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

Goals: Corbett (2), Creasey, Harrison
Assists: Creasey, Berte, Corbett
Man of the Match: Corbett

A goal-laden encounter between the unbeaten favourites and newly
promoted Didsbury ended up in a ten-goal blockbuster. 

A huge build-up to the game came from the fact that Didsbury were pitted against a Moss Side outfit who have gone nearly ten years without losing a competitive league fixture, something Didsbury were desperate to remedy.

Pre-match nerves were soon soothed when man-of-the-match, Mike Corbett, capitalised on a sloppy back pass, rounded the keeper and slotted home to put Didsbury into a deserved lead. Didsbury did not hold onto the lead for long though, as a routine set-piece from Moss Side was not dealt with and the scores were level. 

Shortly after, came the goal of the game. Neat one-touch football between Neil Creasey and Matt Harrison set Creasy loose in the box, and he took the ball in his stride to back heel it into the path of Corbett, who finished emphatically into the far corner.

Then,  came drama. The impressive Luke Berté was set free and bearing down on goal, when the Moss Side keeper callously tripped him up. An obvious penalty, and despite denying a clear goal scoring opportunity, the referee decided to keep his cards in his pocket. Unperturbed by the controversy, Creasy stepped up to despatch the penalty and Didsbury were 3-1 up. Dreamland.

However, nightmares followed, and mistakes led to two goals being conceded before half-time, and it was 3-3 at the break.

The myth of Moss Side gone, Didsbury started the second half strongly, and Harrison got on the score sheet when he was found by Corbett at the near post, and he calmly put Didsbury back in the lead.

The threat of set pieces from Moss Side however remained and from then, two finishes of the highest quality, put them in the lead for the first time in the game. With no option left but attack, Didsbury stuck free-scoring centre back and captain, John Battersby, up front. The plan almost work, but Battersby’s footwork did not match his positive positioning or movement and two chances went begging. 

Moss side scored a sixth, and the score could have been worse but a penalty given away by Mackie was skied.

In the end, a gallant defeat, one that will go down as a glorious failure but ultimately one that will be a disappointment for the travelling side.

Words by Ollie Quaye

AFC Didsbury: Hargreaves, Musson (C), Rogers, Battersby, Jaffray (Wallace), Robins, Creasey, Stiff, McDonald, Harrison (Richardson), Corbett.

Man of the Match: Richardson

AFC Didsbury bow out to two late strikes from Inter Mancs

Two late goals saw Inter Mancs progress to the final of the JA Kennedy Cup at the expense of AFC Didsbury.

Perfect conditions at Turn Moss made a change from the washout which saw the previously attempted fixture abandoned.  Didsbury looked composed and decisive on the ball in the early phases of the game, despite an early injury forcing Matt Harrison off.

Didsbury were dominant and retaining possession with poise and making their opponents chase the game and Sam Richardson nearly punished Inter but for a great stop from the ‘keeper.  Before the break Inter nearly capitalised on a poor kick from Hargreaves and crashed a lob against the bar from 45 yards but the Didsbury defence recovered and scrambled the ball clear to keep it level at the break.  Didsbury had the post to thank again from the following corner when the ball ricocheted clear across the goalmouth from a fine strike by the Inter right-winger. 

The second half exchanges were controlled by Didsbury once more with Mike Stiff winning header after header and the composed build up allowed Colin McDonald room on several occasions to fashion crosses and strikes from the left.  Sam Richardson hit the post with a low strike from just inside the area.  Leigh Robins was causing all manner of trouble and broke clear beating the offside trap but placed his finish just wide of the post.  Corbett worked another opening when he robbed possession from the Inter right-back but couldn’t get his strike away.  John Battersby flicked on a long throw-in but Robins could only guide his header agonisingly wide of the far post.

Didsbury were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Inter found space in a crowded penalty area and stabbed home to take the lead with 10 minutes remaining.  Didsbury poured forward in hope of an equaliser but were left exposed once more when a superb technical volley from close range finished off Didsbury and sealed Inter’s passage to the final.

Words by David Hargreaves