Chadderton FC v Frickley Athletic

Recap

Our first ever game in the FA Vase & the boys put on a real show for us

In a very compact ground (imagine car bumpers for perimeter fencing) we put on a display of expansive football that was very easy on the eye.

We started the first half on the front foot with Green pulling the strings in midfield & Grist & Keita causing damage up top & it was The Hawk who gave us the lead on 21 minutes. He picked the ball up on the right, cut inside, sent one defender to the bar, sent another defender to the buffet & then gave the keeper no chance at the near post. Shortly afterwards it could have been 2, as George beat the offside trap – his well hit shot was met with an equally decent save & out for a corner.

At the other end the defensive unit gave Charlie P a relatively steady first half

On 52 minutes Grist left defenders in his wake only to be scythed down in the box, nothing given! No problem, this time Keelan does the same down the other flank, feeds the ball to Green who powers a shot from distance. Too hot for the keeper who spills the save & The Hawk is onto it & volleys home from 10 yards – the technique for the volley with the ball about 3 feet in the air was something to behold.

We were looking exceptionally strong at that point but then we went into our shells & within no time the home team scored twice to come back into the game.

Benno introduced Czubik & Matty Hughes at this point to try to reset & that was to prove pivotal. 10 minutes later we took the lead. Hughesy got the ball on the left flank & switched on the afterburners. He cut inside & hit a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the onion bag (not you Jerry). I have to admit all the time Hughesy was working his magic I was saying to myself ‘don’t shoot, don’t shoot’……which probably explains why he plays for the best football club in the world whilst I was guest summariser on match commentary!

Matty switched flanks & repeated his burst only to be brought down a couple of yards outside the box, free kick. Time for The Colonel to step forward & stick it in the same bottom corner, 4-2, game over.

Still chance for the Chadderton Key Stage 2 Ultras to think about getting a bit lairy – but Boomer stepped in, cleaned their ears with the corner of his damp hanky & gave them a pat on the head – job done!

So a very strong performance by the Azzurri – not without a few shortcomings – but the team showed very strong spirit to grab hold of the game again after it went to 2 each

WEBMASTER MOTM – the defensive unit was very strong for 80 of the 90, we just need to tighten up by those small margins. Green was the best player on the pitch again. I really like watching Keelan Grist – for a young lad he’s got pace, he’s got the touches & he loves to get stuck in. Hughes & Czubik injected some pace when they came on, at a time when we were rocking a little. We were treated to the Al Keita Show up top – his performance has been coming for a while & he was unplayable at times. But I’m giving the Glitterball to the defensive midfield engine of Kofi Appiah – he was immense

TWITTER POLL MOTM – this one counts as it is the fans vote…..& it is a dead heat! Don’t think we’ve had one before!! Alex Varley & Al Keita both tied with Matty Hughes very close behind & Kofi tucked in behind with Lewis Binns also polling. Thank you to everyone who voted

Also a special mention to Joel ‘Tony Gubba’ Clarkson who made his commentary debut – & was head & shoulders above anything that’s gone previously. He was the James Sanderson to the previous regimes Nik Mystic (if you know, you know!)

139 through the gate – & I would say around half of those were Azzurri – a superb turn out once again. I know the management team & players are always very appreciative of our travelling support

The managers thoughts

Next up we are at home to Penistone Church on Tuesday evening, 7.45pm kick off – let’s get loads of bodies into the Wez & get behind the boys again