AFC Match Report August 15th

More soccer this weekend as we travel to Faddiley for our next preseason tour match.

As I ready myself with kit , water etc, I muse as to the roads and lanes in the early hours of the morning. Travelling along the blacktop/ tarmac, I meet so many wood pigeons strolling on the surface . Lazily lifting off as I get very close, slowing down to avoid slaughter , and I wonder to myself -- why on earth do they do this, putting themselves in mortal danger from traffic. Cannot be for food, as there in none. An enigma yet to be solved . Maybe to warm up their feet!

This game we face Faddiley FC . Having to change in the car park as they have none of the fine facilities we so enjoy in Audlem . And no toilets !

A pitch that slopes so much to one end ,and for sure not one of our favourite places to travel to.
14 players have put themselves forward for the game. A good strong squad .

Referee is Marcus Hawkin . New to us but one to prove very good by the final whistle .
Blue sky, light cool breeze and a little sunshine . Pitch well mown and lined out clearly .
Opponents in Burnley colours as we use our blue and white strip.

Kick off

1055 Cloud now building now to total cover . Opponents start with no subs.
James Craig full of fight as he takes the first of his famous long throws . Right from the corner area and into the centre of their goal mouth . A melee but no score .
Breeze cooler now as I open my words . Play about 55/45 as we dominate .
Great moves as Nick Gregory drives forward ,with a great feed from Andrew Beco Betteley .

11.11 Free kick awarded to us. First of the game . No gain

11.15 Fierce shot by Will Cork . Goalie saves it
Still we are dominating the play.
Breeze dropping somewhat . Total cloud cover.

11.18 Another long throw by JC- headed to safely . Lovely pass by Tony Sinstadt , met by Beco . Good play .

11.20 2nd corner of the game goes to us . Callum Mese , so full of running ,is chopped down .
Another strong shot by Will Cork. Stings the goalies hand judging by it fast flight .

11.22 1st corner and Faddiley have it. No gain .

11.30 A horrid fall by Ross Henderson , our magical number 2 , goes down in a shallow ditch by the side of the pitch. Hurt bad. Dislocated shoulder!! Bad that they have such a ditch. Our Team physio Emma attends to him . Gets it back in place to a degree . St Johns sling applied. Warren Baxter , here as spectator , steps up to drive Ross to A and E at Leighton . Ross will be out for at least 4 weeks which is bad news for him -- and for us , as he us such a vital part of the team, bossing the right side as he does -- so affectively .
Stefan Kotowski comes on .

11.33 Great race up field by Callum Mese , Nick Gregory racing in , meets a ball from James Craig. Collects it and -- scores

1-0

One minute later , and deja vu , James feeds a ball to an on rushing Nick, who scores ! Two goals in two minutes !

2-0

Team playing so so well. Playing as a team . As a well oiled machine . Do not talk enough, but John, our training manager, will get that sorted .

Half Time

And John does just that ! Talks the players through their moves and game plan .
Dan Rooney comes off as on goes Alex Dale .

Second half.

11.45 Blow me , a rare attack by FFC splits our defence . And score.

2-1

11.47 Second corner to opposition . No gain
Team playing so very well together .

11.55 3rd free kick for us .
James Craig carries the ball up field . Passes to Tony Sinstadt ,who tries a lob but goes high over the bar .

11.59 Connor pulls offer a superb save . Stops a sure goal.
Very fierce shot from 30 yards by Callum strikes the cross bar and bounces back into play . So close for him.

12.00 Stefan Kotowski playing so well in defence . Tony Sinstadt shoots , but saved.
First corner for us, no gain .

12.03 .great run up by Nick Gregory is met by Andrew Beco Betteley , who scores !

3-1

Corner for FFC but no gain .
Looks like rain clouds building to the north . Faddiley arguing amongst themselves . Bad sign
They are after all in a league above us .

12.09 Suoerb individual shot from distance -- and Beco scores !

4-1

Dan Rooney comes back on as Thomas Capewell is off. Hamstring tight .
Really much better at keeping our shape. Was such a fault in the past .

12.11 Extra player arrives for opponents so they now have a sub.
Nick Gregory twists and turns, shoots -- and scores ! His hat trick .

5-1

12.15 A stupid so soft goal as they penetrate out defence

5-2

Connor had no chance.
Kev Mort comes on the field of play.
Players are tiring , after such a fast and furious game
Will Cork off with cramp. Sam Mason on. Emma our physio massages Will's thigh.
Last chance for Faddiley but their shot high and wide of the goal

12.35 Full time .

Man of the match is Nick Gregory
On our preseasons programme of games. 5 played. 31 goal scored. 11 against .
What a superb result so far.
Next game is versus Sandbach Town F C . Yet another in a higher league that ours .
We play at home .

Ralph Warburton
Audlem F C
Now in the tenth year of our rebirth .