Great day for Audlem FC

Yesterday morning bright and with clear sky. Sadly the leaves carpeting my front lawn as they drop from the copper beeches trumpet the end of Summer – and the start of the Autumn.

I drive to the village, kit in my car after collecting it from Audlem Dry Cleaners – our joint sponsor. Very excellent service by Sevi & Michelle that keeps us looking very good with freshly laundered strip.

The Village looks superb as the splendid petunias are so much a riot of colour – all thanks to ADAS and their planting last May.

Pitch looking OK. Grass a tad too long, but firm and clean of any message dropped by a dog. I must say that dog owners seem to be heeding the call to clear up any mess they make... a very welcoming move for the players and for all the children that play here too.

Game this day is versus Market Tavern F C. A brand new team, still learning to play together who are based at Sandbach Town.

Referee today is Des Evans. Head Referee for the league, so I know we are in for a fair and well controlled game.

As the mellifluous tones of the bells of St James flow over the whole area – and, with Christine Johnson and her team of bell ringers giving such pleasure to all, we kick off sharp at 11.00am.

Brilliant sunshine and little wind. Such a contract to the very cold of last Tuesday evening.
11.05 and Kev Mort – one on one with the goalie – but his shot saved by their goalie, a man who it will prove to be in one of their best players in the game.

Good clear and clean vocals as each urges the other on.
Clouds now cover that warm sun and as they do, the wind gets up and blows cold on us. Good shot by Graham Brown but the ball hits the cross bar.
Great ball forward to Kev Mort but no gain.
We are graced by the visit of David Farral, member of the Executive of the League. A good friend of Audlem and very welcome.
We win a free kick just outside the box – no gain. Sun back out as the clouds are moving rapidly through the sky.
11.30 and our pressure pays off.
Goal by Andrew " Bekko" Betterley. His 5th to date.
1-0 to us!
First serous shot by our opponents and it flies over the bar.
Fine long dribbling run by Graham Brown as he attacks goal. Fierce shot – right across the face of goal.
Great pass by Kev Rodgers – met by Bekko but he shoots wide.
11.36am. We win a corner as we press and press in attack. Team playing well with good "on the deck" passing. This fine performance pays off – as Bekko scores his second of the day.
2-0 to us.
Ed Holmes in goal pulls off a flying save at the feet of the attacker and then – right away – stops another drive with his legs.
All this fine play pays off as Bekko crossed to Kev Rogers who makes no mistake with his strike. He scores. Marvellous! We are up 3-0
and then Ref blows up for half time. Our sternest critic, Barry Parker, is even moved to say we played well!
The players leave the field like lions. Heads held high with the score line.

Second Half

Our team out after barely a break and keen to get going again. We are delayed as one of the opposition has "gone to the shop"!
Dave Bebbington still showing his good defensive talents, but just after I remark thus, a ball between his legs is met by their number 7, and blow me down. They score:
3-1
Whatever it was that that lad bought in the shop I would like to know, they are playing with much more confidence as our "lions" of the first half look like a bunch of kittens.
Good header by Kev Rogers to Connor Jones and he shoot , but their goalie stops a sure goal. Connor full of running as he attacks again. We have lost shape at the moment.
Sub. As James Bebbington off and Sam "Nemo" Maddocks on.
Bit of a 'handbags' moment between Alex Cater and their beefy player – number 11, results in a booking for them. First of the game.
12.15 . A stupid soft goal as their goal scorer gets through our defence like a hot knife and scores:
3-2 .
Where have we gone to?
Sub. Alex Carter off – carrying an injury. Joe Benson on.
12.25. We are awarded another corner. Seem to have been so many for us.
Taken by Kev Rogers straight to the head of Garry Jones and he plants it in the goal. Hooray!
4-2.
Now – at last – we are getting some of the togetherness of play that we had in the first half. Great ball by Garry Jones onto Bekko's head as he strives for his hat trick. But it goes wide.
Joe Benson having a good effect as his running disturbs their play . His run at goal stopped by their goalie.
Two minutes to go. Another corner to us as we continue to press . A final long dipping shot by Kev Mort is saved as the referee blows up for full time.
Great result. Our first win of the season.

We invite Market Tavern back to the Lord C and our major Sponsor. They accept in numbers and enjoy the superb chip butties.
A nice day.
Good refereeing.
Next game is away versus Haslington F C . on the 13th September.

Ralph Warburton
Chairman AFC

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