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SANTOS AFC
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Saturday 2 September 2023
Lancashire & Cheshire League Division 3

Santos 5 – Danny Brierley, Will Garner, Bryan Gibson, Ben Marshall, Sam Ryder

Badger Casuals 3
Team(4-3-3)  Alex Taylor, Kian Harewood(D), Tim Gallagher(C), Danny Brierley, Laine Corry, Sam Ryder, Liam Wiezniak(D), Bryan Gibson, Tom Barnes, Reece Holden, Ben Marshall

Subs Will Garner(D), Liam Maguire, Tom Slater, Lewis Topping

Santos opened the new season with a visit from Badger Casuals. It was a much changed squad from last season. Laine Corry, Liam Maguire and Sam Ryder have moved permanently from Manchester League side Hollinwood and are joined by Kian Harewood from the same club. Harewood making his competitive debut as were former juniors Will Garner and Liam Wiezniak. Bryan Gibson was signed from Rochdale based Milton. After a dismal August we were treated to a glorious September afternoon.

It was a cagey start for both teams, both looking to start the season with a win. It was the visitors who managed to open the scoring after 11 mins. A fortuitous bounce put a Badgers striker in behind the defence, he rounded Alex Taylor before scoring from an acute angle despite Danny Brierley’s best efforts on the goal line to prevent the score. Four minutes later Brierley popped up at the other end to register the teams first goal of the season. A back post header from Ben Marshall’s corner. Santos were now in the ascendency, so it was no surprise on 25 mins that they took the lead. Reece Holden found Bryan Gibson’s run into the area, the midfielder planting the shot beyond the reach of the Badger’s goalie. The team had several more efforts on goal, whilst Badger looked dangerous on the counter attack. A third goal for Santos arrived on 39 mins. Tom Barnes and Holden combined on the right hand side to create a chance, both had shots parried by the goalie with Sam Ryder on hand to push home the third attempt, his first Santos strike. A good productive first half was rounded up with a fourth goal on 44 mins. Taylor’s long throw out found Marshall, who went down the wing before cutting inside and sending a sweet strike from the edge of the area giving the goalie grasping thin air.

With a good first half lead, it was a case of Santos using game management to preserve the lead. It wasn’t to be however, as the visitors pulled a goal back within minutes of the start. It coincided with a period in which Santos failed to get out of their half. The pressure finally took its toll as Badger pulled another goal back. Substitute Lewis Topping was harshly adjudged to have brought a striker down in the area. So now with half an hour left it was all to play for. A Gibson free kick found the head of Tim Gallagher but he could only see his effort hit the upright and bounce to safety. Taylor was called into action on several occasions without really being troubled. As the clock ticked down it become an end to end game. It got to the last minute when Holden received the ball on the left wing. Just as it looked like he was going to wind the clock down and head for the corner flag he looked up and fired in a cross which evaded the Badger’s defence and found Will Garner who bundled the ball into an empty net to complete a much deserved victory.

An opening day victory which we can be pleased with. However, we need to be more ruthless preserving leads. There will be many tough games in front of us as we progress through the season for sure. For his unselfish running and three assists Reece Holden was given the player of the match award. Liam Wiezniak impressed on his competitive debut as did Will Garner who also chipped in with his late strike, arguably the moment of the match.