AFC Liverpool v Cheadle Town, 3rd December 2022

Due to meeting my Waterloo-based brother for a few beers, I left the car at home for this one. On the leg of my train journey between Liverpool Central and Blundellsands I endured a bloke snoring his head off for much of the time. In the same seats as me were this elderly couple equally as entertained as I was. Was the chap destined to travel all the way to Southport? Perhaps even back to Hunts Cross? Anyway, the scoring chap woke up. As for the elderly couple, I of course explained I was on my way to watch AFC Liverpool v Cheadle in the Vase. The fella told me his grandson played in Guiseley in the Northern Premier League.

This day was also the first day of the knockout stage of the Qatar World Cup. I was doing the turnstile and George was doing the Programme Selling. I was repeating my well known admiration for African football and Morocco's chances of ousting Spain in the last 16. Meanwhile, George told at least 4 people of his belief that should the States hold firm against the Netherlands for the first half hour, then they would prevail. The Dutch won 3-1!

Whilst I was stuck on turnstile duties the Reds raced into a 2-0 lead. The second goal by Billy Whiz was apparently well taken. Also during that first ten minutes or so, Cheadle had a player down injured.

The previous midweek we were 3-0 down at half-time to Lower Breck in the Senior Cup. Although we ended up dramatically turning it around to win 4-3 in the second half, I had also missed a good first 10 or so minutes in that game where we had apparently acquitted ourselves quite well.

Whilst we had the line share of the possession from the large portion of the game which I saw, I rarely saw us seriously threatening to increase our lead. Towards the end of the first half, Cheadle hit the outside of our post. Then on the 72nd minute one of their fellas was played in on the left hand side and smashed it home. After that, I think our game management was good as Cheadle rarely threatened again.

We were in the hat for the fourth round, the same stage where we had been knocked out the previous season at Abbey Hey. Then I proceeded to have a few beers with my brother before taking the train home.

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