Cheshire Autism Football Club

Match review

Our first game of 2024 was a game against Heart Warriors at the Winsford Academy on a cool Sunday evening. With head manager Danny Mills on annual leave, it was up to assistant manager/chairman Ash to take charge.

First-half

CAFC set up in a 4-1-4-1 formation but switched to 4-3-3 when attacking.

Lewis Gibson made his return between the sticks after a 3 or 4 months absence due to injury. Scott, Will, Marcel and Stu were the back 4, with ‘el capitano’ Paul Fletcher in a defensive midfield role with freedom to push forward and attack.

The midfield consisted of Jamie, Jordan ‘the goat’ Coles and the Eyes’ brothers (Rich and Mark), with Marco as lone-striker.

The first-half saw Heart Warriors start brighter, and they were rewarded with their early pressure with a goal from a corner.

It wasn’t long before Jordan set up Jamie Goncalves for the equaliser with a perfectly weighted pass.

Shortly after the equaliser, Jordan played another superb pass, this time putting Marco through on goal, for a chance you would have put your house on him scoring, but for once, Marco didn’t find the net.

5 minutes later though, and another inch-perfect through ball from Jordan, meant Marco finally got his goal to make it 2-1.

CAFC were awarded a free kick just before half-time, and with Jordan looking to line up a shot, he instead opted for a clever pass to Rich Eyes, who turned his defender and slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Half-time score: CAFC 3-1 HWFC

Second-half

The second-half started off with a rocket, Marco played the ball from kick-off to Jordan Coles, who unleashed a thunderous strike from his own half that sailed over the HWFC keeper and into the net for 4-1.

After that, the second-half was a little quieter than the first-half. Heart Warriors got a goal back after a defensive mix-up, but the game was mainly played out in the middle of the park.

There was one other piece of magic in the second-half, when Paul Fletcher, in his new white ‘Pirlo’ boots, attempted an audacious overhead kick, which hit the crossbar.

Final score: CAFC 4-2 HWFC

Man of the Match

Our man of the match was Jordan ‘the goat’ Coles after a hatrick of assists and a worldie of a goal.