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.
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