Audlem FC match report

Off from my house at 0900 after providing breakfast for my Family – gathered here in numbers for birthdays etc. All 11 at present but will be over 13 tomorrow. Sleeping arrangements taxing but not impossible.

Enough. To the game. Pitch is dry and still firm. Nets up as we get ready . The so melodious bells of St James ringing out for the first game we have this season on a Sunday.

Once more getting a team together is so taxing but on paper we have 14 players. 3 subs but one suffering very much from the libations taken at the Beer Festival we have here in the village.

Opponents this day are Sandbach Town F C . Big strong looking fellows as they are out on the field warming up early .

Referee Mick Costello arrives. Very hard of hearing so likely that foul language may go unpunished..

10.45 and all are ready for the off.

Kick off early at 10.55

Great ball by young Brad Jones to his brother Connor – and his shot just over the bar. All in the first minute of play. (David Robertson of Windmill Drive, here alongside me – taking some photos we hope). Superb stop by Richard Crowther as STFC attack.

Kev Mort – our senior player giving much voluminous advice to us from the side lines. He has turned out after a request by Kev Rodgers to be here to be a sub . He retired last year!
Audlem shaping up well in these early exchanges. My gosh, we are playing well – if only we can apply the finish. Great work rate – I hope that fitness will not be an issue in the second half.
Connors shot – saved. We are really pressing them well (I hesitate to say such – in case I put a hex on the team)

11.15 1-0! We are in the lead.

We score! A great chip by Kyle Holbrook – reminiscent of Beckham – beats the goalie.
Then Ed Holmes in goal for us pulls of a superb save. Clouds break up and the sun comes through. Welcome warmth even on my follicly challenged head.
Brad Jones really playing well with very good footwork.

11.20 and STFC play their only sub as player comes off with Achilles tendon problem. Hard shots by Sandbach prompts another fine save by Ed.

Then 11.25 1-1. A goal to them.

1-2 They score again.

A stupid penalty conceded by us for shirt pulling.

Young Max Youle standing by my side . He and I have a bet each year as to who will be higher in the premiership. Man Utd or Liverpool. This year we agree, that if LFC are higher, he will wear an LFC shirt in public. And I the reverse. We shake on that.

Back to the game. Fine long shot by Kyle Doughty is saved. Kyle really very dominant in defence with a string of headers. Kyle McGowan races up field- collects a fine pass by Beko. But his finishing shot saved at full stretch by their goalie.
Still playing so well as a team and far less kick and hope balls

Half time

We kick off- still with the same fire in our bellies. So good to see, Kev Mort still exhorting all with a very loud voice. Ed pulls of a fingertip save to deny Sandbach. Kyle McGowan sends in a dipping shot that the goalie tips over the bar. Still pressing well. Brilliant hot sun and the best crowd of spectators we have had for a good while . Some nursing the effects of the fine beers on offer at the Lord C. Beko tries a bicycle kick but to no avail.

Subs played by us as on comes Dag Sirle, Jack McClintock and Kev Mort.
Jack full of running – then gets a lecture from the Ref. Too much aggression in his play. Slanting sun from the tennis court area helping our opponents as they attack the cemetery end goal.

2-2!

Great cross by Kev Mort. Bounces off the goalie and Beko – sharp as ever – puts it away.

2-3

Dag's mouth gets him a lecture from the Ref. Free kick to STFC. Taken up field by their goalie- straight into our box and they score.

And that was that. Really felt proud to be a part of Audlem F C today as we played well for all the 90 minutes.

Our next game is away on Wednesday 31st at White Horse Team. A new team of Polish players from Crewe.

Ralph Warburton
Chairman A F C

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