Cup Conceded

Radcliffe Borough entertain Trafford as they will be looking to defend the trophy that stands proud in the trophy room. The trophy was magnificently won at Oldhams Boundary Park against favourites Hyde United last season. Recent cup form will require an upturn if Boro are to hold on to the Manchester FA Premier Cup.Trafford are delayed in kicking off as the corner flags are not in place, a firework is thrown over the stand and i hope the flags are not on the local bommy. Mark Jones is named as captain in the absence of Si Kelly. Boro line up as 5-3-2 with Sampson and Oates in high wider positions. It is good to see that Adam Roscoe as made the bench. The game gets under way and Trafford move forward first with some intent , the ball from Coppin to Lundy is just too long and runs to Priestley.The first five minutes belong to the visitors as they shape a corner that is headed wide from a near post position by Lundy. A deflected shot bound for the target is their next foray and when Unsworth gives a gift to the Trafford midfield the ball is set up for Wilkinson to drive into the box, as he is closed down he trys the chip but offers no real threat. Passing is inconsistent for both sides until on 12 minutes Trafford find the feet of Barnes who shoots quickly catching Priestley out he dives late to tip the ball for a corner, the first of three that are dealt with. Boro get the ball moving after 20 minutes with more purpose. Howson holding up well brings midfield into play Battersby moves the ball across the field well before it is cleared to Sampson, he delivers in well for Oates to send back across goal, Chappell finds the header but not the power or direction to worry the keeper. Some better football being played after 25 minutes of nearlys and not quites. Battersby as had a long chat with the ref, shortly afterwards the visitors appeal for the penalty as Wes Wilkinson goes down like a tramp on a kipper in the boro box, he was nudged but the referee Ogden is happy to wave away. Unsworth & Dawson go long to look for Howson, Oates is at the end of one but the race is won by Rooney the Trafford keeper , he heads clear from outside his box. Sampson looking lively after his recent injury links well with Chappell around the Trafford box and are unlucky not to benefit. Mark Jones workhorse mentality shows as he moves the ball across the centre circle inviting others to join in , he chooses a switch to Sampson who is looking a threat high right of the field. The ball is cleared and Mark Jones starts again and repeats the move this time Sampson works a great position but mis hits the shot across the box and out. Mackay of Trafford is pushed down Boro's left flank and is heading for goal Sampson shadows him well and forces him to shoot unbalanced, the ball flys over the stand. Steve Hill acts as a barn door as he cynically blocks the threatening run of Wilkinson, hill sees yellow. As the resulting free kick leads to nothing the ball is played clean through for Wilkinson who as Priestley to beat, Priestley stands strong and beats the chance away, great save. Trafford are pushing and are unlucky when Mackays cross sees Halligan head wide. Dawson is starting to look like Boros best attacking option as he finds himself on the end of two glorious chances to take the lead , the keeper is good for one and he thanks lady luck for the other. The game as opened up in the last 15 . Mark Jones tracking back across his box fouls the attacker, they take quickly before Boro set and the quick shot is saved and gathered well by Priestley. The ref adds two minutes and Dawson is called to action to stem the last chance of the half. Boro are lacking up front and any threat is coming from set pieces and defenders getting forward.

Teams remain the same as the second half gets under way. The home side are asked to defend first and do the task well, controlled passing between Unsworth Oates and Mark Jones sees the ball safe, Dawson again tackles perfectly on the edge of the box, defending is a strength of the team. Boro spend the first 15 of the half only clearing to the half way line. Nothing is sticking in the last third and comes back quickly. Dawson is the threat again when Battersby sends the free kick long for Dawson to be in the right place but uses the defender to climb. Foul given.Barnes in yellow plays in Wilkinson with a great touch in midfield as he races for the box Chappell brings him down , the free kick is smashes at the wall and deflects for a corner. The corner results in a foul on Priestley. Battersby shows a chink in his armour as too much chat after being warned in the first half gets him in the book. Battersby will be missed and another conjuring act by Kevin & Gerry will have to be performed. Sampson delivers a good cross for the head of Dawson who heads just over the bar. When Trafford panic boro on the edge of the box Hill lunges at Wilkinson and the free kick is given . Mackay lines the ball up in front of the assembled wall. The wall, Priestley are onlookers as the ball flys with curl into the top left of the net, wonderful strike. 1-0 64 gone. Once Traffords celebrations finish they double sub with Wilkinson & Hall replaced with Barlow & Woodford. The blues react with a great ball in from Hill , Dawson again meets well and heads to the foot of the post forcing a great save by the keeper to send for a corner. The unproductive duo of Howson and Griff Jones are replaced by Roscoe and Traynor. Howson and Jones G are not firing and some way off last years form, i dont know the answer but the team needs them on song. The pack is shuffled with the Boro going to a straight 4-4-2 ,Hill coming into the centre and Sampson & Unsworth going to full back positions. Traynor sits central and Oates partners Roscoe up front. Trafford are happy to pick up any player making a run and find the nippy Barlow who can only shoot wide across goal. Roscoe gets his first touch and shields well and wins a free kick ,the combination of Battersby to Dawson is used again but the defence wins this time. Manning enters he game for Chappell as the last 15 arrives. Barlow is at it again in the Boro half as the ball comes over is head and the chase is on , he is unlucky when in the box as the ball hits his knee and rolls to Priestley. Oates is looking lively with his switch from back to front and he wins the corner after attempting the cross. The corner as Unsworth heading on goal Keeper palms it onto Oates who bravely heads just wide and collides with the post, very close. The captain for the night Jones goes down in the centre circle with what looks like a twisted ankle , he plays on after treatment. Roscoe shows and looks like he could be an handfull with games under his belt. Trafford are still looking for the second and nearly get it after good work by Lundy who lays up Barlow his chip lands on the top of the bar and out. Boro push but with little threat , Trafford see barlow free again but he chooses the wrong option. The visitors Coppin is replaced by Metcalfe. Trafford use the two minutes added on and should have sealed it as Lundy pokes wide of goal with nobody to beat. Boro made a poor show of defending the cup they won last year, the substitutions added spark to the side but they usually do as subs always have a point to make. The defence look strong and have been beaten by a fantastic set piece. Midfield scrap but struggle to master and the forwards look sluggish and deprived of service. The last few weeks have been a hard slog for a small squad and injuries have caused a lot of pack shuffling. Financial magic wands are not available and we will be reliant on Kevin using trusted contacts to show up any potential gems. I will be there on Saturday because i believe we have the talent in the squad, I was impressed with the warm up conducted by Mike Flynn and would love to see more of him at the club.

see you Saturday.

Wet Weekend & Pundits

Well the rain got the better of the Harrogate railway pitch and it was a change of plan for me. Got the Lucky 7 sheets over to Stainton Park and then, what do i do next? After being filled all week with ridiculous transfer millions changing hands, i plumbed for a day watching the internationals and overpaid football pundits waffle about it.

Is it me or does anybody ever wonder why the likes of Hansen, Redknapp,Shearer et el have not managed, simple really they can't. The money is easier if they dont dip there once talented feet into the managerial whirlpool. Easy from a distance. Why cant these very expensive sports stations get somebody interesting on the panel. A fifa qualified referee would be good, he could explain the decisions the man in the middle is making, the ever changes in law, the introduction and expectations of the respect campaigns.

The referees are currently wired up to thier assistance wouldnt it be good if we could hear the conversation!

When the players talk themselves into the book what are they saying , who studies the rules the player or the officials? Ill go for the officials. Dont get me wrong officials can make some howlers , but so can keepers and forwards, all play a part in the game.

Of course the pundits will criticise the officials all day and night but thats another part of the game they are not qualified in, why, because you have to make a decision on the rules of the game, not on which channel pays the most .

You are the ref, try this link.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/youaretheref

see you at the Clitheroe game.

Gone in sixty seconds.

Capelo's Italian styling clearly impacted on the national squad but unfortunatly only in the hair salon, more time obviously spent in hair pieces Mr James & Bentley than set peices. I preferred the Luczka style the previous night of honest , solid and patient football, result 2-0. Hopefully those leaving televised Beijing for live Bredbury will find much the same today at the Lambeth Grove stadium .


Woodley kick off on the synthetic pitch and before the guy in front of me gets his fork into his meat & potato, Heald sends a ball across field for Samson to send it in field and the alive Jones (g) picks out the run of Oates with the keeper attempting to close, the defenders are shrugged off and a cool finish is added to Oates goal scoring CV. 1-0 the boro 61 seconds!


Woodley are left blaming anyone in earshot.



Some minutes later Boro use the same route with Jones finding Oats on the same route to goal but this time the tackle comes in freeing the ball for Heald to fire one over. A good start.



With Sports still reeling they force a corner that is cleared by Flynn starting his league tally in place of the unavailable Unsworth, the ball falls for Woodley captain Douglas-Pringle who strikes well with the ball always rising and clears the boro bar . Waine concedes a free kick that Collins delivers into the box easily cleared but falls for Douglas-Pringle who can't find the target, a man needs to close his threat . Woodley try to press, a ball over is cleared by Flynn but falls to Ellison who luckily can't contol in a promising position. On clearing Dawson sends a long ball forward that clears everbody and out of play harmlessly ,the start of many harmless balls to be played by both sides in the first half. The first third of the half ends with an attempt by Heald that makes the keeper hold well. With both sides struggling to get hold of the ball woodley break through the middle to reach Headley who shoots high & wide. A late tackle by heald is missed by referee Bonney but the next one 5 yards on is not. Headley finds Hanley who heads wide.



Niether side can find any rythmn with some scrappy passing by both sides. Woodley are rushing the game to claw back the advantage and with more experiance on this fast surface should have put it to better use.



Connell receives a verbal from the ref for questioning some borderline decisions on tackles. Griff uses a neat header close to the touchline to put Waine in a good position moving forward his onward pass is behind the boro attack and the move ends. Horrocks of Woodley is the first name in the book for contesting the foul on Oates. Sampson takes the kick and finds Dawsons head who finds Connetts hands. The ref sees sense when Ellison saves with both hands on the touchline as it was going out. No real impression on goal by either side. Some quality arrives on the 34 minute when Brown of Woodley sends a peach of a corner, curling in sharply Hall parrys the ball and finds the lurking Douglas - Pringle who as left his shooting boots in the car. Good work by the Boro centre halfs ensures Woodleys possesion majority remains just that as the half heads for the oranges.

Flynn is called on to deliver is long throw up field that leads to a scramble on the edge of the Woodley box a failed back heel by griff lands kindly for Dawson to shoot tamely at the goal.

Mark Jones shows his work ethic by chasing down the keeper a task himself and Connell do well throughout the game.

Last action of the half is in the Woodley box with dawson in the mix and failing to connect with the ball after Griff heads on well , he does connect with the woodley full back who receives treatment.

The second half sees the introduction of Phipps for Horrocks from the Bredbury outfit. Early pressure from Boro in and around the Woodley box no real danger but Oates is tackled perfectly by Ellison when in a good position. Connell as his blushes saved when he gives the ball to Hanley who is stopped in his tracks by Sampson, the ball continues towards the boro goal but the header is not strong enough to bear fruit. The game enters a period of tit for tat play with no one player managing to grip the game.Lots of niggly tackles around the park as both teams are frustrated with the lack of progress.


Hope is raised for Sports when Kelly gives a ball away under pressure that falls for Woodleys most impressive captain , he finds Hanley well who shoots wide.


The forwards are not winning against both sets of defenders and with no midfield creation little oppurtunities are presented.


Close to the hour a long throw by Flynn is sent goalward by the woodley centre halves back header , Connett saves well to push over the bar.


Scrappy work in the centre and Sampson fouls with complaints on the decision sees Mark Jones in the book. Heald is seen holding his ground by the assistant and recieves a word or two from the referee.


Some tidier work by Connell sees him break on goal and on reaching the box sends a cross in for Oates with the defender winning.


Boro subs are warming up but Woodley make the change Headley goes off with Queely on,


straight from the change connell finds Griff who cleverly waits for support Oates is anticipating but nothing arrives.


Moving toward the last quarter Douglas -Pringle keeps Woodley going with a good ball to Collins .


A better standard cross is delivered by Woodley with Salmon climbing high to bring a good stretching save by Hall to his right. Best action of the half .


Boro bring on Forrest for Waine and Woodley bring on McDonald for Brown.


Now in the last fifteen Woodley look the more likely with pressure on the Boro box , the back four defend well and the relief comes with Connell finding Mark Jones and works well for Oates to control and shoot wide.


Ten minutes to a clean sheet sees Oates off and Rutter on. Forrest uses a telling pass crossfield to Jones , Rutter in space cant gain advantage . An Heald freekick sees connell head well into space but nobody takes the offer. Rutter is running the line well and invites a foul. The kick is for Heald to take and his cross makes the keeper punch bravely as Connell arrives.


Woodley go looking for the equaliser and chance the gaps behind them. Boro cant capitalise as Woodley have some half chance shots in the closing minutes, the ref adds 3 minutes to this game of little goalmouth action. The whistle blows and Woodley are the more frustrated. Mark Jones' s reaction to the applauding boro fans sums up his determination and attitude to win. My man of the match goes to Gary Sampson who was comfortable all game with woodleys main threat.


The game was not a pretty one but the 3 points on the board certainly are.





Boro. hall,sampson,heald,kelly (c)flynn,dawson,connell,jones,jones(g)oates,waine. Subs: howson,forrest,chappell,rutter,brookes.

Woodley. Connett,brown,collins,ellison,mcgraph,kerr,headley,douglas-pringle,salmon,hanley,horrocks. Subs: Queeley,edwards,mcdonald,phipps,jarrett.