It looks likely that there will be no further chances to take in FA Cup ties this season, the next round coming once more in midweek and with increasing numbers of matches behind closed doors.
Wrong again: this morning has been spent booking ticket, transport and accommodation for a tie on Tuesday!
Yesterday evening, however, was spent nearer home at
Tuesday 6th October 2020
NWCFL Division 1 N
Golcar United 0 v 2 Steeton
Lee Corns (Burnley?); David Cryer, Declan O'Regan.
Golcar have done an awful lot of work, both on the pitch, which last season was so poor that home matches had eventually to be played in Lancashire, and the facilities, opening a shiny new stand, not to mention improved toilet facilities.
Mr Corns is not in any danger of being mistaken for a spring chicken, but still has his own dark hair (well, most of it) and for someone in his mid forties, at a guess, is pretty sprightly. Mr O'Regan was young, tall and energetic and his strawberry blond coiffure positively glowed under the floodlights. Mr Cryer presented a puzzle. Some years ago at Chadderton, JCFC had seen a David Cryer on the line: was this the same person? The build was similar (achieving the difficult task of making JCFC appear almost slim) though perhaps a few pounds had been shed - and more surprisingly several years. This time, too, Mr Cryer took part in the warm-up. Could it be a case of father and son? Or does the Lancashire water possess rejuvenating powers? It never had that effect on JCFC. Or was it just a coincidence?
There was little to trouble Mr Corns in the first half as he kept up a regular flow of chat, but otherwise did little to trouble the players in return. Golcar were on top, and the Steeton keeper twice did well within the twelfth minute. On the quarter hour, however, a long Steeton shot bounced off the post, and the rebound was knocked home by an attacker by way of the crossbar. Golcar continued to dominate both possession and territory but with not a lot to show for it. One appeal for a penalty lacked real conviction, and otherwise the Steeton defence stood firm. Their number 11 received a long "no more" lecture for his contribution to a sandwich and Golcar players became frustrated, and Mr Corns had to speak to a couple of them for dissent.
Golcar continued to press in the second half. On 51 minutes a strong shot drew a good save from the keeper. It was not long before the pressure told - a parry from the keeper, a scramble - and the ball was finally chested into the net. The celebrations were well advanced before it was noticed that Mr Cryer had his flag held aloft; Mr Corns went to check and the verdict was offside. On went Golcar - but then came the sucker punch, with a rare Steeton attack producing a second goal. Despite a couple of further saves for the home keeper, Steeton were happy with what they had and Golcar frustrated as a result, leading to some bad temper, much silliness and a number of cautions, with two going to Steeton and one to Golcar. On 75 minutes a rash challenge on the Steeton keeper produced a brawl, as these things do, with Mr Corns whistling profusely. It must be said that, as brawls go, JCFC has seen much more impressive ones. When things eventually calmed down, Mr Corns consulted Mr Cryer at some length before calling the Golcar number 2 to receive a yellow card. He then looked for the Golcar number 11, who was some way off and seemed surprised to be summoned. As he reached Mr Corns, Mr Cryer raced back on - and it was the Steeton number 11 who was brought forward for a yellow. Mr Corns eventually played over 6 minutes of added time, meaning that JCFC had to make a sharp exit to catch the bus, so cannot give a verdict on the Steeton twitter comment "The referee has blown for full time, but it's blown up in another way too." Golcar had looked the stronger side, but had not been able to take the chances that did come their way, while Steeton's defence - especially their keeper - had withstood the pressure manfully and it is hard to begrudge them their win.
For three quarters of the match, things had looked very comfortable for Mr Corns, but the closing stages became rather messy. Overall a decent performance, though a little of the gloss disappeared in the closing stages.
Google, incidentally, threw up a small and not particularly clear photo of a team containing a Lee Corns and a Chad Mayoh (not to mention a Duncan Bennett.) As Chad is not a common name, it prompts the question whether that was the Chad Mayoh that JCFC knew and was it the same Lee Corns?