Narrow Defeat For Reds

The wait for the first home points of the season goes on, as The Non-League Reds fell to a narrow 1-2 defeat to visitors Charnock Richard.

The visitors had the first effort after 2 minutes when right winger Yusuff cut inside and hit a left-footed effort towards goal but it was blocked by his teammate. AFC had their first effort on 10 minutes when Caleb Jones tried an effort from outside the box that went just over the bar. Just before the half hour mark Elliot Taylor curled a right-footed effort narrowly over the bar. Taylor fired wide a few minutes later as the home side tried to push for the lead.

Dan Mahaffy played a superb through ball to Taylor, who raced through one on one with the keeper. The Charnock keeper came out and flattened Taylor and the referee pointed to the spot. After a few minutes delay, whilst treatment was given to AFC's striker, it was Taylor who stepped up to give his side a 37th minute lead.

Elliot Taylor strikes from the spot

Things looked promising for AFC but not for long, as straight from the restart the visitors went on the attack and although it looked like they had dealt with the initial threat, the ball was played to the edge of the area and Nickeas was on hand to finish well into the roof of the net. Joel Skillen went close to retaining AFC's lead a minute later, as he curled an effort wide of the far post. Charnock then went close when the striker fired into the side netting from a tight angle. However, as the 45th minute came to a close, Fenton Davies broke into the area and despite not making the best contact on his shot, the ball found it's way into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead at the break.

Charnock get the winner just before the break

It was Charnock who looked the more likely to get another during the early exchanges of the 2nd half. A free-kick from wide on the right was fired in but went well over. AFC's cause wasn't helped as leading goalscorer Elliot Taylor had not recovered from the heavy challenge he received when winning the penalty and wasn't able to come out after the break. Despite lots of efforts and goalmouth skirmishes, the half produced few chances worthy of note. Charnock defended a late AFC rally well and the game came to an end with another home defeat for AFC.

This weekend will see AFC make the trip to Wythenshawe, for a 3pm kick-off. The following Tuesday there is a home game against FC Isle of Man at 7:45pm. It would be great to get lots of fans down there to help get the Team through this period.

FINAL SCORE - AFC Liverpool 1 v 2 Charnock Richard

LINE-UP - 1. Barnes 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 - Paton, Garrigan, Davies, Lancaster, Foy

Photos courtesy of Dave Williams, Paul Moran, Andy Watson.