29th August 2017 - Irlam FC 0 v 2 AFC Liverpool - After a long day at work and some quick on-line website work at home it was in a mithered state that myself and my good lady headed over to Silver Street. The last time I was here was 2 years ago so a revisit was long overdue. The trip down was easy enough, the pre-match drinks most welcome and the weather for tonight's soccerised tickling was decent enough. This was the continuance of a very busy week with many tasks on many fronts lined up to be duly tackled. Tonight the brilliant blue of The Mitchells (est 1969) was up against the rubicund flush of The Little Reds (est 2008) in a contest that would surely jump start both teams season after a faltering few games. Positions were adopted after a chat with the genial gent Matthew Kay (Irlam's Assistant Manager) about the night's prospect. This was what developed before our keen mince- pies.
During the first period of the globe's revolution neither team established any ascendancy with an early sight-setter by The Reds No 11 (Daniel Boden) a meagre snippet of entertainment. Rapid rushes came either end with both teams passing and pushing and looking for that initial sniff of net glory. Irlam had the first opportunity of any substance when their No 10 (Jordan Icely) sneaked in but was thwarted at the last gasp by a quick off the line mitter. From here parity was re-established and this looked all set to be a closely contested chess match when suddenly, like a bishop on a rabid evangelical quest, Irlam's No 5 (Ryan Ledson) halted the opponents break with what is best described as a sinful tackle and was sent off the playing board in no uncertain terms. To add insult to injury, salt of the most spiteful kind was rubbed into the gaping wound when No 9 (Kevin Edgar) stepped up and curled the free-kick around the defensive wall and found the bottom corner of the net. It was a double blow that needed to be met with resilience and character something that Irlam displayed in abundance over the rest of the match with a distinct stubbornness not to be underestimated. A close in header was a great way to respond but Liverpool's No 1 (Dominic Garner) was equal to the task and made a fine reaction save although he failed to get to the next shot but his trusty upright came to the rescue as it was clattered with sincere might.
Good application by the Blues made sure they held their own but it was more than apparent that AFC Liverpool had one or two players quite capable of breaking the pattern and grabbing a second killer strike. This duly happened when No 8 (Calum Woods) was quick to counter, showed an unselfish streak and crossed to Kevin Edgar who was only denied by a shot by a late block that maybe saved the day. Seconds later No 10 (Deklan Anthony Hill) was through but weakly toe-poked his attempt on goal and allowed the keeper to make a regulation save. Next and No 7 (Stephen Milne) surged with intent, beat 2 players and squeezed in a cross from the touchline, somehow the Irlam back bods read the situation well and cleared the peril only for Edgar to try his luck moments later with a punt that missed the goal but kept the home squad on the back foot. Things seemed to be picking up when, from positive light, blackness descended as the floodlights overhead went out and the game was duly halted. We grabbed the chance to slurp some tea and move our rears to the opposite side of the ground whereupon we awaited the outcome. At last a flicker came, a glow grew and the ref let things get back underway. The players and the light loving moths commenced their action. 2 rough fouls by Irlam impeded impetus but the same team somehow cultivated a snap shot that was saved and fumbled but eventually cleared. The ref eventually blew, half time was very much needed I thought.
During the interval we finished our beverage and had a grand chat with a ground hopping chap. We covered various subjects including the noise of Crass, the joys of reading and of course the many grounds we have in the North-West and how rewarding this non-league football is. Good stuff all-round until, rather rudely, the players came out and started playing football again, ooh the rotten sods (wink, wink).
An early low strike by the visitors was followed by some good pace and well-spread play albeit with little in-roads made. A defensive blunder at Liverpool's rear allowed an Irlam bod to crack a shot but again it was a tame effort. The guests were not making the most of the one man advantage but crikey Irlam weren't half putting in a shift. The game remained a hard one to call and at one point it became a drab affair, duller in fact than Quasimodo's love life or that notorious book 'Cardboard Box Making' by Andy Murray - now that is dull. A push by the Reds, a low shot and easily saved. Calum Woods came next, he broke the coils of the offside web but it was the night sky that welcomed the 'way off target' ball. Within minutes the visiting No 7 (Stephen Milne) produced silky tootsies and weaved through two players and launched a shot, the crossbar was hammered. The game looked set to stay as it was with both units incapable of any penetration and very much in need of some managerial Viagra or time to reacquaint themselves with that fine goal-scoring love manual 'The Joy Of Nets'. It was just one of those nights it seemed, and the misses kept coming with AFCL's sub knocking a free-kick just wide and then Irlam having another dig but straight at the goalie who fumbled but saw his defenders eventually clear. A brace of Blue throws came, bugger all was the result as was the case with a couple of quick breaks at either end that fizzled at the last.
We were now chewing on the dog-ends of a testing affair when the AFC Liverpool lads had one last fling and when a hopeful cross came in the home goalkeeper for some reason chose to save cum catch rather than just thwack clear. It was a mess, the fumble allowed the ball to drop at the feet of the awaiting Joseph Whittington who accepted the gift, put a bullet in the head of the game and killed it stone dead. Within minutes, after an awful free-kick we were done and after a chat with a punky comrade who we had somehow missed all night we headed homeward. This was far from a classic and both teams produced much industry with little end sheen. The Man of The Match tonight goes to the No 7 of AFC Liverpool (Stephen Milne) who huffed and puffed with zest, had a fine work rate and made one or two fine runs that stood out from a gruelling encounter.
FINAL THOUGHT - A shock result in some respects on a night that was a test of both teams character. It is never easy to play against ten men and anything but a win is considered a failure which, in itself, brings added pressure. AFC Liverpool showed good consistency and stuck to the task well but they will need to sharpen their striking razors to avoid letting many potential victories turn into unnecessary regrets. Irlam displayed fine promise tonight and if a full squad works as hard as the ten did tonight I am happy to go on record and predict a top 8 finish. They showed a resilience here and, even though down in numbers, still created chances to get something from the game. If I was a betting man I reckon they will finish in a respectable position and have many positives from the long arduous season. One thing is for sure, we will be back down Silver Street and hopefully catching up with AFC Liverpool a few more times too - it would be ruddy vulgar not too!
No comments:
Post a Comment