Bishop's Stortford 2, Saints 2

[AFF]

This was a strange one. A game of two halves.

 

We didn't play in the first half. Alex Martin opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a fierce 30 yard shot after Stortford broke from defence spreading the ball nicely across the pitch. Two minutes later, we were awarded a penalty when Steve Watts was tripped by at least one attempted tackler in their box. He chose to hit the spot kick hard at the middle of the goal and Mickey Desborough chose to stand still and block it.

 

There was a fierce wind which we didn't come to terms with and Stortford kept the ball on the ground, playing good football at pace. The second goal came on the half hour when three defenders seemed to stand back from a loose ball and Bunn flicked a boot at it over the stranded Clark. The home side had 3 or 4 chances to increase the lead before half time and we weren't at the races.

 

Whatever Steve Castle says to the players at half-time, he should try before the game. We were a different side [in the] second half, assisted by Stortford who didn't come out to play. Gary Wraight had another fine game...well, 45 minutes in the case of this one. we played the ball on the ground. We pulled a goal back on 76 minutes when Deacon showed good skill to find Clarke who released Wraight and his cross was met at the far post by Watts. 5 minutes later, Desborough gathered a Gough cross and then dropped it at the feet of Watts. He might, rarely, miss a penalty but he doesn't miss from two yards when unchallenged.

 

We had a couple of late chances to take all three points but, on balance, a fair result from a strange game. My MotM? Wraight or Watts, but they all played their part. For the Saints, a point on the road from the 9th placed side in the League. Now undefeated for three away games, we are on a run.

 

Note to all players: Just before the start of the game, pick a few blades of grass between forefinger and thumb. Toss the grass a metre or so into the air. Observe the fall of the grass. If the grass comes to ground in the top tier of the stand, it means that there is a stiff breeze blowing in that direction. From then on, adjust your sights when striking the ball to compensate.

 

 

[Webbo MFI]

AFF - people arn't interested in the game - how many fights were there? anything thrown on the pitch???

[Laz]

Only one at the end of the game between one of our players and the Stortford fans. Some threatening language was used.

[AFF]

Hi Webbo.

 

I was sitting in the main stand. Anything thrown from there would have been blown straight back into the face of the thrower by the Force 6 wind. See my 'Note to all players', above.

 

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[Laz]

Which way was the wind blowing, AFF?

 

The booing was clearly heard in the City end, so was the wind blowing towards us in the second half?

[AFF]

Laz! For Heaven's sake!

 

You need to do the 'tossing the grass in the air' thing, too. In your case, you might try to observe the corner flags rather than encroach upon the playing surface, on reflection.

 

The wind on Saturday was blowing directly across the pitch, towards the main stand. At right angles to the goals. From left to right as we were playing [in the] second half.

[Laz]

I prefer to watch which way the smoke from your cigars blows. Unfortuantely, with you in either your press or offical roles, it's not easy to see what's going on in the stand from behind the goal.

[Woody]

A fair resumé of the game, AFF. Just a couple of things. Clark was badly at fault for their first goal. I was directly behind as Martin let fly. It did swerve slightly but it was fully 30 yards out and Clark didn't move. I felt the whole game changed completely when Castle went off and was replaced by Deacon. We immediately began to play passing football and the results were there for all to see. As for the first 70 minutes however, they were as bad as anything I have seen this season.

[Bluesnet]

Attn: webbo - part timer etc. I note with interest on another thread that you have removed your official website links to your forum and your explanation for same. I must insist that you therefore also remove any link to www.stortfordfc.co.uk as I cannot guarantee that anyone linking to our site from yours will not read something they violently disagree with. Many thanks.

[Webbo MFI]

?

 

ok

[Webbo MFI]

all getting a bit out of hand really -

 

[Webbo MFI]

- maybe you should notify all other clubs that have a link to your site?

[Bluesnet]

My request was prompted by your need to remove links to your forum, presumably so your players couldn't read 'inflammatory comments' and your club wanted to distance itself from something outside of its control (which of course is entirely up to them to decide). Unless there are other reasons you can think up.

 

In short, if you can't link to your own fans forum, what justification could there possibly be to maintain links to anywhere else?

[Palomino]

Bluesnet.

 

Do you know if anyone at your club has or will be reporting the post-match incident at your ground to the Football Association?

 

If supporters of another club were to make a complaint also it would surely help bring some justice to the fans of our club.

[AFF]

Webbo and Bluesnet

 

Err....hang on a minute. Are you two having a spat?

 

As a supporter, I would quite like to see the linky thingy to other clubs remaining on OUR web-site. It's so much more convenient than having to use Jeeves. I see that the link to Braintree Town has been removed. Someone else afraid of a Hate Mob, presumably?

 

Webbo. Stop being a lap-dog of [other clubs] ruling classes, mate, and remember who your friends are/used to be. You lackey, you.

 

Tell that lot from Braintree that we will link to whomsoever we think fit. And that chap from Stortford - nice chap and all that, nice people on saturday, good hospitality etc - the same. Get a grip, Webbo.

 

Just remember. A wise man once told me that the North American Indians have a saying: "Nobody owns the land. Some simply have the responsibility for looking after it while passing through." You are one [indian] and the web-site is another [land].

 

 

[Webbo MFI]

Quote:

Bluesnet said:
My request was prompted by your need to remove links to your forum, presumably so your players couldn't read 'inflammatory comments' and your club wanted to distance itself from something outside of its control (which of course is entirely up to them to decide). Unless there are other reasons you can think up.

In short, if you can't link to your own fans forum, what justification could there possibly be to maintain links to anywhere else?

Appologies - I see your point

[AFF]

Lap-dog.

[Webbo MFI]

AFF

 

Bluesnet is correct - we link to forums of other clubs but have been asked by "the club" to remove our own.

 

I kind of wish I never agreed to the site being "official"

[Laz]

Backhanders, Webbo?

 

Good to see you've reverted to your old name.

[AFF]

Remove "our own" what?