Vauxhall Motors v AFC Liverpool, 31st July 2021

After taking the wrong exit from the M53, I got to the ground about 7 minutes after kick off! In that time the home side had hit the woodwork!

I spent a few minutes with kitman Neil McMillan, before making my way to the other side of the ground where Mikey Smith was stood with Jake and his Mrs, and Billy and Sandra. I lent Mikey one of my rattles. That was a mistake. He broke it!
On the field it was the home side that continued to have the lion's share of the chances. One chance saw a Motors player head straight at Dave Potter. And the warning signs were there. Indeed, just after the half hour Vauxhall Motors were in the lead.
The Reds responded brilliantly. A cross from the left got a brilliant connection from Dan Cockerline. But his effort just went wide. The AFC faithful were lifted, and that same man was on hand to tap home an equaliser on the stroke of half time after a cross from the right.
As I made my way to a position behind the goal we were attacking for the second half, I got approached for a little chat. I assumed this young gentleman may have been a ground hopper from his southern accent. In fact, he was a Liverpool fan who had travelled up from London-way. He had also taken out an AFC Liverpool membership in the wake of the ill-fated European Super League project.
He introduced himself as Joseph, and I talked with him throughout the second half about the things I am involved with at AFC Liverpool like the programme and my match day volunteering. We also talked Liverpool, Everton and their recent appointment of Rafa Benitez as Manager, and little bits about each other's background. When Joseph joked about the tall size of the Vauxhall squad, remarking how local Wirral people must always be so tall, I had to point out that myself as someone born on the Wirral kind of bucks that trend!
Three minutes into the second half Dan Cockerline was played in again. The Reds were 2-1 to the good. For much of the second half, the Reds remained in control. 
As the match drew to a close, the home side started to give us a few nervy moments. There were a few corners forced. There was one cross which may have hit the bar. It was difficult to tell as Tommy and Eric concurred. But the net certainly rippled. We did have one or two wasted situations on the break which could have seen us complete the game a bit more comfortably. A 2-1 final score was delightfully received all the same.

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