AFC Liverpool v Pilkington, 7th August 2019

We started the evening in 19th place, following our opening day thrashing at Ashton Town. League newcomers Pilkington were a place ahead of us, after their opening day defeat at home to Cleator Moor Celtic.

 

When I got out of the turnstile, it was 2-1 to Pilkington. We had been in the lead. As I was making my way out into the stand, Callum Schorah got his second after a scramble and a couple of goal line clearances. Callum could have scored his hat-trick just before half time, when his deflected effort came back off the post, following some good play by his brother Kyle.

 

There was a real concern about our defending. The two full backs were looking especially vulnerable. Goalkeeper Lee Carr had been solid throughout the second half of last season. Probably as much down to the defenders around, Lee was looking a bit shaky as well. In the board room at half time, Steve Fraser was mystified that big Centre half Jon Croasdale was only on the bench.

 

We let Pilkington back into the lead around the hour mark in the most bizarre of circumstances. A goal kick was played out by Lee Carr to Fidan Hajdari. The defender played it back towards Lee, and Pilkington striker Callum Laird slid in to score. Lee was subsequently injured, and a minor debate ensued in the stand between Steve and Kieran Hughes regards whose fault that goal was. Steve, myself, and Dave Mac were not blaming the Keeper.

 

Anthony Lyons got himself into the book after two silly challenges in a minute. Firstly, he went for a scissor kick in the box, and went for it in a dangerously crowded space, nearly injuring an opponent. That got him a talking to. Then, another silly challenge around the halfway line got him in the book.

 

Steve or Dave (can't remember who exactly) thought Anthony had lost his head, and there were calls for him to be substituted. Funnily enough, it was the same player who soon smashed it home to equalise following a knock down by Kyle Schorah.

 

It ended 3-3, and there were shades of the start to the previous campaign when we lost 5-3 in our opening two matches. Regarding the FA Cup match on the following Saturday at home to Premier Division Burscough, the opening two performances were not encouraging. Then again, following those two 5-3 defeats twelve months earlier, we managed to hold Premier Division Ashton Athletic to a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup. So, anything was possible.

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