Tough morning at Sandbach FC

Here we go once more. Not many games left for the season. Reports from Facebook indicate we may have the luxury of 15 players from whom to choose the team. Wonders will never cease.

We travel in mini convoy having rendezvoused at the Duke of Wellington pub on the outer reaches of Crewe on the way to our pitch today.

Arrive at the home of Sandbach United FC. A superb state of the art Sports Arena. Wonderful changing rooms. Showers! Clean sparkling toilets. Smart tiling and decor funded by the Football Foundation, by the Premiership and the League. All that we would like – albeit on a smaller scale – for the village here.

More than eight pitches, all in use, from 5-year olds right up to the likes of our "mature" defence line.

Our opponents are Sandbach Town FC. Mid table team which includes the mercurial twins the Bailey brothers, famed fir the fierce skills, their tackling and their goal scoring prowess.
Referee Darren Barnes once more. Well respected official and fair minded.

On time kick off at 11.00. Very strong wind with hailstones as a huge cumulonimbus passes overhead in a turbulent sky.

Within just ten disastrous minutes , we are 3 down! THREE – score is 0-3. At 11.10.

And the Twin Bailey is at the heart of the slicing open of our defences. And this after so much optimism after team selection from the luxury of 14 players. New signing on of Lewis Bruce, young and good up front – so they say.

Fierce wind racing down the pitch is in our faces and helping Sandbach in their constant attack runs. As usual the other Bailey twin is booked for a over the top tackle. Then, blow me down, we are four goals down. 0-4! Stupid soft goal.

To be truthful, the score is flattering them a tad. We are playing as hard as we can. Pity is too many high balls, not enough low direct passes. Then just after I think this, Nil – 5 and
Nil 6. Like a Gatling gun – shot after shot.

Ref. blows up for half time. Sub played by James and Geoff as James Davies replaces Joe Overland.

Second Half

And surprise surprise. We concede a goal. 0-7! Too easy, far too easy. Kev Rodgers booked. (But later rescinded). On we go. Bang 0-8!

It is carnage as we are sliced open time and time again. And this with the wind in our favour. Then 0-9.

More substitutions as on comes new player Lewis Bruce and James Bebbington.
Intuitive pass by Kev Rodgers is met by Kev Mort and he scores – 1-9.

12.22. Close to the end and a fine 25 yard shot by Kev Mort as he finds the net again.
2-9.

So we finish. Ripped apart but with a small comfort of fine goals by our man of the match Skipper Kev Mort.

Perhaps in the end would have been better had we just the 12 players from which to choose the team.

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