Saturday 9th September 2023
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 10
West 2
Starkey (og) 59
Grimshaw 86
AFC Liverpool 3
Douglas 3
Schorah 67
Croughan 74
Attendance: 1,159
West Didsbury & Chorlton
1 Wynne, 2 Cook (c), 3 Graham (17 Grimshaw 76), 4 Delaney (15 Eme 64), 5 Smyth, 6 Foulds, 7 Gabidon (16 Billingsley HT), 8 Schofield, 9 Elliott, 10 Dickinson (12 Taylor 83), 11 Matthews. Subs not used: 14 Hancock.
AFC Liverpool
1 Deveney (13 Parkinson 90+4), 2 Cunningham, 3 Starkey, 4 Moorcraft, 5 Parr, 6 Bell, 7 D. Shearwood (16 Paton 1, 15 Abdous 83), 8 B. Shearwood (14 Douglas 1), 9 Croughan, 10 Schorah (c), 11 Bavelock (12 Hughes 83).
West suffered a third home defeat of the season in a game overshadowed by a serious injury to Liverpool number seven Dan Shearwood.
Chris Rowley made three changes to the side that started Tuesday's 3-0 win over Litherland REMYCA. Callum Graham, Liam Delaney and Billy Matthews were recalled, replacing Lewis Billingsley, who moved to the bench, while Rhain Hellawell and Rhain Davis weren't in the matchday squad.
Just seconds had elapsed when a seemingly innocuous challenge left the Reds winger hurt upon landing.
The intense sunshine was pushing the mercury in Chorlton up to 30 degrees and a West fan - father of our own Liam Delaney, no less - soon came to aid the stricken player and the two physios with his famous umbrella, providing some much needed shade.
With all other players retreating to the dugouts for respite, the game became a secondary concern and looked likely to be halted. The seriousness of the injury was obvious and the player's welfare was primary.
Reds midfielder Brad Shearwood - the injured player's brother - had driven to the game and brought his vehicle onto the pitch to escort his sibling and club physio Kaydreon Drimmie to hospital, to concerned applause from all four sides of the ground.
The clock was by now approaching what would have been half-time but a message was received that the game will in fact resume, and players on both sides began loosening themselves up in readiness for the restart.
With Liverpool forced into what was essentially a first-minute double substitution, at 3.42pm the ball was back in play and within three minutes the Reds were in front. A inswinging corner was cleared only as far as the edge of the box to DOUGLAS who smashed the ball through a crowded area and high into the goal. A highly unusual and perhaps unwanted achievement, given the context - a third minute goal from a substitute.
West didn't threaten until after the first water break; Ben Elliott freeing himself in the area and unleashing a powerful, angled shot that Deveney was equal to.
Twice more before the break, Reds keeper Deveney snuffed out West's best moments. Billy Matthews' attempt to go around unsuccessful and Smyth's glancing header met with firm hands.
The Reds' threat was constant and, but for the heroics of Wynne and Foulds, and the profligacy of Croughan, their half-time lead would've been greater than just one.
The half-time whistle finally arrived at 4:36pm - both sides, to their credit, contributing to a game being played at high tempo, somewhat surprising given the relentless high temperatures and overshadowing injury.
Lewis Billingsley replaced Dontai Gabidon at the break but clock reached the hour mark without much further incident, until a moment to forget for Liverpool's back-line. Left-back STARKEY helped the ball back to his goalkeeper but there was too much on it and Deveney was beaten by the pace and the bounce, left to look on in horror and the ball rolled into his net.
The game was awakened by the error but it was Liverpool whose response told. A diagonal ball cut through West's defence and the impressive Douglas squared for SCHORAH to score.
This ten minute period did for West - a third for the Reds soon arrived. A long clearance was pursued by CROUGHAN but Elliott Wynne in West's goal was more than favourite to reach it first and clear comfortably. However a moment's indecision and subsequent miscontrol allowed the #9 to steal the ball and walk it in.
The goal prompted Chris Rowley to throw Lee Grimshaw into the mix, giving West cause to huff and puff - GRIMSHAW himself forcing the ball in at the second attempt as we approached 90 mins - but the damage was done and it proved to be only consolation.
Updates received after the game assured that Dan Shearwood was comfortable in hospital, having sustained a broken tibia and fibula. We understand he was operated on the following day and is now starting the path to rehabilitation. Everyone at West wishes Dan a speedy recovery.
A special mention must also go to West physio Alan Ainsley who assisted both teams for 90 minutes, with the Liverpool physio in hospital with the injured player, and was back on duty the following morning for West Women.
Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was Paul and his Player of the Match was Billy Matthews.
Listen to the Chris Rowley interview here, sponsored by Steve Eckersley.
Browse the full match gallery, by Si Cook and Chris Michell, below.
Weekend results
Premier Division
Friday 8th September 2023
Lower Breck 0-1 Litherland REMYCA
Saturday 9th September 2023
Barnoldswick Town 3-1 Skelmersdale United
Burscough 1-4 Cheadle Town
Bury 1-1 Longridge Town
Charnock Richard 2-6 Wythenshawe
FC Isle of Man 0-2 Prestwich Heys
Glossop North End 2-0 Pilkington
Irlam 1-1 Colne
Kendal Town 1-2 Ramsbottom United
Padiham 0-1 Squires Gate
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-3 AFC Liverpool
Wythenshawe Town 4-0 Chadderton
Saturday 9th September 2023
With all other players retreating to the dugouts for respite, the game became a secondary concern and looked likely to be halted. The seriousness of the injury was obvious and the player's welfare was primary.
West didn't threaten until after the first water break; Ben Elliott freeing himself in the area and unleashing a powerful, angled shot that Deveney was equal to. 
Lewis Billingsley replaced Dontai Gabidon at the break but clock reached the hour mark without much further incident, until a moment to forget for Liverpool's back-line. Left-back STARKEY helped the ball back to his goalkeeper but there was too much on it and Deveney was beaten by the pace and the bounce, left to look on in horror and the ball rolled into his net.
Updates received after the game assured that Dan Shearwood was comfortable in hospital, having sustained a broken tibia and fibula. We understand he was operated on the following day and is now starting the path to rehabilitation. Everyone at West wishes Dan a speedy recovery.