Ammies 5 Cheadle Heath Nomads 4

Wythenshawe will always be full of character and none so more than on Saturday, with the Ammies securing a comeback victory with goals from Dickov, Henderson, Mooney Munoz and Brown.

On a typically rainy day in Manchester, the Ammies had something to prove. On the back of 3 straight losses in the league, the team was devoid of that winning feeling and had to show the Ammies supporters that they had the character and desire to get out of that rut. With a midtable Cheadle Heath Nomads standing in their way, the Ammies knew they had to start well and came out in the rain with a high tempo start that showed they were up for the fight. Cheadle matched this intensity, the first 5 minutes being a frantic back and forth, exchanging blows in midfield to ascertain any weaknesses. In the first 5 minutes, 2 balls over the top from the Ammies midfield were taken on by Hawley, the 2nd resulting in a flicked shot over the keeper but the ball landing just wide of the left post. There continued to be a good energy to the game, both teams looking lively and wanting to play attractive football but the Ammies went up the gears in the 12th minute. Rickie Peters, who was irrepressible all game, delivered a classy ball down the left to Samuel Adewusi, who controlled and turned his marker in one movement. He got his head up early while the defender was still recovering and picked out Eddie Brown who finished with aplomb into the corner.

The Ammies knew they were still in a game with Cheadle, Luke Worth with an outstanding goal line clearance after pinball in the box resulted in a shot, his diving header stopping us from conceding. As we continued our frantic start, Chris Howard was at his marauding best on the right, getting on to a loose ball like a steam train and directing his shot just wide of the right post. Cheadle showed that they weren’t there just to make up the numbers and won a corner with a rare foray forward. It was delivered well to the front post and missed by the first defender where the arriving Cheadle player greedily tucked the ball away. 1-1 after 20 minutes and the Ammies knew they were in a game. The midfield battles continued but Cheadle came back at the Ammies, winning the 1st and 2nd balls and starting to show a measure of control when getting forward. With their defence pushing up, a long ball down the right was superbly kept in by their winger and he delivered a pinpoint cross for the striker to head home. The Ammies had to focus and get back into the game and just 4 minutes later, disaster struck. A lovely through ball played to perfection for the Cheadle striker to run on to a finish across Kyle Haslam in goal, a shellshocked Ammies staring another defeat in the face.

With 15 minutes to go in the 1st half, the Ammies had to show what they were made of and how they were going to respond, accept defeat or look for a way back into the game? The Ammies chose the latter, coming back at Cheadle to show them they were still a threat, getting up the field and carving out chances to keep Cheadle on the back foot. With just 6 minutes remaining, a counter resulted in the ball being worked forward, a ball across the box finding Brown for him to strike across the goal and into the corner, lifeline. The half time whistle was blown while both teams were trying to get that late 1st half goal but the Ammies went in with a lot to think about, knowing they had to keep it tight at the start of the 2nd half.

Cheadle came out first and looked keen to add more goals and after just 50 seconds, they had another, going straight down the middle and snatching a near post finish. A hill became a mountain to climb and the Ammies were 4-2 down but a whole half of football to show their character. And the Ammies just did that. The tempo went up and the ball was moved across the field quickly, constant communication could be heard across the pitch as the Ammies knew they had to go for Cheadle. Mooney-Munoz was lively in midfield all day and got a turn and shot away on goal that was saved well by the keeper. The crowd were urging the Ammies on as the defence started to nullify the Cheadle attack, constantly recycling the ball back into midfield and creating chances. Peters constantly finding space on the left and delivering a perfect cross for Henderson to meet, his header just inches wide. A minute passed before Mooney-Munoz got a chance to shoot, his shot just millimetres wide and showing we were smelling a goal coming. Cheadle had a chance to break, the attacker trying to turn Soloman Wickstead, on as a substitute, but being easily outmuscled to shepherd the ball back to Haslam in goal. Peters was rampaging down the left now, a ball left by everyone arrived at his feet and he slammed a shot into the side netting. Mooney-Munoz showed his quick feet to evade his marker and pass a ball to Henderson 10 yards out, his shot only just wide.

The Cheadle goal was leading a charmed life and in the 76th minute, Sam Dickov came on for Adewusi, showing some early good touches as he got into the game. Just a minute went by before Dickov got on to the end of a flicked cross and buried the ball across the Cheadle keeper, game on! Cheadle looked nervy while the Ammies had fire in their belly, getting forward at will and stopping every Cheadle attack in midfield. In the 78th minute, Peters again got forward and found Mooney-Munoz, the lovely ground pass was tucked away by our midfielder to bring the Ammies level. This game was not over and the players and the fans knew it, the defence pushing up allowing Peters the space he needed to operate, being willed on by the raucous Ammies crowd. As the 83rd minute arrived, Peters got his 3rd assist, a beautiful cross finding the head of Henderson to power past the keeper. Delirium in the stands, the dugout and on the pitch as the Ammies retook the lead, knowing they had 10 minutes to hold on and claim a famous win. The chalk and cheese performance from the 1st half was evident as the front line hunted the ball down, stopping Cheadle from getting forward while the midfield was covering every blade of grass to nullify the visitor’s attack. The full-time whistle was blown, and a huge roar of relief came from every corner of the ground, seeing this as a turning point for the season after a stellar 2nd half performance. After a tough run of fixtures, this showed the character of the team but what a way to win!
Football, Bloody Hell!