Cup- tie for Audlem FC

Yesterday, we were scheduled to play a cup-tie versus Bank Corner, a good team. Good management and fair players. Referee was Mike Hargrove, a member of the Crewe Sunday League Board. A very fair referee, firm but fair.

We gather at 9.30am – me after having had my four younger grandchildren at breakfast, with pancakes galore being cooked by Christopher, my youngest son. Off they all leave as I drive off for the football.

Amazingly – in stark contrast to last week – Audlem FC's management team of James and Geoff have the luxury of 16 players turning out! What a great result. And all fit, good players.

Last week's drubbing of 10-1 is set aside in our minds and our hearts, when we had just ten players at kick off, and we determine to give a good showing today.

Pitch in such a poor state after the rape by Cheshire East in January. Very mucky and little grass cover to knit the surface. Car park quite empty as walkers etc stay warm in their houses on such a bitter day. The bells of St James give some cheer as they peal out so well.

Kick off on time as the sleet comes down in a nasty wind. My paper is so wet I retreat to my car seat and sit as if in a private box. Us in our blue/white strip and Bank in their orange. I note there are eight players on the tennis courts, even in this weather, brave souls that they are.

We start off full of running – and magic! We are ahead at just 5 minutes in. 1-0 to us. Scorer Dag Searle from the first corner of the game. Free kick to us followed by another corner as we do play good forward running. We are hungry as a team.

Tweny minutes and Wham, Bam, Slam, they score. 1-1 now.

Snow and sleet now in the wind as conditions worsen. BC get their 1st comer after 30 minutes of play, a testament to our attack and our defence.

Half Time whistle. Pitch getting worse and worse as the surface cuts up so badly.

Five minutes into the second half and blow me down, BC score, 1-2.

Injury to a BC player delays play a while. What a horrid day as the precipitation grows apace. I dream of an open fire and a steaming hot chocolate.

Shot by Garry Jones from distance is saved. Then a good drive by Andrew Betterley – just wide The ebb and flow is still good in spite of the worsening pitch and the foul weather. Lots of sliding tackles as the mud gets worse.

Kit is filthy and plastered with the mud. Our sponsor Sevi at the Dry Cleaners, will have quite a job on his hands as he launders the strip. Surface is so sticky ball is not running or bouncing at all.

We play our three subs, a luxury. Ian Chaulker on, Joe Overland and Chris Anderson too.

Game over. Filthy players caked in muck. No showers yet! Pitch a glutinous morass. I am sure it will not be playable next week.

I take my hat off to my team. One of the best performances by AFC this season. Great play. Great running. No bookings. No fouls. Just as it should be every week. Congratulations to our Referee, Mike Hargrove.

The Lord C chips tasted very sweet today.

Ralph Warburton
Chair, Audlem FC

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