A team bus no less brought the Sale Town new boys to the ground affectionately known as fortress Morley Common for the opening fixture of Grappenhalls 2010/2011 season. They arrived a little late, a trait evident in their tackling as we were soon to discover, but welcome they were, all the same. Grappenhall turned out a full squad of sixteen, No Jones, No Bradley but plenty of talent to match last seasons unbeaten new comers. Fresh from preseason victories and Wednesday night training the boys in blue lined up confident, coiled and content. Some a little more content than others looking at one or two of the waistlines....
Sale began slowly. They stood off their opponents, failing to engage during the opening salvo's. The bumpy pitch perhaps catching them unawares as they attempted to pass the ball about at every opportunity. A few mistakes creating a number of half chances for the Grappenhall boys to typically fluff. Debutant Wright on the left mustered up some puff and went for a canter on occasion. Looked comfortable enough and glowed a healthy shade of red to confirm the requisite amount of effort being made. Nothing much to report really until Locke appeared to be bundled over in the box 10 minutes in and blow me down if the ref didn't award the Grappenhall boys a penalty. Thompson, who else, dispatched the spot kick with aplomb. One nil to the good and on top to boot.
The wind helped but the remainder of the half saw consistent pressure on the Sale goal with the away team seldom able to piece together an attack of their own. Wright (yes second mention I know) managed to hit a post with a Ronaldinhoesque cross come shot. Half time came and the Grappenhall boys considered the game in the bag, only a matter of time before the second came.
Sale meanwhile decided that enough was enough. They had paid their respects but now they wanted to play.
The second half saw a distinct turn around in their resolve and fortitude. In came the tackles, thick and fast, some expertly timed, some not so. And up went the decibel levels as the haranguing of the referee began for almost every decision given. Mr Hyde had returned to the bus and now Mr Jekyll had taken his place. Grappenhall were drawn into the maelstrom, with a booking for Elliott as the upshot, giving him something to ponder during his far eastern honeymoon. A little quick to the boil Mr Elliott. Tut tut. Certainly something the lovely Mrs Elliott wont want to experience this coming week.
So the game spluttered on. Most of the fun now taken out of it. Sale equalised with a headed goal softly conceded, Grappenhall just couldn't find the net. Cookie coming the closest with a 30 yarder off the bar.
Notable mentions go to Halliwell and PEM for some steadfast defending and sorry for this lads, Locke for some sporadic chasing down of the back men forcing mistakes on more than one occasion. Oh and Niven too, having missed out on a mention for the goal he bagged in last weeks friendly....is it just me or does the old duffer seem to be getting better with age?
So a one all draw see's us limp out of the blocks and begin our latest quest for mid table mediocrity. Mossley Hill in a fortnight. Time then for a little practise on the heavy bag......
SCE
