Audlem FC in cup match

This weekend we are set to play a cup match in the Sunday League Divisional Cup. I am advised that the Cheshire East authorities have closed all their own pitches as being too waterlogged.

I am given the chance to cancel play here if our pitch is not fit. I reply that we are OK and that the pitch is well drained.

Drive to the Village and such poor weather- dark skies, wind quite lively but no rain. Call the Referee to confirm we will play and also our opponents – Bank Corner of Alsager, a strong team well above us in league position.

This weekend we have the luxury of 17 players to choose from. Perhaps a good sign. Bank Corner arrive well in time. Our players drift in by 10.30am. Nets all up. Corner flags in place. No dog poo. No holes in the pitch.

As the bells of St James fall silent, we gather on the centre circle and stand for a minutes silence in memory of Berni Cliffe who died on Wednesday after her long fight against cancer.

Kick off then, with Adam Cooper in goal for his debut match. Aged 41 he displaces Dave Bebbington as the oldest player in the team, much to the delight of Dave. Graham Brown and Kylie Doughty back after their 5 weeks on army manoeuvres.

Fast play as Bank are on top with 60/40 in their favour. Kev Mort goes in again with his two feet in a sliding tackle., He must take great care as such a tackle could do much damage.
11.15 and the sun comes out. Warm too. Wind lessens.
11.18. A great drive forward by Brad Jones – just 16- and he scores. We are in front 1-0. Our youngest player and a man of much talent.
We win a corner but no gain. Really warm now in the low sun, such wild swings of temperature these days. Sun then hides behind grey clouds and the wind returns, veering this way and that.

Adam in goal pulls of a good save as Bank get their first shot in. Beko has a good run up the field but their goalie saves his drive.
11.25. Then a fierce shot is saved by Adam, but on the rebound they score. 1-1.

Free kick to us, 30 yards out. Taken by Graham Brown but he hits the crossbar. We are playing in good shape and pressing well now. Another fine shot by Beko is saved.

11.40 And they score – error by Adam in goal 1-2
11.42 and darn it, another so soft goal as defence is sliced apart 1-3.
Corner after corner as Bank apply pressure. Ref books Kyle for mouthing off. Yellow Card

Half Time

We kick off. Wind changed again. Trees standing bare now. Sun is back.

Kev Walters off and Joe Benson on.
11.57 and Adam stops a certain goal. Great run once more by Brad Jones. His cross met by Connor Jones, his brother, who scores on the rebound. Great stuff, 2-3 now.

Adam pulls off a point blank save. Wind really swirling about as play continues. Ref at times over officious. Then a penalty awarded to us. Pete Jones, our skipper steps up but his shot is straight into the goalie's arms. Such a major miss that was.

We are still full of running which I deem a good sign.
Then it all unravels.
12.20 – an easy open goal for them so that's 2-4
12.22 – 2-5 after an error by Adam.

Tempers getting very frayed with the odd handbags incidents. Then ref books their number 9, red Card for foul language – telling the referee where he should go!
Ref then books Graham Brown for his mouth too. Yellow.
Another easy goal as they score yet again. 2-6. Scored by Matt Warr, who now has five to his name!

A poor game by us. Easy goals given away. Off we troop, out of the Cup. Referee Jason Croft was not of a high standard.

Many thanks to Frank Morris for the photo.

Note. The New Socks at a cost of £80 obviously did nothing for us and now we need new match balls, so more expense.

Next game is versus Market Tavern away at Sandbach, the league's new losers with many goals conceded.

Ralph Warburton

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