AFC Match Report

Wake very early and as I go out to my utility room – get the washing machine going – the sky is dark but clear. No moonshine but a spangling of stars. And so many owls hooting. Far more this year, as they seem to bracket the garden. Lovely haunting sound as they call to each other.

Funds still coming in for the Santa Sleigh weekend – a great community event – and tonight the Audlem Santa will be helping Round Table as we tour the Barony area of Nantwich.

Tuesday sees the Big Xmas Charity Quiz night, and this is detailed on today's web site. A good community night and for a good cause.

Today we face Barrel & Tap, a team well above us. Pitch a tad damp and as such the kit will be mucky after the game – a test once more for the laundry prowess of Olive, who puts in sterling work every week with the kit. Changing facilities again stretched as the Hall in use for the 5a's Pantomime rehearsals, so I wonder just where Geoff will have us?

Picture alongside was taken by Des Evans, chief referee, at last week's game. And, as can be seen, it must have been taken at the start of the game – by the end I was nearly in tears at a loss of 9-2!!!

As I help Geoff with the kit, I muse to myself – why is there a "D" in the goal area of the pitch. Must Google it.

So- Audlem . Quiet and very peaceful. Strange nowadays how less busy the village is . Seems to have been so since all the road works that closed off Market Drayton etc.

Pitch OK but some of the marking out has been obliterated by the Saturday Audlem Saints players.

Very good news that the agreement between Audlem Parish Council and Cheshire East/ANSA for the lease includes the work deemed needed by ANSA at the end of the season in April when CE will put to rights all the failings of the field- in particular the goal areas. As was stated by Mr Stuart Barber of ANSA – this is the very worst play area in all of Cheshire .

Referee Darren Waters here. Very good referee and very well turned out .

11.00 . Kick off sharp as the bells of the church fall silent

Barrel and Top in green strip. We play in our blue/white shirts.
Joe Benson arrives late at 11.00 . So he subs.
Ed Holmes action right away between the sticks. Pulls off a fine save .
Fast and Furious game for both sides. Game 50/50
(Nicole – very attractive partner of Adam Myers by my side and has good insight into the game -and quite excitable and knowledgeable with her advice to the players)
Ed pulls off a fine fingertip save.

11.35 0-1

As we near half time. they score Then

11.48 0-2

A killer goal just before the half time whistle.

Second Half

Joe Benson on for Adam Myers . Straight into the action....

1-2

as his shot is glanced into the net by Sam O'Hara.

Language very bad with nearly as many F words as those in the film The Wolf od Wall Street! And by golly there were many in that film!
Coffees from JA's café. Welcome drink.
So many offsides today as B&T caught out so much.
Still a frantic game with their number 6 quite an animal in his play- and his mouth.

12.28 1-3

They score once more – and that is how we finish. Still chasing that elusive victory.
Next week we are at home for the last game of the year – back in January.

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