AFC Liverpool v West Didsbury & Chorlton, 17th April 2018

After West's Keeper arrived at the Match late, their number 8 started the match in goal. On about 8 minutes they made a substitution so that their regular keeper could go in goal. Steve Fraser suggested I should have stopped him entering the ground when I was on the gate!

It was a first half from the Reds that was not particularly encouraging. But after falling behind on 9 minutes, Callum Schorah got an equaliser after a fortunate deflection from a West defender fell into his path, following a cross. The cross was after Callum had a previous effort blocked.

West missed a few other opportunities, with Reds keeper Jack Ferguson making a few key saves, and we were rather fortunate to be level. As for West scoring on 9 Minutes, my golden goal ticket was once again a minute out!

The second half was a total turnaround, as it was suddenly the Reds who were dominant, creating promising situations. We had two players booked in the first half, and it quickly became three with Callum. But then, West started losing their discipline and they quickly amassed a number of players on a yellow.

Despite our second half dominance, West took the lead on 83 minutes through Matthew Kay. With home games to come against 1874 Northwich and Runcorn Linnets especially, and with Burscough still a couple of points ahead, this was really a must win match in the relegation battle.

Then, enter substitute Zach Hardacre. He was on the bench after going off injured on Saturday at Runcorn Town, not long after winning a penalty which Callum Schorah missed.

It was Zach who scored the equaliser three minutes later, and then came a moment in injury time that will long live in the memory. Before that glorious moment, West went down to 10 men with Kay getting a second yellow.

So onto that golden moment, as Zach was played through against the keeper, he appeared to over-run the ball, but then got his toe on it to take it past the keeper, and then there was ecstasy on the pitch and in the stand.

With Abbey Hey and Maine Road both dropping points that night, that was a massive vital three points. But sadly although we won that battle, we still ended up going down.

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