Report

It’s sometimes said that “a week’s a long time in football”. It was certainly the case this week in relation to our back to back fixtures against Partington.  Same opposition, similarly unimportant in league position terms, similar outcome but a totally different experience for players and supporters. This game was the complete opposite of last week. All of the boys got a decent amount of pitch time, the football was competitive but always fair and above all, all of the boys on both teams appeared to be enjoying themselves.

The day started with the Lymm crowd massing early on James’ Mum’s “instabench” which has been our most valued support this season. The pitch was large, flat, recently cut and beautifully marked. The Partington coaching team were assembling the goals and all was looking good. The referee arrived and inspected the pitch shortly before our appointed 11.00 am KO. He pronounced himself generally happy but had noticed the absence of any goals. The Partington construction crew struggled on. 11.00 came and went. The crowds contemplated a chant of “why are we waiting” but decided against.  Just as were getting concerned about losing the light and with Partington’s answer to the chuckle brothers having just about given up, the Lymm support pitched in from the sidelines. Nik Wadsworth took control and shortly afterwards we had two pristine sets of goals, one slightly smaller than the other perhaps, but so long as we changed ends at half time it would be ok!

We eventually kicked off under the searing heat of the the near-midday sun. The first promising attack came from Partington. Robi was quickly off his line, we could hardly bear to watch. Crunch! Keeper and striker collided – Sam got enough contact to send the ball safely out of play but was now prostrate on the pitch semi-conscious. His father was clearly very concerned and after some words of sympathy (“get on with it”) he was soon up and about and we were back to full strength.

We were back to where we started the season with 10 men and only the enigmatic Elliott in absentia. 

Lymm played some really attractive passing football with great interplay down the right between Jack Wadsworth and Josh Vaughan culminating in a super floated ball forward from Josh into the path of Rooney and Cal, both screaming into the box from opposite directions. “After You...” said Cal and Rooney duly dispatched the ball into the net to give Piranhas a 1-0 lead.  The rest of the half was a footballing feast with Piranhas reverting to their tried and tested defensive formation of Jonno and Luke, midfield of (variously) Cal, Michael, Josh, James, Wadsi and Jacob leaving Owen up front on his own.

The defensive duo and Robi were solid as a rock, repulsing all of Partington’s darting counter attacks with absolute assurance and rarely looking in danger. Cal was the workhorse of the midfield driving the team forward in customary style with Michael alongside him laying on a virtuoso performance of perfectly timed and beautifully weighted passes for our attackers to run on to. A cultured performance – possibly his best of the Season?

Chances came and went with Rooney and Michael bringing great saves from the Partington keeper.  Jacob danced down the touchline in a typically lively performance and Owen scared the life out of Partington with his fearsome pace. In the latter stages of the half in spells we played some of the best passing football we’ve played this season and Partington, for their part, defended stoutly and brought out the best from our defence against their counter-attacking style.

HT 0-1

With some great football having been played one goal was a meagre return although Brian looked a contented man at half time. “Go out there and enjoy yourselves” was the message. The right message too!

With Owen heading off at half time for a “life or death” basketball match (pah!) and Rooney having succumbed to a nasty bout of foot-ache, major surgery was required (on the team, not Rooney). Not endowed with the depth of player resources of certain other Scottish managers, Brian changed his nine remaining players around. The ever willing Rooney lined-up in goal, Michael swapped with Luke, Sam Robi moved to left-midfield and Wadsi went up front. The whistle blew and off we went, but what was that on the horizon? With Piranhas down to eight fit-men and one (crippled) makeshift keeper it was floppy haired Owen galloping back across the pitch towards us like Lassie - coming to save the day. Phew, we’re saved! Brian welcomed Owen back, thrilled he’d established his true priorities, and like a returning prodigal son, put him on the bench.

Lymm attacked with Cal doggedly dragging the battle into opposition territory. He pushed forward down the right and fired an effort across the face of goal.  Josh chased after what looked like a lost cause, collected the ball on the bi-line, turned and dropped the ball back for Wadsi wide out on the left, outside the area. Wadsi, sensing his mother wasn’t at the game,  steadied himself and cracked an awesome rising shot towards the Partington goal. Like an arrow the ball thundered towards the left hand upright (of the smaller goal), the keeper sprang towards it, great dive -  but not great enough! In it went, Wadsi celebrated, the crowd celebrated and Cal’s Mum rang Jo to tell her what she’d missed. Wadsi Scores!....and Mum missed it (again!).  (Jo, Photo’s below – full size framed copy £20). A fine goal to cap a fine individual performance from Wadsi (MoTM on it’s way for sure).

2-0 Piranhas.

Partington, who had contributed significantly to the game, weren’t to be outdone and came roaring back.  Our makeshift keeper deflected the first, but couldn’t do much about the second, well he could have saved it instead of helping it in but no matter. 2-1 Partington fighting back.

The next ten minutes were all about Partington vs Rooney in goals. The opposition had their tails up and sensed blood in the water. Rooney went from the ridiculous to the sublime saving some, shepherding others out and making one effort (bound for Venus) look like save of the century. Partington’s pressure finally told, our defences were breached and three or four Partington lads bore down on goal. The shot came in. Our net billowed. Oh No……..!!! Then came the salvation in the form of the referee. “Offside” was the call – and he was right. Lymm breathed again.

 We collected ourselves and, as if to add insult to Partington’s injury, Jacob was scythed down in the dying moments and a penalty was awarded to Lymm.  Only one man for the job. Cal “never missed a penalty” Grieve.  Henceforth to be known as Cal “only ever missed one penalty” Grieve. To be fair a good save from the Partington keeper only for the rebound to be collected by super-sub Owen.  3-1 Piranhas.

This game had everything. Goals, missed chances galore (Piranhas!!), a missed penalty, a disallowed goal, a substitute keeper, great moments of skill and the odd moment of farce. This is what last week should have been but wasn’t and it was a really good note on which to finish our season.

So another Season over, perhaps the  final Season. We are worthy runners-up to Wythenshawe who beat us twice, and with only one other loss this season (a highly strange one at that!), we have a record to be proud of - P14  W11  D0  L3  F 56 A 31  GD 25   Pts 33 - Not to mention our first trophy!      

Goals

James Rooney

Jack Wadsworth

Owen Ball

MoTM

Wadsi

Jonno

Photos

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