AFC Liverpool v AFC Darwen, 12th October 2019
The original Darwen FC had been AFC'S first ever league opponents back in 2008. The Reds ran out 5-0 winners that day. On another day this AFC Liverpool performance could so easily have broken our club record 9-0 victory over St Helens Town.
The week previous AFC Darwen had been 5-0 down at St Helens Town in the First Division Cup, within the first 20 minutes. As that match ended in an 8-3 defeat, you could probably at least argue that the last 70 minutes was a 3-3 draw!
When I emerged from the turnstile, my brother David suggested that Darwen had shown some ominous signs of making the game a real contest. Meanwhile, Peter from Earlestown (who had started to become a bit of a regular) was pointing out that Darwen's keeper was looking weak, in terms of not holding onto shots. In fact, some of his parrying when maybe he could have held onto it became a bit of a debate. Steve Fraser later suggested that some of the shots he had to deal with were too powerful.
The Reds were 3-0 up at the break, and were looking dangerous each time they were going forward. Goals one and three were a carbon copy of each other. Rhys Hardacre finished off a ball across the box from a different Schorah brother on each occasion. In between, a powerful header by Lee McConchie from a corner made it 2-0.
In the boardroom at half time for hospitality, there was a very special guest in form of Little Reds' legend John Lawless. He indicated that he quite liked the current Reds number 10 Callum Schorah. I did remark that he still probably had a bit to do to be considered our best ever number 10. John chuckled.
Ten minutes into the second half, and Rhys Hardacre completed his hat-trick after being played through in the inside right channel. Almost immediately afterwards, Darwen probably got their closest to a goal all afternoon, when a seemingly harmless cross from the left hand side was tipped over by Reds keeper David Potter.
On the hour mark, it was 5-0. Kyle Schorah played a short ball to his brother Callum, before a Maradona style run took him past a couple of players, and beat the keeper. The goal of the day was definitely a contest between this one, and something special which followed later.
The sixth goal was scored by Kyle Schorah, after a move seemingly broke down, and should have been dealt with by the Darwen defence.
We had the luxury of substitutions to freshen our attack in the shape of Anthony Lyons, James McGrane, and Jordan Foster. It was McGrane who scored the seventh, following a run on goal in the inside left channel.
I can't remember if it was after the 5th, 6th, or 7th goal when Kenny came up with a rather witty chant about Darwen, in the sound of the song "Oh my darling (Darwen) Clementine."
The eighth goal was probably just the pick of the goals. Daniel Cockerline had put in a really hardworking performance. He finally got his reward with a beautiful curler from about twenty yards which gave Darwen's keeper absolutely no chance.
The Reds had never before had a home match in eleven years on Non-league day. To celebrate with an 8-0 win was well worth the wait!
The week previous AFC Darwen had been 5-0 down at St Helens Town in the First Division Cup, within the first 20 minutes. As that match ended in an 8-3 defeat, you could probably at least argue that the last 70 minutes was a 3-3 draw!
When I emerged from the turnstile, my brother David suggested that Darwen had shown some ominous signs of making the game a real contest. Meanwhile, Peter from Earlestown (who had started to become a bit of a regular) was pointing out that Darwen's keeper was looking weak, in terms of not holding onto shots. In fact, some of his parrying when maybe he could have held onto it became a bit of a debate. Steve Fraser later suggested that some of the shots he had to deal with were too powerful.
The Reds were 3-0 up at the break, and were looking dangerous each time they were going forward. Goals one and three were a carbon copy of each other. Rhys Hardacre finished off a ball across the box from a different Schorah brother on each occasion. In between, a powerful header by Lee McConchie from a corner made it 2-0.
In the boardroom at half time for hospitality, there was a very special guest in form of Little Reds' legend John Lawless. He indicated that he quite liked the current Reds number 10 Callum Schorah. I did remark that he still probably had a bit to do to be considered our best ever number 10. John chuckled.
Ten minutes into the second half, and Rhys Hardacre completed his hat-trick after being played through in the inside right channel. Almost immediately afterwards, Darwen probably got their closest to a goal all afternoon, when a seemingly harmless cross from the left hand side was tipped over by Reds keeper David Potter.
On the hour mark, it was 5-0. Kyle Schorah played a short ball to his brother Callum, before a Maradona style run took him past a couple of players, and beat the keeper. The goal of the day was definitely a contest between this one, and something special which followed later.
The sixth goal was scored by Kyle Schorah, after a move seemingly broke down, and should have been dealt with by the Darwen defence.
We had the luxury of substitutions to freshen our attack in the shape of Anthony Lyons, James McGrane, and Jordan Foster. It was McGrane who scored the seventh, following a run on goal in the inside left channel.
I can't remember if it was after the 5th, 6th, or 7th goal when Kenny came up with a rather witty chant about Darwen, in the sound of the song "Oh my darling (Darwen) Clementine."
The eighth goal was probably just the pick of the goals. Daniel Cockerline had put in a really hardworking performance. He finally got his reward with a beautiful curler from about twenty yards which gave Darwen's keeper absolutely no chance.
The Reds had never before had a home match in eleven years on Non-league day. To celebrate with an 8-0 win was well worth the wait!
Comments
Post a Comment