Back down to earth

Yesterday morning, I wake very early at 6.00am to a dark morning but the hint of a dawn chorus there in the trees by my window.

A promise of the coming Spring, with clumps of snowdrops heralding the lighter days plus the wealth of winter jasmine blooms. Down to spread the seed for the birds as the sun begins its climb of the morning.

Work on my PC on the Music Festival Sponsorship and Mend our Mum progress. Then down to the luxury of seeing Liverpool on BBC and Match of the Day as they progress to the next round of the FA Cup.

News overnight that we have just eight Audlem FC players saying they are available fills me with some dread as to how we can field a team for our away match in Crewe versus Santa Maria. Weather perfect for a good game – if we can muster enough players.

This game follows that great draw against top team Salvador last week and we must surely be full of the urge to repeat at least such a performance.

But, the lack of commitment of players for whatever reason is a heavy handicap. And understandable reasons they may well be, but it does not make for a regular understanding between players.

We arrive at the King George's playing field. A sad looking place. Building looking abandoned by Cheshire East. Paint peeling off. Windows boarded up. And six pitches there but only the one in use. A sad reflection of the times.

We kit up, just 10 players now and that is by drafting in Kevin Walters who is still not fit and awaiting an operation! We are told that Pete Jones has answered the call and is enroute from Manchester by rail to help us. We have to kick off with the 10 men.

As I await the arrival of Pete and to get him kitted up, they score. 0-1 We then score – Andrew Betterley adding onto his top scorer list. A great cross by Connor Jones and AB strikes, I am told. Pete here and straight on to the pitch. Now 11 players.

Me, still awaiting arrival of Joe Overland, who gets here at 11.25. 1-1. Such a lottery each week as to which players we will have – and we have over 30 registered as AFC members!

They score againfrom a set piece.1-2.

Bright sun but that keen chill on the light breeze. Santa Maria playing in a dark navy strip that makes seeing the Ref in his black a tad confusing.
11.33 and we are down yet again as they score such an easy goal.1-3

Half Time

Joe overland goes on as Kev Walters comes off. Santa attacking in numbers and Ed Holmes pulling of some fine saves. Excellent cross by Joe Overland is tipped away by their goalie. Are we to make that hoped for comeback?

12.08 James Bebbington off and Alan Brindley on. Our passing man to man is poor in stark contrast to our opposition. Midfield is letting us down.

12.14. Set piece corner and bang – they score.1-4! So predictable. So often do we concede at set pieces.
12 16. Like a knife through butter. They score.1-5. We do make it so easy to let the opposition takes us to the cleaners.
12 22 and it's 1-6!
And on the slaughter goes. Torn apart. 1-7. 1-8. 1-9. 1-10! So bad. So awful. So much men and boys. Like taking toffees off babies.

Well, so back to earth with a crash that could be heard for miles. Next game? Home. Versus Bank Corner in a cup match.
A tad depressed chairman today.

Ralph Warburton
Chairman AFC

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