Bridlington Town 5 Bottesford Town 0 (h)

Tonight we kicked off our NCEL Presidents Cup run against Bottesford, who are currently mid-table in the NCEL 1st division. We had a few first teamers out, well actually they were eating chips and drinking beer in the bar (but they were there to cheer on their team mates!!) and Bottesford by all accounts were playing a fairly youthful side.

Conditions were good, yet again the pitch is in excellent nick, but the mid week games are now starting off in full moonlit night, today was officially the last day of summer – someone should tell mother nature, that summer finished sometime in early June, and she owes me 3 months of bloody hot weather.

Didn’t think many would come, 108 in the end, not surprising really, when none of us know who the NCEL president is and which one of his cups we were playing for ?

We have vast swathes of possession in the game, and create enough chances to make it at least 12-0, but it takes us until 43rd minute to get off the mark and we get another about 40 seconds later. I only know this because someone told me, as I had gone to the bar for a drink and to see the last 5 mins of the 1st half of Leeds Liverpool. Bloody typical.

2nd half and I felt we lost our shape a little early doors, but our stamina and skill level shone through in the end, and we scored three very good goals in the last 15 minutes. to be fair to Bottesford they never gave up and with some better finishing themselves in the first half, could have scored two or three good goals of their own.

A good run out for the lads, better than a training session, however, Frank Belt, Nathan Hotte were subbed and both looked to be hobbling a bit – lets hope they are ok for the impending goalfest on Saturday against poor old Brodsworth who have played 7 lost 7 socred 2 and conceded 42. So 0-0 it is then … lol.

If i was playing NCEL championship manager 2010 on the Xbox for this Saturdays game, I would play the following formation(for this game only):

Wilberforce

Gibbo, Mountford, Dexter

Belt, Rhodes, Hotte, Allanson, Buttle

Palmer, Burdick, Wilkinson

For me, I can’t see them scoring many, if any against our normal 4-4-2. Lets go all out attack and aim for at least 12-15 goals, if they get one or two, so what? It’s not going to hurt us too much. (and as I have now built this thing up so much, I realise some changes need to be made as Burdick probably can’t play due to his suspension for his recent red card.) but you get my drift….if so, move Rhodes to front line, and bring in Dave Ricardo or Tom Lee into the middle.

Brid 6 Arnold Town 0 (h)

Been another full on week or two at work, having worked at opposite ends of the country. We played the runaway league leaders away last week and lost 4-1, however, their gracious fans commented on how good they thought our team were and were one of thee best they’ve seen grace their turf this season, quite a compliment when you’ve been thumped.

On Thursday of this week, I was at a customers in Falkirk and finished fairly late in the afternoon, I was advised that a drive back to my hotel on the other side of Glasgow would be a waste of two to three hours, so I drove a couple of miles to the oddly named town of Stenhousemuir. Famous for… well having an odd name and a football team in the fourth tier of Scottish Football, which was the reason i’d called really. I’d followed the results of the team all my life, because of their peculiar name. Earlier in the week Stenny had beaten the league leaders Cowdenbeath to stay in second place (they lost 4-1 at home yesterday – Saturday to the team in third place, East Stirling). I drive into the car park to see all the lights on in the ground, I then ask the car park steward if there’s a game on, “who are you?” he asks, I explain that i’m just a sad English footballing couch potatoe who was in the area and wanted to visit the ground, “ah no problem, park over there and i’ll take you in, the first team and others are training” so he took me in ! It was interesting, tidy little ground, which hosts an average attendance of 474. The whole place was buzzing, a group of about 20/30 teenagers practising moves in the goal at the away end, young kids training in the middle of the pitch, the reserves (or similar) training at the other end of the pitch, and what appeared to be the first team training on a five-a-side pitch behind this goal area. The tea bar was open and plenty watching. It just seemed “very together”, a club using its position to include and support all ages of the community at its facility.

Saturday brings a whole host of different excitement at Chez Bridlington. We entertain Arnold Town who are from the Nottingham area,and they bring a few fans with them. They are 1 place above us in the league, though looking at the score-line today you wouldn’t have thought so. Attendance 168.

Things do not start well, the visitors have the ball in the net after a minute or so, hearts sink, but as quickly as we moan, the good old lino has his flag up for offside – phew close one. The half really is dominated by us, we had so many chances to score, Chib having a few efforts and Palms with two belters that he untypically skied from a few feet – it appeared to be one of those days.

0-0 at half time.

Someone must have slipped something into the tea at half time, because we were awesome in the second half. Arnold couldn’t touch us, well only when their number two clipped (Palms?) who was clean through on goal and brought him down for a pen and a red card. In fairness and I know I keep harping on about it, the 6-0 scoreline was not a true reflection of the game – 11 or 12 – 0 would have been more appropriate after our performance today. We had virtually our full first team playing today, which is the first time in a long time we could say that. It was nice to see Tom Fleming back today.

All in all, one of the best displays for a long, long time – and we’ve had some excellent displays this year.

However, the day ended on a bit of a downer. Our managers, Tim & Gary had handed their resignations to the chairman today with effect from the end of the season, these apparently, were rejected.  I’ll plagerise the statement sent out by Teach and hope some common ground can be sought to keep these guys with us;

Tim and Gary are 100% behind Brid Town and have shown full committment to the club and have managed the side in a totally professional manner with skill, enthusiasm, knowledge, ability and flair.

However, the decision was brought about due to various uncertanties and a lack of off field structure within the club which would it is felt aid further progression for the club.

It is hoped that further meetings and other possible avenues can be explored to bring about a satisfactory conclusion to the matter.

And on that bombshell, i’m going, but before i do, 2 funny clips to cheer you up

1. The moral is don’t do a good deed, the ref won’t like you for it.

2. Whats got him going?  some sex? some pussy?

Brid 2 Hedon 3 (a)

Yes at last !

I have the kind of satisfaction that used to be portrayed in those old black and white films, when the man had finally shagged his gal and was sat in bed afterwards smoking a post-coital cigarette.

Thankfully the Hedon pitch was a stones throw away from a few of my customers, so it was quite handy to get to the game. However, the bizareness of playing a relatively competitive game in summer sunshine in the height of summer was definitely outweighed by the now seasonal downpour, grey clouds and better late than ever March wind. The gloomy surroundings of the local BP refinery didn’t help on the eye either. Was pleased to see a number of the Brid faithful at the place, and what looked like a tidy clubhouse. But the pitch we were on was a mile away !

Brid had some 25-30 players, one lot in the away kit, white, which i’d never seen us play in, and another lot in last years home kit of red. Kick off came, but there were two noteable absences who were due at the game – Dom and Uncle G, who were apparently lost. But they didn’t miss too much, only their first goal.

I knew there wasn’t going to be a lot of “league” importance with the game, but it was certainly played at a good pace throughout and some of the Brid lads were playing as if their careers were at stake, and the home team with points to prove and pride to keep. For us speculating fans, we felt the Brid lads in white were “fringe” 1st teamers, a couple of which were familiar, but most we didn’t know. We lost the half 3-0 with ex Brid player Craig Palmer (?) scoring 2.

2nd half sees Palmer the goalscorer, don a red Town shirt and is joined by all the other red shirted Town players. Things improve, players talking to each other, being a bit more comfortable on the ball, and making runs and space for each other. We scored two good goals – I was deafened by Dom when the first goal went in.

All in all, a good run out and a chance for the new management team to see the players and how they gelled with each other.

Shame that Carl Giblin (Fleshman) has decided to leave and join up with some buddies at Barton. Ironically, we’re there on Saturday. Good luck to Flesh, lets hope someone thanks him for all his efforts.

Games seen : 1

Goals Seen : 2 home 3 away

out of 10 : 8 for the fact that its back on, and for some of the banter we had last night.