Cheadle Defeat Disappointing Reds

A disappointing first 45 minutes ensured that The Non-League Reds came away from Cheadle disappointed and with nothing to show for their efforts. In what we hoped would have been a celebration of the skipper Adam Moorcroft's (above) 100th appearance, a below par performance meant that the home side ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

The tone for the first half was set when AFC gave the ball away from the kick off. Both sides had early spells of possession but it was Cheadle who made more use of it and looked the more threatening going forward. AFC were restricted to long balls that ran through to the home keeper. On 5 minutes, McKnight had the first effort on goal from about 30 yards, which flew narrowly over the AFC crossbar. In the 10th minute, Cheadle got the goal that there good start deserved, when Njie exchanged passes and rounded Parkinson to score.

The pattern continued for most of the half, as the home side passed the ball around well and when AFC got the ball, they gave it back to the opposition far too easily. Cheadle went close on 23 minutes but the shot from inside the box went well over. Despite their better approach play, Cheadle failed to create many clear chances. On 26 minutes a Caleb Jones cross from the right was headed wide by Elliot Taylor. However, this was a false dawn as the hosts continued to dominate proceedings and just when it looked like AFC would settle for the one goal deficit at the break, a mistake at the back led to an easy finish for Saul Henderson in the first minute of injury time, to make the score at the break 2-0.

The Non-League Reds came out with their ears stinging from the half-time 'pep talk' and within minutes they had won themselves a free-kick two yards outside the left edge of the penalty area. Caleb Jones struck it well and the keeper was forced to tip it over the bar. From the resulting corner, Adam Moorcroft almost crowned his 100th appearance with a great goal, as he rose well and crashed a header against the bar. For the next ten minutes it was the visitors who were asking the questions and looking more likely to add to the goal tally. Moorcroft almost got on the end of a Harry Wright-Ocana cross but the defender got there first to knock it behind for a corner.

Adam's header crashes against the bar, on his 100th appearance for AFC

Jack Hinnigan came on for AFC to add a bit of solidity to the defence and looked assured. On the hour mark, a goalmouth scramble was nearly poked home by Owen Fisher-Jones but the home defence got it away. Cheadle had the chance for a third on 65 minutes, when a cross to Njie gave the winger a chance to knock it into an empty net. With everyone accepting that it was a certain goal, Hinnigan somehow got back to make an amazing tackle on the goal line and the ball flew to safety.

As the half progressed, the home side used their heads and slowed the game down and broke up play well when required. AFC frustration crept in as the game went in to the final stages. Firstly, Fisher-Jones was sinbinned for something he said to the official and a few minutes later Louie Lancaster went the same way, meaning AFC played out the remainder of the match with nine men. The final whistle blew and Cheadle deservedly took the points.

The Non-League Reds are in midweek action at the Berry Street Garage Stadium this Tuesday evening, where they will face a strong FC St Helens side. Please get down to support the Team if you can. Kick-off is 7:45pm.

FINAL SCORE - Cheadle Town 2 v 0 AFC Liverpool

LINE UP - 1. Parkinson 2. Wright-Ocana 3. Giblin 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Fisher-Jones 6. Brown

7. Jones 8. Mahaffy 9. Taylor 10. Skillen 11. Rooney

Subs Used - Hinnigan, Lancaster, Blankendal, A. McShane

Attendance - 81

Pics courtesy of Dave Williams www.afcliverpool.smugmug.com