AFC Liverpool v Daisy Hill, 21st September 2010

In September 2010 AFC Liverpool took on Daisy Hill at Valerie Park in a midweek league fixture. The Reds were looking to extend a six game unbeaten run that started in the wake of their FA Cup elimination at the hands of Hemsworth Miners Welfare.

Early on, it was the visitors who took the game to AFC. We were given a real scare as Daisy Hill hit the bar following a header from a free kick. Reds' Keeper Jack Baker was left rooted. AFC striker Aaron Stafford could have also scored at the other end, missing a one on one against Daisy Hill Keeper Craig Holmes.

The game changed to 10 a-side following dismissals for River Humphries and Daisy Hill's Darrell Gavin. I have to confess that I did not see the incident myself, but was told that both players got into a punch-up.

We took the lead via an Aaron Stafford tap in after Steve Jones' shot was miscued. Further goals followed in the second half from Joe Gibbons, Steve Jones, and two for substitute Jack Sinnott to complete a 5-0 win. Steve Jones's strike was one of his many beauties for the club. Alan, the matchday announcer, was also on good form that night, especially with his Italian pronunciations of our goalscorers' surnames.

Daisy Hill's Keeper was caught out of goal so many times, he reminded me of Colombian legend Rene Higuita. We could have scored more than the five goals that night. But to be fair to Daisy Hill, they did also miss a couple of chances to get back into the game when the score was 2-0.

Daisy Hill centre-half Daniel Hartfield is the cousin of a Man Utd supporting ex-work colleague of mine. I believe he may have been booked late on, and was certainly left ragged by the excellent movement of our forward line that night.

On the very same night that AFC recorded this comprehensive win, the following Saturday's opponents Eccleshall were also in action. Eccleshall in fact went one better by winning 6-0 away at Irlam, therefore suggesting that the Reds would have their work cut out if they were to stretch the unbeaten run to eight matches.

Before the Saturday afternoon kick off at Eccleshall, Alan Williams and I were in conversation with one of the locals who was very upbeat about his own side's midweek result. When we mentioned our own very good result, he merely stated words to the effect, "Daisy Hill- oh they're not much good!" We then went on to thrash Eccleshall 7-0! 

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