dolphin inn vs afc didsbury 1 / ecsfl division 1 (27/11/16 - congleton road, macclesfield)

DOLPHIN INN 6
​AFC DIDSBURY 4

AFC DIDSBURY: Leighton, L Darlington, Kendrick, McDonald (C), Ward (Benson-May), Whiteley, Quinn (Kilgour), M Darlington, Vasko (Agyeman), Ferguson (Peat), Smith.

​GOALS: M Darlington, Smith (2), Vasko
ASSISTS: Whiteley, M Darlington (2), Kendrick
MAN OF THE MATCH: M Darlington

SUBDUED DIDSBURY SUFFER DEFEAT

‘The 40 minute drives to Macclesfield should be worth it come the end of the season’  were the pre-match thoughts of a strong Disdsbury squad travelling to play Dolphin Inn for the second time this season. Here is a reminder of what happened first time around….ln short, Didsbury scraped a late win, despite giving away 3 easy goals; maybe this league isn’t going to be as easy as we thought. 

A 10am call from Dolphin’s gaffer and late change of pitch wasn’t ideal, with the new ground being best described as ‘Sunday League’. Didsbury carried on preparation unphashed and the pre-match words from the Didsbury management team were timely reminders of Dolphins high back line.  Little would they know, these words fell on deaf ears.

Didsbury opened the game brightly, looking sharp, the Didsbury front 4 kept The Dolphin keeper’s gloves warm in the early exchanges. Despite Didsdbury’s domination, Dolphin found themselves 1-0 up, 2 mediocre passes through the Didsbury 11. Goal. 

Didsbury continued to pass the ball around the back 4 and midfield, good possession, little end product. 
Dominating the play, Didsbury decided to pull the trigger and get the ball forward, Tom Whiteley surged into the box. Adam Ferguson lofted a cross over, Whiteley headed off the post and Matt Darlington springs from the right with the rebound, 1-1.

Didsbury continued to run proceedings and possession, the Darlingtons finding themselves involved more and more down the right. M Darlington remembers the pre-match team talks and lofts a delightful ball over the top. Dolphin’s high back line caught standing, Kieran Smith pounces, 2-1.

In typical Didsbury fashion a mist of unsightly confidence fell over The Oranges. Dolphin goal kick, Dolphin goal, once again Didsbury undone by less than 3 passes. 2-2.

HT – words from the Didsbury hierarchy “we should win this, we shouldn’t be conceding anymore to these.”
This misconception that our opposition will hand us games on a silver platter every week seems to be a reoccurring theme for Didsbury of late.  The lesser said of Dolphin’s first 2 second half goals the better… 

Dolphin Inn 4-2 AFC Didsbury.

Didsbury reverted to route 1 and yielded some success with Pavol Vasko trickling Didsbury’s third over the line, following a Matt Kendrick punt, there was hope. We should win this was the HT feeling for Didsbury, we could win this was the feeling on the pitch.

Didsbury continued the pressure with Rick Peat and Kendrick both coming close to an equaliser.
However… not for the first time this season…

To save Didsbury’s blushes, we’ll continue the theme of not explaining Dolphins Second half goals, Didsbury combusted.

Dolphin 6-3 AFC Didsbury.

Smith grabbed a late penalty following a M Darlington run in behind and a blatant foul. A couple of assists for M Darlington topped off a good performance amongst a poor Didsbury team. 

Dolphin 6-4 AFC Didsbury.

Reality check needed for Didsbury.

Words by Kieran Smith

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