4th December 2018 - Atherton Laburnum Rovers 3 v 2 AFC Blackpool - Another midweek match, another jaunt to Crilly Park and a chance to sit in the perishing cold and watch some Non-League footy (my private parts are really holding a grudge against me at the moment). Atherton are in the shit, sitting bottom of the heap, 7 points adrift and in need of a plan. The managerial staff and players have got it all to do and I was intrigued to see what they would come up with against a mid-table side looking to rise a little higher. 5 points from 19 games is disastrous, the threat of the drop was getting closer each and every week and I hope by sprinkling a little bit of Fungalised dust on one of my many favoured teams I may help them turn a corner. What would be the plan of action tonight? Would the stench get stronger, would there spring forth an unexpected flower of hope from the clogging manure of desperation or would AFC Blackpool find it within their charitable hearts to award the home team the full 3 points, an all-expenses trip to Honolulu for all players and staff alike and a night on the razzle with a Brian Moore look-a-like for the lasses serving refreshments and working the bar (I think not). AFC Blackpool are a hit and miss side and when 'on it' can turn over the best, when 'off it' can be beat by the worst (interesting to say the least). I love a trip up to the Mechanics Ground, I just wondered if the team had brought all their tools tonight to do a real dismantling job on a side in real jeopardy - this is the outcome of the contest.
The opening play was scrappy to say the least with the lemon-clad hosts winning an early free kick after No 10 (Luke Hincks) was unceremoniously dumped in the dirt on the periphery of the box. No 6 (Bradley Aspinall) took charge of the hoofing but his shot was shy of the nearside stick. In due course he had a similar gratis punt but this time he found the target but the effort lacked any wallop whatsoever and the keeper easily gathered. In response to the home teams efforts the tangerine draped guests had their own bonus ball delivered, it came, gave rise to some sketchy defending that was somehow put right and ALR looked to push on and grab the opening goal. From a game lacking initial quality Atherton were just about shading matters and just needed a touch of luck or a moment of killer quality. Suddenly more pressure was applied to the visiting rear ranks, a free-kick missed all heads but went straight back into the danger area. The ball headed goalward, a striker looked to touch, the keeper misread the situation, Aspinall was claiming the opening strike, his teammates looked absolutely delighted. From here the Rovers came on strong, they were definitely hungry for this one. Hincks provided a stunning ball next, No 9 (Jake Ambrose) burst through and knocked the ball out wide after the netman went AWOL. The ball fell to the feet of No 7 (Nathan Hatton) and a chance to double the lead was there - alas a crucial miss followed, would this be a moment to haunt the memory banks (add own sinister music please)?
Blackpool now started to bust guts and work back in. Their No 9 (Ben Duffield) battled well, put forth a mis-pass, that was duly missed by a defender allowing No 11 (Stephen Betteridge) to wildly thump one and ahem, miss the zone. Atherton reacted, a stunning ball saw a striker advance and get crowded out. The chance looked lost but the head was kept, a pass back came and woomph (artistic licence there) No 11 (Kyle Tomlinson) buried the ball with controlled authority. This was a turn up for the tattered books and The Laburnum Lads weren't done yet as they passed and moved with keen desire and kept on creating the odd half chance. A long ball from the Blackpool keeper nearly bore fruit from a barren tree with Duffield controlling well and Betterridge belting one just wide. Atherton were unflustered and duly saw out the half with a couple more tame efforts on goal and with a momentum that was focused and irrepressible. It was a good stint and much to the pleasure of the local yokels who had made the effort to support their side on a damp and miserable night. They deserve a mention, they could easily have stayed at home watching a bunch of attention seeking halfwits play Jungle Jim in a mock up farce using bugs and prime time bullshit to entertain the dead - I think they had made a wise choice!
A brew for half-time and a wander to the far side of the ground for a stand up. Fuck that, it was a pure chill zone and feeling the icy breath of Jackie Frost on our exposed faces we duly headed back to our seat in the stands before the chilled devil explored regions best left unmentioned. Arses parked, brew downed, the teams came back out and here are some more scribblings.
Another patchwork start came with the onus on the Blackpool pack to force the issue. Atherton though looked comfortable, they won the first corner which was knocked in and nutted out. Hincks did well to retrieve and try his luck, he was unfortunate not to trouble the keeper. Two more corners followed for the yellows, the first ended with a strong header that needed equally robust defending, the second went in and out and back in with Aspinall mere millimetres away from touching home - phew. The orange 'erberts bounced back, a half chance was on the cards but No 4 (Aaron Fleming) executed some determined and quite resolute defending that reflected his entire team's performance. Soon after the Blackpool mittman had an attack of the vapours and felt the need to roam, the lad was extremely fortunate not to see a long range effort ripple his meshings (in a non-sexual way of course). His team were now getting desperate (again in a non-sexual way although who knows in this day and age), but the ALR pack were simply hustling too hard to allow any time on the ball. Out of the blue Blackpool were given a free-kick on the edge of the box, the decision was scandalous, the guilty party was incensed and given a yellow card as extra insult. The kick came, struck the bar, dropped in a perilous area and was nutted home by No 6 (Daniel Pickering) much to the disgust of the resident followers. 2 -1 - now this was a test for all.
Now the tempo moved up several gears, as The Mechanics pushed Atherton broke, No 7 (Nathan Hatton) displayed stunning urgency and led the charge placing a lovely ball for Ambrose to latch onto. This looked like the third strike, the guest No 1 (Jon Broadstock) was quick off the mark and sprawled, good save that man, good save. As ALR continued to prod and poke Blackpool rode their luck and a ball over the top caught every home player with their trousers down that let Duffield sneak in, round the keeper and shockingly slot home. I say 'shockingly', I mean how the hell had the scoreline become 2 - 2 when the hosts looked so in control - don't ya just love this Non-League madness! The excitement levels rose, the game was now anyone's, end to end madness ensued. No 16 (Jake Dunford) for the hosts burst forth, the cross he put in was exemplary, Hincks received and drilled on the turn - just wide.
The back stretch was upon us, it was a wild finish with both teams searching for the winning strike. From the middle of the park a stunningly outrageous ball was played, Dunford was on the end of it and hurtled forth with rabid intent. All he had to do now was stay calm, resist the attentions of the defender and pick his spot. He did just that, it was a cracking moment, the supporters and management roared with joy, it was, if the truth be told, thoroughly deserved. A frantic last 5 minutes came, Blackpool were on the ropes and didn't use enough ammunition to escape the clutches of defeat. When the referee called for full time the Laburnum Rovers plan of action was complete and a step closer to the safety zone achieved. Their No 10 (Luke Hincks) was a pivotal player in the outcome, always thinking on his feet, looking to dismantle the opponents with a cutting pass and providing many fine balls for his colleagues to chase. A worthy Man of The Match methinks, the coming weeks will need more of the same. Me and my fine lady headed off home pleased with what we had witnessed, tis a good ground Crilly Park, and this match provided great entertainment - wonderful.
FINAL THOUGHT - The fact is that if Atherton Laburnum Rovers play like this each and every week they will avoid the drop and give their fans much to applaud. This was a result built on belief, desire and sheer hard work, they nearly got robbed of their due reward but the fact that they were pegged back and still found it within themselves to grind out the win says so much about the teams attitude and their capabilities. Even when times get tense they must remember this night and call upon defiant reserves. AFC Blackpool were far from a settled unit tonight and simply got outworked and were never allowed to settle thus making for a long hard night that made them a difficult unit to judge. In truth they only created two chances and snatched them both and the scoreline was perhaps more favourable than in reality. They will hold their own in this league but they better be careful, if the teams below them go on a surge and the Mechanics don't apply their spanner of correction a few nuts and bolts may come loose and a struggling inner engine may follow - dig in lads, I will have a wander up your way very soon and hope to witness a renewed effort with the end result a Tangerine Dream - think on!
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