Audlem takes on Sandbach

I am pleased to say that I am back to see just how the team performs.

These last 22 days have been taken up with filming and recording the song 'Amazing Grace' as the base for the DVD that we will issue around the 10th December in aid of the very noble cause.

Mend Our Mum is in support of Hannah and Terri Cliffe's appeal for help in getting a very expensive drug from the USA that will give extra life to Berni their mum, who has an aggressive form of cancer.

In these past days, we have now filmed over 1100 of the residents of the village – from the very young in Beavers to the seniors of ADCA. A very wonderful response from a very wonderful community.

The Match

But now I can return fully to my responsibilities of the team.

Yesterday we faced Sandbach Town FC, a team we last met in a cup tie in early October.

Weather is good and pitch reasonable. On that subject we had Cheshire East officials here last week seeing the very poor state of the goal posts and the dangerous state of the wire netting. This visit, we hope, will bear fruit for the good of all who make use of the prime asset of the village – the playing field.

Kick off at 11.00 after that wondrous peal of bells by our so fine bell ringers in the church tower. Trees now bare of their summer leaves. Bird song virtually gone as we move to winter days. Very low bright sun.

Referee is David Bloor. Hopefully he will be a fair official. Our last game was not so good with a massive defeat and 2 red cards which were a tad harsh. But we have to face the music and the decision of the official no matter how much we feel badly done by.

The very low bright sun in our eyes as we play towards the tennis court end. Just 12 players in all. Thankfully we had a new signing in Jamie Baiot to give us 11 fit players.

New footballs bought at a cost of £100 – we seem to lose them all too often.

Fine attacking play for both sides. Dave Bebbington strong in defence. In fact he had a really good game for the 90 minutes. Read the game well and was in position well.

Then the Ref. awards a penalty against us. Phil Benningwood – out new goalie brought down their player. Strangely no booking but we are grateful for that.
Taken but Phil saves it ! Phew.

Then – they score such a soft goal.
0-1 at 11.11.
Sam O'Hara playing fast and with good direction – his shot tipped over.
Team quiet – but Kev Rodgers giving vent vocally to urge us on.
Ref gives yellow card to Sandbach. A trifle harsh. And then he books their goalie for mouthing off! A bit stupid that.

11.30. Another fine drive by Sam – passed to Andrew Betteley whose shot is saved on the line with the keeper beaten.
Blow me down – we concede a goal. Such an easy one for them, as our defence like a bunch of young girls!
Kev Rodgers admonished by the Ref. but no booking.

Half time and we troop off. Still very positive.

Second half

Cloudy now and much colder as the sun abandons us . Sam carries on his good play. Jordan Green too playing well as is Joe Overland, full of running and not afraid to tackle.
More shots by us saved by good goalkeeping.

Substitution of Alan Brindley for James Bebbington.
12.27. We concede again
0-3.
From a silly free kick.

As we move to full time, Jordan Green fires in – but yet again saved.

Ref blows up.

Game over. A loss but – and I am delighted to say this – we played well. We played with heart, and this with a new player in the team. A long time since we can say we have a settled team. But if we can build on what we have, we will get there.

And as the referee came off the field, he did remark that we were unlucky.

As I finish typing my report in my study, a skein of geese in perfect "V" formation fly over my house, honking their way to their feeding grounds. Such a marvellous sight.

Finally, twas a pleasure to play Sandbach Town. Good team. Clean team. Good play. And good management. We were happy to entertain them at the Lord C – our main sponsor – to those best chips in Cheshire.

Next game is versus Haslington away.

Ralph Warburton
Chairman A F C

AudlemOnline adds: Our apologies for the late publication of this match report. We have had an email problem yesterday and overnight which we are working on fixing.

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