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Episode 3
Saturday 25th September 2021
FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Emley   1   v   1   Chadderton
Umar Ahmed (Wakefield); (Hannah Cottam, Mark Foster)(Charles King, Robert Gatenby) eventually Sam Bayley, Gordon Weir.

The officials were all suitably badged, though in the case of Mr Ahmed, the County badge made only a cameo appearance. It is always a pleasure to visit Emley, where even games lacking something in quality often have a sting in the tail - and this was to be no exception. The home side made a dreadful start, being lucky to get away with some slack defensive work in just the second minute. Indeed, it was 15 minutes before they managed to have possession in the Chadderton half. The visitors, meanwhile, looked stronger, slicker and quicker of thought; but for the tendency to drag shots wide to their left, they could have been well ahead. At this point, however, Emley played a long ball deep into Chadderton territory, an attacker and the keeper raced to get there first and it ended with the keeper handling outside his area. The red card was duly administered. Even with ten men, Chadderton still looked the more likely side, missing one particularly good chance,though at least Emley were able to muster a shot which grazed the post. Mr Ahmed called the visiting number 3 to one side for a warning, and also had a word with their number 11 five minutes later. At the half-time whistle, Mr Bayley started to run towards his colleague, but turned back in a vain attempt to head off and placate the Emley manager, who once again proved to be lacking in self-control - he is turning out to be the one thing that is not pleasant about Emley. He made it through to Mr Ahmed, however, and for no obvious reason continued to berate him for some time as he blocked the way to the dressing rooms. It was a disappointment that he was able to take his place on the bench for the second half, though he was somewhat chastened.

The second half saw an early good save by the replacement Chadderton keeper and a yellow card for the home number 8.  On 69 minutes the Emley keeper collected a through ball, but seemed to make an unnatural sideways movement of his leg into the path of the chasing attacker. Play was allowed to continue, despite Chadderton protests, but6 when the ball went out of play, the visiting number 9 received a sin-bin yellow. It was left to JCFC to explain to the nearby occupants of the stand what was happening. Even against nine men, Emley did not convince, but the return to ten opponents led to a controversial incident. On 80 minutes a foul by a Chadderton defender looked to be well inside the penalty area, but was given outside. Cue consternation in the home dugout, with some justification in his case, with Mr Bayley in the firing line. The remaks continued as play went on. After three minutes of this, Mr Bayley eventually flagged and Mr Ahmed showed a yellow to a different member of the Emley staff. On 87 minutes, Emley at last created a decent opening with a series of tidy passes and took the lead they did not deserve on the balance of the play. Celebrations, though, were premature as a Chadderton penalty as the game went into time added brought the equaliser. There was still time for an Emley defender to pick up a yellow card. And so to penalties: Chadderton's second was not the most convincing, but still counted, while the nine others among the chosen fives were all excellent.So to the more reluctant takers, Chadderton's first producing a weak effort against the post, leaving Emley to score their sixth to proceed to the next round. They will have to play much better if they are to go any further. Meanwhile, sympathy to Chadderton, who showed a lot of promise.

Mr Ahmed may have got a couple of important decisions wrong - or so it seemed from the stand - but the manner of his control was good, and he dealt firmly with player dissent, not that there was a great deal of that, isolated incident apart. It would have been good to see him pushing himself a little harder to get into position in the closing stages, when there was the possibility of an important decision looming, but otherwise his approach was to JCFC's liking. Mr Bayley had a busy time and fulfilled his responsibilities effectively. Mr Weir had a quiet time, grazing on the cricket field side - the fence is due to be up again this week.

Eavesdropping of the week: "I think I know more about cricket than I do about women." How many wives, one wonders, might roll their eyes and nod in recognition of that view?