After a mooch in a few shops we headed to the footy where I was dropped off whilst the punky music blared from the car. My missus headed home, she was off out with my daughter and her friend, a ruddy Panto was their choice of viewing, however the thought of kicking Widow Twanky in the twat and shoving Jack's beanstalk up his arse was very tempting. I entered the ground, had a natter with the guy on the gate, this time about fishing. I had recently seen a 33lb 6oz Pike and the fellow communicator was getting back into fishing - the jaw wagging content made sense. Soon after my perch (see what I did there) was chosen, I was sipping coffee and scribbling notes regarding a game that unfolded like this:-
A lowly crowd had all eyes on the ball at 3pm as matters got underway on another mild winter's day (global warming, hold on tight folks). Cheadle Town opened proceedings with a sanguine flourish that earned plenty of up-field possession that was only marred by one pass too many. A corner was eventually earned, a high ball was posted, a header borne but a guest player had been nobbled - goal kick. Cheadle Town came again, No 4 (Sean Moscrop) put in a solid dash, the cross that followed was a trifle too long. The ball eventually was played back, No 10 (Daniel Byrnes) worked space and dug out a pop that was straight into the meat of the keeper's carcass. No 7 (George Lewis) for the hosts helped maintain the early pressure with some good battling gusto. A free-kick and a corner produced piss-all though - Remyca were holding firm.
More advances came via the way of the Town, little in the way of trouble was made for the travelling tribe although one header at goal should have brought the first goal I felt. A drab period came, this allowed the Litherland lads to worm their way back into matters but all they could brandish as threat was a long shot from their No 11 (James Hammill) that was straight at the host No 1 (James Hodges). Cheadle began to reassert their presence but all the while, up-front creativity was blatantly lacking. A corner for Cheadle came, entered the box that was a right old befuddling mush, full marks were given to the Remyca for standing their ground and remaining watertight.
The half progressed with tidy pace, a suggestion of ill-tempered spice crept in that the referee did well to subdue. The main area of action was in the middle of the playing arena, the closest we came to a goal was when the home keeper nearly made a hash of a back pass but somehow managed to save his bacon and not put himself up for the 'Twat of the Weekend' award. From here we saw one more Town advance with a corner coming after a great run by No 11 (Kaleb Parkinson). The ball entered the mush, a near post flick of impudent intent by No 6 (Matthew Smyth) saw the ball squeeze through a pack of pegs and nestle in the meshing - the game needed this and the half time break came soon after and left us set up nicely for period 2.
I stayed put for the break, on my lonesome in a lofted corner contemplating the skies and the sounds. 25 Starlings kept me company, chattering away in fluty tones whilst a Lesser Black Backed Gull flew over and a Wood Pigeon cut a dash through the air like it had a date with Deirdre the Dirty Dove - phwoar what a nasty vent she has.
The teams eventually came back out and halted my cerebral roamings into avian porn. I was further distracted by an early CT corner that bore bugger all but set an early tempo. After another fruitless angled humping a good build up followed with some quick, slick football culminating in a delivery by Parkinson and No 8 (Darren McKnight) sadly mis-controlling and letting the ball go dead - boo, that could have been a real peach of a moment. Town had their peckers up, several shots at the Remyca goal were blocked, a break came and the guest No 8 (Elliot Toner) let fly from range but failed to send the ball around the awaiting mesh protector.
The half progressed, again the main bulk of play was in the central area with both teams huffing and puffing but making little in the way of serious headway. The LR brigade were working up a noticeable lather and looking to get this game back to all square. The quality touch was lacking but I had a feeling in my waters that an equaliser was on the cards. From the treacle pudding of midfield mither I hoped a few feisty thrusts would add flavour afresh. It seemed a forlorn hope as the game became a grind and grew quite stale.
The hosts eventually won a corner, from the melee the ball was buried, it looked to be a game settler, the liner however had other ideas, he waved his flag like a stationmaster on whizz - ooh the rotter. A rare LR corner followed (was this the first of the game) and was played to the near post where a flick header went inches wide. If ever there was a warning for the leading team, this was it. Suddenly, as Cheadle advanced the ball was lost, a pass found Hammill who beat his marker, sent in a low grass grazing shot and found the sought after bag of glory. This goal had been coming, it was well deserved too.
The final splutterings were soon upon us, it was a hectic session of soccerised mania. End to end fervour was borne, the key of composure was lacking. Litherland Remyca advanced, Hammill had a first time dig, by heck it were ruddy close and one could almost see the home manager swoon in shock. Another punt at the goal by the guests flew over soon after and then Cheadle summoned a surge with a sub supplying McKnight whose final touch was awful.
More flurries came, a few offside decisions, a couple of wayward shots and before we knew it, the referee had called for a finish. The Man of the Match choice for me was a darn tricky affair, There were several to consider but I reckon that Cheadle Town's No 2 (Matthew Cook) was worthy of a nod due to the sheer tenacious work-rate, an encompassing awareness and relentless eagerness to try and create. Always good value this chap, he perhaps deserved to be on the winning side but the tits of fortune can be rather tough at times.
I wandered forth after the game into the darkened realms. I put a spurt on and arrived home to witness my lasses getting ready to head to the panto - ooh the silly sods.
FINAL THOUGHTS - Well, 2 teams were on show today and both were spluttering along into the festive period with work to do. The league positions were reflective of the plight of both teams with inconsistency a major facet of their seasons so far. Litherland must start games more quickly than this and make sure they play with a more sanguine and attacking focus with no fear of conceding but a great belief in scoring. As for Cheadle Town, well they are still in the Premier League, still finding their feet and are very hit and miss that is for sure. They have some good players, a few who just need to work a little harder and a fine manager who will look after all and stick to his values. Sometimes, in fact a lot of times, a move is overcomplicated and a chance squandered whereas a more intrinsically basic pass, boot, wallop would pay greater dividends. The team will be OK though, and like Litherland, they will nestle into the mid-table pack and have to rethink for next season.
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