AFC Liverpool v Abbey Hey, 24th September 2016

After leaving my volunteer duties to enter the Rattlestation and get into the match, it was clear that there was too much of a gap between our midfield and attack.  Jason Carey was so quiet, you wouldn't have known he was even playing!

Skipper Jon Swatton was not at his usual sharpest, and the whole defence was full of errors.  Goalkeeper Ross Dalton (on loan from AFC Fylde) was not coming across as the best commander of his box.  Within the first twenty five minutes, Abbey Hey had taken a two goal lead.

Jason Carey suddenly came to light, and pulled one back with a looping header from a corner.  That goal meant it was 2-1 to the visitors at half time.

Mini Adegbenro came on at half time, and our whole offensive movement had seemingly been transformed.  He got fouled in the area nine minutes into the second half, and we had a penalty.  The Abbey Hey player involved was booked, and the spot kick was duly despatched by Mikey White.

Following his miss three or four weeks earlier at Atherton Colls, Dave The Rattler was beamoaning why Mikey was being allowed to take the penalty again.  I quoted Adrian Cork's response that day at Atherton, citing that Mikey rarely misses.  Although, I was not thanked by Alan Harrison for putting the pressure on Mr White!

Chances came and went at both ends, but the match went into extra time.  One particular chance fashioned by the visitors in normal time forced a match-saving save from Ross Dalton.

Conor Belger settled the contest on 103 minutes, after a Josh Essery through ball.  We also scored another goal in the second period of extra time, which was scored by Jason Carey.  That Carey effort though was disallowed.

A wonderful chance to finish the game off was squandered by Conor Belger, who to be fair was carrying a knock.  When the chance was presented, he chose to take the ball to the corner, instead of having a pop at goal.  His decision did not go down too well, as he was dispossessed.  Thankfully though, enough time was wasted, and we were through.

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