24th August 2019 - Maine Road 4 v 1 Cheadle Heath Nomads - Up before 7am and through the moth trap I went. The outcome, 100 scale-winged gems of 22 species, all were recorded, breakfast was had and then out to shift some soil from the Mother-in-Law's garden it was. The morn whizzed by, I duly dusted down and was dropped off at Maine Road's ground 2 and half hours before kick off (it saved going home and coming back again). I settled down in the sun after a chat with the Nomads coach, Dave Potter, and indulged my grey gunk in the world of James Bond. Eventually I had a good natter to the guy on the gate, STP Stu arrived, we nattered some more, had a cuppa with the Nomads doofers and John D before heading out in the sun. Spots were taken to view the soccerised entertainment on what was a quite beautiful day. In fact the sky was so clear I expected Julie Andrews to appear in the distance singing about the 'Hills being alive' whilst twirling around in utter joy. Alas all I spied in the distance were a few arthritic geezers gabbing about the game and doing their utmost to stay upright - not the same is it? 3pm eventually came, the studded boots of the 22 combatants took to the pitch and the game began with great earnest - I expected a tough work-out for both units with many a brow drenched in perspiration and many a calf muscle pushed to the extreme - this is the outcome folks.
The opening sequences saw very little between the sides with the Nomad's No 10 (George Blackwell) almost nipping in but denied by some cool keeping via the crust although the striker did appear offside. The first push for The Road came when No 10 (Matthew Morgan) knocked a delicious pass that gave rise to a corner. Alas the resultant kick was too heavy! The Nomads bounced back, No 3 (Ryan Standring) played a stunning pass across the park, the ever zesty No 7 (Kieren Herbert) pounced and let fly, the end result was a whistler not that far above the bar. Road replied, a corner saw No 5 (Luke Taylor) put in a solid defensive header but No 6 (Jamie Roe) for the hosts led the rebuild, No 9 (Daniel Burgess) was the recipient at the apex of the onslaught and a low shot that followed crept inside of the upright - 1 - 0 and perhaps justice served for the hosts busy start.
Now the game was afoot, Road came on again, a free-kick was won and taken by Morgan who let fly a stunning ball that was matched by an equally impressive bit of defending. The guests now began to perspire harder and apply some pressure, a throw went in, out and was thwacked back by Blackwell who was denied by a sweet tip over the bar by a highly alert keeper. The ball came back once more, Taylor connected, the outcome wasn't even close. From a period on the back foot the home lads won a throw in from which Morgan was given the ball and allowed time and space to travel and get in position for a crack on goal. The shot came, the defenders stood still and watched, the keeper flung himself with an outstretched hand but the effort was pin-perfect and found the awaiting bottom corner - the lead was justifiably doubled.
The game continued, No 9 (Richard Tindall) had a header off target that should have at least found the target and then Roe for the Road ended a quick footed move with a dig that forced a stunning save but the offside flag was waving. A water break seemed to knock the stride out of the hosts and the Nomads came on strong for the rest of the half. Burgess for Blues did have a good effort which forced another quality saved with a follow-up deflection cleared off the line. The Nomads now began to see a lot more of the ball, the problem was that with each pass the players waited to receive rather than meet the ball and make their move. They did nearly force an own goal from a corner, Tindall had another header, this time straight at the keeper and a few half-chances were snuffed out at the last. The home team fought the tide. Morgan lashed a free-kick, the ball flew with high impetus, the keeper watched it all the way and tipped over with quality. A corner followed, the ball had pace and accuracy, No 4 (Jake Wright) provided a flick header, the post was struck. The half was nearly done, suddenly from some Cheadle pressure Herbert knocked a ball to the patient No 11 (Ashley Harrison). A deft touch came and saw the globe lofted over the keeper and the 'get out of jail' card was exhibited for all to behold. A lovely goal, the second half looked now set to be a mighty close affair but Maine Road weren't done yet. A super quick surge in the dying seconds, a fine tackle in the box seemed to have quelled the danger but the referee seemed to be on hallucinogenics and gave a very dubious penalty. When No 5 (Louis Edwards) stepped up and clattered home it was a real kick in the conkers for the visitors.
As the teams and officials left the pitch the man in black was getting his ear bent - he strode on with a determined brow. Myself and Stu had tea and cake and soon took up our seats - all predictions were out the window although my good lady predicted 3 - 2 to The Road before dropping me off - it seemed a sagacious call.
Road came out brightest for the second period, the guests had the first real charge though with No 2 (Thomas Rogers) at the helm and with Blackwell finishing matters with a low strike just shy of the mark. A corner came the same way soon after, it was very poor indeed. From here it became apparent that the travelling pack were going to do most of the running whilst the resident team would absorb and hopefully strike like a cobra at a nudist's dangling vulnerabilities. An attack came for the self-appointed serpents - Morgan was on the prowl and eventually let fly with a bender. The result of which was an effort only a few inches wide.
Time ticked on, as the guests galloped and hunted for any scraps their opponents always looked to be one touch away from a counter-attack. The Nomadic Herbert nearly increased his side's hope with a quick turn in No-Man's-Land and a very applaudable shot that needed gloved assistance to see it over, rather than under, the bar. At this point I had a note to make - it concerned Jamie Roe, Maine Road's Captain Fantastic who was crudely nobbled, writhed in pain, dusted himself down and got on with the game without gripe, groan or pointless bitching - a salute is given, this is how the game should be played and is a dying attribute sorely missed - thank you sir!
As the sun shone I noted that George Gibbons, the Cheadle Heath Nomads' Chairman, had gone topless in the distance and seemed to be doing his promotional bit for melted chocolate and budget price Ronseal - surely this wasn't helping his team's morale! Despite this display of degradation the Cheadle HN machine ground forth, a ball was defended and followed up with a volley from No 8 (Jack Warren) that was closer than many realised. More pressing ensued and then Maine Road broke with Morgan looking to finish off the game precise side-footer - the quality of the finish however was...shite. The guests won a corner next, a flick header from Herbert brought a gasp of intrigue, once again the hit-zone was missed. As the comeback trail was traversed by a team in the mire a pothole was encountred that led to a derailment. No 6 (Adam Stuart) was sin-binned and then Morgan for MR was on the ball and cutting in with purpose. Again the defense allowed him time to set his sights, the keeper was there to be beaten and beaten he was by a quite composed finish that was somehow cleared off the line by a great rear guard header. What a fine moment!
We now entered the arse end of the game, there were many tired legs struggling in the heat, the Nomads were moaning at the situation and after a mis-header they watched on with distracted and sinking hearts as Morgan darted in, went one on one with the keeper and this time bagged another goal and put the game to bed. Soon after time was called, a 4 - 1 home win was a quite outstanding result with the team in blue good value for their efforts and the Man of the Match award being given to their No 4 (David Brown) for a stint that was nothing less than rock steady. It was controlled, disciplined and done in exacting terms with nothing pointlessly flamboyant to criticise. When a defender plays like this it resonates throughout the team and gives them a belief and a reliable fall-back that breeds positivity. And that was that, 5 goals and a good day out, the evening was spent boozing and watching three noisy bands in a room full of spiky tops at a Fungally infused gig - it were beltin'.
FINAL THOUGHT - Before the match the two teams seemed to be struggling, after the match its seems that for one, the difficulties continue, for the other, renewed hope has been found. Cheadle Heath Nomads are in a state of indecision it seems with many problems to solve and the immediate answers all remaining elusive. Tactically I feel as though they had it wrong today - why knock long balls to a gifted target man if no one is buzzing around to pick up the scraps he has earned? Why is communication lacking in certain areas and so awareness lost? Why is so much time spent watching the other team play instead of snapping at their heels? I don't know but one thing is for sure, it needs sorting and sorting mighty soon. The next match I feel is a real important one - the wheels need securing or they will be off and rolling this way and that and leaving a team in disarray. Maine Road are still a team that always give value whether they win, lose or draw. The work ethic is spot on, performances are built on this factor alone and as a result many teams get outworked and forced into certain errors. They just need to be more clinical up front on a regular basis and perhaps get themselves a tall target man as an option but other than that, the tweaks needed here are quite minimal. It goes without saying I will be back, it is one of my favoured footballing hotspots but for me, it's FC Oswestry next - it is all about keeping it varied.
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