Hurdsfield 0 Community Solutions Yellow 3

Actually I don't think it rained overnight (dry as forecast) and when I came down to put up the nets at 9.30am the pitch was firm in all areas. However, the rain started just before kick off and continued for most of the match, heavy at times, and the pitch became increasingly soggy and cut-up as the match progressed.

Burnley Yellows deserved this win, they were that bit better than us and always had the upper hand. But we gave a good account of ourselves against a top team, were always competitive and made Yellows work hard for their win. We were missing Fran and Dave up front which was significant for us I think, but in defence and midfield we were probably as strong as we can be. That was despite having to play 3 'guests' to ensure we could fulfil the fixture, having had a difficult week trying to get a team out, but those three players were all decent footballers. We were lucky that one of those guests was able to play with only an hour's notice after we had a player pull out late - just as well that we had that one sub because our influential midfield Steve got a groin injury mid way through the first half and could not continue.

So that is the end of our league programme for this season. Relegation is the result, but we go down knowing we have been competitive all season and it has been a a very tight and closely matched division. I think we would have been good enough to stay up if we had had better player availability and a bit more luck, especially earlier in the season. I know all teams have mixed player availability, but this season has been extreme even by Hurdsfield standards, for multiple different reasons. Also, we go down looking forward to division 2.

It looks like SMCCFL Division 1 Championship will go 'to the wire' between Burnley Yellows and SM Ambassadors Red - most likely their match on 3rd May will be the Championship decider.

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