Cream 3-3 Freshfield
3rd November 2002
Simon Richards writes:
Authentic Sunday League football beared its teeth for Freshfield in their latest game against Cream. The conditions were far detached from the premier facilities of Altcar Lane and consequently it could be said Freshie were unaccustomed to this harsh reality. Cream were also aided by attacking into the playable half of the pitch in the first half leaving Freshfield trying to play on ground more suited to hippos at the zoo. It gave a new twist to the term "liquid football".
The usual shout of "It was the same for both sides" neglects the fact that by the second half the whole of the pitch had become unaccomodating to the fluent football that Freshfield play and that the low sun, harbouring Freshie's progress in the first half, had gone in. Such variables can make the difference at this level.
Nonetheless, Freshfield went ahead with a coolly assured finish from 18 yards by a sharp Tony Lynch following a through ball from Damian Nolan. Freshfield tried to play their passing game with Nolan and Hughes toiling well in the middle and linking up well with the oncoming fullbacks. Seville, filling in for Power, looked tidy and assured between the posts but was rarely troubled.
Midway through the half, Freshfield should have been awarded a blatant penalty when Booker was sylthed down on bursting into the Cream area. The referee who suspiciously ressembled Francis Rossi of Status Quo fame shirked the decision to the dismay of Freshfield and this soon turned to disbelief when shortly after a Cream attacker, who was clearly in an offside position, was allowed to run in on goal and bring the home side level. The Cream supporters started singing "Get your rocks off" from the touchline. Such a hairstyle has only been kept alive in recent times by David Seaman.
In the second half the pitch became even less conducive to attractive football and Freshfield went behind for the first time in the match. Despite this and with sensible substitutions from Smith, the Freshfield refound their belief and equalised through the ever dangerous Lynch. Then Booker beat the keeper to the ball in the opposing penalty box and despite players on the line smashed the ball into the roof of the net. The style of the finish seemed symbolically decisive, a knock out blow by the away side. However, in the final minutes a cross to the final post was headed in by a home attacker and the match finished all square.
Freshfield can been proud of having clawed their way back and glad not to have lost this match. This must be laced with regret at not having taken all the points when victory was within their grasp.
Tony Lynch writes:
The weekend's poor weather conditions certainly took their toll in this match as neither team played particularly well, mostly due to the poor condition of the pitch. The Devonshire Road groundsman certainly had the weekend off and would have been shocked to find hay was found in the centre circle area to try and soak up some of the excess water. It was Freshfield who started more brightly when Tony Lynch, in for the absent Tommy Smith, scored after only 3 minutes after a fine through ball from Damian Nolan. Poor positioning from the Cream goalkeeper allowed him to finish with ease.
As the muddy pitch began to take its toll there were one or two late challenges which earned a Cream midfielder a yellow card after a late challenge on Nolan. Freshfield's own midfielder Bryan McGlynn took a nasty knock soon after when his face collided with the knee of a Cream player in a tackle resulting in him chipping a tooth and going off momentarily for treatment. Cream were allowed an equaliser when the scorer seemed 3 or 4 yards offside, however, the goal stood much to the Freshfield back four's dismay and great efforts from Dave Seville in for Nigel Power. Whether he was away or dropped after last weeks howler, only manager Andy Smith knows the answer. The most comical moment of the half occured when Simon Richards attempted to retrieve a ball from the Devonshire Road ditch and subsequently fell in, much to the humourous delight of all players and spectators from both pitches.
In the second half Cream now had the upper hand and scored their second with a header in off the post from a corner. John Eccles and Martin Hirst replaced Bryan McGlynn and Simon Richards on the wings and it payed off 10 minutes later when a ball from Eccles put Lynch through, who neatly lobbed the keeper and levelled at 2-2. Only moments later he was again through on goal and neatly layed off to Geoff Booker who made no mistake. Freshfield thought the game was won but again a seemingly offside Cream player sent in a cross to the far post which was headed home with only seconds remaining. Freshfield will be dissapointed with this result in a match they feel should have been theirs and will look forward to the return match at Altcar Road.
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Team
Dave Seville |
Manager's Man of the Match
Player's Man of the Match
Supporter's Man of the Match
Attendance |