Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A Return to the crease after a 20 year gap

Indoors nets again at Garstang, with the season creeping up, the four sessions facing Mr Tweedy bowling with tennis balls has been useful, still have not worked out what batting stance to use, clssic still at the crease or the Gooch stand and deliver style(but without the moustache and the Essex accent)
As for the bowling some decent, some mediocre and some rubbish but the tennis ball is not going to turn miles on an indoor net.
Has been fun.
It’s Galgate’s AGM a week on Tuesday, indoor nets for real start after then.
OAP cricket is getting closer.

Points shared in Yorkshire

Everything was in order Barnet, still a sod of a ground to find.

A good point or two points dropped as Bradford City and Preston played out a goalless draw at Valley Parade last night, personally think it is a good point although the teams at the top are now starting to escape from view.
A slightly disjointed first half after the double sending off of City's debutant Bennett and North End's Kilkenny after a bit of handbags in the centre of the pitch. Kilkenny's dramatic fall to the ground did him no favours either.
North End had started the better against a non too impressive City defence with Brownhilland Gallagher going close.
Following the dismissals both sides struggled to adjust but towards half time City got on top and only a superb block stopped Doyle from scoring.
A frentic start to the second half as both sides had three good chances within the opening five minutes, Rudd pulling off a super save from a close range header.
Play settled down and North End started to look dominate, Brownhill hitting the post from the edge of the box, he's going to be a decent player. Garner led the line admirably for North End, whilst the veteran Jones ran the show for City. 
Unsurprisingly both sides tired in the latter stages and as I said probably a point each was a fair reflection of the game.
Like Valley Parade as a venue with it's two vertigo inducing stands, still the hardest ground in England to actually get too.

Bradford City 0 Preston North End 0 Att 13686 (1114 from Preston)
http://youtu.be/ZnXhaU2ILes
Pre corner marking

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Little excitement

From the City ground Nottingham to the Giant Axe within the space of 17 hours, from palatial league surroundings to grass roots football and a totally different standard of football.
Lancaster City duly beat bottom placed Ossett Albion by a single goal in a contest which barely broke above the tepid level.
Due to the filming of what looks like a costume drama at Lancaster Castle the car park had been taken over by Caravans and trailers for the actors and film crew, originally thought the game would be televised on mismatch of the day but no there were no cameras recording the action at the game, not that there was any.
The first half consisted of trying to find other towns with six letter names which had two double letters in its names, Exeter has three Es and Annan consists of two letters only.
City struggled to get past Albion’s young side, it rained and was cold and we all got bored.
An early second half free kick from Albion whistled narrowly wide, before City took the lead in the 57th minute in keeping with the game it was a scruffy goal, Jackson’s shot from 15 yards was clocked the rebounded to him and he hit the rebound past Wood for what turned out to be the winner. (1-0)
Minutes later Albion really should have been level but when the goal was in view the shot was put wide.
Towards the end Albion had a succession of free kicks which they wasted and Connerton should have doubled the lead when failing to score after taking the ball round the keeper. It was that kind of game.
Lancaster City 1 Ossett Albion 0 Att 185
http://youtu.be/aunGzNcVtTs

City players celebrate the goal


Down by the River

It could have been better a draw at the City Ground could be classed as a good result but for North End fans the general consensus was that we could have won the game.
The magic of the FA Cup lives on thanks to sensible pricing a tremendous gate of 26465 turned up on a dreadfully wet night by the Trent.
Forest are in stunning form at the moment but they will be mightily relieved they are still in the cup this morning.
As expected Forest were on top in the early stages and nearly took the lead from a Cox shot which went narrowly wide, then Rudd pulled off a fine save to deny Paterson, but as the half progressed North End got into the game more, Gallagher went close before Garner went narrowly wide with a first time snap shot.
Play settled down as patient Forest passing tried to find their way past a well organised Preston defence with Bailey Wright outstanding.
A passage of 20 or so passes nearly brought it's reward as Halford was set free but a combination of keeper and defender put Halford off and he missed the target.
Half time came and went, still raining give the groundstaff credit the pitch looked in tremendous condition.
Similar story in the second half, no it was North End who were on top, breaking quickly they began to cause the home team considerable problems, one Cruyff turn by Garner took three players out of the game, two shots from the aforementioned Garner went close, efforts by Welsh, Holmes and Gallagher were spilled by the keeper but without a yellow shirt following up to put the ball home.
Expectancy began to rise in the away following of 2055 who were tremendous all night. Forest went close when substitute Abdoun's cross missed everyone and an Andy Reid curler went narrowly wide but the action was mainly down the other end, with Brownhill's free kick just clearing the bar and a last minute shot by King being gratefully clawed away by Darlow. Could have been better but this was a good Preston performance.

Nottingham Forest 0 Preston North End 0 Att 26465 replay a week on Tuesday 
http://youtu.be/tWwUr0mrXFA
http://youtu.be/qZibdssNHJU

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Late drama

When Franck Moussa buried a tremendous dipping volley in the 97th minute of the game to give Coventry a point they barely deserved, it was their first shot on target in the entire match and too make matters worse for the home fans the goal came long after the four added minutes shown by the 4th official had already been played.
You got the impression that Mr Wright was just waiting for Coventry to score before he blew the whistle. Fifteen seconds after the ball had entered the net this is what he did.
Mr Wright had had antagonised the home faithful by blowing for every tackle Preston made , even though most of tackles seemed fair, he was also quick to book home players were as a Coventry player would need to beheaded a home player before any action was taken.
As for the game North End were denied twice in the first five minutes by a header from the line and rather fortunate save by Murphy in the Coventry goal, both from Gallagher, he later saved a Garner shot with his head.
To be fair to City they played their part in an entertaining first half,although they got away with some inept defending. Little was seen of the Coventry attack as North End dominated the first period.
The lead when it came early in the second half with a fine goal by Davies following and excellent run and cross by Buchanan. (1-0)
Coventry started to throw caution to the wind and were slightly unlucky when Christie's cross cum shot evaded everyone and missed the back post by inches. They had claims for a penalty waved away but never looked like scoring until Moussa's rocket in the last seconds.
North End were also reduced to 10 men in the last couple of minutes of normal time, when Davies lunge saw a red card, the Coventry player made nothing of the tackle, but the card came out in double quick time
At the end North End players surrounded the hapless official, probably not to congratulate him. Clueless twonk.

Preston North End 1 Coventry City 1 Att 10671

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Wembley bound- as if we are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As the half time whistle blew last night, the vast majority of the 6000 plus crowd had the sinking feeling that this game was on the way to a penalty shoot out after a first half of nice passing football without a single effort on goal that was worth remembering, the second half was different five goals, some inept defending and a late winner for the home faithful.
Just before the hour mark Ipswich took the lead, a gift goal to say the least.
Clarke's header was heading out for a corner when keeper Rudd on loan from Town's rivals Norwich decides that he wants to stop the corner, majestically saving the ball from going out but forgot to keep hold of the ball, Nouble said "thanks very much" rounded a defender and blasted the ball home. (0-1)
Within two minutes North End made a double change bringing on Garner and Holmes, ten minutes later Garner had scored twice and the home side were now in front.
Poor Ipswich defending from a corner, Garner's header appeared to be flicked on by Brownhill, this caused some confusion to a defender and keeper Loach and the Town defender's attemped clearance ended up in the net.(1-1)
Less than a minute later Garner had cut past a defender and had put his shot past Loach 2-1
Ipswich's then made a substitution and on came McGoldrick and with his firstb touch of the ball he had headed past Rudd, not brilliant defending(2-2)
Hunt had a chance to put Town ahead but when well placed missed his kick completely, it was to prove costly, two minutes to go, a free kick found it's way into thye penalty box, Garner again scuttled past a defender before blasting home the winner. (3-2)
Mr Stroud found six minutes of injury time but in truth North End were not troubled.
Word of praise to the Town fans who made the journey and to Town keeper Loach, who applauded the home fans at the start of the second half and at the end of the game.

Notts Forest away a week on Friday, £10 a ticket plus £10 coach travel, sounds good to me, can't seeing it get cheaper when we get to the final!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Preston North End 3 Ipswich Town 2 Att 6088

Saturday, January 11, 2014

2nd best

No complaints about the result, Wolves deserved to win the game in front of a crowd of 20434 at Molineux. North End were simply out fought, out paced and out muscles by a non too shabby home side although it has to be said that the visitors did their bit to aid the home side for the goals.
A bright sunlit afternoon especially for the mass ranks of the 3500 visitors who could see sod all when the action was at the one end.
Wolves started on top, although not creating much although they were getting plenty of joy down either wing. The home side exploited the space down their right and were almost rewarded, when a home forward slid the ball under keeper Rudd only to be denied by a supurb King clearance from the line, within minutes North End thought they had taken the lead when Hume's close range effort found the ne although many celebrating visitors could not see the raised flag of the linesman due to the sun.
Wolves took the lead on the half hour ironically after a period of North End passing which kept the home side pinned back, Wanderers again exploited a mistake by the Whites defence and Edwards in acres of space slid the ball past Rudd and into the net. (1-0)
Almost immediately North End leveled however Garner's majestic 20 yard curling shot was almost perfect hitting the bar and being cleared to safety.
Personally though being only 1 down at half time was not a bad score, still in the game.
Wolves proved me wrong , they powered out of the blocks in the second half and it was no surprise when they doubled the lead, again in came from a North End mistake, a series of sloppy passes ended with Welsh losing the ball 40 yards from goal, Wolves zipped away and Evans gave Rudd no chance. (2-0)
Chasing the game North End made changes and formation and looked better they had chances new signing Wiseman should have done better with a header from a corner but it would only have been a consolation.
Not good enough on the day, move on to the next game.


Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Preston North End 0 Att 20434


A Gallagher free kick in the first half.

http://youtu.be/dJLYVM8pYk4

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Beavers downed

After a 4 am wake up, then hearing that Rankin was batting for England the portents for a decent day didn't look promising
Managed to avoid drowning on the coast road up to Lancaster, got through without a problem the water level on the Lune wasn't as high as yesterday when the road was shut, onwards to the Giant Axe for a Roses battle between the home side and Harrogate Railway Athletic whose nickname is the Beavers.
An entertaining game for the 212 in attendance, by chance met an old cricketing buddy who I had not seen since the late 1970's always a pleasant surprise to meet people from the past.
Both sides played passing football which was attractive on the eye.
Early Lancaster pressure nearly brought them the lead however Connerton's header was tipped over the bar by the keeper, the referee gave a goal kick.
Wearing then went close before Harrogate had probably the best chance of the early stages however the shot was narrowly wide.
Athletic's attractive attacking style of play was causing City problems but the impressive Steel at the heart of the City defence kept them out.
City took the lead five minutes before half time when a blunder by Athletic keeper Crooks handed Kilfin the chance to chip into the empty net from 35 yards with the keeper 20 yards from safety. (1-0)
City should have doubled their lead within but Connerton dallied too long and the chance disappeared.
Athletic equalized on the stroke of half time and a fine team goal it was. A 40 yard cross field pass found the left full back in acres of space, his cross was chested down by Cartman who spun round and blasted home from 10 yards. (1-1)
Harrogate dominated the early stages of the 2nd half but City regained the lead on the hour, Connerton's smart turn and shot from 12 yards beat the keeper. (2-1)
City then piled on the pressure with Athletic barely getting out of their penalty area, they survived only just though.
At the other end City defence was in charge and Athletic rarely saw the whites of the kepers eyes as City eased home.

Lancaster City 2 Harrogate Railway Athletic 1 Att 212

http://youtu.be/WeL2H9qitZo

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Hanging on at the end

North End duly recorded their third win on the bounce over the festive period with a 3-2 win over Port Vale although after an hour they were 3 up and cruising but a valiant fight back by the Valiants just failed to stop the home side winning.
The early stages it's fair to say were dominated by the visitors and their early dominance should have given hem the lead but Dodds shot hit the back of the net instead of the back of the net.
North End survived another chance from the impressive Tomlin whose shot was tipped onto the bar by Rudd and over for a corner. Efforts by Gallagher and Garner went close for the home side.
Garner the villan of the piece in the reverse game in November was repeatedly called a Merchant Banker by the noisy Vale contigent and it was he on the stroke of half time gave North End the lead, a fine team goal it was, patient build up in midfield, great cross from the wing and a fine header by Garner. (1-0)
North End should have been 2 up within seconds of the 2nd half starting Hulme's header beat keeper Johnson but hit the post and rolled to safety, didn't matter though within five minutes the lead had been doubled.
Gallagher picking the ball up on the left side of midfield cut inside before hammering a howitzer past Johnson from 30 yards, you don't save those.
North End were now on top form and within 10 minutes were further ahead when Hulme's effort was saved by the keeper the ball ran to Gallagher who then set up Garner. He took an age to get his shot in but he found the net when he did. (3-0)
Wright nearly added a fourth but his header went narrowly wide.
What could go wrong? Vale got one back when Tomlin headed in from close range. (3-1) Substitute Myrie -Williams hit the top of the North End bar with a shot and you could feel the tension start to grip the home fans.
Vale had gone direct and were causing all sorts of problems, with six minutes to go, they scored again. A long throw from Dickinson was headed goalwards by Hugill, the ball floated over everyone and landed in the net 3-2)Back in the melting pot, a tired looking home side were hanging on and Williamson was an inch away form leveling. Five minutes of injury time tested the home fans nerves but the home side hung on.
3 wins out of 3 over the festive period, will do nicely.

Preston North End 3 Post Vale 2 Att 10653