3rd August 2021 - Denton Town 1 v 0 Styal FC - The second of three matches in quick succession, this time to the fine regular stomping ground of Whittles Park. The day had been a long one, lots of office work and catching up before I take the Young Carers to Talacre tomorrow for a pootle in the dunes and on the beach, hopefully catching a few rays and enjoying some fine natural spectacles. It has gotta be done, these are tomorrows saviours and are in need of a break.
I arrived at the ground early and was greeted by many familiar faces that keep things turning over. Rug-making man Rob Nicholson was absent after he had been called down south due to one of his client's not being happy with a recent pubic carpet he had purchased. Apparently the punter's claimed his wife's toenails kept getting snagged in the said hirsute ground covering and was causing her extreme discomort. I think things would have gone well if Mr Nicholson would have used regular genital hair instead of those plucked fresh from his arse - the man just won't listen to sense. Anyway with Rob away it was good to see Jimmy back behind the bar even though he had recently had a nipple removed after spontaneously lactating. I don't mind men who have breast-feeding potential but when this fellow started topping up my tea with a bit of pap-milk I had to state my protestations. To add - Denton Dave (Starkey) was as chipper as ever and even though an avid collector of sexual pogo-sticks I still deem him to be be the most sane of the Denton bunch.
And to the game...
The opening throes were subdued and rather insipid until the Styal No 7 (Dwayne Greenwood) executed a quality midfield turn and pass that a frontman could only latch on to and fire at the keeper. Soon after the No 11 (Josh Palmer) had a pop following a Denton mistake, but the shot lacked any chomp whatsoever. The home pack responded with a rather inadequate corner and then a dash from No 11 (Marcello Arhin) saw the player tear forth, feed the ever hungry No 9 (Caylem Bateson) who attempted an impish chip over the keeper with the ball straying inches off target.
The Town were soon avalanching forth again, No 10 (Shaquille Lewys) passed to Arhin who had plenty of space and time to slap home the first strike of the night. A touch was taken, a pause to get the sights set and then the shot came straight at the mittman - it was a very disappointing outcome. After many more advances and many last touch errors Arhin and Bateson linked up again with the latter bod flashing a ball across the face of goal rather than in it - I think we were in for one of those nights.
After a stretch of one way traffic Styal jumped in the road and caused a minor hold up with a determined push, but all the while, they ran into many immovable bollards. Denton had another sortie forth which came to bugger all and in truth the team were lucky to survive a counterattack after they switched off and left a frontman unmarked. Before the interval the guest No 2 (Kaine Martin) went on a penetrating gallop and was unlucky to see his cross deflected off a defender for a corner which was duly wasted.
I couldn't be arsed to move for the break and merely stood in the same spot and nattered with Denton's Chairman Phil Bentley and the aforementioned pogo-stick connoisseur. Mr Bentley informed me that he had recently strained his Achilles Tendon, claiming it was a general strain and nothing to do with a recent double-ended ping and pop exhibition. I prepared for the second half disillusioned and, may it be said, disturbed.
The follow-on period began, Denton Town notched up five free-kicks with the first only gathered by the keeper at the second attempt and the third needing gloved assistance to push the globe over the bar. 3 corners were thrown into the host's lucky bag, a couple were long and were dealt with, one was nutted out and fired back at the keeper who gladly gathered. From an octet of gratis gifts the outcome was of no breakthrough - note to Denton Town, work on yer set-pieces, not yer cod-pieces.
Another corner saw Styal break with urgency, No 16 (Jack Irlam) was the apical component and was only denied at the last by a quickly spreading goalie. With no sign of a breakthrough The Town's Lewys went on a mission, burst forth, fired at the angle and bulged the inside of the net in utterly convincing style - 1 - 0 - by crikey the game didn't half need that.
From here I expected fireworks, all we got were a few spluttering catherine wheels, a few flaccid rockets and the odd brief sparkle that failed to create any real combustion. Styal almost immediately struck back when a blistering cross was met by the neck-twisting bonce of Irlam who was thwarted his glory by a top notch save.
Into the back end of the game we went, the Denton keeper produced a few more solid stops and then Styal marauded with Palmer exhibiting great feet and No 9 (Shackeel Depeiaza) being the wannabe assassin - alas for the guests the keeper was in the way once more. Back into the opposing box we went, Denton's No 7 (Caleb Affleck) had an opportunity to double the lead after the ball escaped from some frantic in-box goings-on. The shot came but just veered off target - now that was close.
The dying embers glowed briefly with a hectic last effort. Styal had one last corner that was nutted towards goal and easily collected by the Town No 1 (Philip Pole) who was coincidentally chosen for man of the Match after saving his side's bacon on several occasions and producing several crucial saves. The guy seems to be growing in sanguinity with each and every game.
I beetled off home rather tired tonight, this had not been of classical proportions to stoke the fires of interest but Denton had bagged 3 points - I suspected they would be well happy with that.
FINAL THOUGHT - A middling game this with many chances wasted and both teams forgetting to don their striking boots. Styal seemed to come with a plan to sit back and pilfer, they nearly pulled this off but were thwarted by some last ditch defending and some solid mitt work. The team are better than what they exhibited tonight and only a fool would back against this lot being in the end of season top 4 shake up. Denton have not started as fluently as I expected and I suspect, as they expected. They are facing teams who are coming prepared, who are up for the battle and who will be happy to steal points from a team who are very much one of the favourites for promotion. The main key is keep the back austere and tight and to get the advancing players decisive and with their eyes on busting the net. The next few games will answer many questions, I reckon 3 good wins and the season will be rolling the way it should be, any slip ups and questions will be asked.
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