AFC Didsbury: Leighton, Mackie, Rogers, Johnson, McDonald (C), Wallace (Harrison) (Bermingham), Creasey, Berté, MacHugh (New), Trecarichi (Stiff).

Goals: -
Assists: -
Man of the Match: Mackie

Didsbury knocked for five.

Didsbury couldn't stop Moss Side claiming the championship in their penultimate game of the season.

The match started off in an even contest with both teams sharing possession of the ball. The opening goal was out of keeping of the style of play both teams started with. A deep cross was floated to the back post for Moss Side's giant
striker to nod an easy header in from 5 yards.

The game went from bad to worse when a second, albeit fortunate, goal was scored. The ball rattled round the Didsbury box and fell kindly for a Moss Side player to meet the ball with an acrobatic bicycle kick, which nestled into the top corner.

The opening spell of the second half saw an early free kick scored and then a well taken finish by Moss Side to go 4-0 up.

The life was taken out of Didsbury by now and the fifth was only a matter of time, a ball over the top, with the striker, not picked up by the referee, seeming to be 5 yards offside. He took the ball in his stride and squared it to an on rushing winger to make it five.

Didsbury have one game remaining and a win will secure 3rd place, providing Manchester United Supporters Club beat Nello James. Results have certainly been disappointing in 2013, after such a bright start to the season. However, a 3rd place finish in only their first season in the top flight, would certainly provide Didsbury with a strong platform to build on for next season.

Words by Jonathan Mackie

AFC Didsbury: Leighton, Jaffray, Mackie, Johnson (Rogers), Bermingham, Quaye (McDonald), Stiff, Harrison (C), MacHugh, Berté, Richardson (Creasey)

Goals: Jaffray, Quaye, Stiff
Assists: MacHugh (2), Harrison
Man of the Match: Harrison

Didsbury hit for six despite Quaye's farewell performance

Ollie Quaye bid farewell to his AFC Didsbury compadres with a virtuoso performance in a match where Didsbury once again fell short of their high standards. Another damaging defeat leaves the side in freefall and desperately looking for a return to early season form and confidence.

The side gave themselves a mountain to climb early in in the first half, with slack defending seeing them 2 goals down within 15 minutes. Shortly after, a free kick won by Sam Richardson, was cleverly played down the right flank, bypassing the Nello James wall and full-back Ben Jaffray showed typical poise and a delicate finish to place the ball into the far corner. 

Then the games’ champagne moment came, when Luke Berté picked out Kieran MacHugh in space down the left, who turned and spotted Quaye in space. MacHugh then delivered a perfect defence splitting pass to Quaye, who dropped his shoulder, sold the defender a dummy and thundered a left-footed thunderbolt into the top corner. Unstoppable. Didsbury ended the half the stronger but were unable to take the lead.

The second half was uneventful until Quaye was penalised in the box for ‘impeding’ a winger who had already lost control of the ball, and shortly after the penalty was converted. The gap was then widened to two goals as more mistakes were punished by Nello James.

Didsbury briefly looked to impose themselves on the game when Mike Stiff converted a powerful penalty, after Matt Harrison had been scythed down in the area. However, after some miscontrol by Jonathan Mackie led to a fifth goal for the away side, this pretty much ended any hopes of a comeback. Nello James then punished Didsbury with a sixth goal, as the home side through men forward as a last resort.

Another disappointing result that will be difficult to take, but the club must ensure they can arrest the recent slump as soon as possible.

Words by Ollie Quaye

AFC Didsbury: Leighton, Musson, Mackie, Battersby (C), Bermingham (Rushton), MacHugh, Stiff (McDonald), Bishop, Creasey, Wallace, Corbett.

Goals: Corbett
Assists: MacHugh
Man of the Match: Mackie

Didsbury fall at the first hurdle in this year’s John Old Cup, after a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Nello James.
 
The away side were gifted an early lead after some sloppy midfield passing by Mike Stiff. The ball was handed to a Nello James midfielder, who then found his striker in space and scuffed his shot in at the near post.
 
Their lead was then doubled after a corner was only half cleared and the ball fell kindly on the penalty spot, only for another Nello James striker to find the bottom corner through the crowd of players.
 
Didsbury managed to pull one back in the second half when a long ball was controlled by Kieran MacHugh, who unselfishly squared the ball for Mike Corbett to bag his 14th goal of the season.
 
Two minutes later, the game was effectively killed off by Nello James, when a long ball wasn't dealt with by Didsbury captain, John Battersby, and the Nello striker kept his composure to score.

The home side seemed to lack cohesion and their usual composure, and this was exploited with five minutes to go. Nello grabbed their fourth when the striker found space as Didsbury went to three at the back to chase the game.

Didsbury now find themselves with only the league to play for and as the title seems somewhat out of sight, the team must pull together to ensure that they still put on a string finish to their first season in the top flight.

Words by Jonathan Mackie

AFC Didsbury: Leighton, Musson, Johnson, Rogers, Jaffray, Stiff, Bishop (C), Mackie, Wallace (Berté), Harrison, MacHugh (New).

Goals:Bishop, MacHugh, Stiff
Assists: Harrison (2)
Man of the Match: Harrison

AFC Didsbury dug out a hard fought victory against a determined
Inter Mancs. 

Didsbury started the game slowly, conceding a sloppy goal within the opening 5 minutes after a shot was blocked and the rebound was bundled in by
the opposing striker. 
 
However, that seemed to wake Didsbury from their slumber as they struck twice in 10 minutes. The first came when Mike Stiff looked long with his throw and his delivery fell to Matt Harrison, whose flick-on found the Didsbury’s Captain, Chris Bishop, who headed home from close range. Didsbury’s quick-fire second came when MacHugh curled a sumptuous free kick across the face of goal and into the bottom corner to complete the turn around. 
 
The crucial 3rd was scored moments before half time when Harrison was felled in the box, for Stiff to side foot the resulting penalty into the bottom corner. 
 
Inter Mancs began to press higher up the pitch and seemingly looked like they would make their way back into the contest. Didsbury keeper, James Leighton, had to remain on full alert, most notably when he was forced to make a fine save at full stretch, after an Inter Mancs free kick appeared destined for the top corner.
 
The continuous pressure from the away side did eventually pay off when the referee awarded a penalty for a push on an Inter Mancs forward, which was duly dispatched to make the game 3-2.
 
Both teams had chances to score further goals, but Didsbury dug deep to grind out the victory and remain second in the table.

Words by Jonathan Mackie

AFC Didsbury: Westhall, Jaffray, Rogers, Mackie, Bermingham, Wallace, Stiff, Creasey, Quaye (Hargreaves), Trecarichi, Harrison (C).

Goals: Quaye, Trecarichi, Harrison, Creasey
Assists: Harrison (2), Creasey, Quaye
Man of the Match: Creasey

Christmas Cracker as Didsbury see off the Stars

Owing to scheduling and bad weather, Didsbury took to the field not having played a competitive match in 3 weeks.

Fears of match sharpness were allayed early on, following a throw-in from the left, Matt Harrison executed a neat turn and laid the ball off to Ollie Quaye, who wrong-footed the keeper at his near post.

The joy was short lived however when Neil Creasey mistimed a last ditch tackle to give away a penalty at the other end, which was despatched into the far corner giving keeper William Westhall no chance.

Almost instantly Creasey atoned for his earlier error, arrowing a free-kick from the right perfectly towards Paul Trecarichi, who made a darting run to the near post and produced a crisp finish high into the roof of the net.

When a Didsbury corner was cleared to Creasey, he found Quaye who nodded the ball over the head of the last defender, and Harrison raced onto the knock-down, and fired his shot left footed across the Sierra goalkeeper. Harrison was involved again with the 4th just before half time, when quick thinking from him and Creasey at a short corner led to Creasey’s deflected shot ending up in the back of the net.

The second half brought a change around in fortunes for Didsbury, as they seemed to lose focus and soon after the break they lost a goal when poor marking allowed a tap in following a ball played square across the area.

Soon after Sierra pulled back another when a curling effort from the edge of the area flew into the net after Didsbury switched off. After this there were good chances for both sides, but Didsbury held firm and go into the Christmas break with a deserved victory.

Words by Ollie Quaye

AFC Didsbury: Leighton, Rushton, Rogers, Battersby (C), Jaffray, Stiff, Bishop, Creasey, Harrison, Corbett, New (Quaye).

Goals: Corbett, Battersby, Bishop
Assists: Harrison, Creasey
Man of the Match: Leighton

Following a heavy defeat in their previous game, AFC Didsbury responded well to record their 5th league win of the campaign against a spirited Davyhulme side in what was a very entertaining game.

AFC Didsbury started the game brightly with top scorer Mike Corbett causing the Davyhulme defence problems. It was Davyhulme who took an early lead when their centre forward headed in a superbly flighted cross from the left side following an incisive counter attacking move.

The majority of the first half was then played in the Davyhulme half, with AFC Didsbury dominating possession and creating several good openings which were not converted. The pressure was eventually rewarded five minutes before the break when a long pass from the Didsbury left back, Ben Jaffray, found Matthew Harrison in space on the right wing. Harrison’s perfectly weighted through ball picked out a well-timed run from Corbett, who finished in clinical fashion.

 The second half followed a similar pattern to the first half with Didsbury enjoying large spells of possession and Davyhulme continuing to threaten on the break.

The second Didsbury goal came when good work from winger Gareth New forced a foul in the left wing position. Neil Creasey delivered a superb ball into the box from the resulting free kick which was met with a towering header from Didsbury captain, John Battersby.

A third goal came midway through the second half which effectively killed the game. A Creasey corner was only partially cleared and the ball fell to Chris Bishop who scored with a brilliantly struck half volley into the top right corner from twenty yards out.

With a two goal lead Didsbury were able to see the game out comfortably as a late spell of Davyhulme pressure was unable to produce any clear cut chances.

Words by Ben Jaffray

AFC Didsbury: Rogers, Musson (Bermingham) Johnson, Battersby (C), Mackie, Stiff, Bishop, Creasey, Quaye, Wallace, New.

Goals: -
Assists: -
Man of the Match: New

Didsbury succumb to Halloween horror show against Manchester United Supporters Club. 

Didsbury slumped to their first defeat of the season in depressing style as they were beaten comprehensively.

A threadbare squad and centre back, Wayne Rogers, acting as a stand-in goalkeeper, did not excuse such a sloppy start that saw Didsbury concede inside the first minute. Shortly after, a somewhat debatable penalty was given against full back, Adam Musson, for obstruction. Rogers managed to get fingers to the shot but still couldn’t keep it out, leaving Didsbury two down and reeling within ten minutes.

Aside from a few chances from set pieces, Didsbury never got back into the game in the first half and conceded a third just before the break. With bench options limited and morale sapped, the second half was a procession for Man United’s Supporters Club and they starved the home side of the one thing they required to get back in the game. Possession.

While Didsbury’s Gareth New made some good ground down the left wing, there was little end product and often no-one to support him in the box. A corner from Neil Creasey found Ollie Quaye but his downwards header was well saved. Quaye later found himself through on goal but he failed to convert what turned out to be the best opportunity of the game for Didsbury.

After another two goals, the tally reached five and the Supporters Club were good value for their win. This had been the worst result in the club’s history and a dejected Didsbury left the field with heads facing the floor, knowing that some drastic improvements need to be made if they wish to remain as genuine title contenders in this league.

Words by Ollie Quaye

AFC Didsbury: Leighton, Musson, Mackie, Battersby (C), Jaffray, Bishop, Creasey, Berté, MacHugh (Rushton), Corbett, Quaye.

Goals: Corbett (3), Berté (2), MacHugh, Quaye
Assists: Berté (2), Corbett (3), Creasey (2)
Man of the Match: Berté

Didsbury coast to victory against Halton Juniors

Didsbury hit back from a goal down early on to score an avalanche of goals with an assured performance.

An unusually lacklustre start saw Didsbury a goal down, but the scores were soon level again after a devastating run and powerful finish from Mike Corbett, who had been put through by man of the match, Luke Berté. Corbett then returned the favour, with a neat pass to Berté who managed to find the net from long range.

The move of the game saw good work down the left side by Ben Jaffray and Ollie Quaye, and was finished when Neil Creasey delivered a precise cross into Kieran MacHugh, whose placed volley angled off the post and in. The half ended on a high and a seemingly unassailable lead when Berté grabbed his second, following some more great linkup play with Corbett.

After inviting some early pressure in the second half Halton Juniors pulled a goal back and shortly after, Didsbury goalkeeper, James Leighton found himself at full stretch to palm away a curling free kick, which had always seemed destined for the top corner.

Understandably, Halton then began to build some momentum but this was soon distinguished after with a quick double from Didsbury’s number 9. Corbett completed his second hattrick of the season, with the goals set up by Berté and Creasey. He then also completed a hattrick of assists, after his powerful low shot ricocheted off the Halton keeper and Quaye was first to react to the loose ball, chalking up Didsbury’s seventh of the game.

All in all, another impressive scoring display from Didsbury and a well deserved 3 points.

Words by Ollie Quaye

AFC Didsbury: Leighton, Musson, Rogers, Battersby (C), Mackie, Stiff, Creasey, Bishop, MacHugh (Trecarichi), Harrison, Quaye (Bermingham).

Goals: Battersby
Assists: Creasey
Man of the Match: Battersby

Didsbury steam-train slowed down at Victoria

Didsbury’s 100% start to the season was ended in a tough match after conceding a late equaliser.

The home side started well and put Stretford Victoria under pressure, most notably when Adam Musson picked out Matt Harrison in the box, whose attempt was just off target. The pace and guile of Stretford’s front two meant Didsbury’s back line didn’t have as much time as they would normally have to play the ball between themselves and as a result Stretford were able to press very high up the pitch.

At half time Didsbury were frustrated but content with a decent first half performance. In the second half, with the wind behind them, Didsbury seemed to stutter, inviting pressure from the off, but Stretford still failed to register a shot on goal. After a lunge on Quaye, Creasey delivered a pinpoint cross from the resulting free kick, and Didsbury’s captain, John Battersby, timed his run to perfection to loop a header over a helpless Stretford goalkeeper.

As the clock ticked down, Didsbury were desperate to grab a second to put the game to bed. However, with stoppage time approaching, a long punt up field fell to the feet of the Stretford number 9, who unleashed an unstoppable half-volley that nestled in the corner of the Didsbury goal. Soon after, the full-time whistle went and Didsbury were left to contemplate what might have been. An early season set back will hopefully focus the squad for future games, but overall a draw was a fair result.

Words by Ollie Quaye

AFC Didsbury: Leighton, Musson, Rogers, Battersby (C), Bermingham, Stiff (Mackie), Bishop, Harrison, MacHugh, Corbett, Quaye (Trecarichi)

Goals: Bishop (2), Quaye, Corbett
Assists: Corbett (2), Bishop
Man of the Match: Bishop

Didsbury hit a fantastic four past Lass

Didsbury continued their strong start to the new season with an accomplished performance, which was also rewarded with a first clean sheet of the season.

Memories of clinching the 1st division title against the same side in last season’s final game were put to one side and Didsbury got off to a dream start. New recruit and man of the match Chris Bishop opened the scoring with a magnificent right foot strike from a full 35 yards with the game still in its infancy. This was followed shortly by Ollie Quaye, in the right place at the right time to follow up an attempt by Mike Corbett after he was intelligently picked out by Kieran MacHugh.

Following a rare set-piece, Lass O Gowrie threatened briefly but their effort was cleared off the line by full back, Adam Musson. Didsbury then went in search of more goals, after some good work by Quaye down the left wing found Corbett, whose shot was parried into the path of Bishop, who calmly slotted home his second.

Presentable chances for Quaye, Corbett and MacHugh all went begging as Didsbury attempted to kill the game off but the score remained 3-0 at half time.

The second half saw Lass O Gowrie apply significant pressure on Didsbury, enjoying more possession but without really threatening the Didsbury goal. Knowing the next goal would be crucial, the timing of Didsbury’s fourth killed the game as a contest.  When Bishop found MacHugh on the edge of the back post, he neatly turned onto his left foot and dispatched a thunderous effort into the top corner.

A deserved win and clean sheet for Didsbury is promising but the squad knows that the hard work has only just begun.

Words by Ollie Quaye.