It was good to be back! After the bit of a break - and the plan to move leagues for this coming season - it was pleasing to actually be back in a changing-room getting ready for another game of football. There have been some tough decisions that have needed to be made - with some players released whilst new ones have been brought in - but it's all gearing towards having as success a campaign as we can in 2024-2025. Wink and Dunc are working hard to ensure that they have the tools that they need - and the first test of those was definitely going to be today...

We were welcoming AFC De Havilland to Moss Park and knowing that they clinched their league title last season, they were sure to prove a test for us. With our old mate Leroy West now in charge, we knew that they'd be up for fight -so we just needed to be more up for it than them. There were plenty of new faces on show as we started to arrive but as the warm-up's were over, the starting 11 was announced. We were opting to go with a 4-3-3 shape that saw that man that is Lee-Max between the posts with Connor Bowling and Craig at full-backs and Connor Chadwick and Curtis in between them as a central-partnership. The midfield trio definitely had steel to it - with Nathan and Taylor joined by Ste Barlow in there - and with an attacking threesome of Kyle and Tommy either side of Ellis, we had some firepower in there that's for sure. The bench consisted of Ethan, Dylan, Ainsley and Liam and as the referee called the teams togehter, we were about to start our season in earnest...

The opening exchanges saw both sides working each other out - keeping the ball near and tidy but not offering too much in an attacking sense. That was bound to happen as both sides knew the other could attack at pace - so to see them feeling each other out early doors was to be expected. We seemed to be getting the better of the 'good' chances - with their keeper forced into making a great save low down within the opening 10 minutes - but at the other end, Lee- Max tipped a great strike over the bar when it looked like it was going to dip in. Already both sides were showing their quality and it was a good game to watch...

However when the first goal came, it was the home fans that were celebrating - and what a goal it was. We had worked the ball well down our left and as we went to swing it in, it took a good defensive header from their centre-half to put it out for a corner. Tommy went over to take it and as he floated it in, there was Connor Chadwick to rise like a salmon and plant his header firmly past their No.1 and into the back of his net. A fine header and we were off! 1-0 and we had something to look after now...

The visitors didn't fade away just because they'd gone behind and whenever they did get the chance, they were trying to work it down their wings as quickly as they could. Craig and Connor were coping with whatever was coming at them though and whenever it did get past them, our central-defenders swept up anything Lee-Max didn't. We were looking good out there...

And then came a thing of beauty. Although it was our first game of the season, we truly believe that it will take something extraordinarily special to beat the goal that we all witnessed next. Having won a corner over on our left, we swung it into the mixer and the De Hav defenders and keeper managed to get it clear between them. But the ball dropped about 28 yards from goal and watching it all the way down was our Connor Bowling. Expertly, he had time to adjust his body-shape and at exactly the right moment, he unleashed a corker of a volley with his laces that saw the ball travel at epic speed - whilst swerving in mid-air - before evading the desperate stretch of their keeper and nearly ripping the top corner of the net as it hit it! What a strike! Everybody at Moss Park could only marvel at it and as he wheeled away, Connor knew that was a decent hit. 2-0 to United and we were deserving of it...

There was still more before the break - but this time, it wad the visitors that got it. A good move through their middle saw the ball fed through the gap - and although it was debatable or not as to whether their man was offside or not, he did what he had to do - and slammed his shot low and hard past Lee-Max to nestle in the bottom corner of his net. 2-1 and that showed that this definitely wasn't over yet. Not much happened between then and the half-time whistle going so as the lads came in, they knew there was still work to be done here...

Half-time: BREIGHTMET UNITED 2-1 AFC De Havilland

Wink and Dunc rallied their troops at the break and reminded them that nothing was going to given to us on a plate. We had to work to earn everything so it was now about working hard, keep trying to play our football and make sure we put the chances away when they came. There was a lot of effort going to be needed now so make sure you were prepared to put it in if we wanted to win this one. With the drinks drunk and the lungs re-filled, we were soon back out there ready to go again...

The second period started pretty much the same as the first - with both sides knocking it around well but not really probing - and with neither keeper being worked much, it was a little stale in patches - however the battle in midfield was hotting up as the tackles went flying in. It showed two committed sides who knew that although this was only a friendly, it would set down a marker for the season to come. We had a couple of chances to increase the lead - firing wide and then shooting tamely into their keeper's hands - and Lee- Max was forced to make a great save low to his right when their striker had been put through by a great pass. It was cagey but intriguing at the same time...

Then it came. Deserved or not. The away side managed to draw the ball forward and as they moved it across the pitch, they seemed to pull us out of position - leaving just enough space to feed the ball through to their winger out wide. He ran at us, getting deep into our territory before looking up and from all of 30 yards out, he let fly with a piledriver that was in the moment it left his boot! The United fans were right behind it as it travelled and although Lee-Max must have been millimetres from getting his finger-tip to it, the ball flew into the top corner and the score was all-square again. 2-2 and this was anybody's now...

We've made changes throughout the game and as the legs tired, so did the attacking prowess from the visitors. We were still probing though but our sharpness seemed to have waned and their defence were dealing with it better now. So with the seconds ticking away, all thoughts turned to this ending a draw and both teams leaving happy. But that wasn't to be because with the very last touch of the game, the De Hav lads sealed the victory - and how cruel it was when it came. A good attack saw their striker through 1-on-1 with our Lee-Max - and as he managed to sneak his shot past him, the ball slammed against the base of our post - only to hit the retracting Dylan and all he could do was divert it into his own net. 2-3 and after being behind for so long, the away players celebrated this goal with glee - especially their No.5! A good turn-around in truth - and proof that these will be a force come the start of the season...

And that was that. There was hardly time to restart the match before the referee blew to end proceedings - and we'd suffered defeat in our first outing of the season. There were plenty of positives to take from this though and it took a wonder-strike and an own goal to lose this one - so as long as we keep playing our football, keep up the work-rate and make sure we punish teams when we're on top, then there's nothing to worry about. The handshakes were done with pride and as both teams left the pitch, both sets of supporters showed their appreciation. That had been a great game and we'd seen some absolutely world-class strikes that's for sure...

Nuff respeck' to Leroy and his lads for coming over and giving us a good test and we're sure you'll do well this coming season. Who knows? We could see each other again soon. Safe journey back and good luck...

And thanks to the United fans that came down to cheer us on as well. It's always good to see so many of you there getting behind the lads and we're hopeful that it won't be long until we can open the club for you all. We know it's a shame we can't guarantee it - but it's all done on a voluntary basis and we're looking for people to 'staff' the bar for when your games have finished. We'll get there so just bear with us...

So that was that. We move on and we go again. See you next time yeah?

#OnceUnitedNeverDivided