The Silkmen – Port Vale (Home) 12.10.2019

Jen Kelly – a.k.a. Cheshire’s Revenge / The Word Nerd – brings ilovemacc her own take on the highs and lows of The Silkmen.

Winner winner, lets have Port Vale for dinner!

Less drama, more happiness…

Last week I confessed that I wasn’t looking forward to Saturday’s game. Everything was pointing to an embarrassing day at the races. But, just when you think you might be down and out, football pops up and gives you a day in the sun. A lovely, happy, brilliant day in the sun.

I confess that I may have been a little over dramatic recently. The influx of draws has been frustrating, as it has felt like we’re not getting anywhere fast. As the Vale game approached I tried to not bill it as a ‘must win’ in my head; surely it was far too early in the season for that? Regardless, as the days ticked down to 3pm on Saturday, I couldn’t help but feel the nerves.

It seems Vale fans were feeling the nerves too. Although a few of them were billing this as an easy 3 points, they know as well as we do that there are no easy games in football. Just as I had taken the big away support, the Askey connection and our off-field nonsense to point towards a Vale win, they had looked at the same factors and had come to the opposite conclusion. 

Outnumbered, but not outplayed…

As much as it’s a little awkward to have more away fans than home, it’s always great to see the away terrace rammed and in full voice. 1,800 Valiants roared the teams on to the pitch, although the 1,500 or so home fans seemed just as up for it. As the players went through the usual pre-match rigmarole, I couldn’t help but glance over to the away dugout. There he was, Sir John, looking stern and considered as ever. I don’t think I’ll ever completely get used to seeing him wearing another team’s colours. Although I could maybe get used to beating his team…!

Vale definitely settled into the game more quickly. I wouldn’t say they were great by any stretch, but they crafted a few half-decent chances. Just over 10 minutes in and one of those chances came good. A free kick was drilled in and found the head of Ritchie Bennett, hitting the back of the net. None of us were surprised, all of us were pissed off and all of us felt that sense of impending doom…

All of us except the team. Out of everyone packed into the Moss yesterday, the Macc squad and staff would have the best reason to throw the towel in and fuck it all off. But they didn’t. They regrouped and pushed forward, working the ball through the holes in the Vale set up. Some of the passing play, when it came off, was impressive and was reminiscent of a certain ex-managers style of play. 1-0 down in front of the biggest crowd of the season so far, and we were out Askey-ing Askey. That’s the very definition of bants, lads!

Our equaliser just before half-time was class. A tasty ball in from the left from O’Keeffe, who was outstanding all game, landed at the feet of Arthur. Running across goal he took one touch to control and a second to bury the ball in the back of the net. It was a stylish goal and no more than we deserved.

Second half, second goal, second coming…

In recent games we’ve not managed to keep the consistency up over the two halves. So you’ll forgive me for the nerves coming back during half time. As I watched a dopey looking lad manically boil the kettle over and over again in the new food hatch under the LRT (seriously, the tea urn was broken!), I was fully expecting a less-than-adequate second half. Thankfully, my worries were not realised. We came out for the second just as up for it, and crucially looking like we believed we could win it.

The winning goal itself came from one of cheekiest tackles I think I’ve ever seen. Kelleher stole the ball off a Vale player by the half way line. He scooped his leg around the ball, got under the player and seemly body-slammed him into the turf. Casually trotting off with the ball at his feet, our Irish Backstop pushed the ball to the right to Harris, who passed out to MWH.

MWH had bags of room. There was no Vale player anywhere near him, so he had time to place a vicious low cross right into the path of the advancing Macc line. Ironside leapt over the ball to set Osadebe up for a tap in. And tap in he certainly did! The celebrations that followed showed how much it meant to everyone. Shame Amar can’t bottle that jubilation and convert it into cold hard cash, his money worries would be well and truly over!

The clock wound down and Vale tried to make amends. As they played a corner short and passed the ball back and forward 4 or 5 times before crossing, I couldn’t help but think that it summed up Vale’s afternoon. Lots of fannying about with no real purpose. We were well worth our three points, but PV didn’t exactly make it difficult for us!

Oh and by the way, we play in BLUE!

So a much needed win and back up the table to 12th, leap frogging Vale in the progress. A good day at the office, I’m sure you’ll agree. But, as ever, there’s always something else to talk about. This week it was the random flare that went off in the SLE when we were 1-0 down. Flares are fine by me really (better than a glass bottle) but I get that some people don’t like them, perhaps for health reasons or whatever. Although dare to have an opinion like that on Facebook and you’ll get shot down with a puberty-ridden response. But you want to know my biggest issue with it?

We play in blue, not red. The flare was the wrong colour. You bunch of turnips.

See you at Oldham!

#againstallodds

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