AFC Liverpool from Yesteryear

I was accompanied for this match by Kevin, my friend of many years. We met other supporters in the club house, including Dave The Rattler and the two Chesterfield lads (who are mates of Steve Fraser). On the pitch, we got off to the best possible start. Debutant George Lomax stabbed home from close range, after Joe Whittington had played the ball across the area to keep the ball alive from a corner. For the first twenty minutes we were in complete control. We could have scored a second when a shot was diverted away unconvincingly by the keeper, and just narrowly went wide. Along with Steve, Dave, and the Chesterfield lads, we were stood behind the goal we were attacking in the first half. On a couple of occasions, I played ballboy. Much to the amusement of everyone behind that goal, I tried a spin of the ball with my feet! But then, the home side came back into it. They moved through the left side of our defence with ease, and shot against Jack Cookson's left hand post. The respite...

It was a first half that did not have a lot between the two sides. They took the lead on 25 minutes through Jason Hart, who I understood to be an ex-Salford City player that was on a nice bit of money per week for a player at North West Counties level. Their attacking play did show that they were more dangerous in that final third, as we only mustered one first half chance of note. The second half brilliantly coined the phrase of a game of two halves. Chances were created by the Reds, only to be denied by Lee Dovey in the Longridge goal. There was at least one save that was point blank. We did eventually restore parity about ten minutes from the end, when one of their players got a little nick on Callum Schorah in the box. Marc Stephens stepped up to score. The Reds were definitely on the front foot in the final stages. However, the visitors did nearly nick it with one late attempt that may have come off the post or saved by Jack Cookson. I was in the clubhouse after the match with my ...

We played well during the first half. At one point I think we forced five corners in almost quick succession. We did force a couple of saves of note from the Heys Keeper, but saves he would have been expected to make. After the half hour point Prestwich did come into things. At one point a dangerous move required one of our guys to clear off the line.  It was five minutes before half time when Kyle Schorah got through and dispatched past the Prestwich Keeper to give us a half time advantage. At half time in the board room, a conversation ensued between myself and a few people about speeding and speeding awareness courses. I myself had just been on one. But someone else who had been on a speeding course a couple of times mentioned that on one of those courses they had been on, that a husband and wife both attended not aware their spouse had also been caught and surprised to see each other booked onto the same course! So back to the football, and the Reds came out positively. A Tom C...

On the turnstile before the game, I had one mad moment. I challenged one bloke who gave me an old-style tenner after he gave it to me. Then I realised that they were still just legal tender!  Whilst I was still indisposed on the turnstyle, I experienced an unfortunate moment of the Match- the Bucks taking the lead on 10 minutes. After leaving the turnstile, I settled into my seat next to Eric and Kenny. The Reds were absolutely hopeless in finding the next man. Absolutely hopeless! Amongst the main chances of the first half after the Bucks were in front, they did force one very good save from Don Garner. At the other end, Kev Edgar was played in down the inside left and blasted over! I was commenting to Eric how you cannot argue with Kev Edgar's record, scoring nearly one in two matches. I also lamented how isolated he had been. Then, a minute later he was through against ex-Reds keeper Ryan Jones, and we were level on the 45th minute. After the break, we suddenly had a dominant sp...

We had played Breck a fortnight earlier at the MTA, and played out a drab 0-0 draw. What I had most remembered about that game was Chris Dace suggesting as a laugh a golden sending off competition, as opposed to the golden goal competition. The very fact the Senior Cup match had to be settled on the night, promised there would at least be some drama. But we were 3-0 down at half time. Jack McGovern appeared to have been fouled for one of the goals. It looked like he had the ball taken from his hands. He was also arguably fouled for another. I had missed the first 10 to 15 minutes due to turnstile duties. During that time we did miss a couple of good chances. Apparently we hit their woodwork. Not seeing that good spell, I didn't hold up much hope for the second half, even though we may have been unlucky not to have had at least one Lower Breck goal chalked off for a foul. Just over ten minutes into the second half, number 9 Tom Croughan worked hard, and Paddy Kay scored to give us a...

My only previous visit to Daisy Hill was 11 years previous, when we lost 5-4. If that sounds bad, well that result was eventually annulled due to Daisy Hill fielding an ineligible player.  I picked Peter up from Newton Le Willows, and we made our way to the New Sirs Stadium. I got myself a boiling coffee in the clubhouse. Gradually the quirks of the clubhouse started to grow on me. I imagined I could have a quality karaoke night there. On the field of play, the Reds started on the front foot. It was a bit like the match at St Helens Town 9 days earlier, where 2 points were dropped. Rhys Hardacre and Jay McGrane were seeing a lot of balls down the flanks. Ten minutes in, Dan Cockerline was played in. He took the ball past the keeper, and when the angle seemed to be against him, he put the ball in the net. We did look like we would push on, but we did not force that many saves from the Daisy Hill keeper. A couple of Callum Schorah shots went over the New Sirs clubhouse and into the ...