Football

[DarloRich]

You did us a big favour getting that last ditch equalizer as we're in a big relegation battle with Worcester (& a couple of others). How well did they play and how competitive did they look?

they looked terrible and we should have won. We were really bad, again, and were undone with simple balls over the top.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

they looked terrible and we should have won. We were really bad, again, and were undone with simple balls over the top.

Your early season results showed that matters were different than they seem to be at present. When you were at home to Worcester City last October, you beat them 5-1.

 

[DarloRich]

Your early season results showed that matters were different than they seem to be at present. When you were at home to Worcester City last October, you beat them 5-1.

form has been poor since October/November. We just cant defend and haven't kept a clean sheet all season. Sadly we have now stopped outscoring the opposition!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Hopefully you don't recover before Wednesday

Well, thankfully we did!

Huddersfield Town 1 - 0 Aston Villa

After only one point from our last 2 games, we really needed a result today... and managed to get one by digging deep and defending well- something we failed to do on Saturday. Villa looked a very good side when in possession, better than Newcastle based on the performances at the Weak Beer stadium. Once again we saw the inherent bias of officials towards the so-called "big teams", but thankfully it wasn't decisive tonight- and that will be my final word on the subject, lest I start to appear a bit paranoid!

For all their qualities in possession, Villa could do with cutting out the dirty tricks when not in posession. The play-acting, excessive elbow-use and constant hassling of officials does their skillful play a disservice. We've also finally beaten a Steve Bruce side for the first time since he left!

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Basingstoke Town 3...Winchester City 1 (Kennedy 7, Ray 76, Owusu 80; Johnson-Schuster og 52)

Winchester City were eliminated from the semi final of the Hampshire Senior Cup after going down at Basingstoke. The hosts took the lead early on and got favourable decisions from the referee, although City equalised when a defender deflected a goal-bound shot into the net. City then enjoyed a period of dominance before the hosts got two in five minutes, the second of which came directly from a free kick, to reach the final.

Other Results:

Hampshire Senior Cup:

Hartley Wintney 0...AFC Bournemouth 1

SLSW:

Bishops Cleeve 1...Paulton Rovers 4

Didcot Town 2...Taunton Town 3

North Leigh 2...Mangotsfield United 3

Shortwood United 1...Wimborne Town 3

League Table:
1. Hereford 33/86
------------------------------
2. Tiverton Town 34/72
3. Taunton Town 33/71
4. Salisbury 32/65
5. Evesham United 33/63
-------------------------------
6. Mangotsfield United 32/59
7. Swindon Supermarine 32/55
8. Bideford 33/53
9. Winchester City 33/52
...
17. Paulton Rovers 31/31
18. Slimbridge 33/28
19. Yate Town 33/27
20. AFC Totton 32/27
---------------------------------
21. Wantage Town 34/13
22. Bridgwater Town 32/10

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Champions League

Arsenal 1...Bayern Munich 5

Arsenal were leading 1-0 at half-time, but then conceded five goals in the second half. The 10-2 aggregate score says much about the recent Arsenal form...and other matters at the club.

 

[amateur]

What other matters could you possibly be referring to!

 

[Kite159]

Barcelona 6, PSG 1.

Somehow Barcelona managed to overturn their 4-0 defeat in the first leg

 

[SS4]

Well, thankfully we did!

Huddersfield Town 1 - 0 Aston Villa

Disappointing, a game we could have won but that's just the way it goes sometimes. Our defeat being somewhat softened by Wigan turning over Small Heath

Once again we saw the inherent bias of officials towards the so-called "big teams", but thankfully it wasn't decisive tonight- and that will be my final word on the subject, lest I start to appear a bit paranoid!

Officials love us so much they always give us extra injury time.

One thing I have noticed come into focus this season is how much of a pain it is to navigate to Championship items and how much jerking there is over the PL/CL.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Well done Barca! Surely the finest come back of all time. Neymar was as cool as custard right at the end. Brilliant stuff!

 

[Groningen]

How do you write cheaters and persons of the falling disease?

 

[RichmondCommu]

How do you write cheaters and persons of the falling disease?

Pardon?

 

[AlterEgo]

ITV's highlights reel of the Barcelona game was a disgrace. Crowd almost totally muted and the commentator didn't seem to be at the game, such was the quietness of the atmosphere.

I mean it's only the greatest comeback in Europe for twelve years. Very disappointed with their coverage.

 

[RichmondCommu]

ITV's highlights reel of the Barcelona game was a disgrace. Crowd almost totally muted and the commentator didn't seem to be at the game, such was the quietness of the atmosphere.

I mean it's only the greatest comeback in Europe for twelve years. Very disappointed with their coverage.

In that case you need to sign up for BT! I have nothing against either Liverpool or Manchester United but I would argue that it's the greatest ever come back in the history of the European Cup.

 

[AlterEgo]

In that case you need to sign up for BT! I have nothing against either Liverpool or Manchester United but I would argue that it's the greatest ever come back in the history of the European Cup.

Coming back from 4-0 down is pretty incredible but it wasn't in the final, and they weren't a mediocre side like Liverpool were (who failed to even qualify via the domestic league).

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Disappointing, a game we could have won but that's just the way it goes sometimes. Our defeat being somewhat softened by Wigan turning over Small Heath



Officials love us so much they always give us extra injury time.

One thing I have noticed come into focus this season is how much of a pain it is to navigate to Championship items and how much jerking there is over the PL/CL.

The
Championship is far more unpredictable than the top flight, pretty much any side in the division is capable of beating any other- even Rotherham who are cast adrift at the bottom aren't the worst side I've seen at the JSS this season (that honour goes to QPR or Forest, both of whom were abysmal).

The collapse of Birmingham City since the sacking of Rowett has been spectacular. I hope they go down after such a crazy decision.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Barcelona 6, PSG 1.

Somehow Barcelona managed to overturn their 4-0 defeat in the first leg

Matters looking like the usual suspects have all qualified for the next stage from the second-leg Champions League matches played this week....

Barcelona
Real Madrid
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund.

 

[Tetchytyke]

ITV's highlights reel of the Barcelona game was a disgrace. Crowd almost totally muted and the commentator didn't seem to be at the game, such was the quietness of the atmosphere.

I watched it live (BT Sport Showcase had it on Freeview as their free match) and, to be fair, the crowd were pretty quiet on the live feed too.

As for the "greatest comeback ever", both penalties were extremely "soft", shall we say, and the sixth was blatantly offside. The result was just a teensy bit fishy, IMO.

 

[Darandio]

As for the "greatest comeback ever", both penalties were extremely "soft", shall we say, and the sixth was blatantly offside. The result was just a teensy bit fishy, IMO.

Were you watching the same game as me?

Sergi Roberto (20) was onside when the ball was played. Rakitic at the top was certainly offside, but had no bearing on play. It's possibly an argument that Messi (in the clump of four above Sergi Roberto) was four inches offside, but the guidance is still to give benefit of doubt to the attacker anyway.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Sergi Roberto (20) was onside when the ball was played.

He was, but the other onrushing Barca players certainly weren't. And, as Alan Shearer always says, if you're in the penalty box and you're not interfering with play, what the hell are you doing?

Maybe I'm cynical, but it's interesting how Barcelona (and Real Madrid) always seem on the positive end of these decisions...

 

[Darandio]

He was, but the other onrushing Barca players certainly weren't.

I don't think it's as clear cut as that. I actually meant to attach this image first time around.

The only person clearly offside is Rakitic at the top, and regardless of what Shearer says, he is not interfering with anything.

 

[SteveP29]

The
Championship is far more unpredictable than the top flight, pretty much any side in the division is capable of beating any other.

A point proved by us beating you last Saturday evening, yet Blackburn did the double over us, we could only manage a draw at home against QPR, losing at home to Wolves, only drawing with Bristol City.
Yet we've done the double over Brighton and Derby

 

[61653 HTAFC]

A point proved by us beating you last Saturday evening, yet Blackburn did the double over us, we could only manage a draw at home against QPR, losing at home to Wolves, only drawing with Bristol City.
Yet we've done the double over Brighton and Derby

I had a feeling that this season might be something special after we won at your place in August... If we'd not had our blip in November we'd be within a couple of points of the top, if not actually top. Brighton seem to have wobbled a bit recently by losing to us and Forest- I'm hoping it lasts as if both us and Brighton continue current form until the end of the season we WILL catch them, just! If we go up it will be a culture-shock though, I'll have to get used to being beaten most games again!

So far we've done the double over Leeds, Rotherham, QPR and Ipswich. So far only Sheffield Wednesday have doubled us, and only Fulham and Cardiff still could. Dropping 3 points at home to Wigan is the one that really rankles, along with drawing with Blackburn twice.

 

[richw]

I watched it live (BT Sport Showcase had it on Freeview as their free match) and, to be fair, the crowd were pretty quiet on the live feed too.

As for the "greatest comeback ever", both penalties were extremely "soft", shall we say, and the sixth was blatantly offside. The result was just a teensy bit fishy, IMO.

Were you watching the same game as me?

Sergi Roberto (20) was onside when the ball was played. Rakitic at the top was certainly offside, but had no bearing on play. It's possibly an argument that Messi (in the clump of four above Sergi Roberto) was four inches offside, but the guidance is still to give benefit of doubt to the attacker anyway.

He was, but the other onrushing Barca players certainly weren't. And, as Alan Shearer always says, if you're in the penalty box and you're not interfering with play, what the hell are you doing?

Maybe I'm cynical, but it's interesting how Barcelona (and Real Madrid) always seem on the positive end of these decisions...

I don't think it's as clear cut as that. I actually meant to attach this image first time around.

The only person clearly offside is Rakitic at the top, and regardless of what Shearer says, he is not interfering with anything.

UEFA were obviously watching the same game as Artic Troll as reports this morning in the paper they've dropped the referee from their elite level.

 

[familyguy99]

Oldham 0-0 Bury

First match I seen Latics play since January and ended up been poor/dull match where I can't remember both goalkeeper making saved, Bury could won the match nearly end of game but our defender or goalkeeper cleared of line.

Fair point for both teams but with Port Vale beat Swindon it mean Vale are only two points behind Oldham with three matches in hands over us, one win for Vale will drop Oldham in drop zone and could drag seven into relegation battle.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Evo Stik First Division North

Hyde United 1...Radcliffe Borough 1

A hard fought match that saw Radcliffe leading 1-0 at half time, but Hyde equalised mid way through the second half. It was a far more even game than the match early in November when Hyde were plummeting down the league and Radcliffe won 4-0. Hyde still retain 12th place tonight.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Winchester City 0...Swindon Supermarine 2 (Parsons 38, Hooper 55 pen)

Winchester City were largely second best as their season has begun to look in danger of fizzling out. They fell behind just before half time as Callum Parsons pounced on the rebound after Campbell hit the crossbar, and the visitors doubled their lead when Brad Hooper converted a penalty ten minutes into the second half. The visitors had more chances to extend their lead, indeed, City's first real chance didn't come until the last five minutes.

Other Results:

Bideford 0...Hereford 0

Bridgwater Town 0...AFC Totton 2

Didcot Town 1...Slimbridge 0

Evesham United 1...Barnstaple Town 0

Mangotsfield United 0...Wantage Town 0

North Leigh 1...Wimborne Town 1

Paulton Rovers 1...Yate Town 1

Salisbury 5...Larkhall Athletic 0

Shortwood United 1...Tiverton Town 0

Taunton Town 4...Bishops Cleeve 2

League Table:
1. Hereford 34/87
------------------------------
2. Taunton Town 34/74
3. Tiverton Town 35/72
4. Salisbury 33/68
5. Evesham United 34/66
-------------------------------
6. Mangotsfield United 33/60
7. Swindon Supermarine 33/58
8. Bideford 34/54
9. Winchester City 34/52
...
17. Barnstaple Town 33/32
18. AFC Totton 33/30
19. Yate Town 34/28
20. Slimbridge 34/28
--------------------------------
21. Wantage Town 35/14
22. Bridgwater Town 33/10

 

[SS4]

3 points despite a number of key players in the doctor's surgery instead of on the pitch

 

[61653 HTAFC]

3 points despite a number of key players in the doctor's surgery instead of on the pitch

Certainly makes Tuesday's result look like more of an achievement for us. With Newcastle losing, the penalty of losing to them has already been wiped out. Play-offs looking fairly certain now barring a major collapse, sneaking into the top two is still a remote possibility. Fulham are looking like the biggest threat to the current top 6.

 

[Lankyline]

I had a feeling that this season might be something special after we won at your place in August... If we'd not had our blip in November we'd be within a couple of points of the top, if not actually top. Brighton seem to have wobbled a bit recently by losing to us and Forest- I'm hoping it lasts as if both us and Brighton continue current form until the end of the season we WILL catch them, just! If we go up it will be a culture-shock though, I'll have to get used to being beaten most games again!

So far we've done the double over Leeds, Rotherham, QPR and Ipswich. So far only Sheffield Wednesday have doubled us, and only Fulham and Cardiff still could. Dropping 3 points at home to Wigan is the one that really rankles, along with drawing with Blackburn twice.

Err don't think so, you forgot the 3-1 defeat at Deepdale and we come to your place next month.