A good day for Audlem FC

Morning dawns after a night of rain, much evidenced by the waters encroaching onto the roads. A pale image of a splendid moon visible as it wanes from full giving a promise of a fine day.

Only our second match this year after wide spread cancellations last week, we go to face the talents of the Nantwich Young Farmers team. I say Young but that is a stretch of the imagination when I see them – some looking like the proverbial barn door in stature!

We play the game at Wrenbury, a village about half the size of Audlem with around 1100 residents. In 1066 it was named Wareneberie – which means "old forest inhabited by wrens " – not the nautical kind sadly. The root of our Lord Combermere as the Cotton family became owners of the place around 1539 – and Stapleton Cotton was a progeny of that family.

Referee today is Darren Waters – a man of high regard and much liked for his fair, calm handling of the game.

Our managing team of Geoff Stretch and James Bebbington have 14 players from whom to choose the 11 taking to the field and this 14 are in the main the hard core that is now the foundation of our club.

St Margaret's Church (16thC) provides the back drop of the bells as we kick off at just after 11.00.

Pitch very good and well drained, a bit bobbly but not a sea of mud. Calm, windless day with brilliant bright sun. Warm – and fluffy clouds in a true blue sky. Bird song in the hedgerows promising us a good match and hopefully one in which we will not be stuffed like the scarecrows of which Wrenbury has been famous since the beginning of the Millennium.

Opposition in royal blue – Connor Baxter our goalkeeper in his fluorescent yellow. First off we lose the toss which places Connor in the goal facing the brilliant low sun.

We attack and a good ball fired in as Dag Sirle shoots at goal. They respond and Connor pulls off good save with his foot. Play about 50/50 and flowing well.

11.18 and game swinging more in favour of the Blues. Such a pleasure to be dry and warm and no soggy note paper as the day is so spring like and so mild.
11.20 – a goal to them after poor defence by us. 0-1
11.30 – a corner to them – they score! 0-2.

Drive forward and we score as Dag Sirle taps it in. 1-2.
Dave Bebbington comes off injured, and on comes Jim Davies.
Good shot by Sam O'Hara hits the side netting and then a fantastic cross by Dag is met by Sam as he heads in. 2-2.

11.44. Dying minutes of the first half and we give away a penalty. The blues convert it. 2-3.

Second half

Five minutes in a fine hit by Dag is saved as a defender clears. Shot by Kev Rodgers is saved as we press forward, attacking well as a team and now with the sun behind us. Free kick taken by Kev Mort but goalie pulls off the save. Ross Blakeman sends a good ball – met by Dag but he fires wide.

Pete Jones hurt in a tackle but magic spray works. Dag fires in again and his shot pushed away.
Corner, a mêlée in the goalmouth and Kev Mort scores. 3-3.

12.10 Another goal to them. 3-4
Then we are awarded a penalty. Gaz Jones steps up. Kicks into the right of the net and scores. 4-4 .

Connor continues to pull off more good saves as the blues try to score more. Dag is taken from behind in a fierce tackle. Free kick to us.

Five minutes to go and we all believe we can win this game. Playing more and more like a together team with self belief. Then Kev Rodgers is fouled and retaliates and, guess what – he is booked, yet again.

Ref. blows up and we walk tall with heads held high back to the changing rooms. Certainly not stuffed!

A good day for Audlem FC.
Man of the Match – Dag Sirle.

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