James Bebbington comes on.

12.42 3-3

Beco attacks the goal. Flusters their Goalie -- and scores with an in off the goalie!

At last a reward for all the shots Beco has directed at goal.

Game over

A draw. Which means 5 games now with no loss.

Man of the Match. Chosen this week by me. Danny Mahoney.
Our photo shows Mark Parker who scored two of our goals.

Big Game next Sunday 26th. Our first Home of the season. And our first at the wonderful new annexe. Going to be very proud to welcome our opponents in the shape of Market Tavern of Sandbach .

Do please come along and give us a cheer as we aim for a record 6th game with no loss !!!

Kick off is 11.00.

---

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.