AFC Liverpool v Prestwich Heys, 29th August 2023

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 Croughan effort came back off the post on 52 minutes. But Croughan was not to be denied 13 minutes later.  Following a period of Reds pressure, Croughan shot home from just outside the six yard box and that was 2-0.

I think Prestwich did reply well. They did play some good stuff at times. They had one effort that came back off our woodwork I think. And following the summer departure of arguably our club's greatest ever Keeper to date in Jack McGovern, we had a new hero between the sticks. Harry Devaney was called upon to make a few fine saves.

The Prestwich Keeper Jordan Hadlow did also make a few saves. Indeed his "Sherbert Lemon"  coloured top did encourage a few friendly chants. But that night may also be looked upon as the night a couple of new chants for a couple of new players were born. Throughout the evening Steve Fraser and I were deliberating on a chant for new Aussie recruit Edan Bavelock, from Kevin Bloody Wilson's “DILLIGAF”. But Harry Devaney's new chant "you'll never beat Devaney" seemed that it would get some mileage. Sadly, Harry Devaney’s AFC career was to end in almost fatal circumstances a few weeks later, as he fell awkwardly during another match at the MTA against FC Isle of Man.

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