MONDAY NIGHT MESSINESS

14th November 2016 - Winsford United 1 v 3 Hanley Town  - On a warm and misty night we arrived at The Barton Stadium looking forward to a fixture that could go either way as both teams were in the lower half of the Premier League and still looking to build any real football flow.  Chips and tea were indulged in first though and a chat was taken with a Norwegian guy who was over this end doing a bit of groundhopping as well as a natter with an enthused lass who was selling teams on her football card and also travelling around the grounds - by heck these folk don't half get about.  Time tickled forth and we wandered to the far side of the pitch and took up our positions.  

Hanley commenced proceedings with a brighter flourish and a couple of early sub-chances showed that they meant business tonight.  The first of these goal glimpses should have been buried but full marks must be given to the home keeper who was up with the lark and on his keen and eager tootsies.  As things progressed a lot of moaning and groaning was apparent with both sides spending too much time bitching and too little playing anything resembling decent football.  Thank goodness for all in attendance that on the 13th minute a cross was woefully defended and a free header was nutted home by Hanley's Daniel Cope and the deadlock was broken and the first spark of life given to an almost inert soccerised carcass.  Moments later a further jolt of energy was induced into the footballing framework when Hanley were awarded a free kick and up stepped Jonathon Sheldon to coolly float the globe home and give his squad a much deserved 2 goal cushion.  The quality of the game rose slightly but for me Hanley were the only team in it and always appeared that little bit sharper than their out of sync opponents.  Several attacks came and fizzled out like farts in a vacuum and the score stayed the same primarily down to Hanley's failure to completely tear out an exposed jugular rather than Winsford's defensive qualities.  In fact it was an indication of the defensive frailties of the home side that led to the third goal for Hanley when a certain clearance was messed up, a cross was borne from a situation seemingly lost and up popped Johnathon Higham and put the game well and truly to bed.  The half time whistle came not long after, Winsford needed to get back in and regroup and Hanley just needed to stay focused and see the next 45 minutes out.

Me and my good lady switched sides, partook of some festive chocolate and rested our busy bods.  

Winsford came out for half two with rectal rockets roaring but were immediately sobered after Hanley's weaving No 7 slotted through a scrumptious ball that saw the No 9 casually connect only to be denied by the wide awake net man. Winsford retaliated, had a half chance smothered and in the next breath they won a good free kick, put in a smart cross and a crust from nowhere connected and a goal was dragged back, Harry Brazel was the man with the midas touch.  A spark was all that was needed to get the game smouldering and another free-kick was immediately won but the ambitious overhead was skewed skyward and we stayed as we were.  Winsford could now taste promise, the game became tit-for-tat, tussle and bustle and out of the great bewildering blue...shock, horror, Winsford had found the net again, a scruffy goal but perfectly decent, so why on earth did the referee decide it was a case of 'no goal'.  The decision was both brutal and crucial and added spice to a game ready to overflow.  Heated debates both on and off the pitch erupted, Hanley worked hard to try and deaden Winsford's potential sting in the tail with a couple of corners holding threat and a breakaway chance missed and keeping the potency within the match.  Frustration raised its spiteful head as the game became messy and when heads addled and handbags and purses were brandished the referee decided after a bit of pushing and shoving and lunatic hair pulling that 2 Hanley players were in high need of an early bath.  Oh the silly bastards!  Winsford could now smell blood, Hanley could taste potential embarrassment in the air and 7 minutes of mayhem should have brought much to write home about but, once again. due to lack of composure and quality, it didn't.  Time, chances and breath were all wasted and as Hanley hassled, Winsford withered and the ref said enough is enough.  Man of the Match was hard to find tonight but due to his constant threat, potential to cause further damage and an eagerness to chase any old ball Hanley's No 9 (Jonathon Higham) gets the nod.

FINAL THOUGHT - This match was far from a classic and at the end of the day is best summed up as an example of two units still trying find true balance and looking to find their settled footballing feet.  If these two teams don't pick-up soon they could find themselves swinging lower than Arthur Mullard's testicular sac which would, I am thoroughly sure, be far from acceptable in a league of great opportunity.  If duds of focus are donned though, a jockstrap of cohesion tightened then maybe, just maybe, the plums of success may still bear true fruit - I shall be watching closely.