The teams came out, shook hands and got the play underway with the initial bout of soccer action an episode of repetitive ping-pong that saw the ball barely touch the uneven deck. Out of nothing the CR brigade won a free-kick, a simple cross was had and due to some out of tune defending the home team found themselves a goal down at the hands of the forward Carl Grimshaw who rose and nutted home with relative ease. Cheadle now bustled, came close when a stray back pass nearly levelled the match and when their No 9 booted forth a shot that missed the target perhaps it was a warning of things that may come. Then again...what misdirected thoughts these were when, within minutes the Charnock chaps strung together an impressive move with their industrious No 8 (Nathan Fairhurst) being an integral part and forcing the issue which led to a through ball being latched onto and coolly slotted home by Oliver Evans with only 12 minutes on the clock. No sooner had the ball been put back on the centre spot than Charnock won it back, lofted it forth allowing their No 8 again to wriggle out of a dubious situation in the near corner and cross a ball that was volleyed and just fizzed over. Close but no crumpet!
Now the game dissolved into disarray and became nothing more than a messy spectacle with no team seemingly able to keep the ball for any length of time. The pitch was in no way conducive to creating free flowing footy with the ball bobbling about and being the causal agent of many unsightly errors. A brief wrestling match, a brace of chances for Cheadle that should have at least pulled one goal back and a rise in frustration saw the booking tally rise to four but Charnock Richard held their heads and retired to the changing rooms with their 2 goal cushion well deserved.
A snack, Wispa Gold (what a joy), a chat with a grand chap from Charnock, another coughing fit and back to the match at hand.
As the ball got rotating one expected Cheadle to come out with all guns blazing but an immediate cock up gave the Richards runners a chance to string together a couple of short in-box passes and duly go 3 - 0 up courtesy of Mark Adams. What a killing blow! Cheadle now became frantic and loose, similar in fact to a Mouse's bowels after a laxative overdose. Several balls from their opponents caused much trouble and with a mere smattering of luck the scoreline could have crossed the threshold of decency and enter the realms of embarrassment. Charnock Richard pressed, outclassed and outworked Cheadle and when a brace of throw-ins were not dealt with, a long ball was played and Oliver Evans slapped home a real beauty and put the game to sleep. No matter how much Cheadle dug in and hassled their opponents the Charnock lads looked to pose the greatest threat and when another chance came via a break and a cross it was their No 9 (Carl Grimshaw) who deliberately nodded home and add stinging salt to many of Cheadle's gaping wounds. I felt sorry for Cheadle and, as it appeared, so did the referee who gave nothing short of a sympathy penalty after the No 3 was dubiously fouled and the spot was pointed to. The victim (Thabiso Magida) stepped up and fired home and the consolation was barely celebrated. Cheadle now started to play better, albeit partly down to the CR squad switching off. A clumsy passage of play came, sloppy and unsightly with both teams obviously thinking of calling it a night and accepting the scoreline. As a final bonus Cheadle's best player on the night, their No 3 again, conjured up a snippet of deja vu and won a penalty and converted to increase his personal tally for the season and perhaps give the end result a tainted appearance for Charnock. The ref blew, enough was enough and I wandered off convinced that one team was floating with finesse whilst the other was in danger of sinking without sight. Man of the Match today was the No 8 for Charnock Richard (Nathan Fairhurst) who was animated, always a pest and who kept a cool head throughout and provided many subtle opportunities within the heart of the game.
FINAL THOUGHT - The season is now developing, the wheat and the chaff are being separated, those that will flourish and those that will flounder are being pinpointed and with the crucial festive period around the corner it is now that teams need to dig in and create their own future. Perhaps Einstein had an easier time sorting out the Theory of Relativity than the Cheadle manager will have sorting his own teams problems out but one thing is for sure, Charnock Richards are running smooth and, if they stay together, encourage and support I reckon they are in for a shout of the top spot come season end - cripes - a prediction, what a silly twat!
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