AFC Liverpool v Chadderton, 21st December 2019

The first half was very even. I don't think we had created anything before we broke and Kyle Schorah played it across for Rhys Hardacre to coolly slot it home for 1-0.  As I walked round the pitch to the Crossender Road end, I rattled as Lee Carr pulled off a wonderful flying save to deny the visitors. One of their travelling fans remarked how it was many years since he had seen a rattle.

A long unbeaten run had been ended in midweek, by Bootle in the Liverpool Senior Cup. We had been good for parts of that game, and hit the post in the first half. Bootle's class shone through later on. It had also been a while since we had last played a home league game. In each of our last three home league games, we had scored 8 goals!

A few minutes after that flying Lee Carr save, the visitors were deservedly level. Not long after that, Kyle Schorah was in one on one against the keeper. He tried taking it round the keeper, but he took it too wide and the keeper was able to make the save.

As I say it was a very even first half. In fact at the point when Sonny Parr restored the Reds' lead, I would say Chaddy probably should have been in front. Sony's goal was after Dan Cockerline's header from a cross (I think). Dan's header was going wide, and would not have had enough power to beat the keeper anyway. Sonny running in was able to beat the offside trap to nod it home.

The third goal courtesy of Anthony Lyons would have disappointed Chadderton's impressive keeper Jordan Haddlow, as it was not particularly the best shot that went under his body.
A Dan Cockerline header from a corner made it 4-1 within a few minutes of the restart. It was a second half in which we created enough chances to score 8 again in a home league game. Thanks to Jordan Haddlow though that was not going to happen. Chadderton did at one stage later in the second half hit the angle of post and bar. But, the outcome of this match was never in serious doubt during the second half.
 
Travelling into Liverpool after the match to catch a bit of the Liverpool v Flamengo World Club Cup Final, I was on the train with Pete and John (the two Chesterfield lads), Peter from Earlestown, and Janet. Unfortunately, I was unable to watch the full Final that evening due to a prior commitment I had made. Still, it was a wonderful pre-Christmas double of the Little Reds closing the gap on Lower Breck at the top of the First Division North (of the North West Counties League), and the Big Reds being crowned World Champions.

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