Pakistan Bazball

Lose series 2-1, win the first game on a wicket which was so flat they played the next mtch on it, they rack up 500 plus we respond with 800 plus win by an innings.

So every credit Pakistan pick seven spinners in their side and let the wicket do the rest 1 all

Off to Rawlpindi another bunsen burner, we win the ttoss and bat first massive advantage and yet still lose by 9 wickets. The last three wickets in the Pakistan first innings virtually double the score, proved to be crucial.

We collapse and leave them 36 to win, not a problem.

If only we played county cricket on turning wickets sadly though we play a slog festival named the Blundred, the powers that be will never learn 

2024 Cricket Season

 All ended in a predicatable deluge in tge last week of the season 7 of the 9 County Championship games ended in rain enforced draws and the England ODI game was washed out about 5pm.

Due to the tournament that should not be named the four day game has been pushed to the extremes of the season hence the soggy end and the cold start to the season.

As for Lancashire relegation from the top division failed miserably in the 50 over cup and got slaughtered by Sussex in the 20/20 Quarter Final at Hove.

For the first time cannot remember listening to Test Match special on the radio, the DEI element is wateing down the coverage, think Agnew retires from it this winter, the last of the proper commentators.

England blitzed the Test series winning all three games against the West Indies winning two and drawing one against Sri Lanka, barely watched any.

The four day game as usual is under threat from those idiots at the ECB who seem only to be interested of chasing big money.

What does the future hold is anybodies guess, personally prefer each county plays each other once, three day games which would mean less first class cricket but suspect them days are long gone, whatever the ECB do will no doubt be the wrong decision.

Retired from playing last week, lost interest and the body started to give up, comes to us all think it's called life

Game 5 Cod

 

Given games seemed to all kick off in different times these days, wrong but telly box rules these days, it was off to the Estdio Del Cod to see the Cod against the Mariners.
Can safely say have not seen Grimsby play for well over 20 years since which they have been on a journey from the Championship to the National League and now back in League 2 although just about survived last season in 21st place
Firstlt a reversal in a current trend Fleetwood now produce programmes although they are basic to say the least but welcome all the same.
Took in the view from the Highbury stand opposite the players entrance decent following of those from Grimsby, also as is the case no colour clash so Grimsby played in their change kit as you do.
It's probably true to say that Grimsby peaked after 100 seconds by which time they had missed two glorious chances with Vernam missing the best of the two.
Home side took the lead after 18 minutes it had been coming they had had a glorious chance about a minute before the second time Helm not convincing shot found the net.

Fleetwood looked the more likely but in truth rarely tested the keeper, a bit of Grimsby pressure brought a bit of excitement when the ball was bouncing into the crowd when a young urchin went to catch it missed and totalled a few advertising hoardings Epic stuff.
Second half bit of a non event Grimsby never looked like scoring most of the pressure from the home side dangerous from corners but didn't bag again.
Suspect neither of these two will challenge for Premiership honours and even worse news for those from Grimsby is that they had to go back Grimsby

Bottom before the season kicks off Game 4

 PNE 0 Sheffield United 2 Arblaster, Hamer

PNE line-up: Woodman; Whatmough, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Thórdarson (Frøkjær, 72), Brady (Best, 87); Greenwood (Kesler-Hayden, 65), Keane (Osmajić, 65); Riis. Subs not used: Cornell, Storey, Ledson, Holmes, T.Mawene.

Sheffield United line-up: Davies; Gilchrist (Seriki, 72), Ahmedhodžić, Robinson, Burrows; Souza, Arblaster; Brooks (Brewster, 79), O’Hare (Peck, 90), Hamer (Slimane, 73); Moore. Subs not used: Grbić, Trusty, Souttar, Coulibaly, Marsh.

Attendance: 17,948 (4,029 Sheffield United fans).

Referee: Mr B Madley.

New start same result, 6 straight defeats, no goals in 540 minutes, eight of the last nine games we have failed to score. Two avoidable goals, the first unlucky, the second an error of epic magnitude. Two players almost replicating the Doyle/Beckford fracas at Hillsborough nine years ago. At least the new light worked unfortunately though they were pointing towards pitch.
Thordarson looks an asset wants the ball and runs with looks for team mates who have moved into good positions,(still at experimental testing that part)
Must be wondering what he has let himself into.
United resplendent in a shirt of a seemingly new invented colour, lots of new signings looking to bounce back to the top division straight away.
Fast start to the game both sides zipping the ball about, thefirst when it arrived not saying it had a certain amount of luck on it but can best be described as scabby. Great tackle by Thordarson, ball cannons into a home player beofre ending up at the feet of Brooks, he bided his time, found Arblaster who shot and saw his effort boing off a home player completely wrong footing Woodman.
This gave United confidence dominated for most of the half although apart from O'Hare who nearly wriggled his way through before losing the ball close to go.
A Thordarson shot from distance went over and in a brief period of pressure saw Riis fire in a tame effort.
Second period similar start to the first with us dominating, then came the second, firstly it's a classy finish by Hamer but...
United quick beral, superb advantage by Madley(had a pretty decent game to be fair to him) United attacked in numbers however moved fizzled out, Woodman quick through straight to Hamer who chipped it back over the keeper from 30 yards, the collective sight of despair from the home support probably could have been heard 30 miles away. No coming back from this.
United threatened to run riot after a rapid break down the right which was eventually cleared for a corner, Hughes and Brady nearly but not quite came to blows.
With substitutions Potts into midfield brought the only save from either keeper, pushed behind by Davies for a corner.
At the other end Moore fired in a powerful strike hitting the side netting.
United will only get better as for us we will improve by changing the tool in the manager's seat.

THE FANTASTIC VIEW


Ryan Lowe was left frustrated by the manner of the goals his side conceded in the 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United on the opening night of the 2024/25 season.

Ollie Arblaster gave the visitors an early first-half lead, courtesy of a huge deflection which left Freddie Woodman with no chance.

The goalkeeper inadvertently threw the ball to Gustavo Hamer in the 55th minute, though, and the midfielder lobbed North End’s No.1 to double his side’s advantage.

Speaking after the game, Ryan said: “I thought we started well. I thought there were some good moments in the game and we were well in the game before it ricochets and gets a deflection and bounces in.

“Obviously we’re disappointed by that and in the build-up to it we gave the ball away with a stray pass and we get caught. Before that, I thought we were well in the game. We started brightly and after that we got a foothold again and had a little bit more. We were getting balls down the sides and supporting the play.

“Second half, we started like a house on fire and came out of the blocks really fast. I thought we did well with that and then to concede a goal the way we did [was disappointing].

“Fred’s made a judgement to throw it. I thought his contribution before that was excellent, his kicking was top drawer, his decision-making was excellent. I think he got a little bit hurried because we came out the blocks in the second half and the place sort of erupted and wanted us to do things quickly.

“He’s made a judgement to throw it so he’s disappointed in that but there’s no criticism from us.”

North End had chances on the night themselves, with Emil Riis and Brad Potts among those to test Adam Davies in the Blades’ goal.


The manager was overall pleased with aspects of PNE’s play, having seen results of some of the things they’ve been working on throughout pre-season.

Asked what specifically he was happy with, Ryan said: “They passed their way out from the back, they worked their way up the pitch, we had a lot more possession.

“I want the boys getting up the pitch higher. We passed the ball forwards a lot more but could have been a bit more.

“We need to play forward more. We’ve got to have options, we’ve got to have runs. Late on we put two strikers on and they’ve got to make runs down the side, and when we’ve got two eights you can see Pottsy [Brad Potts] driving inside and Kaine [Kesler-Hayden] coming on, I thought he was excellent when he came on the pitch.

“We’ve obviously got to do more to win games of football, we know that. But we’re up against an outfit who have just come down from the Premier League and most of them lads have played in that division.

“We’re disappointed overall. I thought there were some good moments in the game which we’ll have a look at and analyse, and we can just keep getting better. That’s going to be our message.”

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder:

"We showed we can play a different way. We controlled the tempo and pace of the game. I thought the two in midfield were incredible and dominated that area of the pitch.

“I keep saying it’s a fresh beginning. Not being disrespectful, that includes my period (last season) as well. This is a new team with the biggest amount of changes of any club in the Championship this season.

“We still have work to do and there is a hell of a long way to go and a hell of a lot of work to do.

“We will have difficult days but we have to enjoy days like this as well because of the incredible nature of the Premier League and what that was all about last year.”

The unique experience of being bottom before the season kicks off GLORIOUS

Game 3 Gamble Lane

 

Full line ups can be found here

https://www.nwcfl.com/lineups.php?id=18430

About 20 years ago lived in Heys St, Thornton, at the time TCFC were called Thornton ICI they played on Gamble Road before moving to a new site at the entrance to the old ICI site, they have gone full circle and returned to Gamble Road although not on the same pitch.
The area has changed the old ICI power station is no more, now the site of traditionally bland new build housing which has gone up, Gamble Road itself hasn't changed managed to see a rat run down one of the back alleys. In old days you could watch the game and go for a jar in the Burn Naze, a pub which was very local to say the least, sadly the Naze has also gone and the site is now hiding behind boards safely out of site.
The ground backs onto the impressive training ground of Fleetwood Town with it's futuristic indoor training pitches.

When I rocked up had a sinking feeling it would be an artificial pitch but grass it was. Like most of the newer grounds it has a cage around it as is with non league people rather pay than watch it for free as the attendance showed.
Decent club house beer £4.80 a pint and it was a decent brew.
Visitors Route One Rovers a mainly Asian side had a decent season last year although this season like the home side were on zero points
The first thirty minutes to say the least , differing styles ROR passing to feet they looked a decent side and when they took the lead after neat work down the left wing finished well by Zahoor at the back post, it was what they deserved. TCFC had offered little until they were given a penalty after a fould by the right back.
Took a while for the penalty to be taken due to bits of gamesmanship before Duffield's kick was easily saved by Khan.

Half time fair scoreline.
Second half similar scenario little happened the visitors good in possession again neither side created anything until TCFC made substitutions and then BOOM. Four goals in 10 minutes all similar all through the centre of ROR's defence, pace was the difference as Greaves twice, Beavers and Hulme completely changed the game, the visitors it is safe to say fell apart after being comfortable for 70 minutes.

Game 2 By the Wyre

 

It was almost as hot and sticky last night in Garstang as Huw Edwards what's app group, the result was fair Holkier played the better football and always looked more like scoring than the home side.
Early season pitch dry given the lack of rain, a rarity these days, as both sides played their second game of the season, the home side had won their first, Holker had drawn.
The only other side with Old Boys in their name is Newell's from Argentina, doubt somehow the two will ever meet as the Argentian's will probably want to go to the north of Barrow mind you who does.
88 of us saw the entertainemnt unfold, ealy stages were all one way at it was to no ones surprise when Holker opened the scoring, a ball from the left eluded the reach of the keeper, ball headed back across goal the experienced Jason Walker didn't miss with a close range header

They should have extended the lead but were surprisingly pegged back by a simple long ball down the pitch centre half let it bounce forward nipped in and was brought down by the keeper. Squires duly scored althouth the keeper Bailey did get a hand to it



Open game now, Holker still prominant went back in front on the half hour says Ballantyre got it but to me it looked like an own goal. The game lost of bit of pace due to the heat and probably both teams welcomed the half time break

Second half started well the home sides half time team talk seemed to have worked and they were more on the front foot then they had been in the first half, missed a glorious chance from 10 yards ball was skied over the clubhouse and as luck would have it Holker got a third Walker blocked a clearence by Sargeant the keep and into the net it went, his parents stood next to me were finding it hard to contain their merriment, to be fair to him though he had a decent second half and saved the home side from a bigger defeat.
Decent game new ground on Staurday althugh I know it

GAME 1 PNE V FIORENTINA

 PNE 2 Lindsay Keane Fiorentina 1 Mandragora

New hope, new ways of annoying me, roadworks Garstang Road, tradition, new ticketing system, first ticket, didn't work, replacement ticket did though however the gate shut atbrapid knots so couldn't get in, was then descanned out before finally managing to get in, next misery no John Smith's just the fizzy more expensive forign carp. Glass of wine then.
Pitch looked in good nick and we have new LED floodlights

By the time the game kicked off the sun was shining down a rarity this year. The visitors sporting the finest shirt in footbvall history won the toss and had the temerity to have us playing towards the Town End in the first half.

The first half was entertaining at times we played some decent stuff but they were rapid on the break. Of the two new players Greenwood shone plenty of work rate on and off the ball. Nearly conceded in the first 30 seconds wayward pass by Mads FJ shot from the edge of the box tipped round by Woodman, plenty of end stuff the number 99 looked a lively forward ran at pace against our ever so speedy defence, did well to survive some early forays before taking the lead from a corner, keeper thought he had been fould but he seemed to kick the ball against Lindsay and in it went, didn't lead for long, fast break men in hand strategic foul by Lindsay edge of the box, Mandragora the Italian skipper blasted home as the edge of the defensive wall collapsed.

Re took the lead good play down the left by Brady, Mads FJ and Thor led to Keane scoring at the second attempt, should have been all square at the break good move down our right hand side but 65 blasted over the bar from close range.

In fairness they dominated the second period and employed a shoot to miss policy, Woodman great save to deny one Italian effort, we then had our best period of play but when the move broke down away scampered Firoentina neat interchange of passing no 99 about to pull the trigger great tackle by Brady or so I thought, Mr Langford gives a penalty.The Number 99 sends it to Woodman's left tips it onto the post to safety. They hit the bar and Moise Kean missed two chances one he intercepted a shocking backpass by Greenwood took the ball passed Woodman and from a tight angle and rolls thye ball narrowly passed the far post, near the end when through tried to lob Woodman sent his effort just too high.
Useful workout but other teams will punish us if we let them create so many chances.

DODO No 2

PNE line-up: Woodman; Whatmough (Storey, 72), Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Thórdarson (Ledson, 72), Brady (Best, 84); Greenwood (T.Mawene, 90+1), Frøkjær (Holmes, 64); Keane (Riis, 63). Unused subs: Cornell, Pradic, N.Mawene, Pasiek.

Attendance: 5,516 (70 Fiorentina fans).



Stood next to a Fiorentina fan whilst changing my ticket finest Glasweigian accent ever no doubt sells ice cream

Fantastic view

Ryan Lowe felt his side were impressive with and without the ball in the 2-1 victory over Fiorentina.

North End came out on top against the Serie A outfit thanks to first-half goals from Liam Lindsay and Will Keane.

As a side who have made it to back-to-back UEFA Conference League finals, the Italian visitors were always going to be a stern test, but the gaffer was pleased with his team’s performance.

Ryan said: “It was a great exercise. Like I’ve said all along in pre-season – yeah, it’s nice when you win, especially at home – but pre-season’s all about getting minutes in the legs as we know. Getting the volume in and working on some patterns of play.

“The lads were excellent and did that, the starters and the finishers. We’re really pleased, scored two good goals. The goals came from stuff that we’ve been working on.

“I’ve just said to the lads you’ve got your goals from that, so if you continue to do that good stuff then that’s where you’ll get some success, so fair play.”

Fiorentina did have their chances on the day, with Freddie Woodman coming to North End’s rescue on a few occasions – notably in the second half when he saved Christian Kouame’s penalty.

Coming up against a side who were expected to see more of the ball was something the manager wanted, so he could see his side work on out-of-possession tactics, however PNE worked the ball well themselves at Deepdale.


Ryan said: “They’re a team that have finished in the final of a European competition the past two years on the bounce. They’ve got some good players, I know it’s probably a mixture a little bit.

“We had to see the game out towards the back end and we spoke to the lads then about what that will look like next time. If we can get pressure on the ball, do we have a low block and work on stuff like that. We can always get better.

“We had large parts of the ball as well and when we had it we looked a threat with it so we’ll keep working on it for the next ten days and hopefully bring it to fruition on the Friday night [against Sheffield United].”

Another positive to take was that everyone involved seemed to get through unscathed, although Ali McCann and Milutin Osmajić were again absent from the start.

Ryan explained: “Milly will hopefully be involved on Tuesday. Ali’s had a little bit of a calf strain so we’ll wrap him up in cotton wool a little bit.

“He’ll hopefully be on the grass next week. If he’s around for the first game, we don’t know yet. We’ll have to keep monitoring him, but he’s getting better day by day.

“He’s doing a lot of stuff off the grass. Milly will train fully Monday, he had a nerve in his back but we’ll hopefully get him some minutes on Tuesday.”