Wednesday, 21 November 2007
The journey goes 'international'
I will be off to Wales for the 3rd qualifying round as Sheffield face a trip to Colwyn Bay, a fellow Unibond 1 South club. In fact, they were meant to play there in the league on that day so no change in plan is needed. It's quite a trek for me but the place looks quite nice and a good day by the seaside is anticipated, weather permitting
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Sheffield 3 Kendal 2
...or should I say Kendall or Kendle! Between them, Grantham and Sheffield seemed to be in a competition of their own to find as many ways as possible to mispell the name of the Cumbrian town, both in their programmes and notices.
It's nice to have a familiar companion on this new road to Wembley - the Lovell jinx was back. Last season the team I was following won 5 times in 18 matches. This year, the ratio is already down to 1 in 3. So, Sheffield enjoy your cup run - it won't last long!
I arrived at the 'Bright Finance Stadium' shortly after 2.00 having spent about an hour trying to find it in rural Derbyshire. Let's just say that the stands aren't imposing enough to be seen from 100 yards away let alone 1-2 miles. Never mind, I thought, it is a non-league club after all and I'm sure that the cheek that lets them call themselves 'The Club' would be matched by their friendliness. And, of course, I was right. What is it about certain clubs (mainly non-league I have to say) that means that you warm to them immediately - and I did to Sheffield.
It is a tiny 'stadium' but also neat and relatively new - the first one they have owned in their history. They are celebrating their 150th anniversary to the full. This will no doubt be the last time I attend a non-league ground where the announcer mentions an upcoming home game against Inter Milan! OK, it will be held at Bramall Lane, and won't be the first team but who cares.
To the game - Kendal (Kendall, Kendle, Kendill? etc etc) took the lead early on with a neatly taken goal from Mulvaney. I must say that it did look suspiciously offside, but in my experience linesmen are nearly always right with these decisions so I don't think Sheffield could probably complain too much. Kendal dominated the first 20 minutes or so, but Sheffield worked their way back into the game and deserved their equaliser when it came. It was a scrappy affair turned in by Ingall, who celebrated the goal a minute or so later by scything down a Kendal midfielder and earning a booking. 1-1 at half-time was a fair reflection.
The second half was like being at the swimming pool at the Olympics. The Kendal forwards spent most of their time diving in an attempt to get penalties. Arnison was booked for his troubles, but his was the least blatant. How the Kendal officials who were stood near me could feel they should have had lots of penalties is beyond me and the constant whining by the Kendal bench at the referee was unpleasant to hear. For the record, from a neutral's point of view he had a good game.
Sheffield took the lead early in the second half with a thunderbolt shot from Gavin Smith, the right back, who continues to be the club's top scorer this season, adding to the 10 he got last year. The Club looked to have finished it 15 minutes from the end when a shot from Powell, following smart work from Paul Smith, the impressive left back, was parried into the path of Ward for a simple tap in.
That looked to be that - until Kendal were finally awarded a penalty in injury time (after yet another dive!) and Wright slammed it home. Wright immediately ran into the goal to attempt to get the ball back and tried to wrestle it off the Sheffield keeper. Mulvaney, in his frustration tried to kick the ball out of his hands and was deservedly sent off. A pity that the match should end this way as it had been a thoroughly entertaining affair.
At least it wasn't a draw and the prospect of a midweek replay in Kendal has now gone. On Monday the Conference North and South sides will enter the fray as we reach the third qualifying round stage.
It's nice to have a familiar companion on this new road to Wembley - the Lovell jinx was back. Last season the team I was following won 5 times in 18 matches. This year, the ratio is already down to 1 in 3. So, Sheffield enjoy your cup run - it won't last long!
I arrived at the 'Bright Finance Stadium' shortly after 2.00 having spent about an hour trying to find it in rural Derbyshire. Let's just say that the stands aren't imposing enough to be seen from 100 yards away let alone 1-2 miles. Never mind, I thought, it is a non-league club after all and I'm sure that the cheek that lets them call themselves 'The Club' would be matched by their friendliness. And, of course, I was right. What is it about certain clubs (mainly non-league I have to say) that means that you warm to them immediately - and I did to Sheffield.
It is a tiny 'stadium' but also neat and relatively new - the first one they have owned in their history. They are celebrating their 150th anniversary to the full. This will no doubt be the last time I attend a non-league ground where the announcer mentions an upcoming home game against Inter Milan! OK, it will be held at Bramall Lane, and won't be the first team but who cares.
To the game - Kendal (Kendall, Kendle, Kendill? etc etc) took the lead early on with a neatly taken goal from Mulvaney. I must say that it did look suspiciously offside, but in my experience linesmen are nearly always right with these decisions so I don't think Sheffield could probably complain too much. Kendal dominated the first 20 minutes or so, but Sheffield worked their way back into the game and deserved their equaliser when it came. It was a scrappy affair turned in by Ingall, who celebrated the goal a minute or so later by scything down a Kendal midfielder and earning a booking. 1-1 at half-time was a fair reflection.
The second half was like being at the swimming pool at the Olympics. The Kendal forwards spent most of their time diving in an attempt to get penalties. Arnison was booked for his troubles, but his was the least blatant. How the Kendal officials who were stood near me could feel they should have had lots of penalties is beyond me and the constant whining by the Kendal bench at the referee was unpleasant to hear. For the record, from a neutral's point of view he had a good game.
Sheffield took the lead early in the second half with a thunderbolt shot from Gavin Smith, the right back, who continues to be the club's top scorer this season, adding to the 10 he got last year. The Club looked to have finished it 15 minutes from the end when a shot from Powell, following smart work from Paul Smith, the impressive left back, was parried into the path of Ward for a simple tap in.
That looked to be that - until Kendal were finally awarded a penalty in injury time (after yet another dive!) and Wright slammed it home. Wright immediately ran into the goal to attempt to get the ball back and tried to wrestle it off the Sheffield keeper. Mulvaney, in his frustration tried to kick the ball out of his hands and was deservedly sent off. A pity that the match should end this way as it had been a thoroughly entertaining affair.
At least it wasn't a draw and the prospect of a midweek replay in Kendal has now gone. On Monday the Conference North and South sides will enter the fray as we reach the third qualifying round stage.
Saturday, 27 October 2007
The oldest club in the world!
I must be honest and say that I was not unhappy that Kendal received an away draw. They will be playing Sheffield, the oldest club in the world, at about the time of their 150th anniversary and all the publicity tthey have managed to generate from that occasion. What's more they play just north of Chesterfield, so it's a relatively easy journey for me. Once again, though, the prospect of a Tuesday in Kendal looms over the tie, especially as this time any replay will be in November - brrrr!
A quick look at the Sheffield website reveals they are a club who want to go places. They have recruited loads of sporting celebrities as members (Michael Vaughan, Bobby Robson and Sepp Blatter among them) and have arranged some prestigious friendlies as well. It might be they are distracted by all of this and Kendal could slip in and take the tie. Sheffield are on a par with Grantham in the Unibond League 1 South, so Kendal will be favourites again.
I noticed in this week's Grantham Journal that two lads from Nottingham are doing the same as me in following the FA Trophy and will now be following Kendal - hopefully I will get to meet up with them. They, like me, followed the FA Cup, albeit 2 years ago and not last season. Unfortunately for them they missed out ontickets for the Final in Cardiff - this season should be easier for them.
A quick look at the Sheffield website reveals they are a club who want to go places. They have recruited loads of sporting celebrities as members (Michael Vaughan, Bobby Robson and Sepp Blatter among them) and have arranged some prestigious friendlies as well. It might be they are distracted by all of this and Kendal could slip in and take the tie. Sheffield are on a par with Grantham in the Unibond League 1 South, so Kendal will be favourites again.
I noticed in this week's Grantham Journal that two lads from Nottingham are doing the same as me in following the FA Trophy and will now be following Kendal - hopefully I will get to meet up with them. They, like me, followed the FA Cup, albeit 2 years ago and not last season. Unfortunately for them they missed out ontickets for the Final in Cardiff - this season should be easier for them.
Grantham 1 Kendal 3
The local paper stating that Grantham did not want another draw following their exploits in the other cup competitions gives you some insight about the mental approach they took into this game.
Beforehand I went for my usual FA Trophy pint in the bar. I bumped into a friend of mine Tracy and her husband who had one excited little boy with them - he was to be the mascot for the day! He was wearing a brand new Grantham town tp and could not wait to get out on the pitch with the boys. Another friend, Michelle who happens to be the Chairman's daughter also arrived in a bit of a fluster. TNT had not delivered the programmes to her house! Disaster! how was I going to get my set for the whole trip to Wembley. She told me not to worry as she would get me one when they eventually do arrive. In its place I got a copy of the official team sheet, which is a nice souvenir.
On to the game - my biggest fear was a replay in Kendal and that never looked like happening. The Unibond Premier side thoroughly outplayed their lower division rivals strolling to a comfortable win in the end, even affording to miss a penalty on the way. Grantham even had a player sent off, such was their determination not to get a draw. Oh well, they can now concentrate on the League. As for Kendal, they do look a good outfit and I might be following them for a little while.
Beforehand I went for my usual FA Trophy pint in the bar. I bumped into a friend of mine Tracy and her husband who had one excited little boy with them - he was to be the mascot for the day! He was wearing a brand new Grantham town tp and could not wait to get out on the pitch with the boys. Another friend, Michelle who happens to be the Chairman's daughter also arrived in a bit of a fluster. TNT had not delivered the programmes to her house! Disaster! how was I going to get my set for the whole trip to Wembley. She told me not to worry as she would get me one when they eventually do arrive. In its place I got a copy of the official team sheet, which is a nice souvenir.
On to the game - my biggest fear was a replay in Kendal and that never looked like happening. The Unibond Premier side thoroughly outplayed their lower division rivals strolling to a comfortable win in the end, even affording to miss a penalty on the way. Grantham even had a player sent off, such was their determination not to get a draw. Oh well, they can now concentrate on the League. As for Kendal, they do look a good outfit and I might be following them for a little while.
Friday, 19 October 2007
Gingerbread men vs Mint Cake men tasty!
Two posts in one day - I'm turning into a journalist.
Grantham now step up a notch in the second qualifying round by playing kendal Town from the Unibond Premier, the league above. This should pose more of a problem and Grantham will need to take advantge of being at home if they are to progress through. I dearly hope they do - it will be a darn site easier following them than Kendal in subsequent rounds.
Grantham have continued with a string of good results while Kendal sit near the foot of the table. This has all the makings of a 1-1 draw and a Tuesday night trek to Cumbria - now that will be fun.
Grantham now step up a notch in the second qualifying round by playing kendal Town from the Unibond Premier, the league above. This should pose more of a problem and Grantham will need to take advantge of being at home if they are to progress through. I dearly hope they do - it will be a darn site easier following them than Kendal in subsequent rounds.
Grantham have continued with a string of good results while Kendal sit near the foot of the table. This has all the makings of a 1-1 draw and a Tuesday night trek to Cumbria - now that will be fun.
Grantham 3 Alsager 0
Whoops - I should have done this blog at least a week ago - anyway better late than never! I can still remember the game and there is no doubt that Grantham cruised through with 2 goals from Mullarkey(and he should have got a hat-trick!) and a penalty from Gowshall. It is really hard to see that these two teams are in the same league. The biggest shock of the day was not the result but the fact that England had beaten Australia in the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup - sent shock waves around the stand (not!) but probably did explain the poor gate of less than 200. So having followed Grantham through six games in the FA Cup I can now embark on another cup run with them.
Saturday, 6 October 2007
Today's the day!
A lot has happened since my last post. I have seen Grantham play 6 times in following this year's FA Cup run, which will make it difficult to remain neutral for today's game - so I won't! Grantham currently lie 3rd in Unibond North Div 1 South which suggests a good start to the season. In truth, they have never been over-convincing when I have seen them. Most impressive has been Dave Gilbert, but at 44 he can't play that many games. I noticed that in the home game v Belper on Tuesday he was a sub only and I wonder if he has been rested for the FA Trophy match. The team has a pretty settled look about it and has grown in confidence over the last few weeks with a long undefeated run. The second game at Market Needham and the cup tie at Hinckley saw the best performances of the season so I would think they head into today's match as favourites. The mood among Grantham Town fans seems to be that they shouldn't be in their current league, but realising that they need to fight their way out of it. Support-wise they are among some of the best in terms of numbers in the league so it would be nice to get a crowd approching 300 today.
As for Alsager (pronounced All-sager according to my friend Tony, who is from Stoke) they currently lie mid-table and have only won 1 of their 4 away games in the league up til now. They drew at home on Wednesday in front of a crowd of 70! One interesting tit-bit from Alsager is that this week they recieved their first-ever transfer fee having sold their star player Pete Heler - a piece of history indeed. It will be interesting to see what affect this has on their team.
My prediction: Grantham 2 Alsager 1
As for Alsager (pronounced All-sager according to my friend Tony, who is from Stoke) they currently lie mid-table and have only won 1 of their 4 away games in the league up til now. They drew at home on Wednesday in front of a crowd of 70! One interesting tit-bit from Alsager is that this week they recieved their first-ever transfer fee having sold their star player Pete Heler - a piece of history indeed. It will be interesting to see what affect this has on their team.
My prediction: Grantham 2 Alsager 1
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