Saturday 28th March
Vodkat North West Counties League First Division
New Sirs, Attendance: 175
So with there being no Latics or Robin Park game this weekend, I find myself at a very large loose end. So this is why I found myself on a train, heading to Manchester, as Tuesday’s opponents AFC Liverpool were playing Daisy Hill at their New Sirs home. Robin Park also play at Daisy Hill soon, so this was a good opportunity to scope out this particular sleepy backwater of Westhoughton!Ideally, I would have loved Daisy Hill to win, as Robin Park would have 3 games in hand on AFC, with the Scousers visiting Wigan on Tuesday, things could open up at the top of the league for the Robins! However, Daisy Hill are second-bottom and I couldn’t even see them snatching a point, so a win for them was more of a pipe dream to be honest.
I found the ground easily enough, hidden though may I add! £4 entry, £1 program and a £1.90 pint in the clubhouse later and I found myself surrounded by 100 Scousers. This is something which I imagine a night out at Maximes must be like. You know what happens, you try to chat up some orange-skinned bird, not knowing she’s with some Scouse lad who summons up his 100-strong ‘crew’ to ‘do you over’, like only a gang of Scousers know how to do. But it’s never their fault of course!
So to the match, the program states that the ref and linesman are both from Wigan! The first 15 minutes or so were very scrappy, although AFC had camped in the Daisy Hill half from the first whistle. But from their first meaningful attack, ‘The Daises’ scored, following some good play out wide, the ball was put into the box and found its way in the back of the net. The AFC fans went quiet for a bit, except of a bit of moaning!
Half-time was approaching so I made my way down to clubhouse end to see the reminder of the half from behind the goal. With only their second attack of the game, they scored again! Some good play in holding up the ball and smart passing, resulted in the ball flying past the AFC keeper. Get in! Half-time pint was supped as I watched the start of the second half from the clubhouse window, as Daisy Hill had a man sent off and AFC had a penalty. But more Scouse moaning was to occur, as they missed it! The handful of Daises fans were pissing themselves!
I returned to my first-half position not long after but with there being so many AFC fans there, it was difficult to avoid them! I stood next to some annoying women and a couple of kids (not hers!) who took great delight in singing Liverpool songs and labelling Daisy Hill as a ‘joke’. A bit of banter I know, but I would have thought that at this level, fans would have a bit more respect for other clubs. Just to put things in perspective, Daisy Hill FC were formed in 1894, whilst their opponents are barley a year old!
My desperation for The Daises to hold on was bubbling to the surface but as the AFC fans chanting got louder they nicked a goal back with barely 10 minutes left. Just a minute later, the floodgates threatened to open as a long ball was dealt with poorly by the Daises keeper and AFC found their equaliser. A bit harsh on the home side, as the keeper had only made two saves all game!
With the Scouse squeals getting louder (and those annoying kids) I was distraught, AFC would push on for a winner now. I didn’t really expect Daisy Hill to come up field and score but that’s what they did! A long ball forward was controlled superbly and a through-ball quickly dispatched. Daisy Hill forward Hogdkinson outpaced the static AFC defence and planted the ball past the onrushing keeper. I couldn’t help myself cheering the winner with the Daises fans!
The final whistle went not long after and both sets of fans clapped their sides off. It was a good match and all credit to the AFC fans who had come in numbers (about 145!) and were in good voice throughout. The clubhouse was also pretty good, if a bit under-staffed.
On the whole, this is great news for The Robins, who now can overtake AFC if we win our games in hand. With the match on Tuesday coming up, I don’t see any reason why we can’t take all three points, as we did at Valerie Park.
After the match, I had a quick pint in the local pub (‘The Daisy Hill’) and watch a bit of the England match as Emile Heskey, fell over and the ball went in off him via a defender. Some things never change! Later, I find myself home almost as soon as I board the train. Brew in hand and toasting a good day out the football.
With me hardly getting to any lower league games this season. I’ve decided to make an effort as the season is coming to an end. I hope to attend the following games in the next couple of weeks! Look out for more drunken reports!
31st March - Wigan Robin Park vs. AFC Liverpool
4th April - Wigan Robin Park vs. Stone Dominoes
10th April - Lancaster City vs. Bamber Bridge
15th April - Daisy Hill vs. Wigan Robin Park
28th April - Wigan Robin Park vs. Padiham
Photo courtesy/nicked of 'Little Dave' from the AFC Liverpool forum
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