Exhausted and idealess manager Hussain takes two week recharging sojourn entrusting all team responsibilities to genius deputy Sumner.
It's been a season or two since we last welcomed the gentlemen of Wilmslow to the fortress Morley Common for a Sunday afternoon battle of wits. And a battle in every sense ensued as we were soon to discover. Some familiar faces amongst the pack and the ever smiling Wilmslow coach were greeted warmly and as the mid October sun glinted off the adjacent chemical works, the ref counted the players, checked with the keepers and whistled us off.
Grappenhall were slow to start. Sluggish, uninterested, sloppy, lazy. The month break had cost us. Wilmslow were the brighter and more bubbly. Was this the same Wilmslow team from a season or two ago who stood off all challenges? It would appear not as the lunges went in and their commitment shone bright. A new centre forward for them. A monster. Powerful and strong with a mercurial touch. Mecrow and Martin soon woke up. But the Grappenhall boys had their faces rubbed in the dirt before they picked themselves up and began to play. It took a goal for them to do it, an indifference at the back, no names, but a soft goal to concede and Wilmslow were one to the good with barely twenty minutes gone.
Bradley, back from his post substitution sulk (don't ask) does not like to lose. Never has. Mecrow likewise. The pair of them began the turn around. Sliding in to win the ball whenever it was in their domain and quite often when it was not. The passions stirred and we all followed suit. This was a bit more like it....even Leighton, who in the first 15 epitomised the Grappenhall lethargy found a spring and charged down the left with fresh vigour, coinciding incidentally with the arrival of his fair lady and offspring. Her presence in future games key from the impact she made today. Our first WAG. Welcome. But it fell to O'Donnell to level the scores. Who else. Playing in his favoured front of house and bursting with unbridled energy followed up a neat interplay and slotted a clinical goal. And quite deserved too. All level was fair. Wilmslow though were not having any of it. On they pressed pressurising the home side and not giving any quarter. Coyne the magnificent Grappenhall No1 found cause to throw his teddy out after one robust Wilmslow challenge but it was the gentleman Gregory who had all eyebrows raised when he and 'Bruce?' the Wilmslow left back indulged in a little 'Queensbury handbags' on the touchline and had to be pulled apart. A yellow apiece proved sufficient to stem the exuberance and apologies exchanged between them put it all to bed in time for half time oranges.
One all with both sides pretty evenly matched. The next goal as ever would prove crucial. For all the Grappenhall hot air expunged at half time it was the Wilmslow boys who grasped the initiative. A greater desire perhaps? But it was soon them on the up. Grappenhall dropped deeper and deeper but the defence stood firm. Quite magnificently. Coyne and his boys kept them at bay until desperation led to the Wilmslow penalty. Quite rightly awarded by, for me, the excellent referee. Monster steps up and places it right into the gloves of the man of the match, for a parry and remained parity. Grappenhall, buoyed now, pressed on occasion themselves. And then it came. Bradley excellence in a slotted through ball and an Eales burst and toe poke saw the home team take a two one lead. Oh the joy. Back on the website for the first time in 22 months!...Oh hell fire though for Wilmslow were not for lying down. On came Goliath (18) who's immediate impact was to head narrowly wide from a perfectly delivered cross. And the crosses came and came. Delap like long throws, corners and crosses. The Grappenhall box was deluged. But Coyne and his boys kept them at bay, the cross bar too on occasion, but at bay they remained and the long awaited whistle finally came to bring the curtain down on a two one victory for the home team. A fair result? Coyney and his boys would say so but I'm not sure our Wilmslow friends would concur. A welcome three points though all the same.
Nets unclipped, corner flags removed, water bottles gathered and as the sun dipped below the shimmering chimneys the post match dissections began. Sumner though quietly retreated. A whistle and satisfied smile as he sauntered to the changing rooms. ......" Sorry " he was heard to say, "Tok who?"
Stuart Eales
