This was a great performance and so unlucky to come away with nothing when we really could have done with at least a point and would not have been flattered with all 3
Rob Niven
It's no April fool but if you had seen the way we performed today you would be forgiven for thinking the score line was.
We kicked off with sun shining on pitch number one, Sausages and chips in the oven ready for later and a full squad for the gaffer to pick from. As good as it gets.
The opening back line of Cookie, Halliwell, Bradders and PEM looked strong and proved to be.
Midfield of Quent, Orr, Illiff and Tok looked strong and proved to be
front line of Norm and Eales looked frustrated and proved to be.
A rallying cry from Bradders to win our early battles saw the Grappenhall boys get stuck in from the start. And get stuck in they did. Cullen magnificent winning every one of his 50/50's....Orr Illiff and Hussain harrying and closing down. The Wilmslow midfield were comprehensively over run. The back line were impenetrable, Cookie was awesome, breaking up all the Wilmslow right sided forages and bring the ball out with masterful aplomb.
The ball made it's way up front on occasion for the tireless Norm to chase down and for Eales to nod on where possible.....until the roles were reversed and Eales did the chasing down resulting alas in the Wilmslow Goalie suffering a severe case of flattening and a corner flag on his head. Yellow card for the author and a swift tactical substitution for cooling down purposes. quite right too. Dixie slotting in to ply his trade.
The first half went well. Really well actually. Wilmslow were reduced to one feeble attempt on goal which Coyne watched into his side netting. They were simply unable to establish any momentum whatsoever. The Grappenhall machine well oiled and firing on all cylinders. Not too many chances for us to be fair, the lofty Wilmslow centre half's proving to be pretty impenetrable themselves. Half time came with the score all square at 0 - 0.
The second half saw the Wilmslow lads set out with a tad more gusto. Not sure what they were playing for. We were playing for our very survival and there was no let up in the collective determination. Wilmslow were quickly put in their places once again with challenge after determined challenge being won by the driven survivalists.
But of course and as has been the case for the majority of the season, when we needed her most lady luck was nowhere to be seen. Well in actual fact she did make an appearance this afternoon, sadly though in Wilmslow white. They scored. Not out of any mastery on their part and no blame can be aimed at any of the Grappenhall battlers. Just an opening and a slotted finish. Oh how unjust and against the run of play.
It buoyed them and they pushed on some more even hitting the post at one stage, but despite some tiring legs the mighty and gallant Grappenhall boys fought on to the end. But alas to no avail. And there it ends in more ways than one.
Indeed the sausages were nicely browned as we retired to the bar for a beer and post match dissection. Same old same old to be fair. Nothing knew learned and plenty of talk of unjustness, lack of luck and if onlys..... but no real dent in the spirit. No real dent at all.
And so I suppose the writing is on the wall. A sense of inevitability pervades and our route finders to Chelford may need to be dusted off after all, unless there is still a mathematical possibility of survival and the Grappenhall spirit remains fuelled....and Cookie keeps turning out for us.
SCE
