Football

[150249]

Wycombe 0-3 Exeter City

Don't think we could've gotten off to a better start. Don't have much to say because I couldn't watch it but we scored after 26 seconds. Brilliant stuff. We could have made it 3 by the 9th minute but Nombe missed the pen.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Winchester City 2...Walton & Hersham 0 (Nolan 12, Bentley 37) Abandoned after 48 minutes
Attendance: 329

Winchester City had been unbeaten in preseason, and hopes were high with the new additions to the squad having acquitted themselves well. Walton and Hersham had been highly fancied, despite having just been promoted.

The weather, unfortunately, took exception to the idea of football being played on a Saturday and it was announced that there would be a pitch inspection at 11:30. Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth from Surrey, before the game was announced as on.

Another downpour around 1:00 called the game into question, leading to management, coaches and even the directors and chairman going out with forks and sand amid much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the away fans about how bad the pitch was. However, the game went ahead on time.

Winchester started well and new signing Conor Lynch had the ball in the net after 3 minutes, but was ruled offside. The hosts began to dominate and in the 12th minute, Nolan leapt like John Terry to head home from a corner. City continued to threaten every time they went forward, although Charlie Philpott made two spectacular saves in three minutes around the half hour mark to keep City ahead. Then, in the 37th minute, Mlambo flicked the ball on to Bentley, who fired home to put City 2-0 up.

However, another downpour took place at half time and the second half was delayed by ten minutes, and then stopped two minutes in. Cue wailing and gnashing of teeth from the away fans, calling for abandonment, while players, staff and fans (myself included) tried desperately to remove standing water from the pitch. Ultimately, more rain washed the match out. Hopefully by next season we'll have our 3G pitch in place, preventing such occurrences in future. However, should we play like that throughout the season, then I reckon a top ten finish might be on the cards!

Other Results:

Didcot Town 0...Hayes & Yeading United 1

Gosport Borough 2...Bracknell Town 0

Hanwell Town 0...Chesham United 3 Abandoned at half-time

Harrow Borough 1...AFC Totton 2

Hendon 3...Sholing 1

Hungerford Town 7 (SEVEN)...Plymouth Parkway 0

Merthyr Town 3...Dorchester Town 2

Salisbury 1...Beaconsfield Town 1

Swindon Supermarine 2...Poole Town 7 (SEVEN)

Tiverton Town 2...Basingstoke Town 2


And on one final note, a letter I had published in the Non-League Paper this week:

Early kick offs can derail train strike threats

With the train strikes looking likely to both continue, it seems to me that clubs should entertain the possibility of moving kick-off times forward. As an example, there are five teams from Hampshire and five teams on the London Underground network in this season's Southern Premier South. If, for example, a Hampshire side has to go to London or somewhere slightly further afield on the day of a train strike (for which two weeks' notice has to be given) and a coach is not an option, perhaps the kick off should be brought forward an hour or two so that the away fans can travel back more easily. There is precedent for something like this, as last season numerous kick offs were brought forward on the day of England's World Cup Quarter Final against France.

 

[DarloRich]

Darlington 1 v Curzon Ashton 3

Sigh. New season. Same old. Folded. Cant defend. 2 wins in 18. I fear a long season ahead. August is going to be a tough month.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Nice to see Wrexham spectacularly fall at the first hurdle

And they've signed James McClean. If ever a project club and a player deserved each other, its these

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Watch out for Plymouth Argyle

They'll have been jumping for joy when the fixtures came out, as Huddersfield almost never seem to win our opening game... Nice to get the longest trip out of the way though, had hoped that Plymouth in early August would have decent weather...

Yesterday's result shows the disadvantage of filling your pre-season with games against the likes of Bodmin and Liskeard, hardly a tough test to get your squad ready for what is likely to be the toughest Championship season in a long time. I've not much to criticise Sir Neil Warnock for, but arranging a summer tour of Cornwall for his own convenience wasn't the smartest move.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2023 ==

And they've signed James McClean. If ever a project club and a player deserved each other, its these

Whilst I don't agree with his stance on the poppy, I fully support his right to hold that position. Glad he won't be playing against us this season (cups notwithstanding) though, as inevitably our crowd boos him every time he touches the ball, and he inevitably responds by playing a blinder and either scoring or assisting. Regular as clockwork yet we never learn!

 

[SuspectUsual]

Whilst I don't agree with his stance on the poppy, I fully support his right to hold that position. Glad he won't be playing against us this season (cups notwithstanding) though, as inevitably our crowd boos him every time he touches the ball, and he inevitably responds by playing a blinder and either scoring or assisting. Regular as clockwork yet we never learn!

And no doubt putting a picture on Instagram of him in a balaclava standing in front of his small children captioned "history lesson" is just bants?

He's a horrible human being

(But yes, he did seem to be inspired by booing)

Meanwhile, lovely to hear the boos at Elland Road and the Cardiff fans singing "Leeds, Leeds are falling apart, again"

 

[61653 HTAFC]

And no doubt putting a picture on Instagram of him in a balaclava standing in front of his small children captioned "history lesson" is just bants?

He's a horrible human being

(But yes, he did seem to be inspired by booing)

Meanwhile, lovely to hear the boos at Elland Road and the Cardiff fans singing "Leeds, Leeds are falling apart, again"

To be honest the most objectionable bit of that is not hiding his children's identities like he did his own. They didn't choose to be in a photo that might come back on them when they're older.

I'm not going to comment on that bunch from by the M621, much like booing James McClean it'll only backfire!

 

[SuspectUsual]

To be honest the most objectionable bit of that is not hiding his children's identities like he did his own. They didn't choose to be in a photo that might come back on them when they're older.

I'm not going to comment on that bunch from by the M621, much like booing James McClean it'll only backfire!

One of the Leeds players is wearing gloves. In bloody August. (In addition to the goalie)

Get yourself down the Shay

2-0 win over (generally play-offs standard) Bromley yesterday, the early season optimism is slower than normal to evaporate this season

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Early season matches in the lower leagues and in cup competitions usually provide some good scores...

Highland League

Inverurie Loco Works 0 ... Fraserburgh 7

FA CUP Extra Preliminary Round

Bewdley Town 7 ... Daventry Town 3
Charnock Richard 7 ... Squires Gate 0
Yaxley 0 ... Wroxham 7
...not forgetting the high scoring draw
Rugby Town 5 ... Malvern Town 5

***************************************************************************

No "Silverware" to start off the season this afternoon by " Siddy".

 

[75A]

Same old, same old, Pompey go a goal down @ home and land up drawing.
Why can't they just play all their games away?

 

[dangie]

Watching Women’s World Cup. England vs Nigeria.

In this instance thank you for VAR. Referee awarded England a penalty but overturned by VAR. Not only was VAR correct in as much as the England player ‘dived’ but in my opinion the player should have received a booking at least. Diving and cheating, which is what it is, will never cease until players are punished. If you can’t win fairly, don’t play.

 

[156421]

Watching Women’s World Cup. England vs Nigeria.

In this instance thank you for VAR. Referee awarded England a penalty but overturned by VAR. Not only was VAR correct in as much as the England player ‘dived’ but in my opinion the player should have received a booking at least. Diving and cheating, which is what it is, will never cease until players are punished. If you can’t win fairly, don’t play.

Very poor England performance so far, slow pace, a lot of passes going out of play for a throw in, also as usual biased BBC commentary unable to criticize "our girls" for example a "shot" which went further wide than the 6 yard box was "just wide" apparently.

 

[VauxhallandI]

And they've signed James McClean. If ever a project club and a player deserved each other, its these

I enjoyed that too, I wonder if they’ll make a film about it

 

[Iskra]

And no doubt putting a picture on Instagram of him in a balaclava standing in front of his small children captioned "history lesson" is just bants?

He's a horrible human being

(But yes, he did seem to be inspired by booing)

Meanwhile, lovely to hear the boos at Elland Road and the Cardiff fans singing "Leeds, Leeds are falling apart, again"

To be honest the most objectionable bit of that is not hiding his children's identities like he did his own. They didn't choose to be in a photo that might come back on them when they're older.

I'm not going to comment on that bunch from by the M621, much like booing James McClean it'll only backfire!

Ended alright in the end for Leeds, with the Leeds fans taunting the Cardiff fans back with 'Leeds are falling apart' at the final whistle. Interesting game yesterday which highlighted our weaknesses, so hopefully they can be addressed in the transfer window. I thought we looked better in defence after Liam Cooper went off but he was injured scoring the goal that started the turnaround, so harsh to criticise him too much. I personally thought that Leeds were by far the better team for the majority of the game, which was just undone by some horrific defending reminiscent of last season. I thought the referee was excellent overall. Good to have real football back, with some fantastic pubs enjoyed too and best of all, to see us playing like an actual football team again

Next up at Elland Road are Shrewsbury in the cup on Wednesday evening.

 

[Butts]

Very poor England performance so far, slow pace, a lot of passes going out of play for a throw in, also as usual biased BBC commentary unable to criticize "our girls" for example a "shot" which went further wide than the 6 yard box was "just wide" apparently.

England lucky to win on penalties after a snore draw

 

[Haywain]

FA CUP Extra Preliminary Round

Bewdley Town 7 ... Daventry Town 3
Charnock Richard 7 ... Squires Gate 0
Yaxley 0 ... Wroxham 7
...not forgetting the high scoring draw
Rugby Town 5 ... Malvern Town 5

You missed Street 9 Millbrook 1.

 

[SuspectUsual]

England lucky to win on penalties after a snore draw

Hugely lucky. No idea why VAR didn't get the ref to revisit the push by Lucy Bronze - absolutely nailed on penner. But then most World Cup winners (male and female) seem to have at least one match in the tournament where they dodge a bullet

 

[75A]

Don't know about dodging a bullet, more like dodging the goal.
The first 3 penalties all missed the target complete!
First time I've watched England Ladies, can't say I was impressed, both sides had all the typical football traits - diving, feigning injury, gaining yards @ throw ins etc, and as for what they looked like, I've seen a team of navvies with less tattoos, not exactly feminine, but each to there own.

 

[SuspectUsual]

First time I've watched England Ladies, can't say I was impressed, both sides had all the typical football traits - diving, feigning injury, gaining yards @ throw ins etc, and as for what they looked like, I've seen a team of navvies with less tattoos, not exactly feminine, but each to there own.

Is that important to you?

 

[75A]

Is that important to you?

No, just expressing a opinion, if that's still allowed?

 

[VauxhallandI]

Is that important to you?

The offended on other people’s behalf crowd are alive and well.

 

[75A]

The offended on other people’s behalf crowd are alive and well.

Indeedy.

 

[156421]

Obviously would be shot down if this was said in public (rather than an anonymized forum) but the only way I can see women's soccer being not painful to watch would be to reduce the pitch and goal sizes to maybe 3/4 size, and reduce to 9 players per team. Maybe reduce to shorter matches too. It's just too slow to be bearable in its current form.

 

[SuspectUsual]

The offended on other people’s behalf crowd are alive and well.

Not remotely offended, just a bit surprised

 

[75A]

Obviously would be shot down if this was said in public (rather than an anonymized forum) but the only way I can see women's soccer being not painful to watch would be to reduce the pitch and goal sizes to maybe 3/4 size, and reduce to 9 players per team. Maybe reduce to shorter matches too. It's just too slow to be bearable in its current form.

You need to watch the current game on Sky - Larne, last years Champions and already out of the Champions & Europa Leagues for the new season are at home to Dungannon, and boy is it poor.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Not remotely offended, just a bit surprised

Not sure what’s surprising

 

[adrock1976]

Not sure what’s surprising

It seems to be the use of the phrase "not exactly feminine" which may be the issue and could be perceived as sexist.

The ladies game has come a long way today compared to 10,20,30 years ago. We should be perceiving and judging the present ladies side on their ability to play, and not their looks.

After all, unless anyone is of a neo-Nazi leaning, we do not use either both versions of the "n" word, the "c" word, or the "w" word to describe black people as those are racist terms.

 

[156421]

You need to watch the current game on Sky - Larne, last years Champions and already out of the Champions & Europa Leagues for the new season are at home to Dungannon, and boy is it poor.

The difference is that Larne vs. Dungannon isn't being shoved down our throats by every media outlet

 

[VauxhallandI]

It seems to be the use of the phrase "not exactly feminine" which may be the issue and could be perceived as sexist.

The ladies game has come a long way today compared to 10,20,30 years ago. We should be perceiving and judging the present ladies side on their ability to play, and not their looks.

After all, unless anyone is of a neo-Nazi leaning, we do not use either both versions of the "n" word, the "c" word, or the "w" word to describe black people as those are racist terms.

Well it’s a fact, they aren’t very feminine

Some people were hoping that females may play the game in a better fashion than what the men’s game has become but they unfortunately have not.

How you can connect the other examples to simply stating famine is a reflection of the nature of the world we have to live in today.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The ladies game has come a long way today compared to 10,20,30 years ago. We should be perceiving and judging the present ladies side on their ability to play, and not their looks.

Agree that we should judge players on their performance and conduct, not on how they look... but it isn't only the women who are judged in this way. Jokes about Iain Dowie, Peter Beardsley and Matt Le Tissier's looks were in the sports pages of every newspaper back in their playing days. You hear the same about Erling Haaland today- people calling him "Easter Island" for example.

On the "not feminine" thing, I remember male players being mocked for wearing alice bands in their hair, and there being rumours about Graeme Le Saux's sexuality because he preferred a good book rather than going down to the dog track with his teammates.