BLUES WIN OUT UNDER THE GREY

30th December 2023 - Widnes  1 v 2 Clitheroe FC - The 409th match report is here, which isn't bad seeing that for the past few seasons I am just picking and choosing where I scribble. Today we had a morn doing what needs to be done and then the missus and myself headed to Widnes for a trip back to a ground we hadn't been to for quite a while.  The last time we were perched in the DCBL Stadium was when the hosts were a North West Counties Team and there were about 30 other people for company.  Today I expected a few more but not many to be fair.  

Prior to going to the ground though we had a walk at Victoria Park with the birds fed, counted and recorded and a good brew enjoyed in the local cafe.  The weather played fair for once and the stroll was mighty pleasant, we even spied a couple of fungi, one of which was the Wolf-Fart Puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme).  I have never seen a wolf expel its anal gas but I have known a few Jack Russell's to make a reek from the rectum and so am campaigning for a fungus name-change - The Jack Russel Shit-Arse Spore Shooter would look grand in many mycological tomes and would be one many a punter on my walks would surely remember.

And to the ground, we arrived, paid our fees, purchased a couple of choccy bars and I had another coffee and a pie.  The pie was delectable, this will be my last one for a few months as I am aiming to drop a few pounds.  The coffee was akin to a liquid version of the aforementioned shroom although I guzzled it down due to the fact that it was warm - by heck it was a shocker.  

With seats taken a decent crowd built up (a darting 180 I believe) and the teams came out.  The desire was for a footballing masterclass with oodles of goals, what we got instead was thus:-

The early state of play saw two teams indulge in an examination process of the opposing force with retainment of the ball very much the key priority.  Clitheroe eventually won a corner from nothing with the ball posted and No 9 (Sefton Gonzales) putting too much head-beef on the sphere and sending it over the horizontal.  Widnes began to push next, No 2 (Louis Isherwood) knocked a choice ball forth that needed some alert defending.  A throw followed, some decent movement ensued but the guests remained disciplined and suppressed the danger. 

Clitheroe were the next team to raise levels of hope with an advancement that saw No 11 (Veron Parny) cross, the ball get nudged away only for No 10 (Ross Dent) to latch onto and have a dig. The effort was sadly deflected wide.  The resultant corner was abysmal. Clitheroe soon came again, No 2 (Jacob Hanson) out wide put in a fair cross that Gonzales collared.  With good muscle the striker shrugged off his marker and let fly a shot that the home No 1 (Cameron Terry) did well to save in his bottom corner.  The hoof from the angle was decent but Widnes resisted any penetration.

As the hosts stuttered along the best they could muster was a free-kick that was duly wasted by a rotten shot over the bar. Clitheroe were having a lot of the ball but were a trifle  negative in the approach whilst the home team kept up a good work rate to make sure their defending remained watertight.  Alas the two teams were not wearing watertight clothing and got a good soaking as the Heavens opened and the liquid misery fell with relentless insistence.  

The game now seemed to be dragging until Widnes advanced, a superb cross found the nut of No 10 (Sean Miller) who put in a good header that was wonderfully saved.  A quick break followed, Gonzales was at the apex of matters and after negotiating an inch of space, he fired and found the back of the onion bag - 0 -1 and on the balance of play it was deserved.

The half-time came soon after with little else to report.  The main gripe with the game is that there were too many passes made by both teams that were going the wrong way.  Back, back and back and this, combined with a lack of creativity wasn't making for the greatest spectacle - hey ho, sometimes a clash of styles can kill the greatest sources of potential.  

Half two began with the rain hammering down and a few hardy Widdy fans striving to cultivate a tune or two.  Their team certainly needed the encouragement and had to up their game.  The initial battling was good from both units with the resident pack putting together some good passing that was testing the Clitheroe resolve.  Despite this, the visitors always looked the most likely to score with the point nearly proven when Veron Parney released Dent who had a pop at goal but couldn't keep his shot down.  

Widnes made a few subs before a long ball saw No 3 (Matty Rain) have a chance to finish but who chose to cross instead.  No 15 (Matt Van Wyk) connected, the ball flew way off target but was retrieved, crossed and duly hoofed away.  No 16 for Widdy (Steve Milne) put in a positive run next with a punt at the net moving in the bracing air.  The No 1 (Burton) kept his peepers on matters and pushed away well.  Soon after the hosts came again, a ball into the box laden with players saw the globe saved and then Van Wyk turning home to get the game back to all square.

With just over a quarter of an hour to play the game was up for grabs although my pre-match prediction of 1-1 was looking good.  Half chances came and went, the clock ticked away, into the last 5 we went when, Widnes became a trifle static, a long Clitheroe ball was played with Gonzales in the right place at the right time and from the edge of the box sending a looping header over the befuddled keeper.  It was an out of the blue moment, a real gift and, as it turned out, the winning goal.  The referee blew for time, we headed home and pondered.  Man of the Match must go to the 2 goal hero (Stefan Gonzales) who did what he set out to do, held the ball up, be a pain in the oppositions conkers and get a couple of goals - it is as simple as that (well so it seems).  The rain was still pouring come the end of the game, I suspect this wouldn't bother the away fans as much as the home 'erberts - hey ho, a New Year awaits.

FINAL THOUGHTS - A big stadium, but still a good Non-League game can be viewed for a fair price.  Today both teams nullified each other with very few chances made.  It was always going to be a close game and perhaps, on reflection, Clitheroe did deserve it.  I can't make too many comments about either unit as I haven't seen them before during this campaign but I would suggest they do need to work harder off the ball and make sure their aim is to attack, attack and attack rather than ponder too much and end up playing back to their own goal.  These are merely personal thoughts from a punter who just likes to see a fair few games here and there and who appreciates all that goes into keeping this game alive.  2024 is just around the corner, best wishes to both clubs and their staff, I hope we can get back here in 2024 and when we do I am opting for a cup of tea instead of a coffee and expect the pies to be as good as ever - tis all about priorities.

FULL BLOODED CUP ACTION

16th December 2023 - Droylsden FC 5 v 3 Longridge Town - The shambolic state of the belfry after a year of emotional battering has seen me on the back foot as regards doing football reports of late.  It has been a tough year with the latest body blow coming via the unexpected loss of my best mate and touchline buddy STP Stu.  We pootled here and there, nattered and enjoyed many games, cafe visits and of course gigs.  He was taken a few weeks back and I have wandered around like a gutted fish ever since.  After my health scares earlier in the year, the loss of the fine Mother-in-Law that knocked the stuffing out of my wonderful wife, a few more losses on the punk scene and many everyday gripes, this has been a real shitbag of a campaign that has seen me dip into depths I thought were left behind.  Hey fuckin' ho and on we must go and so after a morn doing chores whilst the lasses went to a dance fundraiser, we three stalwarts eventually were sorted and out. My fantastic daughter was dropped at the local train station, me and the missus went to Debdale Park for a walk.  The birds were fed (utterly important), recorded (crucial), a few fungi were recorded too (a veritable must) and a warm brew was bagged (unavoidable behaviour these days) and we had a fine stroll.  We are simple folk, we want to do what we do, make a difference and be always true to one another and anyone who is decent to us - onwards.

To the football we went, Droylsden was the choice due to a friendly nudge by joint manager and decent bloke Phil Cooper.  We arrived, had a wander and gasbagged.  Seats were chosen and my pen and paper were ready.  Here are my considerations, I hope they continue where I left off and help keep people intrigued about this fine 'under the radar' game.

The start of the game saw Longridge Town put in some good possession whilst gently probing and looking for a killer ball. No 2 (Mitchell Marshall) posted a few early knocks into the box, all questions of the home defense were tidily answered. No 10 (Paul Turner) for the guests had a shout for a penalty that was ignored by the black clad central official and then Droylsden had their first sortie forth via a rapid breakaway that saw No 11 (Fuad Kasali) dash like his rear was laden with furious fire-ants. No 9 (Nellson Van) looked to receive the crucial pass but as his legs whirred and he looked to collect and bury the ball, the opposing No 1 (Kier Barry) was out to collect in the nick of time.

The game continued with both teams trying to play sound football.  A Droylsden free-kick brought the next glimmer of net bulging hope.  The ball was sent forth, flicked on and booted away.  No 8 (Benjamin Lowe) collected, made a quick dart and dink and beat the initial player in his way.  A repeat trick was had before the goal was eyed from a decent distance.  The player in ownership of the globe was undeterred and let fly a delicious shot that found the bottom corner and surely made a claim for the Fungalised goal of the season, what a way to open the game's account. The celebratory backflips were totally deserved.

Longridge now strove to respond and earned a bonus boot of their own.  No 11 (Morgan Homson-Smith) hoofed and No 9 (Dean Ing) put bonce on ball only to send it just the wrong side of the upright. Soon after the guests came again with an attack quelled and then another gratis kick earned. Homson-Smith had a dig at goal, the keeper punched away, No 7 (Scott Harries) tried to bury the follow-up but sent the ball high over the horizontal.  As The Ridge prowled with purpose they were caught with their trousers down and conkers exposed.  The ball was gained by The Bloods, a liquid 3 pass move came with Van at the apex and battling away so as to get a touch on the ball and double the lead in sterling fashion, 2 - 0 - who would have thought it?

Longridge now upped their efforts, a corner was sent into the box by Homson-Smith with the globe heading goalward but urgently palmed away by the ever-alert mitter. A follow-up corner was hoofed straight out of play - it was very disappointing.  Droylsden cultivated some good pressure in response with an angled hoof won.  The ball came, a flick on was just missed, a shot was mis-hit, Lowe gathered and weaved inward but only won yet another corner. This time the entrance of the ball in the box caused mayhem.  In, out, in, out, a few players tried to shake matters about, the result was a kick from the opposite angle that the keeper did well to punch clear.

Longridge pushed on whilst the half wound down.  No 6 (Calen Gallagher-Allison) had a chance close in to slap the sphere into the onion bag but wellied over and then a long ball found Ing who was closely marked by No 6 (Elvis Amoakwa).  The ball spurted towards goal, a deathly silence pervaded the Butcher's Arms Ground as the ball nestled in the netting - it was an own goal, a shocker and a late foothold for the trailing team.  No further action of any note came before the referee called for a break.

I had a wander for a brew but was in no mood to queue so, pointed the old pecker at the porcelain, sent forth a gush of gold, zipped up and returned to my place next to the good lady.  We checked the half-time scores, shared a bit of choccy and watched the teams roll out for period 2 whilst the discordant defecation that spilled from the distorting speakers slowly abated (how about some 60's garage, some underdog punk or even Northern Soul you blighters).

Half 2 and Longridge Town started with good impetus with a corner won. A sweet delivery was the result with the ball slapped off the underside of the bar and into the net by the awaiting Gallagher-Allison to get matters back to all square.  The Bloods were guilty of a lapse in concentration methinks.

Longridge pressed once more, a long range effort saw the keeper spill and gather at the second attempt before the home lads had a push with No 6 (Kyle Oakes) finalising matters with a punt wide.  The same team had a choice opportunity to retake the lead next when a breakaway saw two players have only the mittman to beat but get involved in a real indecisive mix up that saw the chance disappear into the ether. Undeterred, the hosts came on once more with No 10 (George West) collecting a safe pass, showcasing a pair of twinkle tootsies and after working some space, sending the ball home to recapture the advantage.  And yet again, what a delectable goal.

The action was now incessant, The Ridge advanced, a ball out wide was followed by a long laser-like cross that saw Turner nip in and just beat the keeper to level matters yet again.  This was turning into a real lottery, would the next goal be the golden ball and bag the cup victory?  

With matters balanced some end to end to action came with an Invasion of the Killer Balloons from Space still distracting some folk who were in serious danger of missing some crucial action (ooh the silly sods).  We entered the last 5, the resident pack had a free-kick which was beautifully delivered.  The keeper saved a shot, the ball went loose, No 17 (Shaquille Lewis) was on hand to bury, surely that was the clinching moment!

The last throes, Droylsden could have added another but once more two players failed to make their minds up and let the opportunity slip. This was all irrelevant though as soon after the game was sealed when the flank was dashed and a cross saw No 16 (Elliott Fenton) thwack the globe home and finalise the game at 5 goals to 3.  A few minutes extra, all done and it was time to consider the Man of the Match which went to No 3 (Harry Shipton) who was pretty ruddy tidy at the back, kept up a good work rate and was an under-the-radar chief component in a solid team's output.  

We buggered off home after the game and had a quiet evening, this had been a classic encounter and a good showcase for Non-League - here's to more of the same for the rest of the season.

FINAL THOUGHTS - It had been a couple of years sine we last visited this ground, that was with my mate STP Stu and my lasses where we saw the mighty City of Liverpool come and do what they do.  This was a choice return with two well matched teams going toe-to-toe (or pecker to pecker if you are of that persuasion) in a game that had some great goals, open play, good to honest endeavour and a certain Non-League beauty you will never find in the upper echelons of the cash cows arsehole.  Longridge Town are not at their best at the mo, but I am sure they will get there. Several players were oozing potential and goals, sometimes it is never going to be your day.  We need a trip back to The Mike Riding Ground to see this lot again, the last trip was a cracker with the hosts bagging 7 strikes against a flabbergasted opposition (there were free biscuits too - smashing).

Droylsden FC are looking a decent outfit and look set to do better as the season advances.  Many old heads are in the mix with several players recognisable from various clubs I see on my local travels.  I like the way they play with purpose and a certain freedom with individuals all working with expression and as part of the pack.  I hope we can get back and see how the team are doing before the season ends, we are ultra busy on many fronts but we do try, and on this evidence, it is ruddy well worth it! NB - cheers for the hugs and kind words Brendan Johns - it matters.