Audlem FC Report

Awake to the rather muted dawn chorus . A sad decline in garden birds.
We played today at Willaston White Star home ground A miserable damp grey day .
But more of that later.
Match of the day on a weekend , dominated by the 175th Grand National race meeting and all the excitement of that famous meeting at Aintree. And in glorious sunshine.
To see BBC and match of the day review of Saturday football games. With the regular pundits pontificating on matches played on Saturday . Headed up by Gary Lineker again .
No Liverpool game , for they are set for Monday night game versus Leeds. Man City machine roll on relentless in its drive to be the champions . And each player is capable of scoring.

A comment

Way back in the '60,s I was in Hong Kong discussing the use of the embryonic containers for shipping.
Then I was talking with OCL , Overseas Containers Limited. As the move to such export/import was to be the future of trade with the Far East countrie. Dealing with the English heads of the company who were all the product of the public school system of England. Tedious round of entertainment aboard the ubiquitous Chinese Junks and the company launch.
Whilst they were pussy footing around, a Chinese millionaire set up a direct competitor in the shape of OOCL- Orient Overseas Container Line. And in truth wiped the floor with OCL.
The use of containers meant the end of the old docks and much transformation.
And loss of manpower needed was the order of the day. Cranes -- and automation took over .
And now I see the use of the largest ever container ship. Over 400 metres long. Carrying close to 24,000 containers , stacked above and below deck. Crew of about 25. Using a $1 million of diesel for each journey.
Paying a £1 million to pass through the Suez Canal. A canal that is the mainstay of the Egyptian economy.
And owned by OOCL -- Hong Kong . A huge success story .

The football.

Our team. In truth I feel some are losing heart now as we near the very end of the season. And an inglorious season for us, with so many defeats. Who can blame them on this last run up to the end .
Next year we will be back and strong again. For sure....

Our opponents are Willaston White Star .We have just 14 players declaring themselves. Let us hope all turn up.
Referee, Thomas Lloyd. Young referee.
Kick off on time .
And usual rush about ,as all get their dander up with much of that testosterone evident.
Player off- ruptured Achilles tendon . Poor Matthew Powell . Not a good thing.
Pitch cutting up as wet surface .
No scores for 30 minutes and then- not good as we concede an own goal
0-1
Half time and so far we are doing very well against a very strong side.
Holding our own which is very encouraging for the squad. Wet, breezy and cold. A day to be indoor like I am and being fed with minute by minute reporting from Lee Martyn, our top coach of Audlem Saints FC, one of our major sponsors.
We are still trying and a shot now by Tom Smart rattles the crossbar.
12:15And opponents score
0-2
Handbags ruckus and -- from the resultant free kick , they score. Straight in
0-3

Then we are awarded a penalty.
1-3
12:38. Another penalty given to us. Red card for an upset Willaston player.
2-3
Both penalties converted by Dan Rooney, newly back after his horrendous broken bones last year! So good to have him back .

No game scheduled yet for May. I calculate we have two games still to play, but when is the question.
Man of the match goes to our great winger, Ross Henderson .

Not many more reports to come. Enjoy the day

Ralph Warburton
Audlem F C