DAISY DEADHEADED

18th August 2024 - Maghull FC 3 v 2 Daisy Hill - Match report 418, that leaves 82 to go and then I shall call it a pointless job well done.  Let us face it, putting back is what it is all about but from a sober perspective, the difference made is minimal.  We live in a world of self-serving, 'take, take' shittery, the media dictates, the rebels are either stone-thick or too beaten down to even fart.  Hey ho, they ain't having me, that's for sure.  PS - I am a grumpy bastard today - what's new I hear many say!

The morn was choice, my superb missus and I went to Southport Botanical Gardens where we had a coffee, recording 52 wildlife species, pondered the blooms and the squawking caged birds as well as the general ambience.  From here we had a grand walk around Southport Marine Lake, clocked up another 67 wildlife records, enjoyed the sun and natural beauty and duly rose above the half-wit who threw his empty beer can down, the many folk who wandered on the phone with eyes wide shut and those missing the micro and macro beauty of a place worthy of respect.  From here we had a fine lunch and brew, and of course, a look in a book shop which is always essential behaviour wherever we are.

A 25 minute drive saw us arrive safe and sound at the ground sought, the arses were parked and we had a read in the sun - my good lady is ploughing through several series of books like a drugged up bookworm, I was catching up on some letters written by the Impressionists, an area of the art world I am particularly interested in due to its closeness and appreciation of matters natural.

Time flew by like a wasp with a splinter up its jacksie, we were soon upright and ready to watch the next game unfold at a ground we hadn't visited before - here is my take on matters.

The lass in the middle peeped at just gone 3pm, the ball was pushed this way and that in what was a fairly hesitant and considered commencement.  Daisy Hill had the initial advancement with the ball skewing this way and that and appearing to be as greasy as one of Donald Trump's chat-up lines.  Matters soon calmed down, Maghull were able to cultivate an attack of their own via some sweet wing wriggling, a cross and a shot deflected wide.  An angle punt came, Daisy Hill were slack in their duties and No 11 (Jacob Till) was allowed to find space and slap the globe homeward. I was thrilled, every game should have an early goal, in fact it must be made law.

As Maghull fed on any spare scraps they eventually worked their way back in.  A nosebleed break was eventually sorted and when the whistle blew for play to continue the Maghull keeper seemed to be caught with his conkers dangling as a long Daisy Hill ball found the galloping No 2 (Kyle Whittaker) who knocked a delightful looper into the back of the onion bag.  This was a choice take and from here the guests looked to be the better side and duly capitalised on the early breakthrough.  Maghull worked hard, Till went on a decent run that saw matters finalised with a firm shot the visiting No 1 (Morgan Newns) did well to catch on the stretch.  

Maghull were soon parading forth again, some good industrious interplay saw a cross find No 2 (Joseph Doyle) whose first time shot had a little too much elevation.  The same team soon won a brace of corners with the second causing greatest threat as No 10 (Nathan Moffitt) executed a back flick that was just a little to easy for the keeper to deal with.  Another angled hoof came soon after, Till connected at the back post, the mittman was down and turned behind.  Several more corners came in quick succession, the deliveries were fairly decent but the end punishment was just not there.  Moffitt for the hosts had a couple of late digs that failed to raise perspiration and somehow the half was done.

The opening 45 had been a strange affair, both teams just seemed to be lacking a true cohesiveness and a clash of styles was impeding any major fluidity.  We stayed put for the break, we were feeling a trifle jaded to say the least, it had been a busy morn after a quite hectic few weeks, and my ruddy back and groin were tweaking with this nagging hernia - darn this aging process.

The second period started in subdued fashion with a free-kick not fulfilling the potential we so stupidly expected.  Maghull soon progressed with promise, a lightning cross was the apical component but the killer touch by Moffitt was akin to an assassin trying to slay a pygmy with a rubber knife - slightly embarrassing.  Several crosses followed in quick succession, each one was overloaded and Daisy Hill were allowed to breathe several sighs of relief.  Maghull soon won another corner from a spell of unadulterated crappery - no breakthrough was had as the defenders stood firm but moments later a rapid onslaught came, Daisy Hill had a chance to quell any threat but failed to do so, the ball was buried in the shabbiest of fashions by Moffitt but the goal stood and the hosts were somehow ahead.

A stale period of toing and froing came when out of nothing the visiting No 9 (Ryan Talbot) flew the flank, put in a cross that was touched on and bumbled home by No 10 (Kaiden Barlow).  These strikes were far from appealing to the orbs but it gave the game a bit of added zest that was very much needed.  

No sooner had my nib left the parchment than Maghull were away and my peepers were witness to Till knocking home his second goal and giving his side the much needed suckerpunch and lead goal.  I was left bewildered by how this game had given birth to 5 goals and how Daisy Hill had worked so hard to get matters all square only to throw it all away almost immediately.

The  latter stages saw the Daisy Dudes splutter along with no real threat and Maghull offer a few minor scares but nothing worthy of the ink in my pen.  The final whistle was eventually blown by the ref who had had a decent game.  I pondered the Man of the match and went for the less obvious with Maghull's No 4 (Levi Adebisi) getting the nod due to his quick reading of the game, quiet but effective shift and an all round defensive stint that was better than many may have noticed - a quality output if you ask me.

FINAL THOUGHTS - A new ground done after a good morning art and abart.  My thoughts on both teams are very similar with a great deal of hesitancy had as regards a full on opinion.  These are the early stages of a campaign and for me, the two units on show displayed little to convince me that they are the finished article.  As is the case with many teams, it is the width of play and the finishing that is the key and here, in both instances, I feel there is work to be done.  I do think there is great potential in many areas and several players caught my eye as regards commitment and that head down discipline.  One thing I would liken todays contest to though is when you get two boxers of fair quality going toe to toe and snuffing out the finer aspects of each others threat.  Several periods during this game saw a distinct lack of piercing potential and that was down to nothing less than the set-up's and the general rub of the green.  

As things stand, I may have witnessed two teams with mid-table potential but I do hope I am wrong and they both go on and have cracking campaigns.  This is a very tricky league to call and already, points are being lost and won in the most unexpected ways possible.  There will be twists and turns, a few flounderers will come good, a few high flyers will come unstuck, only time will tell how these two teams will fare.  I shall be watching Maghull play one of my favoured teams in a few days, namely Maine Road FC.  It may be a real test, I am taking the wisest course possible and shying away from a prediction - a few goals and good endeavour wouldn't go amiss though.

WOLFING DOWN

3rd August 2024 - Wolverhampton Sporting Community 2 v 5 Abbey Hulton Utd - The first report of the new season, the aim just to do the odd assessment at new grounds only.  I am perpetually snowed under and am opting for quality over quantity.

The morn was spent at 2 nature reserves, broken only by a good breakfast, a coffee and all with the best company ever (my missus).  The second reserve saw us find a new plant gall, soak up some rays and discover a bee's nest.  Of course, being the ever-nosey naturalist, I had to have a look at the buzzers abode and duly got my ear stung.  It throbbed like buggery and began to swell as the day progressed - I ended up looking like a lop-sided elephant who had been out in the sun for far too long.  The swelling and the throbbing though did have me pondering the prospect of dipping my todge in the said nest of aggravation - a new form of natural Viagra may be hitting the shelves of a chemist near you very, very soon.  If those who are brave enough to partake start passing honey, then there will be no extra fee - sweet success for all I'd say.

And so, with a tingling lobe, a couple of good lists had, we headed to this new ground, purchased a brew, some choccy and crisps and sat in the sun at pitchside.  I completed a cryptic crossword and my good lady had a read, before we knew it the teams were out and we had to shuffle off the solar-soaked baize and adopt out viewing positions proper.

The ball got rotating, my pen was produced along with some tatty torn paper upon which I strove to make some notes.  Instantaneously the guests blew forth like a horde of diahorrea sufferers looking for a place to shit.  The ball was passed with haste, No 11(Lewis Holdham) was suddenly in position, chanced an early punt and bagged the first goal of the game, all to the dismay of the unsettled resident squad.  The Wolves lads attempted to immediately counterpunch but the apical side-footed attempt by No 9 (Luke Georgiou) was not the way to do it.

Abbey Hulton were still in a state of goal-scoring arousal but were caught with their conkers exposed (watch out, Huw Edwards may be about) as the home No 2 (Khalil Harrison) knocked a sugar-sweet curveball down the wing that No 11 (Declan Riley) gladly accepted.  The frontman made haste, had a pop, the outcome, a placed shot lacking true direction and failing to dampen down any footy-based erections.

The hosts came again, a free-kick was earned on the edge of the box but the dire delivery led to a swift breakaway that saw Holdham place to No 9 (Kieran Brown) who set his sights and fired home.  This was an early double whammy that had the home pack reeling. As if this wasn't enough, moments later the visiting tribe were marauding once more with numerous runners dragging the opposition this way and that way.  Space opened, No 4 (Benjamin Shirley) received, had time to shoot and bury and create a real uphill struggle for the gold and black clad squad.

A period that was more balanced saw the hefty home No 3 (Ronee Hendricks) have a pop from range that was not too far from the onion bag.  Abbey Hulton responded with much hustle and bustle that saw a few moments of panic in the opposing box but with danger eventually jumped upon.  And then we had a water break (no pissing involved of course).

The action began soon after, Wolves won a free kick that No 10 (Craig Bannister) sent forth with the Hulton unit defending well.  A gratis hoof came for the guests next after Harrison for the hosts fell over the ball like a clumsy clot and put his mitt on the globe.  Brown had a crack with a deflection had and the keeper reading matters to duly collect with ease.

The half was already winding down. Abbey Hulton continued to play the Invaders From Mars role and probe away with deliberate intent.  Wolves were unwilling victims and looked to make a mark of their own with Hendricks sending forth a scuffed shot that was almost knocked home by the late arriving Riley - the latter bod was just a little too late on the scene.

As the half-time score looked set in stone the resident Harrison gained possession, fumbled and bumbled his way through a pack, rode several tackles in a quite unorthodox way and somehow bagged a goal after taking a most hopeful punt.  This now added an extra dimension to a game that was looking all done.  It was a ruddy good effort too.

Prior to the sable-clad gent in the middle wobbling his pea (kinky blighter) No 10 (Matthew Ward) for the leading team was sin-binned (now where is the sense in that) and the hosts had one last angled hoof that was crap.  45 minute period done, there were still points to play for.

We stayed put for the break, it had been a long day so a check of other scores, a swill of some refreshing liquid and a chat was had.  Our pre-match predictions had already gone down and around the u-bend of hopelessness - we are consistent if nothing else.

Half two began with the sun still dazzling.  No 16 (Jamarley Rouse) for the hosts got stuck in and tested the opposing mitter who did well to block. The same team pushed and gushed with added fervor and a long ball came that saw Harrison gather, enter the box and be tumbled. No 10 (Craig Bannister) stepped up to do the honors and walloped the ball into the bottom corner.  The hosts were now full of life, vigor and belief, they came on again, a lengthy ball with 2 players chasing was the outcome but they were ultimately denied by a quick off the mark keeper.

The gathering impetus by the trailing unit was very impressive with most of the play now taking place in Abbey Hulton's defensive half. Time ticked on and a goal needed grabbing but the away team gradually got back into matters.  They survived a few semi-scares and then, from a seemingly innocuous position they swept forth with a ball finding Brown who shot on the turn and found the top corner of the meshing.  It was a glorious strike and surely sent his team into the final flourishes with all 3 points secure.

The latter stages saw the hosts lose cohesion, get worked up and allow Abbey Hulton to dictate.  Before the final whistle salt was rubbed in the wound when a swift break and cross saw Brown tap home and kill the result stone dead.  Time was called, some silliness and foul behaviour was observed, we pootled off and left them to it - life is too short to waste on piffle and there are far more important matters in the world.  Man of the Match went to Abbey Hulton's No 9 (Kieran Brown) who went home with a hat-trick of goals, a good work out under his belt and confidence high - he could have no complaints.

We decided to go for another walk after the game and see what we could see, you gotta get the most out of these 24 hour days tha' knows.

FINAL THOUGHTS - So, 2 teams in the embryonic stages of a new season and questions answered and some remaining to be solved.  Wolverhampton Sporting Community are with no points after 3 games and for me, look like a side who could find themselves in deep trouble before half the season is through.  Discipline needs attention, the width of play needs expanding and work on positional awareness is of paramount importance.  They may address these matters and turn a corner in good time but there is a glut of games ahead and rest assured, some teams will be adrift before they know it.  The positives are that there are a couple of players in the mix around which a good unit can be built.  Abbey Hulton looked good in parts today but, and this is a big but... the opposition allowed them to look good and so a false reading may be the outcome.  At times though the passing was sharp and the work-rate throughout was of a good standard.  Again, several players, if retained will keep them in good shape and if I was a gambling man I would maybe have this lot for a top 10 finish (or maybe higher).  One thing though, as neutrals we enjoyed the visit and were entertained - Non-League is the real deal.