THE CHANCE TO SURGE

28th October 2019 - Maine Road 1 v 2 Sandbach Utd - My duty of leading fungi walks this year is over with 19 walks done, a few hundred people enthused and 2249 records submitted of 560 species.  I have had soakings aplenty, have scratched, sniffed, tasted and dabbled with many shrooms and have come out the other end shattered out.  Now I am back on the Non-League Trail, the chance to freeze one's tits off whilst watching a group of dudes kick a sphere around is perhaps not everyone's cup of chilling cha' but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Today was a game destined to be a real close affair with two units looking to give a little extra push and surge onward into the heady heights of the NWCFL first division south.  Pre-season saw me tip both sides to be in the mix at the tail end, so far they were looking on course for destination 'success' but, one slip could lead to a serious blip and the wheels could go flying off with many nearby competitors quick to take advantage.  I had had a long day dealing with many tasks, I arrived at the ground and caught up with a  few familiar faces whilst partaking of a brew.  Soon after my arse was perched on a rather cool bench, the players came out and with chilly fingers I scribbled out the following observations.

Steam rose, breath billowed in misted plumes, legs galloped over dampened turf liable to tear open with every forceful tackle.  The team to take initial ascendency was the The Road although the first onslaught of any note came via the claret clad guests who came on strong with a rapier-like move that saw No 10 (Robbie Hatton) finalise with a shot on target that needed some quality gloved attention.  Road were undaunted by this early scare and played with their usual high impetus cultivating a pot shot that couldn't find the target and then pressing with much potential but failing to fulfill the ambition.  Eventually though a ball out wide saw No 11 (Jamie Hill) open up the shanks and sprint like a cheetah on whizz.  The line was hugged, the globe just kept in and duly fired into the zone of jeopardy.  A mis-control saw the ball fall loose and end up on the toes of No 9 (Jack Coop) who took one touch and duly rifled home - it was a goal of old-school content, straight from the 70's into the modern day and with no fannying about on the wing.

The game now grew in stature, No 7 (Daniel Burgess) for the hosts was having a bright start and went on one particular run that ended in a dig.  The effort however was telegraphed, deflected behind and led to a corner that produced a Sandbach break.  Thankfully for the hosts No 10 (Jamie Roe) was alert and eager and cleared up any disconcerting danger.  After a shot off target for the said Roe the impetus seemed to leak out of the game and left us with a somewhat deflated affair. No 8 (Ben Mooney) for the hosts did have a chance to rekindle interest after wriggling through an in-box melee but the shot was sweetly saved by the wide awake stickman.  Slowly the flow increased, Sandbach started to consider a comeback when a pass found Hatton in what seemed a quite innocuous position.  The options were lacking, a punt at goal was had with the ball dipping quicker than the share value of Boris Johnson's Underpants of Trust (I know, I know).  The ball looked to be going over but dropped with interest, the equaliser had been grabbed, it was a real eye-catching strike.  

During the closing minutes of the half the MR lads advanced, Burgess delivered a choice cross, Coop gathered but was denied by some outstanding tackling via the travelling No 2 (Declan O' Riordan).  At the other end a mush of figures in the box saw confusion arise and from somewhere in the mix a Sandbach player lashed one against the horizontal leaving it trembling like a fatman's nob in a Custard Cream factory.  The guests continued to finish the half with commanding zeal, their No 11 (Tom Williams) could have snatched the lead before the break but was denied by the home No 1's (Conrad Betton) sprawling shanks - it was then time for a brew.

Half-time was spent chatting to that gent David Potter of Cheadle Heath Nomads fame and sipping tea with my mate STP Stu.  John D and Gareth and his good lady Sandra were in attendance and all pre-match predictions were very much still on.  Alas none of us won the raffle as the club director's next door neighbour picked up the bottle of wine for the 14th time this year, and there had only been 10 home matches - now work that out!

The second half began with both teams snuffing out one another's wicks of promise and dousing any flames of driving ambition.  Sandbach came close when a fiery cross just needed a firm contact to guide homeward but Hatton was a fraction too late and a fraction too small to add that killer touch.

A settled period followed until Hatton for Sandbach darted into the box, was crudely tumbled and dusted himself down to convert a rather simple penalty.  The turn-around was complete and despite all of Maine Road's huff and puff the visitors remained organised and had stuck to their task.  Maine Road worked with animated industry, a grass-trimming cross had high pace as it went across the face of goal, all that was needed was the simplest touch to regain parity, alas it was nowhere to be seen.  Sandbach continued to more than hold their own but it was the resident pack who came close again when Roe played a delectable pass that saw the offside flag waved, be put down, a shot saved at the last and then a free-kick given out wide.  I am still not sure went on during this terse spell of madness but it seemed to knock the stuffing out of the game and before we knew it the last 15 minutes where upon us.

From here on in the guests remained comfortable, a couple of shots came but were of little significance and what came in return lacked any real penetration quality.  During the final throes one team looked out of ideas and general gas, the other were happy to dumb matters down and get to the final whistle - and that, in truth, was that!  Man of the Match goes to the visiting No 2 (Declan O 'Riordan) who put in many a fine tackle, played the game hard but fair and was one of the main reasons the hosts couldn't really build on their early lead.  It was a stout defensive stint done in a quiet and authoritative way - I am always appreciative of this kind of play.

FINAL THOUGHT - Personally I thought this was a middling game that lacked any real 'oomph' and displayed two teams who had the chance to push on and start to build a campaign of any real note.  What was more than noticeable was the lack of clear cut chances and any real choice of options when the teams galloped into the final third - something both packs need to sort out if they are going to push upward into the higher echelons of this competitive league.  Maine Road always give their all, play with great pride but tonight seemed a trifle out of sync and lacked any real game plan.  Of course they always make their opponents earn their crust but just a little more organisation in the ranks and a sharper apex when attacking and things could really move up to the next level.  Sandbach, on this performance, are hard to judge.  They are disciplined and go about their business in a quiet but effective way and tonight they got the job done.  Again, it is in the final third where they seem to just be lacking.  I will catch up with both teams again soon enough and still believe they can make the end of season shake-up if they just tweak in the right areas - it is easier said than done!