AFC Liverpool v West Didsbury & Chorlton, 6th February 2024

A few weeks earlier, a pink goalkeeping jersey worn by Chadderton's Goalkeeper led to some good natured pink panther chanting. This night our opponents West Didsbury and Chorlton, who didn't need to change their away strip, turned up with pink stripes in their away strip! With a Goalkeeper who apparently hailed from Liverpool in a Tango top, we had a jolly good laugh.

On the field despite starting brightly, a 24th minute Ezeikel Eme shot was spilled into the net by Reds' keeper David Parkinson to give West the lead. Steve Fraser was not impressed that West's young keeper appeared to have been laughing at our senior keeper's error. 


We weren't behind for too long as Tom Croughan pulled the trigger in dramatic fashion just 4 minutes later in the inside right channel, and we were level. Soon we could have gone in front as a diving Tanaka "Alex" Cherera header went over. But it wasn't long before we did take the lead as Brad Shearwood running into the box met a cross from the right. He hit the woodwork, but a defender on the ground stuck out a leg and inadvertently put the ball into his own net.


The West Didsbury and Chorlton Manager seemed to have fired a rocket up the backsides of his team at half time, as the visitors came out first to everything after the break. They equalised on 55 minutes through Benjamin Elliott.


For much of the second half, us AFC ultras were sat just behind some of the West coaching staff, and we had a good banter with them as we do. Kenny was leading a debate on importing the lyrics of Jamie Webster's Allez Allez Allez into the AFC matchday culture. Steve and I were protesting that Cleethorpes  was not in the North West as Kenny was confusing the name of Cleator Moor (as in Cleator Moor Celtic) with Cleator Thorpes. As the debate went on  Benjamin Elliott struck again to put the visitors back in front.


I remarked quite soon after West going back into the lead that there would be at least one more goal in this game. A member of the West Coaching staff felt there would be another three or four goals!


With seven minutes to go Alex (who had been relatively quiet) got played in, he drew the keeper who blocked, but found himself in no man's land. The ball fell to Brad Shearwood who chipped a few West Didsbury players to draw us level once more.


A draw would have been a fair result, but Steve remarked it wouldn't end a draw. As we went about a minute into injury time a West defender had a moment of madness where he man-handled substitute Sonny Reeves, bringing him down. The defender got Red and Tom Croughan had a glorious chance to win the match and put us 21 points clear of relegation threatened Skelmersdale United.

So the Skipper stepped up and we won to take us to 39 points, and do the double over West Didsbury and Chorlton. Boy, I enjoyed that!

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