Monday, 14 December 2009
It's A or B vs C or D?!
Oh, the joy of cup draws when lots of teams haven't got through the previous round yet. As you know Middlesbrough have still to play Curzon Ashton (next Sunday, hopefully) but they were handed the anti-climactic draw of a tie away to Liverpool Feds or Rochdale, two teams they are battling out the league title for in the Northern Combination. Still, I guess an exciting game should be in prospect.
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Salford 0 Middlesbrough 2 (at last!)
They finally got the tie played and would have saved me a load of time if they had just counted the result from the league game two weeks ago. Never mind, I made the long trip to Billingham and thorougly enjoyed it. Billingham have a lovely little ground with an impressive stand running the length of the pitch which guaranteed I would at least keep dry. Another notable difference from the previous rounds I had seen was a level pitch!
The weather stayed dry if not a little cold and as the teams lined up I feared a bit for Salford as it became apparent they had only turned up with 12 players and for me the star of the league game two weeks ago, their right back missing too.
However, they started much the better of the two teams and in the first 20 minutes had two golden chances which they managed to mess up. Inevitably, after that it was Boro who scored from a break away. The Salford keeper decided to fly out of her area which meant she was left completely stranded when the ball arrived in front of the goal resulting in an easy finish. This was not the only time she did a 'Grobelaar' but it was the only time she was punished. 1-0 at half time was a little unfair on Salford.
The second half was much the same pattern but with Salford having no composure in front of goal and Boro finally scored again from a breakaway 15 minutes from the end (having missed a penalty in the meantime).
All in all, Boro deserved the win for the way they finished off their moves and can now look forward to Curzon Ashton next week.
The weather stayed dry if not a little cold and as the teams lined up I feared a bit for Salford as it became apparent they had only turned up with 12 players and for me the star of the league game two weeks ago, their right back missing too.
However, they started much the better of the two teams and in the first 20 minutes had two golden chances which they managed to mess up. Inevitably, after that it was Boro who scored from a break away. The Salford keeper decided to fly out of her area which meant she was left completely stranded when the ball arrived in front of the goal resulting in an easy finish. This was not the only time she did a 'Grobelaar' but it was the only time she was punished. 1-0 at half time was a little unfair on Salford.
The second half was much the same pattern but with Salford having no composure in front of goal and Boro finally scored again from a breakaway 15 minutes from the end (having missed a penalty in the meantime).
All in all, Boro deserved the win for the way they finished off their moves and can now look forward to Curzon Ashton next week.
Tie switched
In what is now becoming a saga of epic proportions the game has now been switched to Boro's home, Billingham Synthonia. I noticed from the internet that Billingham played yesterday so, with good weather forecast, I am confident my trip to the north east should prove fruitful.
Christmas Shopping
Another wasted trip to Salford - No-one turned up this time and as much as I was tempted to watch the Salford reserves play I thought I'd make the most of my afternoon and do my Christmas shopping at the Trafford Centre - I've never got my presents so early!
Next up - Curzon Ashton!
Now the big boys (girls!) are coming in. I can't think of any notable history of the men's game in Curzon Ashton but in the women's game they are in the 2nd tier of the game so this will prove a tough test for Middlesbrough or Salford but at least they will be at home.
Was the match postponed?
The weather has been terrible but with no way of contacting officials of the teams (the women's game does need to get that sorted at this level) I travelled to Salford with a degree of pessimism. I arrived shortly before the 1 o'clock kick off, as did the Boro' team. A quick chat with them revealed that the match had been made into a league game as they could not 'get an FA Cup pitch' and the only one available was an artificial one (not allowed in the FA Cup competition rules apparently!) So, it was a 2pm kick off in the League. Having travelled all that way, I thought I might as well stay and watch the match which ended in a 2-0 win for Middlesbrough. The pitch was like no artificial pitch I had ever seen. It was just like playing on grass and, in my view, stupid not to play the Cup tie on it!
Off to Salford
The draw for the 2nd Round means Middlesbrough need to travel to Lancashire to take on Salford Ladies, a team in their own league, who they have already beaten once this season 2-1. Salfors play at Salford Sports Village, which is a state-of-the-art sports facility, so I am looking forward to visiting that.
Sheffield United 1 Middlesbrough 2
This was a thrilling, entertaining match played on a difficult pitch which had done well to survive the bad weather. My friend, Diane, came to this match with me, for her first exposure to the women's game, and she thoroughly enjoyed it.
I prepared her for the potentially very basic facilities, but no, this was the best standard I had come across yet. The match was played at the Phoenix Social Club near Rotherham so there was quite a plush bar (for the record we didn't have a drink!) and a pitch with a concrete path so despite the damp conditions we stayed relatively dry.
United started brightly in the first half but as the match wore on Boro' gradually took control especially once the second half was underway.
The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when the ball was played into the path of Katie Kinlan who side-stepped a tackle and coolly found the back of the net. Boro' briefly went to sleep allowing United to break through only for their keeper to make a great save.
The game was very 'competitive' with some fierce tackling. Then 15 minutes from the end Middlesbrough scored the crucial goal, a free kick being bundled over the line by Becky Stephenson. Sheffield did not give up without a fight, though, and when they scored in the last minute from Mawhood the added time period was very jittery for Boro, but they were deserved winners in the end.
As for Charlton? Well,you can see the date of the previous post which shows that I am pretty good at predicting the men's game and £75 richer from a £10 bet on Northwich to win at 15-2 - yep, I couldn't resist it and am thoroughly glad that this competition meant I didn't need to endure that embarrassment on TV.
I prepared her for the potentially very basic facilities, but no, this was the best standard I had come across yet. The match was played at the Phoenix Social Club near Rotherham so there was quite a plush bar (for the record we didn't have a drink!) and a pitch with a concrete path so despite the damp conditions we stayed relatively dry.
United started brightly in the first half but as the match wore on Boro' gradually took control especially once the second half was underway.
The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when the ball was played into the path of Katie Kinlan who side-stepped a tackle and coolly found the back of the net. Boro' briefly went to sleep allowing United to break through only for their keeper to make a great save.
The game was very 'competitive' with some fierce tackling. Then 15 minutes from the end Middlesbrough scored the crucial goal, a free kick being bundled over the line by Becky Stephenson. Sheffield did not give up without a fight, though, and when they scored in the last minute from Mawhood the added time period was very jittery for Boro, but they were deserved winners in the end.
As for Charlton? Well,you can see the date of the previous post which shows that I am pretty good at predicting the men's game and £75 richer from a £10 bet on Northwich to win at 15-2 - yep, I couldn't resist it and am thoroughly glad that this competition meant I didn't need to endure that embarrassment on TV.
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