Audlem FC Match Report

This weekend , 27th of January we are set to travel to Sandbach to play at the Sandbach High School arena.
As I ready myself for the journey , getting kit, balls, medical bag and training aids all loaded up with the water bottles , I muse on the games these last few days in the FACup matches and it is such a truism that this competition does have a touch of magic , as we see Millwall beat Everton -- albeit with what was surely a hand ball -- and Wimbledon knocking out West Ham well and truly . Nearer to home Shrewsbury performed very well as they hold Wolves to a draw. Giant killers all and a chance to inflate the cash box.

But to our more modest match
Arrive a tad late as I have a few delays here at home, so very little time for the squad to warm up. Pitch very soggy and with grass in need of a good mow. Good squad have turned out with 16 players .

Referee is Jack Hubbard . A good fair official .

Sandbach In their red and black striped kit and we in our yellow away strip .

Kick off
Sharp at 1100 as I settle myself to observe all from the shelter of my car. Cold cold wind all from the left of the goal to the north . But thankfully dry .
Fast play as we dominate the game
First corner to us, followed by another and yet another as we press hard. But no gain . A speculative shot at goal by Andrew Betteley goes wide . Some of our opponents looking a bit more mature as compared to us, but the fashion for shaven heads hides those who are balding .
Huge complex of the High school and just us two teams using it. Seems such a waste of a facility.
We are truly bossing the game so far and

1106
We score! Great feed by Andrew Becko Betteley is met on the run by Kevin Beresford who fires it in .
1-0
Wind appears to be ease slightly

1115
And Connor Baxter in our goal gets his first touch of the ball. Sandbach get their first corner , but no gain They are coming more into the play now.
Referee lectures Lewis Williams after a hard tackle .

1130
And they score from a superb shot from the wing
1-1
Connor pulls off a very fine save

1141
And Joe Benson passes a low ball to Kev Beresford who nets.
2-1 . Smashing feeling

1143
Shattered very quickly as they race upfield, gather by our goalmouth , and score the easiest of goals!!
2-2

HALFTIME
We play subs as on comes Danny Mahoney -- expecting his third baby in a weeks time -- replacing Joe Benson and also Tol Adrian on for Sam Mason.
Slanting sun momentarily pierces the grey January sky.
Ball from Kev Beresford passed across the area to Danny Mahoney who passes to Ben Spruce who fires in a shot -- and hits the cross bar

1206
Shot after shot at their goal but we cannot score now. Will Cork comes on for Andrew Betteley.

1215
Ben races up the pitch on his own and shapes up to score but the goalie palms it away. Glorious chance for a goal for us lost. Grey clouds now building up as the north wind doth blow.

1220
Corner for us . No gain

1222
We are awarded a penalty for hand ball. In truth a harsh decision but...
Up steps Kev B to try for his hat trick .
As he runs up a slight hesitation -- and he balloons it way over the crossbar!
Blow me down , as the chance of a win goes begging. Getting close to the final whistle and the ever running Danny Mahoney passes a great ball to Kev B whose headed ball goes over the bar.

Game over
A draw. Good result for us. We play Sandbach again at home on the 17th of February but this time at home
All drive off and most gather at the Leopard in Nantwich for post Match dissertations and a beer. Man of the match awarded to Kev B , our goal scorer
Game on this coming Sunday is versus Haslington at the Legends Pitch of Bentley Motors

Ralph Warburton
Audlem F C

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