AFC Stockport = 3 teams, 1 club.

AFC Stockports poor league form from last season continued into this. With AFC dominating the opening 45 minutes, this game looked dead a buried at the break.

Rick Williams, AFC Stockport’s record goalscorer opened proceedings, when seeing midfielder , Andy Hibbert chase down a lost cause and winning the ball, before sliding the ball to striker, Rick who moved across the edge of the penalty area, his right footed effort deflecting over the keeper.

Man of the Match, Ben Higgs showed incredible composure when scoring AFC’s 2nd on 11 minutes. Picking up a loose ball, he stedied himself, looked up and chipped the kepper from 20 yards, unbelievable vision.

Usually clinical Rick Williams then missed two glorious chances he created, rounding the keeper and firing wide both times.

Phillips uncharactiristicly gave the ball away on 26 minutes, resulting in Great Moor racing down the right, firing in a cross which was headed at the back post but saved well from Jason hughes in goal. The keepers quick reaction only saw his save drop to the approaching Great Moor striker and the score was 2-1.

Rick again, similar to before, broke the back line, rounded the keeper but from a tighter angle saw his effort fly wide of the far post.

AFC though increased their lead when a great move from AFC resulted in Malabi playing a one, two with Higgs before slotting into the near post, the keeper getting hand to it but not enough to keep it out.

AFC were dominating Great Moor on the counter attacks and offering little for them to take great comfort from.

Half Time; Great Moor 1 AFC STOCKPORT 3



 

Humphries changed things slightly at the start of the second half and was this the reason for AFC’s demise in the second half.

Great Moor started the better and pressed for a goal. However it was Rick Williams who was first to create the opening chance early on. The striker beat the offside trap, raced to the penalty area and was cruelly brought down from behind. Referee, Geoff Gregory who has always done well in previous AFC games failed to punish to the letter of the law to the Great Moor defender, only cautioning him with a yellow card, despite being the last man.

Early into the second half and Moor made a game of it, scoring in quick  concession on the 57, 60 mark to make it level.

Moor then raced into the lead for the first time when AFC failed to deal with a corner again, the ball half cleared saw Great Moor fire the ball back through the keepers legs.

Great Moor began to grow with confidence and pressed AFC but it was the visitors who notched neck. Substitute, Crozier played in a perfectly weighted ball to Rick Williams who this time rounded the keeper and slotted into an empty net to level the game with 10 minutes to go.

Both teams pressed for the win in this opening day fixture and it was Moor who clinched the winner with a low effort which somehow flew past Hughes in goal, no challenge from any AFC player.

AFC walking away feeling hard done by, however they must look back and realise they need to up performances. Yes there were four usual first teamers missing, yes the referee’s performance was below par...but AFC had enough chances to finish this game...and no doubt will another day.

REFEREE WATCH  4/10

Geoff Gregory; Usually a dependable referee, Geoff missed too many incidents. Failing to send a player off for a professional foul along with awarding a corner for Moor’s 3rd goal when it was a clear goal kick were two key decisions. Along with the Great Moor player who had already been cautioned, not recieving another caution for kicking out an AFC player. Not his best game by far but we all make mistakes.

AFC OPEN

DAY DEFEAT

JASON

HUGHES

JAMIE

HUGHES

PHILLIPS

SKINNER

OGDON

GRIMES

HIBBERT

(C)

MALABI

BRACHER

R.WILLIAMS

HIGGS

Subs; Lam, Crozier, Humphries

1. JASON HUGHES   6

4. JAMIE HUGHES   6

5. SKINNER    6

8. GRIMES    7

9. BRACHER    6

10. R.WILLIAMS    7

11. HIGGS    8

12.MALABI    7

15. OGDON    6

18. PHILLIPS    7

23. HIBBERT (C)    6

Subs

20. CROZIER    6

24. HUMPHRIES    5

LINE UP

YELLOW CARDS; Phillips, R.Williams        RED CARDS: NONE

04/09/11

SDSFL DIV.1

GREAT MOOR   (1) 5                          AFC STOCKPORT  (3)  4

GOALS 26, 57, 60, 66, 73, 90

R.WILLIAMS 7, 80

HIGGS 11

MALABI 38