Monday 23 November 2009

Edgeley Villa Reserves vs D&C ATHLETIC FC


Edgeley Villa Reserves 0-2 D&C Athletic
Sunday 22nd November
Bakery Bridge


Not wishing to name names but some players were adamant that adverse weather conditions would lead to this fixture being postponed and nearly didn't turn up for this fixture. However, it's a good job they did as this fixture was an important display for D&C.


The game started and D&C looked cold still and it was the underdogs who pressed first. Still looking for their first win of their first season, EVR, looked more likely to break the deadlock early on. They stretched a somewhat altered back four with long balls over the top and some bright play from their small midfielders; testing Adam Cummins to a full stretch save with a long distance strike early on.


D&C woke up and despite a few close calls they began passing the ball around with candor. This opened the game up for the midfield, and while the strikers struggled to create many chances through the middle, D&C full use of the flanks and this is how they broke the deadlock.

After 30mins, tireless Jordan Clough beat his man on the left wing and was duly brought down for a free kick 30 yards from goal. Tom Owen stepped up and whipped the ball around the wall and through a crowded penalty area into the bottom right hand corner for his second goal of this years campaign. D&C held the lead until the half. HT 0-1

D&C came out stronger and continue to stroke the ball around the park with few difficulties defensively other than their own errors. EVR became increasingly frustrated and for the second week in a row it was surprising not to see some tackles punished more strongly by the referee.

Ironically, the cards did come out, but for D&C striker Nick Kiefer when he was judged to have dived in the penalty area. It is unknown as to whether he will be reprimanded by the clubs front offices in form of a club fine.

D&C increased the deficit after 70mins when another Clough run down the left hand side led to a perfect cross to Kiefer in the 6 yard box on which he calmly side footed home. D&C then were forced to defend for the remainder of the game by aggressive EVR tactics to put 4 up front and chase their first points of the season, but it wasnt to be. FT 0-2.

This was an important result for D&C. While some may be disappointed not to win by more, it is important to remember not a year earlier where such a result would have gone the other way. D&C have become the kind of side that can win easily even when playing relatively badly, the kind that does well.
This may not appear true due to conceding 3 goals, but for the past two games D&C have shut down opposition teams. The only problems they have faced have been created by themselves and that of terrible officiating, such as offside

GK - Adam Cummins

RB - Andrew Barlow
LB - Matt Davies
CB - Tom Owen
CB - Dean Couling (C)
RM - Martyn Barlow
LM - Jordan Clough (Will Gayle, 75)
CM - Nick Hughes
CM - Gaz Harley
CF - Nick Kiefer (Paul Watkins, 70)
CF - Atem Eyong

Unused Subs: N/A

TO




Monday 16 November 2009

D&C ATHLETIC vs Disley A.F.C 2nds


D&C Athletic 3 - 3 Disley 2nds
Sunday 15th November
Lacey Green

The poor weather of week decided to disappear for the day and gave way to the finest rivalry in all of Disley. Despite the need for some major greenkeeping the pitch was in a good condition for D&C's passing style of football. And this was evident all game.

D&C started the brighter and held Disley in their own half for most of the first half restricting them to 30 yard pot shots. Disley adopted a tough football approach and were lucky to get away without bookings early on after chopping down Dave Slater, Gaz Harley and Atem Eyong repeatedly.

Nice passing moves saw Harley and Nick Kiefer both have one on one chances that were unfortunately squandered. Nevertheless, D&C pressed further and it took its toll on 30mins when a Tom Owen free kick was crossed in towards Eyong who headed back across the goal for Kiefer to spin 180degrees and slot the ball in the net from 5 yards out.

Just before the half Jordan Clough took the ball down the left hand side and beat Disleys slow RB only to be brought down in the area. Player/Manager Andrew Barlow stepped up to take the pen and slotted it in the bottom right corner only to see the referee was talking to a player. On the re-take he went the same way and the keeper guessed correctly.

Going into the half there was only one team playing and Davies in net had very little to do. HT 1-0

D&C came out to the second half slow and were punished after a few minutes when over committed defending was undone by a flicked header through to a loan Disley striker who took it round Davies to score the equaliser. Despite the goal, there was a strong appeal for offside which was ignored by the very poor referee.

The standard of officiating got worse as Disley players continued to push the boundaries of the definition of the word 'foul'. Disgusting tackle after disgusting tackle went unpunished and this temporarily prevented D&C from passing the ball around. Eventually, a breakthrough came from a 55 minute cross from Clough to the back post where Eyong controlled and slotted home for his 9th goal of the season.

D&C didnt rest on their laurels and keep pushing. They took a 3-1 lead when Nick Hughes lobbed the keeper from a very tight angle with a deft header. D&C had more chances from 65min sub Matt Wharton go untaken.

Disley got a second shortly after when again aggressive defending meant that too many defenders went to the man with the ball leaving only Barlow to defend two players in the box waiting for the cross. Disley's other striker then headed the ball home for 3-2. Again, the player was virtually stood next to Davies and was clearly offside but no decision to reflect that.

The game then started to get even uglier as the referees complete refusal to card anyone meant he was losing control. A disgusting tackle on Harley which eventually lead to his exit from the game (replaced by Paul Watkins) went only punished by a free kick. However, when Slater complained to the ref, a Disley player took it upon himself to shove him in the face. This is a straight red in any football rule book, yet the player only received a yellow.

With the last kick of the game Disley launched a ball over the top and, not learning from previous experiences, D&C stopped as the player was clearly 5 yards offside. The ref didn't call it and the player continued to beat Davies and score the equaliser. FT 3-3

While D&C did miss chances, and the defending should have prevented the goals, they can take solace in the fact that the refeering was decidedly poor and they were lucky to have not had more injuries.

Many will say that this is Sunday League and teams should be tougher and the ref even commented saying "we clearly watch too much premiership football". Nevertheless, the rule book is the same at every level and a shove in the face is a red card.


GK - Matt Davies
RB - Andrew Barlow
LB - Dean Couling (C)
CB - Tom Owen
CB - Nick Hughes
RM - Martyn Barlow
LM - Jordan Clough
CM - David Slater
CM - Gaz Harley (Paul Watkins, 70)
CF - Nick Kiefer (Matt Wharton, 65)
CF - Atem Eyong

Unused Subs: Mike Burt

TO

Saturday 7 November 2009

The Tall And Short Of It

When you see a performing midget/dwarf/little person/giant/Valuev/freak show, or whichever politically incorrect name you choose to give 'them', how do you feel?

Are you one to sit there and shake your head saying, "they are degrading themselves and the people who 'suffer' a similar plight", or are you one to mutter, "they are making the best out of something which could otherwise be a hindrance".

I usually find that my answer to this question depends on my mood, but I will always stick by the business behind it, if they make money to feed and clothe themselves, then fair play.

That being said...watch 'La Pequeña', who reached fame as the midget Amy Winehouse impersonator:



Firstly, someone tell me if 'its' male or female?

Secondly, is anyone else reminded of the female Gremlin from Gremlins 2? Still gives me nightmares...



:/

TO

Wednesday 4 November 2009

Does Luck Exist?


Was this man saved for a reason, or is he just the luckiest b*stard alive. Both passenger and drive survived. (Courtesy of Funny Blog)

Maybe they should meet up with this guy and compare thirst for life:



:)

TO

Monday 2 November 2009

D&C ATHLETIC vs Westlands

D&C Athletic 0 - 3 Westlands
Sunday 1st November
Lacey Green

If a footballing display ever matched the weather then this D&C performance was it; grey, wet and blustery. While the pitch was just about playable, there was only one team who attempted it for 90mins.

D&C opted for the 4-4-1-1 formation that worked excellently against Woodley Albion but from that team they were without RB James Wallis and top scorer Atem Eyong.

D&C started the slower and never really picked up the pace. Making a couple of passing errors in the centre of midfield early on served only to set the tone for the rest of the game. D&C had few if any chances in the first half and suffered against a harsh face wind. Westlands piled on the pressure, including several difficult to defend free kicks forcing Dean Couling to head it onto his own bar. They eventually unlocked D&C before the half with a slick passing move. HT 0-1

Within 5 seconds of the second half kick off, D&C were lucky to not have conceded a second. Again setting a below par tone. As D&C tired from chasing and defending long balls, Westlands began to make it count. Hitting the post twice they were unlucky to not be further ahead. D&C's closest efforts from the second half all came from Dave Slater's long throws and Nick Hughes came close from one of Slater's corners.

Westlands made it 2-0 when the wind took the ball away from an eccentric Adam Cummins on the edge of the 6 yard box and their striker rose to looping header the ball into the top right corner of the goal.

They then finished the game as D&C changed to 3-5-2 and the back 3 couldn't remain organised when all the other players pushed forward. Westlands played the ball forward down our left hand side and neatly crossed into the back post of a Cummins save to have an easy finish for FT 0-3.

D&C need to take this an example of an organised team being clinical and 'up for the game'. While they have a poor record against Westlands, its not going to change without an improved performance for the away fixture. D&C need to remain humble and hungry and go after points and win games.

GK - Adam Cummins
RB - Andrew Barlow (Will Gayle, 70)
LB - Dean Couling (C)
CB - Tom Owen
CB - Jake Taylor
RM - Martyn Barlow
LM - Matt Davies (Matt Wharton, 70)
CM - David Slater
CM - Nick Hughes
AM - Gaz Harley
CF - Mike Burt (Cole Smith, 80)

Unused Subs: Paul Watkins