On a beautiful sunny November day there was not a cloud in the sky as the Relics over 60’s started Match Day 3 of the GMWFL Autumn 2021 season. Four difficult games lay ahead, Relics need a good day to get off the bottom of the table, but this league is extremely tough this year.
The first game was a scrappy game against Bolton, inconsistent decisions and lack of control from the ref meant more stoppages than action, with the ref seeming to lose count of the number of Bolton offences. Not many chances were made by either team, but Gaz in the Relics goal made a couple of great saves before the Relics were finally awarded a penalty due to the Bolton foul count. Jo Mo stepped his well placed shot was well saved by the Bolton keeper. In the last few minutes the Relics were hit by the four offence rule, but the Bolton penalty was superbly saved by Gaz.
Final Score Relics 0 – Bolton 0
Next up was Wakefield, this was a much better game with flowing football. The Relics had the better of this game with shots from Stewart and Graham W saved by the Wakefield keeper before the Relics were awarded a penalty on the four offence rule. Graham stepped up his shot left the keeper stranded but thundered against the post. The Relics defence was like a fortress restricting Wakefield to only three shoys, all off target.
Final Score Relics 0 – Wakefield 0
The third game was another tough one against Rochdale, there are no easy games in this league. This game was the most open game of the day. Relics were on top in the early minutes with JoMo shooting over the bar. Soon after that Andy Rich from himself free on gaol, but his thunderbolt shot cannoned off the bar. More shots from JoMo, Graham W, and Stewart were saved by the Rochdale keeper. Rochdale then started a period of pressure resulting in four shots which were off target. The pressure paid off for Rochdale when a Bury foul on the edge of the box was deemed by the Ref to be stopping a goal scoring opportunity, the resultant penalty gave Gaz no chance and Rochdale went 1 – 0 up with just a few minutes left to play. The Relics when straight on the offences to try to get the equaliser with a shot from Stewart being turned for a corner. In the last minute a great ball from Graham W found JoMo on the edge of the box with his back to goal, a superb turn and left footed shot beat the keeper. a well deserved equaliser for the Relics.
Final score Relics 1 – Rochdale 1
The last game of the day was against league leaders Corinthians. Corinthians took the lead in the second minute with a close range shot that gave Gaz no chance, Graham W shot wide for the Relics shortly after but the game was mainly a midfield battle until Corinthians scored a second in the last minute.
Final score Relics 0 – Corinthians 2
Well done to all the players:– Gaz (gk), Graham W, Pete Shev, JoMo, Andy Rich, Keith S, Tony G and Manager Keiran, also to Kodak Keith H for the photos.
For all the GMWFL Autumn 2021 results and fixtures see the Match Centre page here
Bury Relics 