Sittingbourne 4-2 Town // FA Trophy 3rd Round

[Tally Ho]

Saturday 3pm.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Given our track record against sides further down the pyramid, we're going to cruise through 12-11 on penalties.

[ETFC2001]

They like scoring a lot of goals, obviously against less quality then what we have but I’m not the most confident ahead of this game.

I’ll go 1-2.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Sittingbourne joined the competition in the First Qualifying Round. They have won 5 matches in reaching this stage overcoming Sutton Common Rovers, Kingstonian, Bognor, Dover and Winchester. They have only conceded 3 goals over those ties. The win away at high-flying Dover is the real stand-out there. Not expecting a goalfest. A real opportunity for Town though.

[ETFC2001]

1 hour ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Sittingbourne joined the competition in the First Qualifying Round. They have won 5 matches in reaching this stage overcoming Sutton Common Rovers, Kingstonian, Bognor, Dover and Winchester. They have only conceded 3 goals over those ties. The win away at high-flying Dover is the real stand-out there. Not expecting a goalfest. A real opportunity for Town though.

15 games unbeaten in the league, 11 wins from 11 at home. That being said, the difference from step 4 to step 2 is quite a massive one, no matter the struggles of this season. I think more importantly, the money that can arise from moving on should be enough for the players to play for on Saturday. 

No doubt in my mind they will be up for it though, they have to fancy their chances tomorrow going off how different our seasons are going.

[andyetfc]

38 minutes ago, ETFC2001 said:

15 games unbeaten in the league, 11 wins from 11 at home. That being said, the difference from step 4 to step 2 is quite a massive one, no matter the struggles of this season. I think more importantly, the money that can arise from moving on should be enough for the players to play for on Saturday. 

No doubt in my mind they will be up for it though, they have to fancy their chances tomorrow going off how different our seasons are going.

The extra money generated through numbers coming through the gate at step 2 should also be enough for the players to up their game.

[ETFC2001]

2 hours ago, andyetfc said:

The extra money generated through numbers coming through the gate at step 2 should also be enough for the players to up their game.

I agree too, you’d hope so wouldn’t you? Nevertheless, you can just pray the extra money can go towards some great new signings. Gavin says he’s working night and day but it’s getting particularly late unfortunately 

[No bull Towner]

Surely we will play attacking football in this one and not sit back and invite them to score.....fingers crossed

[ETFC2001]

4 minutes ago, No bull Towner said:

Surely we will play attacking football in this one and not sit back and invite them to score.....fingers crossed

Would be a nice change to see. Don’t want to see us go 0-1 up, we decide to start sitting back and inviting pressure. 

Maybe a signing tomorrow announced as they like to do that on a Friday, hasn’t been one since Hornchurch in the 2nd round.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

17 minutes ago, No bull Towner said:

Surely we will play attacking football in this one and not sit back and invite them to score.....fingers crossed

I'm not sure thats the Gavin Macpherson way, NBT.

[No bull Towner]

10 hours ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

I'm not sure thats the Gavin Macpherson way, NBT.

I'm ever optimistic of a win and ever optimistic of a change in tactic....we can but hope! Doubt match will happen tomorrow though with the impending weather so just hope they make a decision early to avoid me travelling unnecessarily 

[The Crowing Cockerel]

With the forecast for tomorrow in Sittingbourne being rain with gusts up to 50mph not sure any football will be for the purists. Was wondering whether any potentially postponed fixture would switch to ETFC. The rules say as follows:

(a) Postponed and rescheduled matches

  (i) Subject to Rule 9(c), the default date for playing a Round is a Saturday.

  (ii) If the competing Clubs are not able to play the match at the ground of the Home Club on the scheduled or agreed date, the Clubs can agree to:

     a. play the match at the ground of the Visiting Club or an alternative ground on the original date; or

     b. postpone or reschedule the match (to be played at the ground of either the Home Club, the Visiting Club or an alternative ground) to another date within five days of the date fixed for playing the round (the “Postponement Window”).

provided that in each case the consent of The Association has been obtained.

[ETFC2001]

11 minutes ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

With the forecast for tomorrow in Sittingbourne being rain with gusts up to 50mph not sure any football will be for the purists. Was wondering whether any potentially postponed fixture would switch to ETFC. The rules say as follows:

(a) Postponed and rescheduled matches

  (i) Subject to Rule 9(c), the default date for playing a Round is a Saturday.

  (ii) If the competing Clubs are not able to play the match at the ground of the Home Club on the scheduled or agreed date, the Clubs can agree to:

     a. play the match at the ground of the Visiting Club or an alternative ground on the original date; or

     b. postpone or reschedule the match (to be played at the ground of either the Home Club, the Visiting Club or an alternative ground) to another date within five days of the date fixed for playing the round (the “Postponement Window”).

provided that in each case the consent of The Association has been obtained.

So if the game gets called off tomorrow, the game will have to be played by Thursday. So currently it’s looking like Tuesday at Tonbridge, Thursday at Sittingbourne, then Saturday at Weston? I’ll imagine the Tonbridge game will get moved about.

Personally, I don’t think the game will get called off(?) No rain overnight, obviously the winds are going to be mental, it’s just how their pitch handles it. We’ll see

Edited December 6 by ETFC2001

[ETFC2001]

6 hours ago, No bull Towner said:

I'm ever optimistic of a win and ever optimistic of a change in tactic....we can but hope! Doubt match will happen tomorrow though with the impending weather so just hope they make a decision early to avoid me travelling unnecessarily 

I imagine they’ll tweet about a pitch inspection or something like that tomorrow. Got to be quite early as I’m expecting a lot of Towner fans will start their travels early.

[ETFC2001]

18 hours ago, ETFC2001 said:

Would be a nice change to see. Don’t want to see us go 0-1 up, we decide to start sitting back and inviting pressure. 

Maybe a signing tomorrow announced as they like to do that on a Friday, hasn’t been one since Hornchurch in the 2nd round.

Like I thought so, two new signings coming through as announced on our website. Both permanent.

Bayley Brown - a midfielder with a bunch of step 2 experience, most noticeably with Hemel and St Albans. Most likely back up for Alfie or Scott if either get recalled.

Henry Hawkins - a young central defender from QPRs academy, last played for Whitehawk but had a loan with Farnborough last season. Probably just more depth if Cox gets recalled too. Apparently Gavin has been looking at him for the last 2 or 3 years so praises sung high.

No striker signing - I’m guessing his hard work isn’t paying off just as of yet.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Yep, still nothing new up front.

I note that Hawkins has been part of a Whitehawk defence which shipped 3 against Hendon and 5 against Chatham within the past couple of weeks. (I was too scared to look back any further...!)

Looks like he'll fit right in!😂

[ETFC2001]

Let’s hope Gavin can get something out of him, he has said he’s tried to sign him on multiple occasions so he must like him. I can’t find much on him to be honest except their horrible defensive record at Whitehawk.

Talking to a few Hemel fans, what I’ve gathered he’s a hard worker, strong in the air, physically very good but not very technical on the ball. I think he’ll be a decent pickup.

[ETFC2001]

From the ETFC website: 

Quote

“In terms of a long-term striker, there are one or two possibilities on the horizon and Gavin is keen to stress that not once have we gone the road of panic acquisitions despite a seemingly disruptive rotating door.”

Positive news I think. Long term is the key for me, I really would love for us to tie a striker down long term, and trust Gavin that his talent ID is good enough to bring in a striker that can score 15-20 goals from this season onwards.

Seems like Tuck and Cox are on their way back to their parent clubs in the new year which will be huge blows, think they’ve both been immense in their time here.

As far as pitch inspections/rescheduling goes:

Quote

“If tomorrow’s game is postponed, it will take the place of the Tonbridge league game on Tuesday which will again be rescheduled. There is likely to be a pitch inspection shortly after 9am.”

Let’s pray Storm Darragh is kind to us tomorrow! COYT

[Tally Ho]

On or not to be on ?

[ETFC2001]

Passed the first pitch inspection, another due at 12:30pm.