Audlem take on Sandbach

Morning very mild after the sharp frost of mid week. Pitch looking OK in spite of this being the fourth game in a row at home. We are here because Sandbach pitch is virtually under water.

Our opponents are Sandbach Town F C – a team we met twice last season albeit in a different league. They have amongst their players twins – the Bailey Twins, who are the most talented of players but with a very vicious streak to them and quite prone to bookings.

Car Park busy as folks turn up for a Christening so lots of fine fashion and smart suits on show.

Referee is Nick Jeffries – stern Ref. who brooks little nonsense. The bells of St James' being musically rung by our very talented campanologists as we all stand in the centre for a minutes silence in memory of a departed member of the league.

Kick off prompt and opponents pressing right away. Kev Rogers is on a ban if he gets booked again. So I ask him to try not to collect another.

Geoff Stretch – our manager – has again little choice as just 13 players turn out. This from a list of some 29 who signed up at the start of the season.

Our sponsor, as all may know by now, is the Lord Combermere – emblazoned on the shirt fronts – Sandbach has Carlsberg! Power of the beer and wine trade.

Sam O'Hara again up front with Skipper Kev Mort there too. Both so full of running. First Free kick to them, just outside the area. The wall thankfully stops the shot. Next free kick to them again, but over the bar.

Then our first free kick. Kev Rogers takes it. Wide. But at 11.12am we press hard and a good pass to Joe Benson, racing up the wing – and he scores a beauty. His very first AFC goal: 1-0.

We are playing well and as a team. Free kick again for us and we are definitely on top. Many free kicks as more petulance in evidence in the play of Sandbach. Shot by them from a free kick – punched away by Connor Baxter, today in his blue kit.

Cheeky shot by Dag Sirle just wide but at 11.20, and out of the blue, a soft goal by them: 1-1.

Their manager brings on the other twin (Daz) at number 7, so now both are facing us. And blow me down, in his first attack, he scores! 1-2.

A nightmare then as Ref. books Kev Mort for a kick at opponent's ankle.

A ray of sun break up the wet sugar sky. It even feels warmer. Kev Mort lectured by Ref after a fierce tackle. CB pulls off a very brave save at the feet of one of the twins.

Then the Twin Andy is pulled up by the ref. Booking him but crowd gathers – including the other twin. The result after much verbiage – a red card for Twin Andy. He leaves very reluctantly. Mouthing off continuously. Ref. with much tolerance of him at this stage. Play resumes.

11.43 Great cross by Joe Benson is met by a superb diving header from Kev Mort and he scores: 2-2!

Very first corner of the match – and it goes our way. Then Ref books KR for tapping an opponents ankle, just what we had feared. He has a hot temper, says very little but his red hair comes to the fore in a tackle.

Ref blows for half time. As the opponents troop off, I hear them saying that they must target KR and get him booked again. I warn Kev to try to watch for this.

Second half

We kick off. Second corner of the game and to us – then a third corner.

Play in the open now and a wonder. Kev Walters fires a long shot from within our own half – and scores his own first AFC goal! Emulating the famous goals at similar distances by Beckham of Man Utd and that of Alonso for Liverpool: 3-2 for us.

Sam O'Hara takes a fierce shot to his kidneys and is floored but OK and up. Twin Daz Bailey full of the verbals. In fact their whole team mouthing off very much.

His brother sensibly has gone from the touch line as he was in danger of further censure by the Ref. KM taken down by rear tackle. Free kick to us. They get the ball and attack but CB pulls off a point blank save. Language by Sandbach getting much fruitier.

Geoff makes a sub, with Joe Overland coming on to replace Jams Bebbington who had started the game with some pain in his groin. But with only 13 players, he had to start.
Sanbach win their first corner of the game, swiftly followed by another. Pressing very hard on our defence. Good run by Joe Overland and he fires in a shot – only for it to be saved off the line.

12.19. And Sanbach score ! Drat it: 3-3

Kev Walters – he of the magic long shot goal, brings down a player in the box. Penalty.
A shot and Connor dives to his right – and saves! Superb save. Phew. Ref books another opponent.

12.25. Then Sandbach attacks and Twin Daz mesmerises our defence and scores. 3-4.

Kev Rogers booked, is silly and reacts, booked again and a red card. Worst case scenario of all. Faces much in bans. Ref. books their number 11 as well. Of no consolation to us as they then score again: 3-5.

Geoff sends on Alan Brindley to replace Kev Walters. In the next few minutes, Sandbach score again: 3-6. Three goals against us in 10 minutes!

Game over. Not the result it looked like in the first half. We went to pieces. Next week we play at home again versus the Boot & Shoe team for the first time.

Man of the Match was Kev Mort for his total committment, drive and a super goal.

By the way, when we last won a match with a clean sheet at 3-0, our defence was made up of very experienced players plus a very young goalkeeper. In truth the total years of the defenders was 171 – and that includes Connor Baxter at 17!

Well done to him, Kev Walters, Dave Bebbington (top photo), Gaz Jones and Mike Gibson.

Ralph Warburton
Chairman AFC

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