Saturday 05 November 2016
Winter-sun in Portugal – well, somebody has to….
Returned to some blank score sheets: Ashtonians lost both matches 0-4, Everton (my team) lost 0-5 and Wigan Athletic (wifey’s team) 0-3.
Tuesday 08 November 2016
Liverpool County FA v Lancashire Amateur League (representative side)
An extraordinary event.
I’ve never attended a representative match (shame!) but, if this one was representative, they are not to be missed.
On an absolutely shocking night, weather-wise, our much more representative team visited the County Ground of Liverpool FA, half of whose players emanated from Aigburth Parish Hall.
This is my old stomping ground as an exiled Scouser. I played many a school-boy and adult match at Wally Hall Park before its remarkable facelift, prior to me drifting Eastwards to Lancashire in my mid-20s. The Atlantic wind, straight off Liverpool Bay, hadn’t changed, and with it came squally rain on this freezing night. But what entertainment. The final score of 7-4 to Liverpool accurately reflected the dominance of attacks over defences; the quality of some of the forward play and the difficult conditions for defenders, some of ours looking a little less mobile than Liverpool’s forwards, and spending a disproportionate period of time on their backsides.
I think the score went: 1-0; 2-0; 2-1; 3-1; 4-1; HT; 4-2; 5-2; 5-3; 6-3; 7-3; 7-4. Interpret this as follows: Liverpool were almost always two goals ahead; they scored a fantastic free-kick (1-0) and we scored a penalty; we drew the second-half; and it was so cold, that the presentation of the shield only involved the captain in the coffee room, as everyone else had fled the outdoors. He was the absolutely excellent captain and No 10, Connor Millingford.
On a personal note, we were well supported by Council members and Bolton Wyresdale, and I had an opportunity to reminisce with my Liverpool Presidential opposite number. Nostalgic memories of being a barman (1973-76) in the Royal Oak, Muirhead Avenue East, one of Liverpool’s biggest (and roughest) pubs. Apparently it had been closed at one period recently after a shotgun murder, but still hosted two of the clubs represented in the Liverpool County’s team – East Villa and Roma (the Liverpool County manager’s team). Now why would a Scouse, ale-‘ouse team be called Roma, surely a romantic link to a Liverpool European Cup Final victory in 1984, and wobbly Grobbelar’s penalty save. Sorry – no such link – but merely an acronym of the said pub (you work it out).
Saturday 12 November 2016
Too much rain; too few games.
Saturday 19 November 2016
Bolton Wyresdale v Ashtonians – Div1
An afternoon that started with the word of God and ended with the hand of God.
I was working this afternoon with a gig at Manchester Cathedral from 13 30 – 14 30, so the chances of finding the last half of a game after a wet week were slim. However, Wyresdale switching their game to the 4G of Little Lever Leisure Centre allowed me to arrive at another Ashtonians away game with half an hour to go, and the game squared at 0-0.
And, once again, the last half hour was full of incident.
After good wing play, Ashtonians opened the scoring after tricky wing play by Ross Smith undid the Wyresdale defence. Manager, Aamar, claimed off-side, but his liner and fellow veteran Wyresdale player – I played against them both, I think – had a better grasp of the rule book as the Ashtonians player had come from behind the ball to pass it into the net. Five minutes later, the increasingly effective winger, Ross Smith, squeezed between touch-line and goal-line, to set up a similar second slot-in for Ashtonians. Two unusual injuries then occurred. Ashtonians effective captain, Andy Smith, left the field with a dislocated shoulder having suffered under the not insignificant bulk and weight of his own goalkeeper with the inappropriate name of Swift. Soon after, the Wyresdale goalkeeper appeared to have collapsed in his own penalty area with no other player within 50 yards – seemingly delayed concussion from an earlier clash.
And finally….much to the chagrin of the Ashtonians goalkeeper who was second to the punch, the alleged hand of God (or Wyresdale’s centre-forward) steered a Wyresdale free-kick past him, making the score 1-2, which is how it finished seconds later.
That was the last action of a stormy half-hour which kept both sets of spectators lively; although the Ashtonians travelling support was once again boosted by Reserve team followers who were only able to be present, by failing to raise a team of XI and fulfil a Reserve team fixture at Lymm. I feel a heavy fine coming to curb my Christmas spending power: are other club secretaries like me, paying the fine first, then trying to recoup the funds? Committee meeting next Saturday!
Saturday 26 November 2016
Horwich St Mary’s Victoria Res v Radcliffe Town Res – Div 3
The first thing to remark on was the quality of football, from both teams with different styles, belied the Division 3 categorisation in what was an excellent advert for Reserve team football in the LAL. It was also a pleasure to bump into Andy Done, a working colleague as a teacher at Westhoughton St Bart’s CE Primary School, and a very able, half-time substitute for HSMV.
In addition, what fabulous facilities with a new clubhouse and newly laid and well drained pitches; a bonus to play on a frosty and sunny late November day.
The match itself was played at a high skill level, hard fought, but without malice and made a great spectacle for well wrapped-up spectators.
Radcliffe took a surprising lead against the Division leaders from an unexpected penalty: nobody seemed quite sure what it was given for; but no one particularly argued. The pattern of the remainder of the first half was HSMV playing a more passing game but failing to penetrate a robust Radcliffe back four. However, the pressure told in the end when a HSMV forward remained upright under significant pressure from the Radcliffe centre-half to slot home an equaliser before half-time.
In the second half, HSMV scored two very good goals, one a passing movement with a low cross reaching the centre-forward who passed it into an inviting net; another from an exceptional strike from a ball that popped-up outside the penalty area and found the top corner right just below the bar from 20 yards (although I’m sure it was from further-out when reported in the bar).
But Radcliffe refused to lie down and smashed one shot against the post.
I left at this point to rescue my credit card from Middlebrook shopping centre. Something of a goal-fest must have followed in the last quarter of the match as HSMV ran out 7-2 winners – no doubt deserved and cementing their place at the top of the table - but Radcliffe certainly added to the undoubted value for money that this match in Division 3 provided.
I was warmly greeted by officials from both clubs – thanks for that.
Saturday 03 December 2016
Christmas tree week-end
When your kids reached adulthood (so-called) and left home, did you make the same schoolboy error that I did, and promised to buy them their first Christmas tree (bed, car etc).
Twelve and ten years respectively, after they have left home, the tradition continues that on the first Saturday in December we go to Christmas tree farm with a 32 year old, a 30 year old, two daughters-in-law and a grandson to buy four Christmas trees (two for us and one each for them) – and I’m still paying. To add to the problems, we no longer have that family estate car that swallowed a Christmas tree in its boot, so I have to retract the lid on my precious Alfa-Romeo Spider in December (it doesn’t come out, otherwise in winter, except to take said trees to the skip in January) and ridiculously transport the tress, one-by-one, to their various destinations; then erect them; then decorate them – no football this week-end then, but congratulations to those teams who beat the weather and managed to chip-away at the fixtures.
Saturday 10 December 2016
13 00 Twelve telephone calls to the usual suspects who might play but who I haven’t visited yet – drew blank. No, I’m not putting any more lights on that tree outside on this mild afternoon; off for a haircut!
Extraordinary – remarkable – after a series of groundsman cry-offs, I’ve just passed Byrchall High School to see that the posts are up for Ashtonians Reserves v Lymm.
Ashtonians Res v Lymm
A reasonable game played between two decent sets of lads who were out to enjoy a pre-Christmas Staurday afternoon under heavy, leaden Lancashire skies. One of those games that should always be played: sticky, uneven surface; not a breath of wind; and a mild December day. Half a dozen lads spectating on each side of the pitch.
The referee, who accomplished himself well, had very little to do apart from keep the game flowing, which he did. Lymm scored two goals in either half and could have, reasonably, doubled their tally. But Ashtonians, on the back foot for most of the match, scored the pick of the goals with a long range shot from a wide angle: final score 1-4.
Not much else to report really. My grandson (2) came for a kick about with his Dad (1st XI retiring captain) and to watch his Uncle Trev have a scratchy and uncomfortable afternoon against quicker forwards, as we mused on whether the grandosn will, one day, become the third generation of Ashtonians centre-halves like his Grandad, his Dad, and his Uncle Trevor before him. And there were second generation Lymm players as well – it’s that sort of a League, the Lancashire Amateur League.
Thursday 29 December 2016
Lancashire Amateur League v Lancashire and Cheshire League
John Howard Shield
A bit hard to prep for this game as there are no entries on the L & C website since 2013; however, the LAL seemed well-prepared with a squad list published and much e-mail traffic to clubs wishing them a Happy Christmas and encouraging attendance at tonight’s game: the below zero temperatures for the last two days may have been off-putting but…
On arrival, there was a ‘fair crowd’ representing both teams who, true to form, were out to entertain, and the match reflected the dominance of attacks over defences (see 08 11 16 entry). It was 1-1 after five minutes, and 2-2 at half-time, on each occasion the LAL took the lead, and on each occasion the L & C dominated subsequent play to force equalisers; the pick of the goals being the LAL’s second following a brilliant counter-attack and sublime first-touch and finish.
The luck of L & C’s second, cruelly deflected, equaliser was inherited by the LAL in the second-half, when a cross-come-shot eluded all occupants of the penalty area and drifted goalbound. L & C then dominated the final stages and scored a strong headed goal from an unnecessary corner.
But this was only the aperitif to the dramatic main course that followed in the penalty shoot-out.
Referee Craig Littler posed, like a smoking Orson Wellian figure (it was merely the cold-air), over the first 12 penalties that were smashed into the roof of the net by all takers against vertically challenged goalkeepers: 6-6. It then became obvious why the remaining team members had not been nominated/volunteered. The next twelve, yes, twelve more, penalties only managed a 25% conversion rate. I think I counted five Harry Kane impersonators who managed to lift the ball way above the crossbar without the excuse of dodgy footholds; the LAL goalkeeper (pen number 9) smashed past his opposite number then saved from him – but neither team could take advantage. Each time the L & C missed, the LAL also managed to miss. It was left to Captain Fantastic, Warburton, of the LAL, to gain the unique honour of scoring twice in a penalty shoot-out to secure an 8-7 victory and see the LAL’s name engraved on the John Howard Shield for an equalling third occasion.
Well organised beer and a welcome Lancashire pie’n’peas succeeded this extraordinary match, with an erudite speech and presentation from L & C stalwart, John Howard himself.
Happy New Year!
Saturday 07 January 2017
Wardle v Roach Dynamos - Div 1
It would have been no surprise to have met Pip and Magwitch on this murky day that was an excuse for an afternoon; or Catherine wandering the Moors in search of Heathcliff. The air was still, not so much raining, but existing within cloud, on a day that the sun did not seem to have risen and daylight had sort of given-up trying. Surrounding silhouettes of trees never looked like they’d ever been in leaf and it was not clear what lay beneath the broken post and wire fence: perhaps infinity and beyond. Supporters were sparse as the match took place in a sort of misty bubble, with no pitch markings next to rusty goal-posts. [Surely enough lyrical description - Ed.]
Roach opened the scoring after 20 minutes when the Wardle full-back intercepted a ball floating comfortably to his own goalkeeper and played it straight into the path of the Roach forward to tap-in. Wardle’s equalising goal was more impressive when three one-touch passes between the three lean and hungry – and fast – Wardle forwards created a good finish, leaving it all-square at half-time.
The stronger team took control in the second-half moving into a 1-7 lead; third and fourth from man of the match, Scott Hardy. A back-to-front counter-attack by marauding full-back Hughes set up a simple header for number five; a well set-up reverse pass led to an edge-of-the-area shot for number six; and, by seven, Roach forwards were outnumbering Wardle defenders by 4-2. Although disgruntled and grumpy and in some disarray, Wardle had the final say in closing with two goals, one, the pick of the match, was a measured lob from near the half-way line – final score; 3-8. One for the supporters – but not the faint-hearted.
Saturday 14 January 2017
Little Lever SC v Tottington United Res
The odd snow flurry and general dampness of the week led to my first three phone calls of Saturday morning drawing a blank; however, Little Lever transferred to the school’s 4G pitch. This venue has the added advantage of not attracting Mrs Smith to two hours-worth of retail therapy.
I have very fond memories of matches against Little Lever at Mytham Road; a post-match pint in the Church Inn. It is a club that always endeavoured to prepare pitches so that matches could be played, with most players turning-out on Saturday mornings with garden forks, and to line and roll the pitch. This often gave a referee – and I have fulfilled that role many times here – the false sense of security that the pitch was in reasonable shape. I always thought that they remained one of the last clubs (Old Bolts and Fulwood, I think) to keep a communal bath for post-match cleansing for this purpose, as you usually left the pitch caked in a good quantity of Little Lever clay. No risk of that today on a sunny afternoon for this mid-table v 3rd from bottom Premier encounter.
And to confound the league table, Tottington were already 0-1 up within seven minutes, in a first half in which there were lots of incidents but little happened – I don’t remember either goalkeeper making a save and Little Lever’s dissatisfaction arose only with their own team mates. Both management teams gave me a warm welcome as the game warmed up considerably in the second half. Again it was Tottington, slightly against the balance of play, who increased their lead converting a free-kick into the bottom corner. Another shot from outside the penalty area brought a fine save from the Little Lever keeper.
After the hour mark, therefore, Tottington appeared to be content to try to hold on to their 0-2 advantage, but paid the price of ceding more and more possession to the home side then attempting to absorb their attacks. From a fairly hopeful, and straight, lofted pass into the box, the Tottington keeper, under pressure, managed to palm the ball into his own net. Then, after missing three scoreable chances, Little Lever equalised with a strong header with the last play of the match: 2-2 – probably a fair result.
Just a note raised by the lovely Mrs Bingham, Secretary of Little Lever, as we left the game. There was a lengthy torrent of inexcusable dissent from the Tottington centre-forward towards the neutral Assistant Referee regarding two consecutive off-side decisions that went against him in the second-half: it not only lacked Respect, but also any intelligent insight, because on both occasions he was wrong, and the Assistant was correct and accurate. I know; I was ‘in-line’ on the other side of the pitch.
As a generalisation, I note an increase in the constant challenging and haranguing of referees by players and spectators. This will have no impact on the referee’s decision; it will only impact on the number of referees who are prepared to turn-out on Saturday afternoons to be on the receiving end of abuse which, if it was in the workplace, would result in dismissal; in the pub, would result in a punch; and in the home, would result in divorce papers. This game was very well officiated and managed, and decision-making by the team in black was of a much higher quality than any player on either side. SUMO should be the watchword of coaches and players when faced with a decision they don’t like: Shut Up and Move On.
Winter-sun in Portugal – well, somebody has to….
Returned to some blank score sheets: Ashtonians lost both matches 0-4, Everton (my team) lost 0-5 and Wigan Athletic (wifey’s team) 0-3.
Tuesday 08 November 2016
Liverpool County FA v Lancashire Amateur League (representative side)
An extraordinary event.
I’ve never attended a representative match (shame!) but, if this one was representative, they are not to be missed.
On an absolutely shocking night, weather-wise, our much more representative team visited the County Ground of Liverpool FA, half of whose players emanated from Aigburth Parish Hall.
This is my old stomping ground as an exiled Scouser. I played many a school-boy and adult match at Wally Hall Park before its remarkable facelift, prior to me drifting Eastwards to Lancashire in my mid-20s. The Atlantic wind, straight off Liverpool Bay, hadn’t changed, and with it came squally rain on this freezing night. But what entertainment. The final score of 7-4 to Liverpool accurately reflected the dominance of attacks over defences; the quality of some of the forward play and the difficult conditions for defenders, some of ours looking a little less mobile than Liverpool’s forwards, and spending a disproportionate period of time on their backsides.
I think the score went: 1-0; 2-0; 2-1; 3-1; 4-1; HT; 4-2; 5-2; 5-3; 6-3; 7-3; 7-4. Interpret this as follows: Liverpool were almost always two goals ahead; they scored a fantastic free-kick (1-0) and we scored a penalty; we drew the second-half; and it was so cold, that the presentation of the shield only involved the captain in the coffee room, as everyone else had fled the outdoors. He was the absolutely excellent captain and No 10, Connor Millingford.
On a personal note, we were well supported by Council members and Bolton Wyresdale, and I had an opportunity to reminisce with my Liverpool Presidential opposite number. Nostalgic memories of being a barman (1973-76) in the Royal Oak, Muirhead Avenue East, one of Liverpool’s biggest (and roughest) pubs. Apparently it had been closed at one period recently after a shotgun murder, but still hosted two of the clubs represented in the Liverpool County’s team – East Villa and Roma (the Liverpool County manager’s team). Now why would a Scouse, ale-‘ouse team be called Roma, surely a romantic link to a Liverpool European Cup Final victory in 1984, and wobbly Grobbelar’s penalty save. Sorry – no such link – but merely an acronym of the said pub (you work it out).
Saturday 12 November 2016
Too much rain; too few games.
Saturday 19 November 2016
Bolton Wyresdale v Ashtonians – Div1
An afternoon that started with the word of God and ended with the hand of God.
I was working this afternoon with a gig at Manchester Cathedral from 13 30 – 14 30, so the chances of finding the last half of a game after a wet week were slim. However, Wyresdale switching their game to the 4G of Little Lever Leisure Centre allowed me to arrive at another Ashtonians away game with half an hour to go, and the game squared at 0-0.
And, once again, the last half hour was full of incident.
After good wing play, Ashtonians opened the scoring after tricky wing play by Ross Smith undid the Wyresdale defence. Manager, Aamar, claimed off-side, but his liner and fellow veteran Wyresdale player – I played against them both, I think – had a better grasp of the rule book as the Ashtonians player had come from behind the ball to pass it into the net. Five minutes later, the increasingly effective winger, Ross Smith, squeezed between touch-line and goal-line, to set up a similar second slot-in for Ashtonians. Two unusual injuries then occurred. Ashtonians effective captain, Andy Smith, left the field with a dislocated shoulder having suffered under the not insignificant bulk and weight of his own goalkeeper with the inappropriate name of Swift. Soon after, the Wyresdale goalkeeper appeared to have collapsed in his own penalty area with no other player within 50 yards – seemingly delayed concussion from an earlier clash.
And finally….much to the chagrin of the Ashtonians goalkeeper who was second to the punch, the alleged hand of God (or Wyresdale’s centre-forward) steered a Wyresdale free-kick past him, making the score 1-2, which is how it finished seconds later.
That was the last action of a stormy half-hour which kept both sets of spectators lively; although the Ashtonians travelling support was once again boosted by Reserve team followers who were only able to be present, by failing to raise a team of XI and fulfil a Reserve team fixture at Lymm. I feel a heavy fine coming to curb my Christmas spending power: are other club secretaries like me, paying the fine first, then trying to recoup the funds? Committee meeting next Saturday!
Saturday 26 November 2016
Horwich St Mary’s Victoria Res v Radcliffe Town Res – Div 3
The first thing to remark on was the quality of football, from both teams with different styles, belied the Division 3 categorisation in what was an excellent advert for Reserve team football in the LAL. It was also a pleasure to bump into Andy Done, a working colleague as a teacher at Westhoughton St Bart’s CE Primary School, and a very able, half-time substitute for HSMV.
In addition, what fabulous facilities with a new clubhouse and newly laid and well drained pitches; a bonus to play on a frosty and sunny late November day.
The match itself was played at a high skill level, hard fought, but without malice and made a great spectacle for well wrapped-up spectators.
Radcliffe took a surprising lead against the Division leaders from an unexpected penalty: nobody seemed quite sure what it was given for; but no one particularly argued. The pattern of the remainder of the first half was HSMV playing a more passing game but failing to penetrate a robust Radcliffe back four. However, the pressure told in the end when a HSMV forward remained upright under significant pressure from the Radcliffe centre-half to slot home an equaliser before half-time.
In the second half, HSMV scored two very good goals, one a passing movement with a low cross reaching the centre-forward who passed it into an inviting net; another from an exceptional strike from a ball that popped-up outside the penalty area and found the top corner right just below the bar from 20 yards (although I’m sure it was from further-out when reported in the bar).
But Radcliffe refused to lie down and smashed one shot against the post.
I left at this point to rescue my credit card from Middlebrook shopping centre. Something of a goal-fest must have followed in the last quarter of the match as HSMV ran out 7-2 winners – no doubt deserved and cementing their place at the top of the table - but Radcliffe certainly added to the undoubted value for money that this match in Division 3 provided.
I was warmly greeted by officials from both clubs – thanks for that.
Saturday 03 December 2016
Christmas tree week-end
When your kids reached adulthood (so-called) and left home, did you make the same schoolboy error that I did, and promised to buy them their first Christmas tree (bed, car etc).
Twelve and ten years respectively, after they have left home, the tradition continues that on the first Saturday in December we go to Christmas tree farm with a 32 year old, a 30 year old, two daughters-in-law and a grandson to buy four Christmas trees (two for us and one each for them) – and I’m still paying. To add to the problems, we no longer have that family estate car that swallowed a Christmas tree in its boot, so I have to retract the lid on my precious Alfa-Romeo Spider in December (it doesn’t come out, otherwise in winter, except to take said trees to the skip in January) and ridiculously transport the tress, one-by-one, to their various destinations; then erect them; then decorate them – no football this week-end then, but congratulations to those teams who beat the weather and managed to chip-away at the fixtures.
Saturday 10 December 2016
13 00 Twelve telephone calls to the usual suspects who might play but who I haven’t visited yet – drew blank. No, I’m not putting any more lights on that tree outside on this mild afternoon; off for a haircut!
Extraordinary – remarkable – after a series of groundsman cry-offs, I’ve just passed Byrchall High School to see that the posts are up for Ashtonians Reserves v Lymm.
Ashtonians Res v Lymm
A reasonable game played between two decent sets of lads who were out to enjoy a pre-Christmas Staurday afternoon under heavy, leaden Lancashire skies. One of those games that should always be played: sticky, uneven surface; not a breath of wind; and a mild December day. Half a dozen lads spectating on each side of the pitch.
The referee, who accomplished himself well, had very little to do apart from keep the game flowing, which he did. Lymm scored two goals in either half and could have, reasonably, doubled their tally. But Ashtonians, on the back foot for most of the match, scored the pick of the goals with a long range shot from a wide angle: final score 1-4.
Not much else to report really. My grandson (2) came for a kick about with his Dad (1st XI retiring captain) and to watch his Uncle Trev have a scratchy and uncomfortable afternoon against quicker forwards, as we mused on whether the grandosn will, one day, become the third generation of Ashtonians centre-halves like his Grandad, his Dad, and his Uncle Trevor before him. And there were second generation Lymm players as well – it’s that sort of a League, the Lancashire Amateur League.
Thursday 29 December 2016
Lancashire Amateur League v Lancashire and Cheshire League
John Howard Shield
A bit hard to prep for this game as there are no entries on the L & C website since 2013; however, the LAL seemed well-prepared with a squad list published and much e-mail traffic to clubs wishing them a Happy Christmas and encouraging attendance at tonight’s game: the below zero temperatures for the last two days may have been off-putting but…
On arrival, there was a ‘fair crowd’ representing both teams who, true to form, were out to entertain, and the match reflected the dominance of attacks over defences (see 08 11 16 entry). It was 1-1 after five minutes, and 2-2 at half-time, on each occasion the LAL took the lead, and on each occasion the L & C dominated subsequent play to force equalisers; the pick of the goals being the LAL’s second following a brilliant counter-attack and sublime first-touch and finish.
The luck of L & C’s second, cruelly deflected, equaliser was inherited by the LAL in the second-half, when a cross-come-shot eluded all occupants of the penalty area and drifted goalbound. L & C then dominated the final stages and scored a strong headed goal from an unnecessary corner.
But this was only the aperitif to the dramatic main course that followed in the penalty shoot-out.
Referee Craig Littler posed, like a smoking Orson Wellian figure (it was merely the cold-air), over the first 12 penalties that were smashed into the roof of the net by all takers against vertically challenged goalkeepers: 6-6. It then became obvious why the remaining team members had not been nominated/volunteered. The next twelve, yes, twelve more, penalties only managed a 25% conversion rate. I think I counted five Harry Kane impersonators who managed to lift the ball way above the crossbar without the excuse of dodgy footholds; the LAL goalkeeper (pen number 9) smashed past his opposite number then saved from him – but neither team could take advantage. Each time the L & C missed, the LAL also managed to miss. It was left to Captain Fantastic, Warburton, of the LAL, to gain the unique honour of scoring twice in a penalty shoot-out to secure an 8-7 victory and see the LAL’s name engraved on the John Howard Shield for an equalling third occasion.
Well organised beer and a welcome Lancashire pie’n’peas succeeded this extraordinary match, with an erudite speech and presentation from L & C stalwart, John Howard himself.
Happy New Year!
Saturday 07 January 2017
Wardle v Roach Dynamos - Div 1
It would have been no surprise to have met Pip and Magwitch on this murky day that was an excuse for an afternoon; or Catherine wandering the Moors in search of Heathcliff. The air was still, not so much raining, but existing within cloud, on a day that the sun did not seem to have risen and daylight had sort of given-up trying. Surrounding silhouettes of trees never looked like they’d ever been in leaf and it was not clear what lay beneath the broken post and wire fence: perhaps infinity and beyond. Supporters were sparse as the match took place in a sort of misty bubble, with no pitch markings next to rusty goal-posts. [Surely enough lyrical description - Ed.]
Roach opened the scoring after 20 minutes when the Wardle full-back intercepted a ball floating comfortably to his own goalkeeper and played it straight into the path of the Roach forward to tap-in. Wardle’s equalising goal was more impressive when three one-touch passes between the three lean and hungry – and fast – Wardle forwards created a good finish, leaving it all-square at half-time.
The stronger team took control in the second-half moving into a 1-7 lead; third and fourth from man of the match, Scott Hardy. A back-to-front counter-attack by marauding full-back Hughes set up a simple header for number five; a well set-up reverse pass led to an edge-of-the-area shot for number six; and, by seven, Roach forwards were outnumbering Wardle defenders by 4-2. Although disgruntled and grumpy and in some disarray, Wardle had the final say in closing with two goals, one, the pick of the match, was a measured lob from near the half-way line – final score; 3-8. One for the supporters – but not the faint-hearted.
Saturday 14 January 2017
Little Lever SC v Tottington United Res
The odd snow flurry and general dampness of the week led to my first three phone calls of Saturday morning drawing a blank; however, Little Lever transferred to the school’s 4G pitch. This venue has the added advantage of not attracting Mrs Smith to two hours-worth of retail therapy.
I have very fond memories of matches against Little Lever at Mytham Road; a post-match pint in the Church Inn. It is a club that always endeavoured to prepare pitches so that matches could be played, with most players turning-out on Saturday mornings with garden forks, and to line and roll the pitch. This often gave a referee – and I have fulfilled that role many times here – the false sense of security that the pitch was in reasonable shape. I always thought that they remained one of the last clubs (Old Bolts and Fulwood, I think) to keep a communal bath for post-match cleansing for this purpose, as you usually left the pitch caked in a good quantity of Little Lever clay. No risk of that today on a sunny afternoon for this mid-table v 3rd from bottom Premier encounter.
And to confound the league table, Tottington were already 0-1 up within seven minutes, in a first half in which there were lots of incidents but little happened – I don’t remember either goalkeeper making a save and Little Lever’s dissatisfaction arose only with their own team mates. Both management teams gave me a warm welcome as the game warmed up considerably in the second half. Again it was Tottington, slightly against the balance of play, who increased their lead converting a free-kick into the bottom corner. Another shot from outside the penalty area brought a fine save from the Little Lever keeper.
After the hour mark, therefore, Tottington appeared to be content to try to hold on to their 0-2 advantage, but paid the price of ceding more and more possession to the home side then attempting to absorb their attacks. From a fairly hopeful, and straight, lofted pass into the box, the Tottington keeper, under pressure, managed to palm the ball into his own net. Then, after missing three scoreable chances, Little Lever equalised with a strong header with the last play of the match: 2-2 – probably a fair result.
Just a note raised by the lovely Mrs Bingham, Secretary of Little Lever, as we left the game. There was a lengthy torrent of inexcusable dissent from the Tottington centre-forward towards the neutral Assistant Referee regarding two consecutive off-side decisions that went against him in the second-half: it not only lacked Respect, but also any intelligent insight, because on both occasions he was wrong, and the Assistant was correct and accurate. I know; I was ‘in-line’ on the other side of the pitch.
As a generalisation, I note an increase in the constant challenging and haranguing of referees by players and spectators. This will have no impact on the referee’s decision; it will only impact on the number of referees who are prepared to turn-out on Saturday afternoons to be on the receiving end of abuse which, if it was in the workplace, would result in dismissal; in the pub, would result in a punch; and in the home, would result in divorce papers. This game was very well officiated and managed, and decision-making by the team in black was of a much higher quality than any player on either side. SUMO should be the watchword of coaches and players when faced with a decision they don’t like: Shut Up and Move On.
