Damage in the Box!

HEART of MIDLOTHIAN (Tynecastle Park)

Sunday 21st February 2010
Scottish Premier League
Hearts 2-0 Hamilton
Attendance: 13,496
Another fine example of Scottish Premier League football!

First half was absolute dross, with neither goalkeeper having a meaningful save to make. Second half was marginally better as both teams attacked with purpose and even attempted some shots on target! Marian Kello made the first decent save of the match when he denied Flavio Paixio in a one on one situation.

Hearts eventually took the lead on 63 minutes when a cross from the right was headed home by David Obua. They doubled their lead on 80 minutes when Brian Easton headed over his own goalkeeper and David Templeton just managed to get to the ball a couple of yards out to deny Easton an oggy!! A few minutes later Easton tried to atone for his error but Kello made another great save.

OLDHAM BORO (White Bank Stadium)

Saturday 20th February 2010
North West Counties League Division One
Oldham Boro 2-1 AFC Blackpool
Attendance: 48

All the goals were scored in the first half as Oldham came from a goal down to beat Blackpool. Both teams tried to play the game in the correct manner but were sadly lacking in the final third, hence chances were at a premium. Joel Cowell gave 'The Mechs' the lead after 17 minutes before Tom Hughes levelled on the half hour. A Damien Schofield penalty after 35 minutes completed the scoring.

The White Bank stadium is a ramshackle affair with a mix-match of stands, which made this an interesting ground to visit. Not my first choice of game today admittedly, but a pleasant day out nontheless.

BARWELL (Kirkby Road)

After last weeks encounter in Devon finished in a 2-2 draw, todays choice of game was a real no-brainer. It was off into deepest Leicestershire for the replay. Barwell, from the Midland Alliance League, versus Willand Rovers, from the Western League. Barwell are unbeaten in the league this season and Willand are going well in their respective league. 120 minutes couldn't separate them last week, so something had to give today.

Obviously quite a few people were of the same opinion of me and today Kirkby Road road was packed to the rafters with 384 hardy souls, including plenty of seasoned Groundhoppers, which was easily Barwell's biggest crowd of the season, thus far.

Unfortunately the game didn't live up to the pre-match billing and the game became a tough battle between two big powerful sides. Both teams had big target men and this meant both teams played a direct style of football, which was not pretty to watch.

As well as flowing football being at a premium, so indeed were the chances created. I genuinely thought this was going to be my first 0-0 game of the season. After a chance for Willand went begging early on, when a shot was fired wide, it was the team from Devon who drew first blood on 40 minutes when a cross from the left wasn't dealt with by the Barwell number 5, and he allowed the ball to go through his legs, and David Steele fired home.

Within two minutes of the re-start, Barwell were level. A shot from Kevin Charley hit the crossbar and Adam Cunnington was on hand to head the re-bound from about three yards. The home team had their tails up and it looked like they may start to take control of the tie, but the game soon reverted back to the war of attrition of the first period. The best chance of a winner did fall to Rovers minutes from the end when Carl Cliff-Brown was put through but was foiled by Barwell 'keeper Leon Castle.

This sent the match into extra time, and the smart money was on penalties, as both sides looked inseparable. However, in the 96th minute a long ball over over the top was missed by the Willand centre back and Cunnington raced through, rounded the 'keeper and slotted home from a tight angle to finally settle the tie. Willand tried in vain to grab an equaliser but their efforts didn't trouble Castle in the home goal. This is the furthest Barwell have ever gone in the Vase and they will now be at home to Norton & Stockton Ancients in the Quarter Final.

Saturday 13th February 2010

FA Vase 5th Round Replay

Barwell 2-1 Willand Rovers (A.E.T)

Attendance: 384

LONG BUCKBY (Station Road)

It was back on the Wembley trail today, with a Vase encounter at Station Road between Long Buckby, of the United Counties League, and Gresley, of the East Midland Counties League. Both teams are doing well in their respective leagues and are handily placed when you factor in games in hand. In terms of league though, this match is Step 5 v Step 6 but you have to consider that Gresley are in effect a continuation of Gresley Rovers, who were liquidated in the summer of 2009 and were playing at Step 4 last season.

On a freezing and foggy afternoon, there was a huge crowd at Station Road, just under 400, many of which were 'away' fans all eagerly anticipating a close exciting game, given what ultimately happened I suppose they weren't to be disappointed!

A pretty insipid, but very even, first half ended 1-1 at the interval. Dan Holman, scoring his 22nd goal in 23 games, gave The Bucks the lead after 10 minutes, tapping home at the far post after a goalkeeping error. Royce Turville levelled for Gresley just before half time when he raced through one-on-one with keeper Olly Urquart before firing home.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were also pretty uneventful until the hour mark when Gresley bagged three goals in eight minutes to go 4-1 up. On 60 minutes Turville bagged his second with a superb lob over the 'keeper from a tight angle. Rob Spencer then bagged a brace in two minutes, the first on 66 minutes was a header from close range and then a run and low angled shot on 68 minutes looked to have finished the game.

On 72 minutes Dan Chiltern headed home a cross from a free-kick to reduce the arrears and Long Buckby pressed and pressed but didn't add their third until the 90th minute when Jon Crockett prodded home. There was six minutes of stoppage time but the home team couldn't find the equaliser to take the tie into extra time.

I think The Bucks did enough to warrant at least another 30 minutes but it wasn't to be. This result left Gresley marching on to Wembley, but I have to add they were the words of their 'vociferous' fans...NOT mine!!!