Royston at home - 28th April 2018

[Curtis]

After a fantastic spell of 14 league matches where we have won 10 drawn 2 and lost 2 (which is even more remarkable considering 12 of those matches have been away from home), we have manoeuvred ourselves in to third place for our final league match of the season.

 

All to play for though as we could still finish in any position from 2nd to 5th.

 

I hope we (the fans, players & management) can continue with the approach we appear to have had over the last six or so matches...... and that is to all pull together in the desire to win and put additional pressure on sides above us. Who knows, Kings Lynn may slip up & we could possibly finish second!

 

Yes, we have recently beaten Royston 4-0, but we managed to get on top of them early on, and they looked a lot more spirited in the second half.

 

This match will not be easy, and we may well end up needing to grind out a single goal win, but please all stay patient and continually encourage and applaud our players for their incredible achievements this season.

[Sir Rebel1965]

96 points – so far! And in the three seasons we have been in this league it would have won it twice!!!!!!

 

When was the last time we picked up 96 or more points – am aware that in the 22 team leagues that it is harder as 4 less games, but when was the last time we even got close to this number of points?

[A Rebel and a Saint]

At tomorrow's game there will be a collection around the ground at half time, and raffle tickets will be sold before the game for a chance to win a signed STFC shirt that one of our fans donated to Berkshire Vision. Both will raise funds towards the walk fund so please dig deep!

[Neil Baker]

96 points – so far! And in the three seasons we have been in this league it would have won it twice!!!!!!

 

When was the last time we picked up 96 or more points – am aware that in the 22 team leagues that it is harder as 4 less games, but when was the last time we even got close to this number of points?

Your boy actually messaged Unders the other day to say it is the highest points total the club has ever had, and also the most league goals scored... obviously I don’t know how true that is, but he is pretty good with his stats, so I would trust him on that.

[Matt]

It is the highest points return. This page is a useful resource but only seems to go back to 1947/48 - however as it was only two points for a win back then, 96 would not have been bettered. http://www.fchd.info/SLOUGHT.HTM

[Irishadrian]

Matt Also our best goal difference

[sdelaney]

As our historian Alan Smith mentioned a couple of months ago most goals ever scored by substitutes coming on in a game this season to.

Sure he must have more records that have been broken this season.

 

COYREBELS

[Reading Rebel]

As Curtis has pointed out although we won 4-0 at their place, on the night we started like a house on fire and were clinical with our finishing.

 

Royston performed a lot better in the second half putting us under some pressure and showed enough to know that they have some very good players.

 

This game will be far from easy as I'm sure Royston will be looking to avenge Tuesday nights defeat and spoil the party.

 

Having said that I have every confidence that the boy's will do the business tomorrow and secure us a home tie in Wednesday's semi-final.

 

COYR!!!

[Reading Rebel]

Kettering's game tomorrow against Farnborough could be in doubt depending on how much rain they have overnight.

 

That would put a real spanner in the works for Wednesday's semi-finals.

[GlenSTFC]

Keep on pouring rain! Surely they’d need to play it before Wednesday? Hardly be fair to push the semi final to Thursday or Friday.

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

a lot of rain is forecast , thinking about building an ark

[Irishadrian]

Kettering game ON after inspection

[Reading Rebel]

After an early morning inspection seems the Kettering game is on.

[Reading Rebel]

Keep on pouring rain! Surely they’d need to play it before Wednesday? Hardly be fair to push the semi final to Thursday or Friday.

 

 

I suppose that would have been the obvious solution to play the game on Monday and put the semi final back to the Thursday.

 

I can only see one snag, it's forecast to chuck it down all day Monday.

Edited April 28, 2018 by Reading Rebel

[Gashimoto]

Good luck today

 

Will be keeping up to date from vienna.

 

Coyr

[Reading Rebel]

As predicted this game was never going to be easy against a good Royston side.

 

I thought we started the game well and deservedly went a goal up. Royston came back into it and one two many corners/free kicks lead to Royston's equalizer from a far post header. 

 

We created enough chances in the second half to win the game comfortably but with only a slender 2-1 advantage it was always going to be a bit nervy to get the required win.

 

I thought again Togs was superb in midfield and was my MOTM.

 

Whatever happens on Wednesday this has been a terrific and hugely entertaining season so well done to the players and management!

 

COYR!!!!!!! 

[HorshamRebel]

Match, and awards, photos

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/horshamrebel/albums/72157690438995480

[3spirit]

As predicted this game was never going to be easy against a good Royston side.

 

I thought we started the game well and deservedly went a goal up. Royston came back into it and one two many corners/free kicks lead to Royston's equalizer from a far post header. 

 

We created enough chances in the second half to win the game comfortably but with only a slender 2-1 advantage it was always going to be a bit nervy to get the required win.

 

I thought again Togs was superb in midfield and was my MOTM.

 

Whatever happens on Wednesday this has been a terrific and hugely entertaining season so well done to the players and management!

 

COYR!!!!!!! 

 

I thought Slough were the better team for the majority of the game but made heavy weather of it at times.

 

Guy Hollis was my MOTM.  He stopped everything that came his way.

 

Thought all our defenders did well today,the only blip being the Royston goal from a corner,where Adam Murray, their number 5, got away from his marker and scored.

 

My only gripe about today's match, which in the main was a good spectacle, was our time wasting, for what were three great attacking opportunities at corners, where we could of made it 3-1 and given us a two goal cushion.

Of the three corners, one led to a goal kick, one Royston broke from their own half and put us under the cosh and the other one was fairly successful in wasting time. When we took the first corner we had still had 5 minutes of normal time to play [and then we had 4 minutes added on].

So we had 9 minutes to show Slough in their best light by adding to our scoreline and giving us the comfort of a two goal lead, instead we got the tedium of hanging on by our fingernails in the last knockings.

Had Royston equalized, we would have rued those wasted corners.

 

Anyway, ending on a positive we found a way to win and every Slough fan will be chuffed with a home tie and for making it into play-offs.

Congratulations to all the players and management for such a fine effort this season. Expectations were high at the start of the season for an excellent campaign, and the fans have been rewarded by one.

Well done all involved.

[Sir Rebel1965]

99 points!

 

 

111 Goals!

 

 

Made it to the 2nd round FA Cup - and the dosh – Gainsborough never to be forgotten!

 

 

Got through a few rounds of the Trophy

 

 

B&B Semis

 

 

And now have home game for the play-off semis.

 

 

At the beginning of the season we would have taken half of that.

 

 

Gutted that I missed the Merthyr game – but then I am honest about how many games I go to, unlike some.

 

 

One of the most solid squads we have ever had and trying to pick player of the season came down to favouritism as the skill levels and commitment was just top notch across the board.

 

 

Jon and Neil just kept lining up the right teams all season long with only a minimal number of changes needed to the squad.

 

 

Some sad loses for the STFC community along the way – always remembered.

 

 

 

Final two comments are for Kirk who is still not satisfied, and Spencer Day for his comedy management – it was not his fault.

 

[Reading Rebel]

I thought Slough were the better team for the majority of the game but made heavy weather of it at times.

 

Guy Hollis was my MOTM.  He stopped everything that came his way.

 

Thought all our defenders did well today,the only blip being the Royston goal from a corner,where Adam Murray, their number 5, got away from his marker and scored.

 

My only gripe about today's match, which in the main was a good spectacle, was our time wasting, for what were three great attacking opportunities at corners, where we could of made it 3-1 and given us a two goal cushion.

Of the three corners, one led to a goal kick, one Royston broke from their own half and put us under the cosh and the other one was fairly successful in wasting time. When we took the first corner we had still had 5 minutes of normal time to play [and then we had 4 minutes added on].

So we had 9 minutes to show Slough in their best light by adding to our scoreline and giving us the comfort of a two goal lead, instead we got the tedium of hanging on by our fingernails in the last knockings.

Had Royston equalized, we would have rued those wasted corners.

 

Anyway, ending on a positive we found a way to win and every Slough fan will be chuffed with a home tie and for making it into play-offs.

Congratulations to all the players and management for such a fine effort this season. Expectations were high at the start of the season for an excellent campaign, and the fans have been rewarded by one.

Well done all involved.

 

 

Keeping the ball in the corner at 2-1 with 5 minutes to go is not pretty but it's something that most teams in the country would do in our situation.

 

Whether the time wasting worked or not is neither hear or there but if Royston had equalized because we gave them the opportunity by taking a normal corner we would have rued not keeping the ball in the corner.  

 

The bottom line is we won the game 2-1 so our tactics of keeping the ball in the corner IMO proved to be the right decision.

Edited April 29, 2018 by Reading Rebel