The game delayed by a week after a dubious call off last week, lots of angst in the week, with email to Egerton, Cheshire vets and back.
Reset at a very bobbly Booths Hall pitch. A pitch fit for a relegation dog fit such as this. Niven picked his oldest boys for the start of this game, 3 young guns on the bench ready to take over.
The first 15 minutes, High Lane dominant, some desperate last ditch tackles and goal keeper Coyne, back to his sharp and confident best, finally over the early season injury. Grappenhall lucky to be level…. But there was an unusual feature coming into the Grappenhall game, a bit more talking….a confident offside line…. And then the tackles went in and the ball finally started to move around.
Something also very unusual….an assist from Razor, with an exquisite cross field pass to O’Donnell. O’Donnell’s reward for a deft finish was the hook for a rest after some very energetic marauding. Shortly Razor scored himself, deep into his celebration when to everyone’s surprise including the silent High Lane defence, eyes turned to the referee, who called offside…close call!!!
Some niggly midfield tackles started towards the end of the half….as the magnificent Illiff and Hussain toiled to gain the upper hand.
Half time 1-0, High Lane revived and started the second like the first with more crisper passing. The niggle continue until Illiff rightly booked after a run in and stud down the High Lane number 8 calf. However it was Grappenhall making the clearer chances, with Dickson, looking crisp and starting to show his potential….Hadland working like a trojan down the left, better with tackles than passes mind, but a never say die attitude caught the eye.
With the game in the balance the ball fell to Locke just over the half way line, this goal will get longer and longer as the season processes, as his team mates groaned as the leg cocked back and like an exocet, the ball arrowed over the high lane keeper and in to the top left corner, the groans turned to celebratory cheers…..lets draw a line on it though, it was at least 32 yards, but not a centimetre over 35…..not quite a Beckham….but delicious none the same.
Niven kept rotating the players as fitness looked a problem, Wright the most effected by the Tinkerman as he kept moving from wing to forward.
Mid half with Grappenhall looking in control a hopeful ball in the area, knocked from 3 yards onto the midriff and maybe upper arm of Bradley. Referee must have been watching a recent Liverpool – Man City semi-final, copying the actions of the premierships worst referee justifying his decision by throwing his arms in the air repeatedly like a demented ballerina (the premiership one that is)…. “Un-natural position…un-natural position”. The decision was final and we can certainly claim we are not having much “homer” decisions going on with 3 penalties against in the last 2 games……but we still love him to a last…
The resultant spot kick expertly dispatched into the corner, though Coyne was close.
From then it was scramble at both ends. Dickson and Wright, both agonisingly missing the left hand post. Coyney smothered a 1 on 1. Mecrow (MoM again) and Bradley, resolute and Emsely-Martin, putting in a marvellous 90 minute shift. With minutes to go, High Lane number 6 escaped the markers, chested down, too close to the oncoming Coyne and covering defenders and the last skirmish was vanquished.
Full time whistle and spoils to Grappenhall….just!
Back to the club for very nice bacon butties, sausage, chips, beer and the first half of an incredible cup-final…..this is what we came to Egerton for!!!
All is good in the Grappenhall world after an eventful week…what could be more interesting next weekend….oh that minor event of a trip to Mossley…bring it on!
