7th February 2018 - Sandbach United 1 v 0 Cammell Laird 1907 - A long day at work and a freezing bike ride home. My wife joined me soon after for a quick bite to eat before we set out, aiming for the match between Winsford Utd v Warrington Town. We listened to the penultimate part of 'Day of the Triffids' and arrived in good time at the ground to find it in utter darkness with the car park almost empty. How odd! We set off wondering what had happened when suddenly I remembered Sandbach United were playing at home. My wife produced the phone, we duly got a postcode and switched on the SatNav app - something only used when our daughter is present as me and my good lady try to avoid this digital slavery as much as we can. A turn here, a turn there, a request of directions from a chap going in the local Co-Op and with 10 minutes to spare we entered the Sandbach Community Football Centre and enjoyed a cup of cha' and a chat with a couple of South Manchester chaps, one who was doing a bit of ground-hopping and the other tagging along to ease his head from work duties (and why not). We headed out into the night air, it wasn't as chilly as suspected and within seconds of taking up our onlooking hot-spots the two footballing factions came out to do battle.
The home bods made the early pace and a feisty tackle from a visiting player brought initial uproar. A touchpaper had been lit, a card was issued after much testosterone fuelled toss and as the verbals faded into the ether the game eventually got going. More threats came, another card needed brandishing - welcome to the Horror Show. The Lairds used this messy session as a chance to cultivate their first attack. A ball over the top caused defensive confusion for Sandbach and the shot from No 7 (Josh Maldon) was wide of the mark. A free-kick to the guests, the hosts failed to deal with another high ball, a pass came and a tap into the mesh was had - why oh why was the liner waving his flag, oh yes offside, I think it is something to do with the rules of the game. From here the home team started to gain the upper hand, 2 corners came and were cleared, the travelling pack were getting pegged back and looking for some respite. Fortunately their No 8 (Thomas Murray) was staying composed under the rising football thermals and somewhat easing the potential threat. A Sandbach corner, the Lairds broke, a tackle came and a foul was given. The free-kick came and a header was had - an easy save but a breather gained. The Shipyarders crawled back into this via sheer bloody mindedness and hard work but a goal keeping rush of blood nearly cost them as the No 1 left his line to clear but was instantly lobbed by a keen-eyed Sandbachian. It was a sharp attempt but the ball landed wide and we stayed with the score sheet bare.
From here the half ground on, there looked little chance of a breakthrough as both units played a tight game and confounded their opponents opportunities. A volley from the home teams No 11 (Jordan Davies) was hopeful but failed to trouble the mitter and then a Cammell Laird player got clobbered and more verbals ensued - it seems as though these exchanges of vehement vitriol are par for the course but all it does is hinder the flow and mar the focus - hey ho. A midfield chess match followed from which No 11 (Greg Drummond) of the Camels broke and duly fed the globe to the striding No 10 (Ben Holmes) who chose his spot and side-footed toward the target zone. From our vantage point it looked like an accurate strike but the ball went wide and Sandbach counted their blessings. This was a good finish by the away lads and we went into the break with a scoreline reflective of both teams efforts.
We had a chat to our daughter at half-time who had rung up for a chat to give us an update on her University day. It is always welcome - she be a belter. We finished our fresh cups of tea, my good lady had a bag of crisp and the second period began.
Sandbach came out fired up (had there been a rocket put up their arse at half-time, or in fact the threat of spending a night with Gail Tilsley if they didn't pull their socks up - perish the thought). The lads reacted, the vision of the soap star's pendulous teets and carp-like countenance had obviously done the trick and a break came via the whipped up Davies who was unlucky not to finish a quite repid move. The Lairds added much fluster and bluster to put holes in the Sandbach sails but moments later the pesky Davies was onto a cross but again failed to finish matters. A home injury impeded impetus, the lad involved had had a knock on the noggin, his game was over but things didn't look serious (thank goodness). When the game continued urgency was plentiful, SB corner was only just dealt with - was a goal on the cards? Davies cut in again, a growing danger this chap, one to keep a peeper on. The shot he produced was sweet, it was inches over the bar.
A hectic finish followed, it was just that chances were at a minimum. The work rate was high, when the 7 dwarves indulged in an amphetamine session lesser toil took place. No 7 (Josh Maldon) for the guests bust a gut, ran to the corner and was unlucky not to get anything for his attempted cross. His colleagues came again, they were caught on the hop with Sandbach breaking with pace. Davies supplied No 6 (Ryan Alcock) who shot and was denied by a solid save. The corner was put in, a defensive header put the ball behind for another angled kick. The globe came forth, it wasn't dealt with but Davies was still full of beans and fired through the pack. The goal we had all waited for was had, the home team had grabbed it and looked to have stolen the 3 point prize after much energetic zeal, could the Lairds respond?
A pattern was soon set for the closing period with Cammell Laird the running waters trying to find a leak in the opponents defenses whilst Sandbach were the sponge, soaking up all flow and looking to squeeze out a counter-attack. Davies was still mithering for the hosts but the visiting team found a way through with a nut on, a pass and No 16 (Charlie McInnes) having time to shoot. He pulled the trigger too quickly, the save that followed was way to easy and was really the last action of the night. Game management dictated the final minutes, matters ended and somehow Sandbach had snatched victory from what looked a bob on draw. Man of the Match for me goes to a player on the losing side though, one who was composed in the midst of madness, displayed a culture in the kick that oozed class and who, on any other night, could well have been the supplier of several goals. No 8 (Thomas Murray) stand up and take the plaudits, a fine effort and with complete focus and dedication the rewards will surely follow.
FINAL THOUGHT - Well, after much ado about something we got a game in and witnessed a tight clash that was always destined to be decided by one goal. This was a close encounter for sure, closer than the butt cheeks of Bet Lynch and harder to decipher than the handwriting of a drunken Stephen Hawking - yes, a right piss-pot that fella and a benefit fraud if you ask me. A bloody good soul though so I'll overlook these two failings. Sandbach Utd are a pacey team and have players who aren't afraid to express themselves and who readily see an opportunity in the smallest of gaps. They were held in check tonight by a Cammell Laird team who leave nothing in the changing room and keep a high level of communication going throughout so as to maintain something akin to complete organisation. The play-off spots are up for grabs in the North West Counties First Division with I reckon, 8 teams in the hunt. Would you back against these 2 units not being in the final shake-up - I certainly wouldn't!
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