football rambles

 This was quite an important match for both of the teams with Derby occupying the last play-off place in 6th and Peterborough in 7th. Posh couldn't replace the Rams after this game, but a positive result really put pressure on Derby. This could end up being a pivotal result with Peterborough seemingly with what looks on paper, like an easier run in. It was really a game of two halves with Derby dominant in the first half and perhaps unlucky not to go in at the break ahead. Old Villa boy Connor Hourihane and old Peterborough favourite, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in particular causing Posh problems. Will Norris in goals for Peterborough pulled off a couple of big saves to keep his team in it. The second half however was a very different story. Fergie clearly outthought Paul Warne and to give his team fresh impetus brought on Dan Butler and Kwame Poku for Josh Knight and Harrison Burrows and it really paid dividends. Ephron Mason Clark showed speed on the left in the 52nd minute and after...

 Saturday saw Thetford take on Haverhill Rovers on what on paper looked like a bit of a mismatch with Thetford nailed on for promotion - presuming that the ground meets requirements - and Rovers languishing adrift in the relegation spots. Thetford were not to have it all their own way though. Thetford raced into the lead with two early goals and by 20 minutes were two up through Elliot Smith and Daniel Gilchrist. At this point we were expecting a bit of a walk over, but a Rovers side that had a number of young players stepping up to the squad didn't give up and Thetford got a bit complacent. A mix up at the back and some lazy defending allowed them back in the game, when one of the young players stepping up, Will Newell slotted home to make sure Thetford couldn't go in at the break too confidently. Thetford must have had a rocket at half time, as they came out firing once again and it wasn't long before Cameron King had made it three for the home side. The rest of the half ...

 There was no football that was gettable to on offer at the weekend with another nightmare for the trains despite it not being a strike day, so we decided to go down to the rugby. It was their last game of the season and was also sandwiched between two Six Nations games, so there was a bumper crowd and the Guinness, which is surprisingly good was in full flow. As for the game itself, it at times looked too easy for Ely and they always held a commanding lead. There may have been some complaints about lapses in defence, but that would be understandable given the ease in which the Tigers dominated the game.

 So this was another nail in the coffin of Cambridge's hopes of staying in the division. Portsmouth would have come into the game with plenty of confidence, as despite it looking likely that they will miss out on the play-offs again they had just destroyed promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers in the week. Cambridge on the other hand came into the game on the back of a defeat against fellow strugglers Fleetwood. Portsmouth didn't have it all their own way and in fact were probably the better team in the first half. They continually frustrated Portsmouth and towards the end of the half Owen Dale was probably lucky to stay on the pitch after letting his frustration get the better of him. However, Cambridge continue to suffer from the creative hole left by the now retired Wes Hoolahan and up front Sam Smith is still lacking confidence and Joe Ironside has been sussed out. An interesting fact is that Cambridge outshot Portsmouth by 17 shots to 5. Nevertheless, the only stat that coun...

 It's been a busy week, so I am only just catching up with this game from last Saturday, so it's also going to be a very short report! The game was really entertaining and top of the table Thetford were really good value for money. All of the goals were good quality. George Diggens got a brace for Thetford and Cameron King was also on the score sheet. Scott Chaplin scored the goal for Walsham. At 2-0 it appeared that Thetford were cruising, but Walsham pulled one back before Thetford finished them off. As always it was a good day out at Thetford and hopefully they will go up next season, but I am not 100% sure that their ground will make it even if the team do.

 Finally a win! It seems like ages since we witnessed a Cambridge win at the Abbey - because other than a dead rubber in the Papa John Trophy in reality it is! Both teams went into this game in terrible form, but given that Cambridge had lost at home in the week to fellow strugglers Cheltenham, we weren't confident of getting a result and a defeat would have surely meant a final nail in the coffin of any hopes of staying in League 1 next season. It's still going to be hard, but at least this result gives the Us some hope and there were encouraging signs from players coming into the team. Ryan Bennett who joined as a free agent added some solidity in defence. Liam Bennett returning from a loan move at Walsall offered something different at full-back. Conor McGrandles, who joined on loan from Charlton added some bite to midfield and Jack Lankester, who was already at the club added a spark going forward. I was also impressed by George Thomas, who signed on deadline day from QPR a...

 On Saturday we had another trip to Bishop's Stortford to see the nomadic Enfield take on West Essex in the Essex Senior League and like most of our recent trips, the outcome was pretty disappointing.  Enfield were the stronger team in the first half, but despite a couple of chances early on not a lot happened and the teams went in an equal terms at the break. West Essex came out a bit stronger in the second half, but the real game changer was Zak Oliver, who came on late for the visitors and scored twice and managed to hit the bar too. Not a bad 20 minute cameo! Enfield stay top of the league, but this was a disappointing result and a fairly lackluster performance.