8th October 2018 - Stockport Town 2 v 3 Wythenshawe Amateurs - Man, this is a busy time of year for me and the weekend has been non-stop - The Sonics were seen on Friday and produced a fine spectacle of garage noise, a fungus walk was led on Saturday with 103 species clocked up, a tidy and another fungal pootle was had at a nearby Environmental Centre on Sunday and the day ended with a good tea and me and the good lady cuddling up and watching 'Dr Strange' - we like a bit of comic book action but we don't read such smut as 'Desperate Dan and the Tale of the Terrible Todger' or in fact 'Minnie The Minx and the Muff Doctor's Muddle' - no we shall stick to the Mighty World of Marvel if you don't mind. Prior to the match I was on the microscope, doing a few CD reviews, household chores and some exercising and after a fine meal I was dropped off at the ground where I met up with STP Stu. Tea was a foregone outcome, we took up our positions and nattered away like two old gits on a park bench. The tick of the clock carried on, the parson farted, the game started and this is what went on.
As is per on these occasions the start saw both teams go at matters full tilt and compromise organisation and composure for hustle and mania. The Town were having the better of the contest with an early mitt warmer for the keeper had via the feet of No 7 (Adam Etches). Soon after No 8 (Festus Arthur) had a tidy long range effort turned around for a corner, an angled kick that was met by the same player who nutted without ferocity and caused little in the way of fuss. Arthur was soon at it again (ooh the frisky devil), going on a weaving run and winning a free-kick. Up stepped No 9 (Gavin Salmon) to send in a pacey dipper that just stayed above bar level and brought a sigh of relief from the agitated guest bench. The Wythy Warriors started to warm to the night's task but they were nearly caught on the hop when No 11 (Szymon Czubik) almost nipped into clear space but was just about dealt with by a wide awake defence. A patchy period followed from which No 10 (Reece Skelton) leathered one from the angle and only just missed the far upright - promise was in the air, the first goal was surely imminent. Wythenshawe did managed to earn a couple of corners but both finishing shots were off target and Stockport were battling well and running down any space given. The sidelines became thermally elevated as verbals were exchanged and fantasy island pleas fell on deaf ears - I must get some of those hallucinogenics these people are on - they are really seeing some fantastical stuff.
A midfield melee followed, chances became a scarce commodity but eventually, from the crowded scrimmage started to propagate seeds of potential success. Arthur had a shot laid on a plate but his well-placed crack was deflected wide. A corner followed, a defensive blip saw Arthur slip in and duly bury the ball in determined style - wham - the home team had the lead and it was a long time coming if the truth be known. Now the off-field gobbage moved up a notch, the tackle intensity increased and from the incandescence Skelton for The Lions nearly doubled his sides advantage and The Amateurs came close with a cross nodded close in and just about grabbed by the grateful man in green. The final few minutes of the half had a tetchiness creep in and a touchpaper lit - some heads needed to cool down, never in a month of Sundays will misused passion win a game. An injury ended matters, thankfully the clobbered player was mended and as we walked and purchased tea we wondered what the second half would bring.
During the break a couple I meet quite regularly were joined and we exchanged words on the game so far and where we had been of late. One good thing about this non-league lark is the many decent folk one can meet - these two are keen and eager gems - always a pleasure. After wandering back to our positions the teams entered the fray and, as it turned out, we were all in for a bit of a surprise to say the least.
From the off no quarter was given either way, the game became jumbled and discontinuous as both packs sought to achieve a level of control. Arthur for The Lions drilled a low shot that tickled wide and a following free-kick was too elevated to trouble the keeper. The guests response was much fluster and a shot by No 11 (James Green) screwed wide and reflected a team very much out of sorts. A lull was banished by some Lionised action, Etches threaded a beauty to Skelton who found No 9 (Gavin Salmon) who duly slotted home. Now how simple was that? 1, 2, 3 and thank you - Wythenshawe were utterly shell-shocked, was there any way back? Well, the best way to get back into a game is to catch a team napping after scoring a goal, an occurrence that happens all too often at all levels and must surely drive managers to drink or, perhaps worse, heavy bouts of therapeutic masturbation - perish the thought! As the home lads were in sub-celebration mode Wythy broke, a cross was slapped across goal and 'thank you most kindly', up stepped No 9 (Nialle Rodney) to half the deficit. No sooner had I scribbled my notes than Town nearly caught their opponents on the hop too when a cross saw Skelton rise, nut and get denied from inches out - applause to the visiting No 1 (Martin Slain) for being mighty alert.
From here Town let the pressure nibble at their undercarriage and shit forth a sensation of being bothered. The Ammies sensed the aroma of concern and came on strong with Rodney having another effort and then a free-kick being won. The ball was floated in, cleared but soon after another bonus ball was earned. No 10 (David Wright) took charge, released a mid-paced bender that caught the keeper slightly unsighted and found the inside of the post. A cultured strike, a kick up the arse for The Lions, a fine way to level the score. Stockport tried to punch back, a quick strike was off target then at the other end a post was duly clattered - this was now end to end madness, anyone losing this was going to be severely disappointed. Town brought about the next attack, No 17 (Jesurun Uchegbulam) had a dig but the keeper did just enough to turn away for a corner. The ball came in, was dealt with and followed by a long ball that was taken down by Rodney in eye-catching style. An advance, sights set and have that - 2 -3 - the lead goal was had, this was a turn-around to relish, the visiting bench went haywire. Bookings for the hosts brought further misery with their No 5 (Christopher Howard) very unlucky to be shown a red card. The game eventually ended in a shower of oral shittery and scrapyard ugliness - one team was elated to hear the final whistle, the other looked as though the bell had tolled for dead men walking - you really can't weigh this game up. Man of the Match looked to be going several ways throughout the night's proceedings but No 9 (Nialle Rodney) stuck at a lost cause, bagged two goals and showed some neat work in the face of sheer adversity and so gets the decisive nod.
FINAL THOUGHT - A game tonight that was laden with drama, full of bluster, streaked with verbal madness and, right up until the last, impossible to call. Despite the over-spill of words the ingredients were all that any self-respecting non-league fan could wish for and from the jaws of victory somehow Stockport Town managed to get themselves in a whole heap of trouble and snatch a very sickening loss. The team need to reflect though on their first half efforts and the opening portion of the second half and how they let matters slip away and walk off the pitch with sweet FA. The team are getting there, they will now rise up the table but they must stay tight, avoid any off-pitch bollocks and make sure they work as one and...believe. I personally think a corner has been turned. Wythenshawe Amateurs impressed me on my first viewing but tonight, for most part, did little to earn applause. They somehow won the game whilst playing poorly - is this a sign of a very, very good team or one who just got lucky and were let off a very precarious hook? They have many fine players, a couple of subs that came on look on the cusp of full time positions which, I hope, reflects a depth to the squad that will keep them in fine fettle. As for where both teams will end up come season end, who the Hell knows, this is turning out to be one unpredictable campaign with each and every result a real surprise. All one can do is keep watching and enjoying. Once the fun in football is lost you have missed the whole point - something we all need to remember!
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