Brid 4 Lancaster 0 (h)

I had decided on Friday to no longer post or visit the forum. I’d caused a bit of a stir by dredging up an old topic of when Pete Surthwaite had resigned from the managers job 18 months back, as i’d had a small wager with someone that I could get 100+ views on a topic on Friday night alone and i’d decided this would be the best one to do it on.

It caused one hell of a stir, players and others alike phoning Pete up within minutes to find out if it was true that he had resigned again (bloody hell doesn’t anyone read the dates and transcripts of the topics), anyway Pete contacted Dom who removed the topic and alas my little bet goes down the swanny.

When i thought about the silliness of what i’d done, i decided to stop posting, there were other reasons (it had become stale, certain individuals were still being abusive to others…..), our roving match reporter also seemed to blame
me for some comments made by Animad on the forum and this confirmed my intention to leave it be.

The game started off slowly for Brid (as usual) and we seemed to miss Big Wayne Harratt in the middle of the park. Personally, i felt some of hte Lancaster players were a bit OTT in some of their tackles and seemed to take particular offense to Frank Belt at right back, and after some niggley play, Frank caught one of their players in the head with his studs (unintentional IMO) and the ref was letting the play go, until their manager was 20 yards into the pitch shouting and balling, and then their No 6 wanting some action against young Frank. It settled down after this flare up.

The away contingent were brilliant and if they weren’t there singing (and moaning) i’d dread to think how many would have been there – 134’sh but they must have had 20-30, another shitty home turn out.

Brid gained the upper hand towards the end of the first half, and the superiority paid off with a goal on the stroke of half time, nicely taken by one of the new lads. Second half and we get another not long after, and ye old red mist befalls a couple of their lads. The first one made a clealy late cynical foul to receive a second yellow, and Alex Rhodes gets a penalty for a foul (i missed it, I was at the cafe talking to Dom about my decision to leave the forum). Luke steps up and whacks it one (he missed ala Beckham style) but their keeper apparently turned round and said “Thats justice, thats what you get for f***ing cheating no7″ – ha the ref heard this and thought it was being directed to him, and the keeper sees a straight red.

As is always the case, the 9 men played really well, it reminds me of when we lost 9-1 to Stocksbridge last season when we had two sent off in the first 20, but there were times when the lads played some exceptional football that night. We got 2 in the final quarter of the game, their stand in keeper did make a couple of good saves.

For me, I found i didn’t have the zest for the game yesterday as perhaps I should have, but it was nice to see the team put in another great performance. Dean Lackie has left (**addendum I was advised that Dean had been struggling with an injury and would only play on if we were in dire need of his services, Dean has not left), Wayne Harratt too and Mick Clarke told he was no longer no1 and if he wanted to leave then so be it, but he could fight for his place back.

Bradford PA away next week looks like it could be a brilliant with the home side having Paul Stoneman in the team and they are putting on a special day with a visit by Geoff Hurst and Jackie Charlton attending for a chat and signing session. 99% unlikely that i’d be able to go, shame. see here for more on it.

Some mega news came my way last night, my first ever decent footy bet came in. I had chosen 5 teams with some good odds in the FA Cup (Preston Bristol Rovers Wolves Portsmouth and West Brom) my best cost me $23 and for the various bets I got $527 back – get in there.

Brid 1 Rossendale 2 (h)

This was a belter of a game from a Brid perspective, with 3 new young signings in the team. First half we dominated to such an extent, that we could have easily gone into half time 5 or 6 goals up, but to some fortuitous luck for our opposition, it just didn’t go our way. Then in the third minute of injury time, a bit of hesitation at the back, and the visitors go one-up. What the chuffing chuff ? How the hell we went in 1 down i’ll never know. And it didn’t take long for the visitors to get a second.

At this point, I have to take my hat off to young Luke Smith, he was caught in possession and 2 seconds later, bang, the balls in the back of the net. Now Luke came onto the forum and held his hand up and apologised. Not the easiest thing to do, but he’s a really likable guy and he confirmed this even more, by declining a move to Mossley (apparently) to stay with us and help us stave off relegation (Also “Big” Wayne Harratt has also declined a move – good lad!!) .

We did have an opportunity to get back into the game, when we were awarded a penalty – their keeper came out to tackle one of our lads, missed the ball and our lad thought “i better fall over him” and did so. Great penalty by Luke.  Didn’t get much after that.

The guys and support was excellent today,  shame the conditions weren’t the best (at least it didnt pee down). We’re still not out of the mire (yet) but it can only be a matter of time before we get a fantastic run together.

Other teams you follow…

Apart from Stoke and Wealdstone, I always look out for Stenhousemuir’s results (nothing more than a love for the name).

I also love watching American Grid Iron game (It is NOT football, and football is definitely not SOCCER – I absolutely 100% hate that name). Interesting thing, I’m watching the New York Giants at the Dallas Cowboys and at Dallas’s home ground, they are flying flags/banners stating “1992 Dallas Cowboys world champions” (and 1993) – what other country takes part in the American Grid Iron world cup ? tossers.

As it goes, I try and watch the Giants as much as I can. They had a cracking team in the late 80’s early 90’s, and as we in the UK were really getting to grips with this new game via Channel 4 – I opted for the Giants.

The only downsides to the game – 4 x 15 minute quarters takes over 3 hours to do. The current American coverage (via Sky) must have a commercial break every time someone takes a breath – there must be 50-60 for every game, how our Yankee cousins put up with it I’ll never know.

Middlesex for cricket, Wasps for the rugger and the Leeds Rhinos for the other rugger.

Brid 0 Curzen Ashton 6 (six) (a)

lol something like “after the lord mayors show” etc etc. Apparently we had an away following of 6 or 7 for our anticipated trip to one of the league leaders. Me, I was working in Goole till about 2, nearly went to the Goole game, but couldn’t be bothered. The result triggered the usual “we need this we need that” blah blah blah

Rossendale at home next week WILL BE the test. At home, if we lose this then the future for the rest of the season may be quite bleak .

Brid 4 Clitheroe 0 (h)

So all eyes were going to be on the team sheet today to see who would be playing after the turbulent week we had managerial wise. There had been some bad feeling from the previous incumbent which had come through in the local Free Press. He had felt he’d been “stabbed in the back” and that he should have been given a little more time….etc etc. As I’d previously stated, he / they were top blokes and were just getting the team together and that i’d no axe to grind.

The rumor-ville� was in full flow today, i’ll try and break them down and offer my own thoughts :

1) the previous incumbent had contacted several clubs in and around the West Yorkshire touting some of Brids players – why ? Is he really that pissed off with what went on ? Surely the results speak for themselves. Why would he want to go and tout the players to other clubs – Its just not cricket I tell you major.

2) with regards to point 1, the following has been said about players moving to other clubs – Greaves to Guisley , Lackie to Goole , Stoneman to Bradford , Clarke to Ossett Alb� – now personally I think Stoney may move on, may even go and play somewhere near to his home (Newcastle) but i’d like to think the other lads will stop, each one of them played a massive part in todays comprehensive victory. I hope none of them go.

3)� Billy Heath, Bobby Carroll and Neil “tick” Towler may all return to the club – Without doubt Ticks return would be welcomed as he is still our top scorer and only played a third of the games. Billy and Bobby have not long re-signed at Frickley, so this move would be a real surprise.

Well to the game. As early as the fifth minute we had a great shout for a penalty, when loanee Alex Rhodes was upended in the box but it wasn’t given. From then on Clitheroe realised they were in for a battle today and the “expected 3 points” were not going to be as easy as recent results had hinted at.� 0-0 at half time, for the second game running Greaves and Rhodes were a massive handful – due to the fact that Liam Berry (and Neal Redfearn) have left the club, Phil Harrison returned to the front to impose himself. The other noticeable absentee was Pete Naylor who didn’t show today.

Second half was tremendous, and one of the best teams displays ive seen in a while, 1st goal was a brilliant volley from big Wayne Harratt, then Clitheroe have a couple of efforts on goal and an absolutely tremendous save from Mick Clarke kept it at 1-1. Clarkey had his critics, but in hir return to Brid and one teeny lapse on Tuesday, has been outstanding in goal. Lackie on for Harrison and things went from strength to strength with Wayne Wallace, Tom Greaves and Alex Rhodes all netting.� The back 4 were awesome today and the other loanee Frank Belt slotted in really well. Grayston also had an immense game.

There was passion, there was commitment, there was pride and above all there was a win. Its taken a while, i’m sure we all knew it was there, but it took the experiences of the past week to bring it out. I hope the team see they are a decent unit and can only get stronger if they stay together.

The chairmans comments coming off the field were a tad offensive� and uncalled for, but he has the right to say what he likes i suppose.

Well Done guys.

Brid 0 – Harrogate Railway 0 (h)

I trust you all had a great Xmas and new year, me? well me and the missus have suffered with bad colds bordering on flu (tossing typical !!), but the kids had a great time (i hope !).

Local football has been a bit thin on the ground, Scarborough did play at home on Saturday (I was elsewhere), whilst Brid travelled to Mossley where they lost 2-1, with Neal Redfearn scoring in the last few moments.

Today was a day where hopefully all the New Years resolutions were going to kick in for the team and start 2008 on a real positive note. In fairness to the team, they did do it today, creating many one on one chances, only as you can guess from the scoreline, we didn’t take any. Earlier in the year, Harrogate turned us over 3-1 (or something like that cant be bovvered to look) and more recently gave Mansfield a good run for their money in a televised FA Cup 1st round tie. So to pretty much dominate most of the game and come away with a point wasn’t to shabby an effort. The new lad who played at number 11 today was very good, only here on a short term loan deal. The weather conditions were, what appears to now be the norm at Queensgate, pretty horrendous. A crowd of 117 was on hand to watch a reasonable game of footy.

However, after getting home from the in-laws at about 7.30sh, I read with horror that our managers (Ash Berry and Paul Stoneman)  had been sacked. To be honest, they were two cracking lads who had really endeared themselves to everyone at Brid but had found it difficult grinding out the results they needed to maintain and improve the teams/clubs position. Being right near the bottom again this year, hasn’t been conducive to todays decision. Granted if you wanted to make your point, you could have moved Ash and Paul on a few weeks ago or in a few weeks time – BUT TODAY ??? not good im afraid. It could mean we lose a lot of the players these guys brought in to play for the club, who, (in mine and other peoples opinion) felt we were just about to turn that corner (but we’ve been turning that corner for the last few months!).

My thanks go to Ash and Paul, and Grant who was part of the management team for all their efforts, and the fact they were 3 top guys who wanted to build a great team for the people of Brid. Fingers crossed that Stoney will stay, as he has been one of our most consistent players this year (but in fairness would you stay ?).

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Home on Saturday, hmm will be interesting….