Poor but points in the bag

A game which will not live long in the memory saw Preston beat manager less Bristol City 1-0, in truth the home side looked slightly jaded after the exploits of Tuesday night at Port Vale, also two enforced changes and a family illness saw North End's midfield completely changed.
A couple of early Gallagher efforts were easily saved by City keeper Parish.
City started to dominate, a header from Flint was well saved by Rudd, but Gillett was a great chance by hitting a poor shot wide when well placed, slightly against the run of play North End took the lead following a free kick when King headed home from close range.
Apart from an early chance for Laird, the second half was dull in the least although Wagstaff rattled the North End bar about 10 minutes from the end. As the game drifted to a close both sides were reduced to 10 men, City's Osbourne objected to a challenge from Gallagher, Osbourne butted Gallagher then threw a punch which flattened one of his team mates. Following the 20 man melee both players were sent off, with the argy bargy continuing in the tunnel as they walked off.
It was that kind of game, three points though and that is all that counts.

Preston North End 1 Bristol City 0 Att 8803

A return to the crease. (First phase now over)

Sadly my three week break comes to an end and until the New Year so does my cricket return, as per usual the two of us took residence in Garstang Sports centre.
The three sessions have been enjoyable, batting has improved as has the bowling.
Next step, proper nets with the red ball, might have to start buying kit at this rate.

He got the wrong man, Grommit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A fourth away win on the bounce for Preston as they win 2-0 at Port Vale with as good as an away win that I have seen for many a year, considering the fact they were down to 10 men after just 13 minutes it was an astounding performance.
Garner got both goals for the visitors but he was possibly lucky still to be on the pitch following the incident in the 13th minute. The ball was played away down the right hand side with North End attacking when the official Mr Madley stopped play,Griffiths and Garner looked to be replaying moves from a 1970's porn movie although it did appear punches were thrown, however was not overly sure about this as I had borrowed Arsene Wenger's eyes.
After consulting with his linesman Mr Madley sent off North End's Kilkenny who had nothing to do with the fracas, understandibly Kilkenny was a tad reluctant to leave the pitch, with the referee having to placate Preston manager Simon Grayson.
Garner who had already had one shot tipped away was to prove a pivotal figure in the remainder of the match.
North End re organised and were now playing a 441 formation and were hanging on as Vale pressed forward, but on the half hour Garner seized on a loose pass advanced on goal before unleashing a powerful shot which dipped in underneath the bar. (0-1)
Within a minute Vale could have been level but Rudd's super finger tip save kept out Pope's header by a gnat nadger. Vale launched a bombardment of the visitors goal but in truth posed little danger.
Vale's Dickinson should also have seen red before half time but his two handed push on a North End player was deemed only to be a yellow.
An early Gallagher free kick was easily saved by Neal, Vale were now very direct, but North End's back line were more than a match for them, if they got past them they couldn't get past Rudd who made a couple of good saves, when beaten Rudd saw his defender head one clear from the line.
With 19 minutes to go a speedy break by North End saw Hayhurst brought down in the box by the keeper, Garner, who else drilled the penalty home to secure the points for Preston.
Vale strived to reduce the arrears but stoic defending kept them out. The 1039 visiting fans celebrated a great victory with a chorus of"We've only got 10 men"

Port Vale 0 Preston North End 2 Att 5889

http://youtu.be/ekn4_MDLptk Garner penalty

No doubt about it, mugged.

Well, it feels like I've been mugged, Colchester United managed to draw against Preston at Deepdale, how they managed to snaffle a point is still a mystery. Preston dominated vast swathes of the game and didn't win, 26 attempts at goal against 4 by the visitors, both sides mustered 1 goal.
The home side set the trend for missing chances as early as the first 30 seconds when ex England forward Kevin Davies headed the ball down and over the bar from 5 yards, minutes later Garner brought out a camera save from Walker in the U's net.
It seemed only a matter of time before the net would be bulging, but no, Walker denied Garner and Davies, before Gallagher had two free kicks well saved by the Essex custodian.
Ironically shortly before half time a misdirected pass set up a rare opportunity for the visitors Ibehre hit it over the bar.
Just as it looked as the home side would be level at half time, they scored, nice cross from Gallagher easy header from Garner. (1-0)
Colchester changed tactics in the second half and North End followed suit by hammering the ball anywhere, passing to a team mate was not an option, a turgid opening spell gave way to more North End attacks.
Gallagher was unlucky when Walker tipped his header onto the bar and safety, Garner missed a good chance, then Davies was denied by a last ditch tackle before missing a goalden chance by firing wide from close range.
Then with the inevitability of an England batting collapse, Colchester scored, nice goal mind, low left footed shot by Garbutt from 20 yards(1-1) his first ever league goal. Stunned silence from the home sides support, the 100 away fans were as happy as they could possibly be.
Try as they could North End could not find a way though except a split second after the final whistle when Garner's shot went into the net, didn't count though.
Two points dropped

Preston North End 1 Colchester United 1 Att 8492

A return to the crease (Week 2)

Back to Garstang leisure centre for more OAP cricket, same scenario as last week, Mr Tweedy and I. Interesting places these Leisure centres, people seem to go there to keep fit, exercise bikes, weights, yoga and other sadistic instruments of torture, glad I’m unfit, have to keep it that way, it’s the future.
As for the cricket the batting I found easier didn’t feel uncomfortable this week not as much pain in the right side of my body more of a natural feel about it, pity the bat is a heavy piece of wood.
The bowling was a bit poor but using tennis balls is not quite like using a proper cricket ball, but you can give it some air to confuse the batsman.(occasionally)
Back again next week, will keep you posted.

A return to the crease (The long awaited return to the game of cricket)

About a year ago a friend of mine decided at the age of 65 decided that he was going to make a return to the game of cricket by joining a club and playing.
Stupid idea, well I thought it was until he told me that he had been picked to play.
Were they desperate? Apparently not. although having seen one game the standard was, how shall we say, not the best, he didn’t disgrace himself, getting a few wickets and scoring about 100 runs in 6 innings.
Anyway, it go me thinking, should I give it a go. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. So got myself a pair of new training shoes and last night two of us with combined ages of 125 headed off to Garstang leisure centre to get ready for the 2014 season.
Firstly as the equipment was being set up, decided to see if I could still actually run, managed about 90 secs before my aching legs told me to stop, but that’s 90 seconds more than I have run in the last 20 years.
The actual bowling and batting wasn’t bad, never having batted in glasses before was slightly different, also due to being slightly fatter!!!! than when I last played found having a correct batting stance was difficult to work out but I managed to hit the ball which was something.
Bowling was slightly more difficult, using tennis balls is not the best however managed to get a decent line and length in my first period of bowling.
Slightly stiffer when I bowled in my second spell but was overall quite pleased with the result.
Second session is next week followed by proper nets in the New Year.
Bring it on.

Comfortable

In the end it was a comprehensive victory for Preston over a spirited Barnet side who did not throw in the towel even though losing 6-0, in truth the contest was over after Keanu Marsh-Brown sending off in the 15th minutes, his lunge on North End's Scot Laird led to a straight red card from referee Mr Joyce, it was a pity really because the Bees had started brightly.
Within 3 minutes of the sending off North End were ahead, Lee Holmes' perfect cross found Clarke at the back post, simple header.(1-0) Barnet had a sneak of a chance but a super tackle from Huntington prevented what would have been a surprise equaliser. North End were finding acres of space and it was no surprise that they increased their lead before half time.
A cross from the left by Laird saw Garner drift between the two giant Barnet defenders to guide his header past Stack.(2-0)
The tie was wrapped up on half time when a fine team move led to Gallagher placing his shot past Stack.
Holmes started the second half by hitting the bar witha free kick, however following a leate challenge by Beavon on Yiadom, Mr Joyce showed the red card again and now both sides had 10.
Barnet smelt a chance of getting back into the game with substitute Crawford bringing a save from Rudd in the home goal, but North End soon scored a fourth to end any doubts that the home support may have had.
Holmes down the right, crossed into Gallagher's feet, he didn't miss, he only had to wait another 10 minutes for his hat trick blasting the ball past Stack with the Bees defence nowhere to be seen.
Garner made it 6 following a quick free kick.
Job done.
A word finally about Edgar Davids, Barnet's 40 year old player manager barely wasted a ball all afternoon and worked his socks off trying to help his team, no more when Garner went on a mazy run, he was only stopped from scoring by the Dutchman, 15 seconds later he was setting up an attack down the other end, he must have been some player when he was younger.

Preston North End 6 Barnet 0 Att 5217 and they used a pink ball

Frustrating

A frustrating afternoon for the home fans in a gate of 9800 as Preston drew with Tranmere Rovers at Deepdale on a windy and sometimes wet afternoon, only a late Joe Garner headed saved the home side from defeat.
North End struggled all afternoon to break down the visitors 9-0-1 formation in which the main tactic seemed to be hammer it long and let Ryan Lowe chase after it, which the veteran forward did with aplomb.
An early Rudd save kept the visitors from taking an early lead, but the traffic was mainly one way towards the Tranmere goal, saying that though North End final pass was abysmal, many chances going begging due to dire distribution.
North End main efforts came down the left hand side of the pitch were Gallagher and Laird linked well. The home side were unlucky just before the break when Keane got the ball past Fon Williams in the Rovers goal, however his shot lacked power and was cleared to Welsh whose 20 yard shot narrowly missed.
Out of the blue the visitors took the lead in the second half, Keane appeared to be fouled, nothing was given and the ball up field found the home defence sadly wanting as Atkinson cooly curled the ball round Rudd from just outside the box. (0-1)
North End responded by making three changes however they were struggling to create anything worthwhile. Lowe nearly capitalised on some dodgy defending but Rudd saved the day.
Rovers had now gone to a 10-0-0 formation, it worked for a while, they wasted time, fell over at the slightest contact which fooled the referee, many a time.
Then with the clock on 90 minutes North End broke down the left and for once a cross was perfect, Garner rose above the defender to power home a header. (1-1)
Both sides went close from free kicks with Garner and Koumas being the takers.
Lastly a word about the officials, CLUELESS

Preston North End 1 Tranmere Rovers 1 Att 9600