Handsworth Parramore v AFC Liverpool, FA Vase, 5th September 2015

As the coach approached Worksop, I saw signs for Dinnington and Tickhill.  Dinnington Town were AFC Liverpool's first ever FA Vase opponents in 2009, and played them again a year later in 2010.  For the record, Tickhill is where one of my Uncles had lived once upon a time.

We lost this FA Vase tie against Handsworth Parramore by the only goal to nil. Following the goal, there was a controversial moment which poisoned the whole atmosphere.  Handsworth's number 10, who scored the goal in the first half, marked his celebration by aiming some anti-scouse sentiments at some of our supporters.  This prompted Steve Fraser to walk out!

As for the rest of the match, it was a game in which we could and should have played better. 

Before the goal, they did have a penalty saved by Ryan Jones in the sixth minute.  And not long after the goal, we gifted them a good opportunity, which was thankfully squandered.

Our first half exploits saw us attempt a few shots from distance.  Ryan Cox got worked into a good opportunity in the inside right, but his shot was tame.  Another chance saw Steve Jones presented with a good opportunity, which was wasted.

A few minutes into the second half we should have drawn level.  Liam Loughlin got brought down to earn us penalty.  Unfortunately, Steve Jones' penalty was an easy save for their keeper.

The momentum then seemed to swing back towards the hosts, with Ryan Jones called upon to make a couple of saves within a five minute period.  One of those saves saw him get down to his left brilliantly.

A Franny Barry shot looked like it would take the match into extra time.  However, it curled away at the last moment.  The same player late on had another chance, in which he shot across goal, when it would have been so much easier to have hit it on target.

It was especially frustrating throughout the second half that Handsworth, as the bigger team, were always winning everything in the air.  The final frustrations on the pitch saw us penned back near the corner flag by the hosts.  They kept winning free kick after free kick, and one not so clever challenge from Conor Belger saw him sent off!

The final whistle came, and myself, Dave Mac, Lynn, and Ade were grateful for the arrival of the coach which took us all back to Liverpool.

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