Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

[Gangster Octopus]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Fuck. Almost identical equaliser from Stortford.

[Gangster Octopus]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

At least the Stortford fans are making a bit of a noise. As are the Stones fans. As usual...

[Gangster Octopus]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Third headed goal from a dead ball puts the Stones back in front.

[Gangster Octopus]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

An injury time (slightly dubious) penalty by Jefferson Louis secures a first Stones win of the season.

[imp]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Gangster Octopus wrote: Stortford have a goal disallowed. I'm already looking forward to my (already ordered) halftime pint of Twisted Sister. Already...

You whaaaaaaat? It's not the bloody opera, you know.

[danielmak]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Great thread all around. Thanks for reporting back. And thanks for including photos.

[KGR]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Carlton lost 0-1 at Daventry* today in the Northern Premier League Div 1 South. Yes, that's Daventry in the Northern Premier League. Who's idea was that?

Only goal came from a corner taken immediately after Carlton goalie Kurtis McDonald was treated for at least five minutes for an injury. Fair play to Daventry, the corner was whipped in to where a fit goalie would catch it, but our man was glued to the spot, leaving a free header for Jason Lee** to score.

Enjoyable afternoon despite result (Carlton missed a late pen when Anthony Howell, 100+ apps for Mansfield, feebly tapped back to the keeper) and also only having Worthingtons in draught, so I was told. I later discovered that they had bottles of Speckled Hen, but the barman said that he hadn't realised that it was a bitter when previously asked what bitter there was on show.

Should I be calling my preferred drink 'ale' instead of 'bitter' now? These bar staff are all so bleedin' young these days.

Carlton, given the shoestring budget and young unfamiliar squad after the manager left and took four with him to Coalville, plus many more leaving for latest moneybags outfit Basford, are surely set for a relegation battle this season.

I can't wait.

* Always looks like it is spelled wrong and should be something, anything, else.
** No, not that one.

[Paul S]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Billericay Town 0-3 Canvey Island

Billericay lost after having one of their players sent off after just 4 minutes. The player had only just come back from suspension, so this was a fine effort in getting sent off so early. Canvey were 2-0 after 15 minutes and the game never really looked in doubt. Five minutes after halftime Billericay had another player sent off but managed to defend until the last minute when the conceded another.

Billericay looked hapless, Canvey seemed to have some shape. A good afternoons entertainment for just a tenner.

I also went to see my dad after the game. He's still in hospital but we hope to have him home again sometime this week. He also looks and sounds loads better.

[The Fox in the Snow]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Hinckley AFC 4-1 Heather St. John's

This one felt a bit flat to be honest. It was probably just me; the inevitable come down after the euphoria of the thrashing of Bromsgrove in the cup on Saturday.

I felt a bit for Heather. I was speaking to one of their fans before the game it all seems to be going wrong for them. They were a decent midtable outfit last season but they've been going through managers and players at a rate ridiculous even for this level of football and it's starting to tell. I fear they're doomed to relegation, even at this early stage.

Hinckley didn't play at anything like their best which I guess is understandable given their exploits just a couple of days back. There were times they appeared just to be playing with the young Heather lads when they could have been more direct and out the game to bed before half-time. Instead they were sloppy at the back and allowed what should have been a harmless free kick to result in a goal, meaning their lead was only by 2-1 at the break. They didn't have to sweat much in the second half, thankfully.

So, four wins out of five in the league and looking good for Hinckley so far. They really could do with Coventry United running out of steam though. Eight wins out of eight for them after today's results. They beat Hinckley 4-0 a couple of weeks back and looked very good indeed. It's hard to look past them for the title at the minute which ia a bit of a bugger given that only the champions go up.

Wolverhampton Sporting away in the FA Vase on Saturday. There's no Leicester game so I'll probably go along. As much as I love watching Leicester this non-league lark is a great antidote to sterile environment of the Premier League. Amd to think, I thought our midtable Championship years were what it was like to struggle. Why on Eart didn't I do this sooner?

[wiblflibl]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Horsham v Deal Town, FA Cup Preliminary Round replay

Today's transport was the usual hot mustard coloured Ford Fiesta direct from the door to the Gorings Mead carpark.

Pre-match:






First half:
Two defensive errors, two neat finishes and it's Deal in complete control.

Had another one of Stacey's splendid cheeseburgers with onions and was delighted to find they still had some of our homemade chilli ketchup to add that finishing touch. No chips available as Stacey apparently got a double fracture of the ankle while taking off her wellies earlier last week so hadn't been able to collect the new food van. Non-league catering is a tough playground.

HT: Horsham 0-2 Deal Town



Second half:
Horsham had a penalty well saved by the Deal keeper; pulled one back through Kieron Pamment; had a man sent off for a straight red (studs up challenge); Deal had a man sent off for a second yellow; Deal had someone sent off from the dugout for (presumably) something said to the assistant referee; there was much huffing and puffing and Deal are deservedly through to play Whitstable in the first qualifying round.

Post match:



Then back onto Pullman for "one for the road".

Apologies for the photos being a bit on the large side: my usual editing program has died on the pc and I haven't fully got to grips with FastStone.

[Ray de Galles]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Molesey and Corinthian-Casuals was an entertaining, rain-soaked game which managed to offer up countless chances but was almost without shots on target. The finishing was far worse than I can recall previously at this level (or the one below which the home side have spent the last decade in).

The visitors ended up winning a very even match 0-1. There had been the promise of a red card from early on as both sides slid in to tackles on a very slick pitch. The sending off finally came after 69 minutes when The Moles' left back ended a very torrid personal display hauled down his man breaking on the halfway line for a second yellow.

Strangley, they dominated the next 20 minutes or so but got over-adventurous looking for a short-handed win and Casuals scored a beatiful counter-attacking winner in the 88th minute.

Molesey looked more than competent for a newly promoted side against a team in the top three so hopefully they can continue their good start and stay out of relegation trouble.

.

[Ray de Galles]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Leek Town 1 Rocester 1 - FA Cup Extra-Prelimary Round



Glad we got that sorted.



The picturesque lovely allotment-filled bank behind one goal.



The chemical plant (and shirt sponsor) dominating the other end.



No, I haven't got a clue what "else" might be either.

Still amazed how Leek didn't win the tie. Well, apart from a stupendous display by the visiting keeper wino made at least ten vital saves, including stopping a weakly struck penalty.

Rocester had a man sent off late one who really should have gone for a horrendous tackle after two minutes. Despite that they scored an 86th minute equaliser.

[Gangster Octopus]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

imp wrote:

Stortford have a goal disallowed. I'm already looking forward to my (already ordered) halftime pint of Twisted Sister. Already...

You whaaaaaaat? It's not the bloody opera, you know.

Welcome to Wealdstone...

[Bored Of Education]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Oh, yes, I must remember that.

[Patrick Thistle]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

I presume BB&F's reference to Craven Arms being in Wales could be simply pre-emptive bantz with Marches towns. Alternatively, I wonder if he's picked up an incorrect factoid from the WH Smith quiz cards. Craven Arms' bleak small town glory is, of course, within the borders of Shropshire. (A county that may yet be annexed by the Socialist Republic of Wales, or at least its NHS services when they are sold off.)

EDIT: Get well soon to Paul's dad.

[Calvert]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Fam, you been chattin me?”, “its nuttin”, “Fam, you been chattin me?”, “its nuttin”, “Fam, you been chattin me?

For some reason I keep getting the dentist chair scene from Marathon Man when I read this.

[Bored Of Education]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Shropshire, like Malta and Gospel Oak, doesn't really exist.

[GCostanza]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Been to all three, so appears otherwise.

[danielmak]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Paul S wrote:

I also went to see my dad after the game. He's still in hospital but we hope to have him home again sometime this week. He also looks and sounds loads better.

I'm glad to hear your dad's doing better, Paul.

[jameswba]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Bored of Education wrote: Shropshire, like Malta and Gospel Oak, doesn't really exist.

Biggest English county without a coastline, don't you know?

I remember Shrewsbury drawing Ipswich in the FA Cup in the early 80s - might even have been 80/81, when Ipswich nearly won the league - and the Ipswich chairman asking 'where's Shrewsb
ury?' in a radio interview. Shropshire was scandalised.

Craven Arms is indeed a nothing little town, but it's got Stokesay Castle nearby, and that's a lovely little spot - unless I've been out of the country too long and getting over-sentimental.

[Bored Of Education]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

GCostanza wrote: Been to all three, so appears otherwise.

Oh, you 'think' you have.

[Ray de Galles]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

Forgot to say, it should have been nice to see the current England assistant manager and a D2 club captain amongst a crowd of 75 yesterday in the eighth tier to support their son/brother captaining their hometown club.

Just a pity it was spoilt by the latter being the Franchise's longest-serving scab.

.

[My Name Is Ian]

Following in BB&F's Footsteps - Weekend Matchgoing

I'm a little late to this party through necessity (I've been moonlighting, so it wasn't down to me when it went up), but I was at Worthing vs Walton & Hersham in the FA Cup on Saturday.

http://therealfacup.co.uk/2015/09/01/worthing-4-2-walton-h/

Lordy lordy, their pitch is quite a thing. I think I probably hate the red border going right the way up to the touchline, but there's a small part of me that sneakingly admires it.