The opening humps and bumps
came and Egerton finally contributed something akin to an onslaught that was in
response to a Middlewich foray forward. The ball came over the top, No 10
(Doug Pringle) flicked on with his a willing bonse and No 11 (Tom Miller) sent
in a punt that was deflected wide. The corner had about as much threat as
a Jack Pike with its teeth extracted - it sucked. In return to this minor
scare the hosts had a free-kick that No 22 (Rory Gorton) wellied into the wall.
Soon after the same team flowed like expelled ale from a the nob of a 20 stone
alcoholic. No 5 (Jack Weedall) and No 8 (Harry Short) were crucial
components but the end result was a rather flustered finish with no splash of
success.
After some intense battling the home ranks won a brace of corners. The
first saw the rear ranks defend like excitable, disorganised buzz-bombs, the
second ended with a low drilling shot from No 10 (Chris Lunn) that
strayed off target. The game remained highly competitive, the home team
continued to just hold the reins, they attacked
once more and this time were halted in their tracks by two defensive headers
via the hard-working Pringle, he was certainly putting himself around.
Short flowed forth next with a good collect and dash that fed No 7
(Oliver McDonough). A shot came, another corner was borne and delivered
to the back stick were No 18 (Charlie Hatton) put his attempt over the horizontal.
The first goal was still there to be grabbed, both teams were as tight as a
navel-knot, there was no sign of anything coming undone anytime soon.
Suddenly the livewire that was Pringle gathered and darted. The striker
only had eyes for goal, he made his effort but was denied by a prostrate keeper
whose pins did enough to send the ball away from goal. As the half went
into the dying embers Middlewich earned a free-kick and a corner. The
first was easily quashed, the second ended with a shot over by No 4 (Geoff
Basford) - and that was that - ooh heck, a bare-ball bullet was on the cards!
We just had a wander around the pitch for half-time and examined a few flowers
in bloom. Groundsel; Red Dead Nettle; Wavy Bittercress; Shepherd's Purse;
Common Mouse Ear; Pineappleweed and Common Field Speedwell were the pitch-side
growths with several birds noted for good measure. I had a piddle at the
side of a Laurel Bush, no doubt when I return to the ground the golden-watered
patch will be heaving with rare exotic herbs and oversized stinkhorns - I never
underestimate the power of the piss.
The second period began with a stunning run made by the impish wriggler
labelled as No 15 (Ellis Graham) who rode a determined tackle and was mighty unlucky to see his effort on goal just trickle
wide. The next pop came via the guests again. Pringle hit a
free-kick, in truth I think I could have got closer whilst wearing a pair of
flippers and a back-to-front diving helmet - it was a poor effort.
Middlewich tried their best to grab a goal, at the apex of every move things
were rushed and going too easily astray - a few bods were venting their
frustrations until No 9 (Steven Hughes) found a bit is space out wide and
delivered a low ball across the face of goal - somehow the assassin's touch
never came, hopes were rising however.
The next eye-snagging passage of play came for the visitors, Pringle and Graham
linked up, No 9 (Lee Hendley) released a blisterer, the save by the home No 1
(Charles Masters) was more than applaudable - well played that man. The
man between the sticks had little else to do when the resultant corner was
wasted and Middlewich cleared the decks. Eventually the probing Town
earned a free-kick that Short delivered with decent accuracy. All heads rose,
the globe went up and came down, Lunn was on hand to untidily bumble the ball
over the line and grab that deadlock breaking nugget - 1 -0 to the hosts, this
game though was far from done.
Further into the mush of the matter we went, from a Middlewich corner the
visitors raced away, Hendley galloped like a man with a bad dose of the
tom-tits and provided a fine-cross that Pringle was there to pounce on.
Weedall however timed his rearguard tackle to perfection and made sure the
chance went no further.
Substitutions came each way, Egerton won a
thrown in which was duly launched, nutted on and lashed into the back of the
net by a zealous Pringle. The home team looked rather stunned but soon
got stuck back in to the action with Hughes turning and shooting only to see
the keeper gather without too much concern. As the resident ranks pushed,
the opposing No 5 (Rob Spilsbury) gathered deep and set about making good
ground before eventually feeding the eternally willing Pringle.
The keeper was all that stood between the striker and success, the shot was
rushed and reckless, over the sphere flew.
The closing segment of the game brought great heave-ho from either side in a
game of attrition and small differences. A brace of shots flew towards
the Egerton goal with various defensive body parts clattered and then another surge saw a laser-like shot fly at the keeper
who duly spilled. Hughes nipped in, toed the ball to the awaiting No 21
(Callum Priestley) who gratefully nudged home and brought great joy for himself,
his colleagues and the bench. This looked a critical moment,
Egerton now bust a gut, they were caught on the hop with Middlewich breaking
and a penalty shout renting the air. The
referee was not interested until he noted his liner's pennant. After a
quick Tête à Tête the bonus-boot spot was indicated and up stepped
Hughes to sweetly hammer the final nail in the trailing teams coffin.
A
few minutes later and we were done and dusted. The players left the
pitch, I contemplated the Man of the Match and went for the highly efficient,
composed and reliable Middlewich Town No 5 (Jack Weedall), a very
eye-catching player who got on with matters in a self-confident and assured
manner - you can't beat those who do things quietly and with good authority -
nice one.
FINAL
THOUGHT - Egerton
are second bottom, look to be in deep trouble and yet, on today's evidence, the
league position is nothing less than a stinking lie - the team are better than
what the table says and I reckon there will be a slow ascent had over the next
couple of months. The key is just adding a little more width to the set
up, keeping things simple and forward moving and, most importantly, when the
ball is being moved forth, making sure players get up and offer support and
options - task set. Middlewich have great variation in their team, can
alter their style when the need arises and, contain some real match winning
elements that should see them add many more wins to the tally before the
campaign is done. There is a strong vein from front to back, the only
facet I would work on is composure on the ball and the end decision
making. A few times today threat was had, the ball rushed, attacks set
about, the killer ball done with too much haste - all it needs is a foot on the
ball, a look and a picked pass - the rewards could be so much greater but hey,
tis easier said than done and these are only honest observations from a keen
touchline onlooker. So, any sortie into The Cheshire League, we have a
few more lined up, both these teams will get extra viewings, they are very
deserved of the support.
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