Moston Brook AFC

  With the first team already down to the bare bones and with more late withdrawals and no-shows, the seconds travelled to Old Ashtonians with a bare eleven. With the firsts taking our two forwards, Manager Heffer and Stocky (who's been playing as a defender but claimed he could play up front) took their places as our two forwards.

                  Moston started the game slowly and conceded a goal within the first five minutes. A poorly defended corner was headed in by an Ashtonians attacker. A second followed soon after as Moston hesitantly defended an inswinging free-kick and Paul McLoughlin got the final touch as the ball ended up in the corner of the net. As the half went on though, Moston found themselves getting more and more into the game. We finally got a goal back when Chris Barrow set off on a run which saw him go past three or four players and eventually into the area and he then put the ball into the corner of the net. Just before half-time Moston got themselves level as Heff and Wayne Moran exchanged passes on the edge of the box and the ball eventually fell to myself in the box and I expertly placed the ball into the bottom corner (claims of me slicing the ball, were totally unfounded and the finish was completely deliberate).

                  Moston went in at half-time level, which we were reasonably happy with, giving the way we had played. Despite being on a high from getting level just before half-time, we again started slowly and contrived to throw away the match, early in the second half. An Ashtonians left wing cross, headed in at the back post. More goals followed with a mixture of at times comical defending and some good finishes took the final score to 6-2. Apoligies but I couldn't be bothered going through every one of our opposition goals in detail as I am trying to forget them.

                  A disappointing result and performance and while it is easy to blame our lack of several key first choice players, a lack of forwards clearly had an effect on the game. Had we had more of a cutting edge, while I'm not taking anything away from our opponents, it would have been a more competitive game. That said, we defended poorly throughout the game and apart from ten to fifteen minutes at the end of the first half, we were never really at the races.

After a 5 game un-beaten run Moston Brook 4^th's entertained Staly 3^rd's at Home. Upon arriving at Smedley Lane we found one of the goals had been damaged so we hastily drove down to lower Crumpsall.

A few changes in the personal had to be made due to the absence of Keeper Dave Brookes (who apparently was attending a kick a bout at Old Trafford) and Centre Half Chris Parker also missing from last weeks line up Ryan Henry who was social climbing for the second team. Danny Jackson Reluctantly went in net and Mozzer reverted back to Centre Half, Leaving Chris Moss and Johnny Tynan up front.

As in previous weeks there was no referee so Mike Crump once again duly obliged. The game started off slowly but after Ten minutes Moston began to find their passing game unfortunately they couldn't find their shooting boots. Nearly half the team had chances to put Moston in front but no-one could apply the finishing touch. With 25 minutes of the game gone it seemed like it was going to be one of them day's then all of a sudden it got worse. Richard Boothroyd gave away a silly free kick on the edge of our box. Up stepped their big centre half and smashed the ball into the bottom corner making it 1-0 to staly. Fortunately Staly seemed to think that the game was won and within minutes Moston were level. A speculative ball over the top from Chris Melia seemed a hopeless chase for Johnny Tynan until their keeper came out of his area and decided to mess around. Johnny nipped in, took the ball off the keeper and crossed with his left foot (didn't know Johnny had a left foot) to find Chris Moss un-marked who nodded into an empty net.

The first half continued in the same vain with Moston continuing to pass up on plenty of scoring opportunities. Half-Time 1-1.

The second half started pretty much the same as the first, dull, lifeless, no Talking ( could have been one of Dave Kinders parties ) after ten minutes the ‘ Hatchet Man' struck again off came Tynan and Moss to be replaced by Joe ‘I got new boots for my birthday' Ryan and Enny Alatishe. The pack was then shuffled with Mozzer going back up front with Joe and Chris Melia dropping back to Centre Half to allow Enny to play central midfield. The trick seemed to be working with Joe and Mozzer holding the ball up well and allowing the midfielders to run onto the ball. Chance after chance went begging. Mozzer missing several good chances and indeed one which could have been miss of the season already but only for Richard Boothroyd to miss and easier chance. He played a delightful one two with Mozzer and found himself clear in the area with the keeper to beat. A swing of the left foot and the ball seemingly on its way to goal. But wait why is the guy on the corner flag ducking because if he hadn't Richard's shot would have took his head off. There were spectators and players falling about with laughter all over the pitch. They didn't have to wait long for that chance to be bettered. Enny won the ball in midfield and strode forward and in a bizarre move their entire defence parted like the Red sea to allow Enny a clean run on goal. He found himself six yards out with only the keeper to beat surely 2-1 to Moston. Not a chance the Birds in the tree behind the goal were in more danger than the keeper as Enny blasted over. With only ten minutes left of the game Joe and Mozzer sprung the offside trap it was now a race to see who would get to the ball first, Mozzer won the race thanks to the timely intervention of a SNAIL who allowed Mozzer to get a piggy back and leave Joe trailing. With only the keeper to beat Mozzer lifted the ball over the advancing keeper. In what seemed like an eternity the ball thankfully nestled in the corner of the net 2-1 Moston. There was still time for Richard Boothroyd to show off his audition for Riverdance. He claimed the sun was in his eyes but secretly he thinks he's Billy Elliot. With a couple of minutes left Staly Broke forward and beat Moston's offside trap. Their number 9 going clean through with only the keeper to beat. Danny came out of his goals and produced a great save to make the final score 2-1 to Moston.

Once again we miss a hatful of chances and if we do not start putting them away then we might regret it come the end of the season. That is now 6 games unbeaten for the 4^th team (friendly's included) but there is still room for improvement and we will need to. Special mention to Chris Melia who had and outstanding game in midfield and later in defence. Also Richard Boothroyd, Mark Morrison and Joe Ryan who had good games.

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