Audlem's reluctant opponents

First Audlem FC game of the new year. May I wish all followers of the tribulations of Audlem FC – as we strive to gain points and win a game – a very happy and healthy New Year.

We arrive in the centre of Audlem to a bright, crystal clear day with a heavy frost sitting on the pitch. Sparkling in the very low but brilliant early sunshine. Yellow match balls a must in conditions such as these.

A very good turn out by our players as fourteen say they will be here. Geoff Stretch and I check but the ground under the frosty grass is pliable.

Opponents' management team arrive – determined not to play! Cannot understand their negative attitude, and indeed – as I say to one of them: "Don't you want to play?" He spits back with "Grow up". Obviously one with a limited and uncouth vocabulary.

The bells of St James seem to be so more splendid in the dry clear air. So lovely to be here on such a beautiful winter's day in such a wonderful village as Audlem. So good to be in England on days like this.

Yours truly had a bug over the festive period but some fine gin and tonics seem to have chased away any visiting bacterium.

Referee is Ron Bedson. 10.30 comes and no sign of the Ref. We get our players into their kit – as the Faddiley lot hang around like pregnant fathers. Not a move from them.
We are out warming up as the Ref. arrives at 10.55! So late.

Kick off scheduled at 11.00. Ref inspects the pitch with comments from opponents that "we should not play" in his ears. He says – "playable". But now the rush for them and for him is to get changed.
Frost now all gone from the pitch as the sun gets warmer.

Kick off at 11.15. All in all a very poor show by FFC.

We lose the toss so play with the low sharp sun in our eyes.
Free kick to Faddiley. And yet again from a set piece they score.
11.25
0-1

No wind. So calm
Another free kick and they score!
0-2.
Kick off yet again. Free kick to us and Sam O'Hara scores directly .
1-2
11.40: Jimmy Murphy pulling off some good brave saves. Then our defence sliced apart. Fileted!
They score so easily:
1-3

11.43
Defence destroyed yet again as FFC score easy
1-4
Two minutes later and – bang- another as our defenders are taken apart once more:
1-5.

What a very poor mess. What poor play by us. So depressing. So disheartening.

The only thing we are winning are throw ins.

Half time

Second half and off we go again. Substitute Kev Mort comes on for Chris Steele. Free kick taken by Kev Rogers but hits the bar. Five minutes later – Faddiley score yet again.
1-6

Jordan Green comes on for us, Kev Rogers goes off.
James Bebbington comes on for us, Joe Benson goes off.

Not much else to say about this half except that the pitch improved whereas we did not.

Next game on 18th January at home versus Nantwich Young Farmers.

Ralph Warburton
Chairman AFC

AudlemOnline adds: Our thanks to Frank Morris for the match photos.

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