Taking on Santa Maria

A home match for Audlem FC. I wake to a clear sky. Chill in the air but all so dry. Good weather for a game versus Santa Maria FC.

I note in the international news that marine archaeologists have located the wreck of the original Santa Maria – flagship of Christopher Columbus. I hope we have the same luck as them and find the weak part of the opponents and achieve our first win of the season.

Such a shock to drive but the two miles to find the pitch shrouded in a fog – for all the world akin to the Hound of the Baskervilles atmosphere.

Geoff and James – our managers – have the luxury of 14 players from whom to choose the players. A good sign perhaps.

Our referee for the day is the very welcome Carl Betteley – he of the Victorian mutton chops and a very fair way of controlling a match – without the power hungry histrionics we sometimes have to face. He warns against too much course language bearing in mind we are in the middle of a village.

The car park full to the brim with a Handmade & Vintage fair in the Public Hall plus a Christening at St James – and us footballers, not taking into account the use by walkers etc. Even more example of just how important it is to secure it for ever for the village in the deliberations concerning the take over from Cheshire East by the Parish Council.

11.00 Kick off. And we are out of the traps running.
Our goal mouth at the tennis court end very difficult to see in the persistent fog.
Santa Maria star player is pointed out to me and indeed he, number 20, looks class.
Ed Holmes in goal for us as Jimmy Murphy banned.
Action is swift and their number 15 floors James Bebbington in a fierce sliding tackle. Not hurt thankfully but JB very annoyed.
Sam O'Hara – back from injury really playing well. Full of running and artifice as he twists and turns in attack.
Great effort by Andrew Betteley – just wide. First true shot at goal from the start.
Sam lobs a shot at goal – just tipped over.
11.20 – and a so, so soft goal gifted to them, such a sad shock. 0-1
11.25 – and blow me down, they score yet another goal. A great strike by Santa Maria – Ed had no chance of stopping it as the scorer cut through our defence. 0-2!
Then we get a corner. Cross from the right and Pete Jones scores again. Our top scorer strikes once more.
1-2. Hope springs eternal in my chest.
Fog lifting now as the sun comes out and warms us.
Good try by Graham Brown – playing well – is just wide.
11.45 and a disputed free kick as the clock of St James strikes the quarter.
Half Time. We go in at 2-1 down, after having played really well – and as a team. Kev Mort doing well in defence as is Dave Bebbington.

Second half

11.51 and off we go in the second half. Car park really busy now as cars park where they can. Our most loyal supporters, Neil & Pam Goodyear are here.
Neil has a very good understanding of the game with incisive comment.

Then, you could knock me out with a feather, a soft, soft goal as a player more or less trots it in and scores well. 1-3.
Sub played by Geoff as Jim Davies comes on for Jordan Green.
Five minutes later and our defence in pieces as they score. 1-4.
Another five minutes and we are down again – 1-5. Far too many mistakes on our part.
12.10 and a big noisy fracas as players face each other yelling. In the event, as the referee splits it all up, he books Kev Mort and Graham Brown. Sub of Alan Brindley for Dave Bebbington.
1215. We win a free kick just outside their area to the disagreement of Santa Maria, but no gain to us.
They drive forward and as Ed Holmes beats off a shot, Gary Jones saves the rebound shot.
12.20. Ed saves hard drive and two minutes later saves yet again.
An expletive loudly issued by James Bebbington is heard all across the pitch and Referee Betteley books him.
Then as we get close to the final whistle, Andrew ( Becko) Betteley scores from a cross from a comer by Sam. 2-5.
Ref blows up. Off we go. A loss again but I live in eternal hope.

Next game – 19th October at home versus Bank Corner.

Ralph Warburton
Chairman

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