Match Report
A week on from the very “educational” trip to Cambridge, an unbeaten yellow and blue first XI hosted Chester Nomads in the second fixture of the Garrison Cup. On what can only be described as a balmy afternoon at Moor Lane, with a later kick-off to accommodate some second rate local side, the Ramblers looked to continue their 100% win rate.
The side lined up with a somewhat inebriated Bagpuss in goal; O.Handley, Doherty, Duffy and Kyle Egan forming a back four. The two full backs, stepping in for a second time this season, grasped another chance to impress injured skipper Stuart Hooper – who watched on from his deck chair. The deck chair looked comfortable – which is just as well given how long injuries take to heal when you are as old as Hooper. A middle three of Wise, Gendall and cult hero Kinsey, took the field looking to supply a front three of Martin, Phillips and Diego Holt.
Early chances arose for the confident Ramblers and the elusive Tom Martin started appearing in those places he so consistently does. An early shocking miss from Martin was atoned for when he received a ball from the storming left back Egan, turned his defender inside out and pulled a shot away. Following a slight (large) deflection, the ball ricocheted into the net. 1-0 Ramblers.
Chester Nomads began to fight back. However, many a long ball by the visiting team’s keeper was met by the unflinchingly tall figure of Dan Wise (club doctor) in the heart of midfield. Wise also proved he is a more than capable motivational speaker, with his encouraging words for the young Ollie Handley – who was having possibly the worst five minutes a yellow and blue shirt had ever seen. “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?” questioned Wise, following Handley’s sequence of foul throws, multiple misplaced passes, and a poorly timed slice onto his own near post. Soon stepped in overprotective cousin Kinsey to put a halt to the “constructive” criticism. Half time 1-0.
The second half saw a shift in intensity from the visitors; verbally too! Frustration created by the Ramblers defence led to foul mouth shouts of ‘smarty pants’ at central defender Duffy and a personal favourite of ‘fat legend’ at our esteemed keeper. The referee was also a victim in the barrage of abuse. A penalty claim against said fat legend was denied by the referee which resulted in violent protest from the opposition.
A resulting double-yellow for dissent saw the opposition reduced to 10 men. This, however, only served to unsettle the unbeaten home side. Complacency hit. The diminutive Nomads striker gathered the ball in the box, danced past “Mr Motivator” Wise, and put it past the groin-injured Bagpuss. 1-1. Ten minutes left on the clock. If only there was someone out there with a late winner in them.
Going into the sixth fixture of the season, Louis Holt was carrying momentum. Similar to that of his father rolling down a steep slope. Four goals, two games. His fury at the equaliser was piqued to outright rage by a perfectly delivered uppercut from a member of the Nomads defence. Little did they know, this is exactly what Diego “you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry” Holt needed. A carefully hoofed ball forward from centre back Doherty saw Holt out-muscle/out-fat two defenders, take the ball past the keeper and finish what he would have missed earlier in the season. What a time to score and fully deserved for the in-form striker. Full time, Liverpool Ramblers 2-1 Chester Nomads.
Certainly not the strongest Ramblers performance this season, but we grabbed 3 points against a side that has been a banana skin in the past. Yes folks, that is a sign of a strong team. Here’s to you … the famous, fabulous, inimitable yellow and blue.