9th March 2019 - Avro FC 7 v 0 Atherton Laburnum Rovers - We were going to do the groundhop today, we ran out of time. We were going to Steeton - the game was called off. We decided Liversedge would be worth a pootle, the game was also cancelled. After a morn of cycling and beetle hunting I returned home, had a chat with the missus and a decision was made - off to Avro it was. The weather was the main dictator, it was blowing a hoolie, liable to blast off a goolie, so we decided to play it careful and pick a ground not too far away and where I was guaranteed to go home with the jewels intact. The rain was hit and miss too - I may need a hat - ooh more decisions - do I go for my Crossroad's Benny woollen one, my Fred Dibnah homo-erotic flat cap charmer or perhaps my Ecky Thump version complete with a black pudding cosh in case of any trouble. I graced the globe with all 3 options, stuck to going 'eggshell au naturale' and hoped the clouds would play fair. As a back-up my black woollen hat with a 'Visual Offence' patch was kept in the bag - it seemed most apt as I confess to being no looker - unlike the aforementioned Dibnah - ooh what a sex-God and hey, what a lovely steeple! We arrived at our destination and made sure we warmed our cockles before hitting our viewing spot. The teams soon took to the pitch, we had both predicted 7 goals, (6 - 1 to the hosts in fact), we hoped for a closer contest, this is what actually happened.
The hosts, as expected, came out hungry and looking to snatch a quick strike. A few corners and shots from No 9 (Joe Beven) and No 11 (Ryan Hanson) helped to secure a stranglehold and send out the early warning signs. From an Avro corner Beven sent in a steamer that was blocked and led to a ALR break. No 9 (Nathan Hatton) was played in, the first touch was clumsy, the chance, as a prospect, fizzled. Avro bounced back from this minor scare, No 2 (Sam Rathbone) reached the end line, sent in a well-drilled cross that was met by the arriving Hanson - the end result was just off target. Avro were like an hormonal hedgehog, exuding desire and a spiky spirit. The opposition survived a few half chances and won a free-kick against the flow. No 4 (Dominic Barnes) took it, the outcome was a shot lacking in 'oomph' and direction - the keeper collected without fuss. As the guests looked to build from this moment of positivity they were caught with their conkers cold with Hanson for Avro setting forth on an arse-burning run that saw 3 players left standing and matters taken into the final 'red alert' zone. A tackle came, it was careless and mistimed, a yellow was issued and the penalty spot pointed to - a shame because Hanson was denied scoring a real beauty. No 8 (Louis Potts) took the spot kick, placement and pace were plentiful - the first goal was grabbed.
From here Atherton had some decent possession but just couldn't retain the globe and lacked options. Hanson for the hosts had the next shot, the visiting No 1 (Daniel Havern) produced a solid save and made sure this one stayed close. Avro were incessant though, another cross came and No 7 Philip Armstrong) popped up at the back post and should have done better - ball wide, goal kick folks. The clock ticked on, the visiting keeper was called on to make another firm save and then after an Atherton shot that lacked conviction Avro broke, won a corner and after another in-box collision, earned their second penalty of the day. Potts buried without bother - the game was slipping away from the travelling team who, after another scare, made 2 substitutions, in the hope of keeping this one within touching distance. Avro though were in the groove, a blistering attack came, a perfect cross was touch homeward just in front of gaol, the save that came was top class. At the death the home lads had one more surge, Beven supplied a cross, No 10 (Michael Stockdale) swung a leg and hit fresh air, Hanson made good contact and sent the globe towards goal - it flew over the horizontal - and we were done.
A cuppa and a Mars Bar for the break. This was still a competitive match, Atherton needed high discipline and an outstanding work ethic to stay in touch - Avro just needed to keep on doing what they were doing, we headed out into the wind, here's what happened.
The Vestacare residents were straight on it, No 17 (Jake Pollard) in the mix and being a real menace. Atherton managed to create an attack but Avro absorbed and sprung like a amphetamine laden turd from the rear of a nervous fatman. A ball was played into the box, Potts reacted and touched towards goal, and yet again a top notch save was made. The ball remained in play, was nutted back with an Avro player there to touch home, somehow the post was struck - what a miss. The hosts advanced once more, Beven had a good dig not far off the mark and then another onslaught saw a tidy shot come and the man between the Atheron uprights produce a dazzling one handed stop. 2 corners followed the first was crap, the second dealt with by the mittman after Stockdale's up and down header. No 7 (Nathan Strong) had a shot for ALR soon after, it went for a corner that duly produced nothing but led to a brief period of give and take. The hosts came out of this touch and go session on top, Potts had a low firm punt that went for an angled kick. The ball in was decent but an offside decision pissed in the chips of promise.
Next, yes Avro came once again, the full width of the pitch was used, the passing was exemplary, the final ball in was top notch with No 16 (Michael Norton) looking certain to score. Not so, the gent in the gloves was zoned in, what a crackin' reaction block. The home team though were irrepressible, some sweet passing and fine work was had, No 2 (Sam Rathbone) making a noteworthy contribution, No 15 (Joe Rathbone) at the apex of the assault and duly bringing up the third strike of the game. A minute later a corner came the same way, the ball was struck goalward with Havern once more using strong hands to deny a ripple of the mesh. The ball went loose though, Sam Rathbone was on hand, 4 - 0 - job done.
20 minutes left on the clock, Avro now played higher up the pitch, No 3 ( Nicholas Alexander) was becoming a nuisance trespasser and was unlucky not to bag a goal of his own when a cross dipped just beneath the bar but was tipped over at the last. Atherton now looked desperate and scrambled like worried Turkeys in a Bernard Matthews' sex bar. A long ball came for the hosts, a ball the split the opposing rear pack in two and allowed No 4 (Vincent Howell) to slip in and coolly finish from the edge of the box. Pollard sent forth a rasper soon after, thankfully for the Rovers it went wide. Potts had a pop that was saved and then from a goalkick the ball came back, Beven spied glory and wham - another insult to injury was donated to the suffering ALR pack. From the tidal wave the guests managed to scrape together a shot via No 8 (Bradley Aspinall). The keeper spilled but any predators were absent and after another tame jaunt into territory virtually unknown the ALR lads were found wanting, caught on the hop with Potts finalising proceedings with the 7th goal and his own personal hat-trick. It could have been 8 soon after but Norton was denied by the still stubborn goalie and then Atherton had one last punt via No 2 (Fernanado Usombo) but the ball just wouldn't stay down. 7 - 0 - it stayed - it could have been so much more. Man of the Match, for me at least, goes to the guest No 1 (Daniel Havern) who may have let 7 goals in but produced some outstanding saves and with a more organised side in front of him could have even kept a clean sheet. It was a ruddy good effort and added much excitement to the game - Atherton, if rebuilding from the back, have their first solid stone in place.
FINAL THOUGHT - Today we had wind, rain, hailstone, a rainbow, and a watershed of goals from a very efficient home team. In truth, the opposition are in a state of unsettled disarray at the moment but Avro were exemplary and if they would have had their true shooting boots on and not been denied by a very effective keeper their tally could easily have ended up around the dozen mark. They are in second place in the league, today all the reasons why they are in that position were on show - highly focused, communicative, willing to run on and off the ball and perfectly balanced in all areas of the park. They may just fall short of promotion this year, that is no great disaster as Longridge are pure quality and there is always next time around. Atherton Laburnum Rovers have been through the mire this season, both on and off the pitch and they really did look like a team today lacking in bite, a touch off the pace and towards the latter end, running out of gas. With politics, financial hassles, players leaving and just plain old bad luck they are going to be relegated this time around, a sore loss for the league indeed. We will still pop down wherever they end up and although today there were many negatives I personally think they are not that far off the standard that they want to be at. The key is playing as a complete unit and when a player has the ball giving him as many options as possible. This takes awareness and a use of the full pitch, I am sure they can get there and sincerely wish them all the best. Me and the missus pootled off home with this seasons goal average up and with another trip to Avro on the cards in 5 days time - here's to another 7 goals please.
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