AFC Match Report

Semi Final Day for Audlem

As usual my day begins very early. Wake refreshed from a good sleep after the troublesome tooth has be calmed down and root canal treatment undergone.

Wake to a silent world with a starless sky as cloud envelopes our skies. The only sounds are that of my central heating boiler waking up to warm the house. None of the ice we were threatened with by the MET office. Being on an island as we are and surrounded by seas , it is very hard to get accurate forecasts, whereas on a land mass such as Spain, they invariably get it right each time .

But to this very big day in our short history.

Load all the freshly laundered kit in to my Volvo . Balls, socks, water etc all on board -- and off to the village after a taste of soccer courtesy of BBC Match of the Day.

Meet up with Kev Rogers and Kev Mort of our management team at 0900 to get the nets up. The corner flags in place. Pitch marking good as per Ansa team.

Changing rooms all readied. Officials room well prepared for the three referees we have on duty this big day. Fees in envelopes for them. The home team has to stand the charges of the officials, as well as fees for use of the changing rooms.

Underfoot the surface is soft so will cut up quite a lot and I foresee many sliding tackles.

Now we await the referee , Mr Crump as he inspects the pitch before the kick-off.

Confirmed that we play. Even as sleet arrives to add further soaking to the pitch and all of us.

Happily the patio by the new annexe provides the spectators and myself some shelter.

(Our photo shows the players in their pristine kit inside the warm changing rooms – what a contrast to the freezing, bedraggled figures who returned from the playing field mudbath two hours later!)

10.54 Kick off

The moment of the calm before the storm .

Players race into action to get warmth into their bones. Barrel & Tap are a strong team. 10 points ahead of us in the table -- so a good test of our mettle .

Our captain, Pete Jones has to pull out at the very last moment with hamstring trouble. Bad that as he is a tower of strength in defence.

Play is all in opponents half as we batter their goal. Chance after chance just skims their goal mouth and we are so much on top . Again and again my heart stops as shot after shot gets close .

(Our new Gym very busy as a steady flow of folk walk into the suite) .

11.20 A bit of handbags as players square up.

Kev Mort in amongst them as he tries to calm all. Their number 9 in there too- he has a reputation.

11.30 Score still 0-0

We still attack well on their goal. I begin to believe we might pull it off!!!

Players filthy with mud as many sliding tackles are the order of the day on a very wet surface.

(our two referees running the line must be very cold and damp as an awful lot of their duty is at a standstill. )

11.35 Referee Crump books first miscreant

It is their number 9. The only booking of the match as it turns out.

11.37 0-1

Next moment, he- number 9 -- races down the field and wham, bang- scores.

Sad that -- and so against the run of play . Not my words but those of the band of hardy supporters we have here to cheer us on.

Half time

A very cold mucky lot come under cover for a brief respite from the awful weather.

Referees seek cover too.

11.50 And we kick off.

Kev Mort off and Joe Benson on.

11.53 They score! 0-2 .

From a set piece corner. One of very few such. We are so often let down in set pieces.

Tom Bebbington on as Marcus Bell comes off. Game swings round totally as Barrel & Tap now camped in our half

12.06 0-3

Here we go- down the slippery pole!

James Bebbington on as Mark Parker comes off .

12.15 0-4

12.30 and all desperately hoping for the final whistle.

Joe Benson has a fine shot right at the death.

Then 12.35 0-5 Game over

Colours of shirts all just mud. Changing rooms soon a furnace of steam as showers gratefully warm up cold bodies and bones in both teams. What a luxury it is to have such wonderful facilities now .

Sad we lost -but they wanted it more than us in the second half.

Our MOM as chosen by opponents is Iain Chalker.

A huge thank you from all the team to the very brave number of supporters who came to give us their support -- in such awful wet cold weather .

And a truly warm around of applause to the three Officials. Ref. Crump, Ref. Forster and Ref Husher. Handled a very difficult game with good balance and good attitude in awful conditions .

Next Fixture 28th Jan.

Away to Faddiley F C in a quarter final of another cup round.

Guess who has to clean the kit!!!

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