football rambles

 This wasn't the best performance that I have seen from Downham, but when you consider that most of the players haven't played at this level before, but are holding their own then they can be forgiven especially at the start of the season. In the early encounters, Takeley were definitely the better side and took advantage with a goal from George Powell, who beat Duncan McNally at the near post. McNally was probably the man of the match for Downham, as an aside, as despite flapping at this one a bit, he was otherwise excellent in goals. After going into the lead Takeley seemed happy to keep Downham at bay, with two banks of four and some cynical challenges that they tended to get away with. It was 1-0 at the break and you couldn't really say that Takeley weren't the better team. The second half carried on with Downham pushing but most of their threats being snuffed out before they turned into anything and Takeley hitting them on the break with McNally having to be alert ...

 Telford United might be a famous old name in non-league football, but they have had a bleak few years and this was their first game at this level after winning promotion. King's Lynn were also in the doldrums at the start of Summer, but new investment and new players have led to a new sense of optimism around the club. From the offset, it looked like Lynn were going to push for goals while Telford were keen to defend, take things slow and attack when they had the chance. As I had hoped in preseason, they decided to start with Gold Omotayo and Michael Gyasi. In the opening encounters Lynn definitely had the best of it, with Gyasi putting the ball in the net and the impressive Joe Nyahwema hitting the cross bar with a fantastic effort. However, despite the constant pressure it was Telford who took the lead when Mathew Stenson converted a penalty for the visitors. The incident happened at the other end but it was given for a foul in the box. Lynn coach, James Rowe was apoplectic, but...

 Despite some of the competitive football kicking off and there being some higher profile friendlies on offer, I ended the preseason once again at King's Lynn where they took on lower league opposition in the form of Spalding United who play in the Southern Premier League Central. It turned out to be the Linnet's first defeat in preseason as they were beaten twice by Jack Roberts, who popped up with a goal in both halves. It wasn't a bad performance for King's Lynn. However, having seen them batter Peterborough and come away with a 1-1 draw, you wonder if the one thing that they might need to be when the actual season  gets underway is a little more clinical. Gyasi looks like a great acquisition for the club and his pace is going to cause a lot of problems. However, he has seemed to have spent a lot of time in preseason playing  as a loan striker, when to me he looks more like a 2nd striker. I'd like to see him start with Gold Omotayo in a competitive game. Neverthe...