Tragic Tumble at the Edge for Cougars
Alderley Edge Nomads 2 – 1 Wilmslow Town Cougars
Pain, loss, disappointment: Emotions very familiar to those of us who follow the blue side of
Manchester. The agony of hopes dashed combined with the excruciating torment of the final
minutes of a game: Very much what we all expect when following our national side. Could
we dare to look forward to be inspired to more uplifting thoughts by the young Cougars ?
Spring sunshine flooded the Rileys
fields before kick off but a raw and
menacing wind whistled down from the
Edge, seeming to threaten even the
slumber of the sorcerer within.
And perhaps there was magic in the
air. Within moments of the opening
whistle Federico shimmied, looked up
and, doubtless muttering some words
of South American magic, smashed
the ball to the top corner.
An open, end to end game ensued.
Federico continued on top form with
an assist to James H whose rocket
was saved. At the other end though,
an Edge corner found the Alderley left
winger in several hectares of free
space and his opportunity was not
wasted. Yet again the Cougars had
encouraged the opposition run riot on the left – which is beginning to look more than a
coincidence. Still, as Fidel said, “Destiny produces the man for the hour.” Who could step
forward as the destiny
man for the Cougars?
Close but no cigar - does Fidel
have undue influence on the
Cougars gifts to the left wing?
George Whittam
maybe? The Cougars’
set piece specialist
promptly delivered an
excellent free kick,
Edge just scrambling
the ball wide. Overall
though, Alderley were
now clearly on top
and the Cougars
looked in need of BDs
words of wisdom at
the break. George
again saved them
going in behind with a
hooked clearance,
followed up by a solid
save from Kieran,
featuring in his first
start between the
posts this season.
The period finally
finished with a sweeping move from James H to Henners to Greg, but a good chance couldn’t
be worked.
Henners on the follow up
Kieran continued his sterling work in the second, one great save though lobbing what seemed
an inevitable second to the Edge centre forward with a tap in from one yard… put wide !
Maybe the Cougars luck was changing. Matthew was on the pitch and working hard, just
wide with a header. Federico continued to be right in the thick of everything, unleashing a
thunderbolt when set free by James H only to see it saved. Somehow the period had finished
goalless, so all to play for in the last third.
Just over from Matthew
Henners took the gloves and immediately watched James H appear to equalise only for the
Alderley keeper to save again. James S was harassing the opposition with gusto, although a
little more subtlety might be in order with a
ref as strict as this one. George “Delap”
Whittam set up Matthew from a throw, but
the shot lacked power and now the crowd
would settle for the draw as Henners was in
constant action. First a safe take, then an
acrobatic leap, but finally a courageous dive
at the feet of the Edge front men sadly
resulted in injury and withdrawal from the
fray.
The Cougars were down to their last men
standing, Greg though still robust and giving
no quarter, and Matthew full of energy
seeing another effort saved. Alas though,
tired legs were perhaps beginning to tell,
and an Edge attacker just managed to
escape James S’s despairing tackle and
fired home for a 2-1 advantage.
Wilmslow seemed dead and buried with just
two minutes to go, but the Cougars
summoned courage and delivered a final
onslaught on the Edge area. A throw
followed a corner and then another corner,
but the Edge rearguard was solid, and dark
clouds rolled in on the chill breeze as the
ref’s whistle sounded the past post on the
Cougars hopes.
Man of the Match James
Hill
So, there you have it; pain, loss, agony, excruciating torment; in fact a typical Saturday on the
East Cheshire playing fields. But lest you despair in this darkest of moments (with
Broadheath A approaching) remember the stirring words of Rudyard Kipling:
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
… you'll be a Man my son!