Two good performances against Elton Vale had given Ste and the lads every reason to be optimistic – but today was going to be the toughtest challenge of the season so far. Our lads have been adjusting to life in Open Age football since July so when you’ve got the experience and nounce of Hindsford Reserves coming to town, you always know it’s going to be a battle. Today was no different…
The lads were in good spirits as they starting arriving at St Catherines and as they warmed up, it was good to see the benefit of a 3g pitch as there were several games across the league that had been postponed today. The rain had been incessant all week so it was good to actually have a game here. The referee called the teams together and in the blink of an eye, the action was underway…
And right from the off, the visitors showed why they are top of the table and definitely in with a shout of being there or thereabouts come next May. They attacked in numbers and on 6 minutes, they managed to take the lead when a good move down their left saw the ball drilled across the box and there was their striker to tuck it home at the back post. 0-1 and we had it all to do now…
This was quickly followed by them doubling their lead after a swift attack through the centre seemed to find them outnumbering us – and with some quick passing was finished off with their No.10 rifling it home past Prince from about 10 yards out. 0-2 and we had to get a grip on this game before it got worse…
It did get worse. A lot worse. Because on 15 minutes, we were down to 10 men and proper had our backs against the wall. The away side had played another ball towards the danger-area and as he came out of his box, Prince handled it – and the referee had no choice but to blow his whistle, award the free-kick – and get the red card out to hold it high and send our keeper off! Now we know that these are the laws of the game – but there also needs to be some consideration into the bigger picture of the game in general. 75 minutes to go. 0-2 down. Agains the league-leaders. This was going to be a mammoth task now…
As expected, the visitors just surged forward from that point forward and it seemed that every time they got the ball in dangerous areas, they ended up putting it in the back of our net. Before we could really do anything about it, the score-line stood at 0-5 and the points were surely going back to Wigan…
There was a moment to savour though – and even with 10 men, we managed to get on the scoresheet. Some neat passing through the channels saw the ball land at the feet of Mulky and he dropped his shoulder so that his marker went one way – then shimmied to the left and fed a great pass into the run of Willow who did the rest – and as he burst through, he drilled his shot low and hard past the Hindsford keeper and into the back of their net. Justification for the effort that the 10 men had put in since our keeper had received his marching orders and as his team-mates rushed to celebrate with him, it was great to see the relief of their faces. 1-5…
But back came the visitors and were so close to scoring again when they worked the ball well and from all of 25 yards out, their midfielder hammered a shot that looked destined for the top-corner – until from nowhere came the desperate dive of our Charlie and he managed to get his finger-tips to the ball to divert it wide of the post. A fantastic save from our stand-in keeper and even the visitors bench applauded that one. But their man extra began to tell and they were pinging the ball about from left to right and back again – and although our lads were working hard to cover the ground, it was taking it out of them. They forced their sixth and final goal of the game in when they swung the ball into the mixer and as we tried to get it clear, in nipped their winger to drill it past Charlie and into the back of our net. 1-6 and that was surely that…
It was. Not long after, the man in the middle blew to end the game and despite the score-line being as it was, it didn’t really tell the full picture of the game. We had plenty of possession and although we were already 0-2 when it happened, Prince being sent off had a big impact on this game. Ho hum – we move on and we go again. The handshakes were done with pride and as both sets of players left the arena, they knew they’d been involved in a great game of football out there…
There is a week off for the lads next weekend as our opponents Dukinfield Town Reserves are in their County Cup – so make sure you keep an eye out here for where and when we play next – and we’d love to see as many of you there as possible roaring us on. The result today wasn’t what we wanted – but these have beaten sides with 11 men by now this season so this was no mean feat. Chin up boys – we’re proud of you regardless…
#UpTheCounty!