Sunday 25th October 2009 (League)
Result:  Tarporley 2 v Tythrington 3 (Away)
We lost. Once again. But not for lack of luck - see previous match reports. This was simply for lack of players. Nine man Tarporley came close to beating a full strength Tytherington at their own ground. But the game went to Tytherington
t was a bad tempered match, punctuated with gruesome tackles, some weird referee decisions (to the advantage of both teams at different times) and player histrionics. Not Tarporley players I should add. Tytherington were rattled when for large parts of the game it looked like they may draw or even lose to a nine man side below them in the league. They finished the game trying to the run the clock down, wasting time to hang on to a slender lead.
Every Tarporley player was outstanding. Working hard to fill the wide open spaces created by the absence of so many of their team mates, they competed throughout the field against overwhelming firepower. Andy scored two magnificent goals, both on the break. Sam was relentless and skillful in midfield. Jack, a rock in defence. But honours belong to the entire side who never gave up, working in a howling wind throughout a challenging game against superior numbers.

Sunday 18th October 2009 (League)
Result:  Tarporley 1 v Tarvin 5 (Home)
After the almost ludicrously unlucky game last week we were keen to see Tarpoley find the good fortune we so richly deserve. A deflection into the net or a ball falling to feet in front of goal. Something, anything to reassure the team that we aren't carrying an albatross into each match.
But this wasn't to be that game. Tarporley managers, supporters, the ref and even Tarvin's coach were left wondering just how we lost having dominated for so much of the game. There were the usual shots hitting the crossbar and those narrowly going wide. This time though, not only did we miss our chances up front, we leaked goals at the back in a manner it's hard to understand.
From the outset the game was end to end. Open, attacking football that thrilled the spectators but exhausted the team. Sam and Ben linked up well in midfield but struggled to find the penetrating pass for the strikers. We were at our most dangerous from the wings but failed to spread the ball to take advantage. Jack and Alex played with awareness and skill but found themselves out-sprinted by lightning fast attackers. Perhaps we held the defensive line too high allowing their pace both on and off the ball too much opportunity.
Andy and Greg worked hard in attack but again and again were crowded off the ball by weight of numbers. Much of the game was played in their half and when they scored it was almost always on the break. Perhaps this is the lesson from this match. A need for greater caution at the back whilst using the wings to penetrate stubborn defence.
It was though a hugely entertaining game. One we should have comfortably won, and an opportunity to learn for future matches. Amazingly Tarvin scored five times whilst we, only once. On that basis they won and we live to fight another day.

Sunday 11th October 2009 (League)
Result:  Tarporley 2 v Barnton 3 (Away)
Someone once said – lady luck is a cruel mistress. In football, that depends on which side she is playing and today she turned up wearing a black and white shirt and played for Barnton in central defence but three times popping up in front of our goal to nod the ball home. Throughout the match we heard her rattling laughter from the touchline and by the end even the Barnton die hard fans were embarrassed by this twelfth player on their team.
The stats tell the story: - Possession – c 65% Tarporley, Territory – c 70% in Barnton’s half, Tarporley hit the Barnton cross bar three times and contrived to miss a completely open goal twice. Tarporley one on one with the keeper without scoring or even shooting – three times
We outplayed Barnton in every area of the pitch. To say we should have won completely understates the position, but the team left the field smiling in-spite of the score line and cold rain.
The Barnton goals came from deflections, awkward bobbles and momentary lapses in the concentration of our defence. Both Tarporley goals were emphatic, finessed looping shots over the keeper, high into the net. The first by Andy through the middle. The second by Johnnie driving in from the right wing.. No amount of bad luck could have kept them out.
Iarporley were good but could have been better. Spreading the ball to the wings earlier would have given us a more incisive edge. Instead the mid field was congested and again and again we kicked up field speculatively. Keeping the ball on the deck and in our possession would have hurt them more. 
But these are the words of a pedant. Tarporley played well. Jack standing out in defence. Sam in midfield and Andy in attack. We should have won, but perhaps next time she’ll be playing in the blue strip.

Sunday 4th October 2009 (Cup)
Result:  Tarporley v Maccledfield Boys Away
Ask yourself – how would you expect a ten man side to fair against a full squad of players in the league above who have in the last seasons reached the cup semi finals. 
It was a tough game in every part of the pitch. But with five minutes to go before half time the score was 0-0 and Macclesfield were rattled. Just as the optimism was building we backed away from a loose ball on the edge of the area and they punished us with a fizzing shot that was parried but scored on the rebound. 
Macclesfield scored four more in the periods before and after half time as we crumbled to a relentless pressure and flowing play. The opportunities came though as we regrouped in the last quarter of the game. Finding our rhythm we penetrated their defence on several occasions and camelose to scoring.
The game finished though 5-0. A heavy defeat but one that none the less reflected the courage and tenacity of a side that grows in ability and depth with every game. Barnton next week with, we anticipate eleven players and an opportunity to demonstrate the potential Tarporley Wanderers now have.

Sunday 27th September 2009 (League)
Result:  Tarporley v Frodsham Park
Ben Unsworth and TB were finally discharged from hospital after our last game. Bruised and hobbling into the week, they were unable to play today. But we still had a team with Johnnie Crank joining the squad. Until Tuesday however, when Will was wrestled to the ground by another team member. It was, apparently a fine move but left his shoulder broken and Will unable to play for many weeks.
So we lined up to play Frodsham with just ten men. And this wasn’t enough. In an, at times, bad tempered, fractious game Tarporley capitulated to the superior numbers and some very talented players. Ten nil. Which sounds like a bad game for the home side. But the truth is, it was a poor performance and one which we are more than capable of improving in future weeks. 
Tarporley came close on several occasions, but lacked the numbers and depth to make them count. Looking ahead, there are signs of hope for future weeks when we have a full team and line up against weaker opposition, but until then we can only learn the harsh lesson from a well organised and aggressive team.