First home match in the gloom

We gathered together at the playing field here last night for what was to be my very first midweek match and to be playing in fading light.

Walked the pitch and happy to report no fouling by dogs – but had to fill in two largish holes. The pitch is diabolical in condition. Lousy goal mouths. Lousy penalty spots. Poor grass cover.

All in all we are ashamed that visiting teams are heard saying just how much poor cousins we are here in Audlem. The goalposts supplied by Cheshire East – our "landlords" – are basically held together by the rust thereon. Unpainted and uncared for. And it costs the club close on £400 to play here – free to all other users!

If only we could take over our own playing field and in – our Audlem way – care for it as it deserves for be the good of all village users.

Enough. To football.
Referee Ben Atkinson arrives – a new venue for him as he has never been in Audlem before this day. Opponents are Bank Corner of Alsager. Strong team and well fit.

Kick off at 18.28. We in our new strip and using orange march balls – more expense for our club – as better for the gloom to come as the light fails.

Geoff and James, managers, have the luxury again of choosing from 15 players, who arrive sporadically as they journey from their places of work.

We start off well – playing with good spirit and together as a team. Positional roles kept to.
10/10s cloud cover so we will face less light as the game draws to a close.

Too many long balls in play by us – especially poor as our pitch is one of the smallest in the league and with the added hazards of the tennis courts wires, the slopes to the cemetery and indeed the cemetery itself.

18.50 and the first corner to us following a free kick taken by Sam O'Hara (playing well)
Then up the field come Bank Corner and wham bang we are a goal down.
0-1

On we go and blow me down, Kev Rodgers kicks out in anger and gets a stupid yellow card for his petulance.

Much pressure on our goal with Ed Holmes there pulling off good save after good save.
(As the price of the drug Viagra now dropping in price by over 90% , perhaps a stock of it would stiffen our defences.)

We continue to play with good hard spirit and give as good as we are getting from BC.
Half time and we agree with the Ref for a swift change over as the light getting poorer.

Second half

A great chance falls to us for a goal but we miss it. A fair number of villagers on the touchline watching us which is very warming to us.

Ed pulling off more great stops and indeed very brave ones. Then, disaster as Kev Rodgers goes in with a harsh tackle. Ref gives him the red card – as Kev walking off before the card is out of the Ref's pocket.
Down to 10 men.
Gary Jones header just misses.
19.46 – and BC score
0-2
Gloom intensifying as light gets poor. James Bebbington off and Kev Walters on as sub.
Jim Davies on as Joe Benson off. Good firm shot by Andrew Betteley saved.

20.05 and we concede again. 0-3
Ref blows up at 2010 in the gathering gloom. Good referee I felt.

Another defeat but we are truly getting better as a team. One or two players were not on form – they know who they are, but I do feel confident that we will do better this season.

Man of the Match is Ed Holmes, without whom we would have lost by more.

Next fixture is away on the 31st August at Faddilley.

Ralph Warburton
Chairman AFC

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