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Not since the glorious summer of 1953 has the Stanley Park crowd witnessed such extreme temperatures so early in the Spring. Pitch side the thermometer rose to a dramatic 22 degrees and Blackpool players witnessed at first hand what heat exhaustion was like. In a game that was in all effect a dead rubber the afternoon saw an excellent Didsbury side play a Blackpool side with one eye on the ice cream van and the other on Teasers strip club. The squad of Blakemore, Latimer, Gettings, Woodman, the Boniface twins, Lester, Abbott, Pasqualino, Morrow, Wright & Morgan played well in parts but just did not have the skill or ability to beat the best passing team in the league.
The score was 2 – 0 at half time and the captain gave a spirited team talk about running around a lot and oranges. The second half and the high temperatures meant Blackpool players began to wilt under the fierce sun and green and white Didsbury army. The captain played in a “free role” for all the hard work he has done for the club over the past two years. The midfield of Wright, Pasqualino, Abbott and Woodman flayed for much of the game but put some exquisite passes together in the second half. Morgan was left up front alone for much of the match and did not have many opportunities. The defence showed glimpses of brilliance with Gettings and Latimer a Tour de Force at the back and young Blackmore in the sticks just keeps getting better and better.
In the captain’s dreams: he captain, playing in a “free role” for all the hard work he has done for the club over the past two years was quite simply awesome. His extreme fitness regime has paid dividends and it allowed him to be everywhere, defending at the top of the D, clearing the ball of his own line and testing the opposition keeper with volley after volley of fiercely stuck shots. The GB number 2 keeper kept all the shots out but later said it was the best work out since GB were knocked out of the Champions Cup last year against Australia. Even though the skipper lead by example it was at a horrible cost. It was difficult for the Didsbury squad to choose a MOM but after the Didsbury keeper removed his protection and the rest of the team saw the bruises to his upper torso the MOM went to the skipper Morrow. Unfortunately the captain could not collect his award as he was outside the ground signing autographs and raising money for the many charities he is connected with. His adoring public love the great man and it will be a big hole that needs filling next season for the captains arm band. This cub reporter has witnessed sport at all levels and the highs and lows that goes with them but he has never seen such a canon like striker of the ball since the previous captain left for a lucrative contract with the Houston Astros.
© Kieron Morrow 21/03/05 suitably edited by PL