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~ Laurence's football travels

Football: Wherever it may be

Daily Archives: September 9, 2012

Us & Them

09 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by laurencereade in O

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Tags

Adam Chapman, Adam Rooney, Aden Flint, Daniel Boateng, fa cup fixture, Giles Coke, James Constable, JPT Trophy, oxford united., Paolo Di Canio, Paul Caddis, swindon town, Wes Foderingham

Wednesday 5th September 2012 ko 7.45pm

Football League Trophy 1st Round

OXFORD UNITED 1 (Potter 88)

swindon town 0

Att 7,746 (1311 away)

Entry £20.50

Programme £3

There’s a fairly well established routine for Oxford United’s involvement for this competition. Prices are reduced to a uniform £10, and the North Stand isn’t opened for home fans. The programme is smaller, and a weakened side put out. There is of course of exception to any rule of Oxford United, and that is swindon town, so none of the above happened!

If you don’t understand the rivalry, then please have a read of https://laurencereade.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/all-quiet-on-the-western-front/ I think you’ll get the picture. I’d also point out that with the way the draw is regionalised, and that the competition is only for the bottom two divisions of the league, another A420 derby was perhaps more likely than you’d expect!

Last season both sides got something out of the rivalry. Oxford completed a double over the Robins, including a first win at the County Ground since 1973. swindon took the championship, and did so in some style. To add a certain piquancy to the tie, if any were needed, swindon were yet to score at the Kassam stadium, the FA Cup fixture in 2002 finishing 1-0 and last season’s league fixture 2-0. You felt that a side having strengthened in the summer further, would put to bed at least one of those statistics.

There was also the Paolo Di Canio factor to consider. There’s no arguing with a championship in your first season, but there’s always the propensity for the exitable Italian to explode. Already this season Captain Paul Caddis has been shipped out on loan following a bust-up with the manager, then another bust-up this time with goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, was papered over. I noted that the swindon fans seemed wholly behind their keeper, so perhaps they felt their manager calling their player “The worst professional I have ever worked with,” was a little wide of the mark. You just wonder what could happen next with Di Canio, it certainly isn’t dull at the other end of the A420!

It was a frantic affair as all local derbies should be. Smoke bombs were thrown, insults hurled, and there was an atmosphere I’ve never encountered at a FL Trophy game. Oxford with a midfield injury crisis gave a debut to Arsenal loanee Daniel Boateng in holding midfield role. He showed what a great prospect he’s considered to be, at centre half. swindon made by far the better start and missed a hatful of chances, the most glaring being Darren Ward’s free header from Adam Rooney’s free kick from the right. Adam Chapman’s dipping free kick after 40 minutes represented the U’s best chance of the half.

What turned the game was the introduction of Alfie Potter (for Boateng) on 53 minutes, his desire to run at defenders and a devastating turn of pace gave the Robins defence something different to worry about. Di Canio’s reaction was to sacrifice midfielder Giles Coke in favour of centre half Aden Flint. It cost his side the game, as Flint collided with Ward allowing James Constable space in the left channel. He looked up and his measured pass found Potter making a late run into the box, and he made no mistake slotting home under Foderingham.

That took the fight out of the visitors, as Oxford found it straightforward to play out time, for a victory that will be hard to put into context. Both sets of fans will either enjoy the win, or mourn the loss depending on their allegiance, but despite Di Canio’s pre-match comments about targeting this trophy the relevance of this result to both sides will be how they perform in the following weeks.

Red on one side, yellow on the other

Darren Ward heads over


Di Canio ponders 3 defeats against the old enemy

Formaldehyde

09 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by laurencereade in C

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Tags

artist damien hirst, Chalford, Chalford Sports and Social Club, Damien Hirst, flood, Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, Hardwicke, Hellenic hop, Lydney Town, Rob Hine, Sam Hill, Sam Mitcher, Stroud Charity Cup

Tuesday 4th September 2012 ko 6.30pm

Stroud & District Charity Cup- Section A

CHALFORD 0

HARDWICKE 3 (Mitcher 44og Hine 48 Hill 60)

80 minute game

Att 17 (h/c)

Entry FREE

Nothing for sale

Another one of those hard to reach in time games, near to Stroud! This time I found myself about 4 miles east of the town, or to be more exact 4 miles east and a few hundred metres ABOVE Stroud! You leave the A419 from Cirencester just before Brimscombe and travel along narrow winding streets, climbing all the time. The villages seen to have been built exclusively of Cotswold stone, and there’s a feeling that time has been forgotten here. Given the idyllic nature of the place its hardly surprising that the area has history of arts and crafts. The settling of displaced Flemish Huguenot weavers in the 17th and 18th centuries brought quality silk and woollen cloth manufacturing to the valley, and today artist Damien Hirst has a studio in the village. During the Second World War boxer Henry Cooper was evacuated here.

At the top of the hill lies the Sports and Social Club, and with Chalford playing in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, I wasn’t expecting much in the way of facilities. How wrong I was, as there’s a stand bisecting the dugouts, and a large social club. On a warm night the cover wasn’t needed and it was simply a case of relaxing and watching two decent teams.

The Stroud Charity Cup is split into several sections, according to the playing status. Section A is for GNSL or equivalent status, but there are 5 other sections, leading to 5 different trophies.

I should also point out that the away team are the Hardwicke of Hellenic hop infamy. For those who weren’t there, they were the away team at a groundhop game at Lydney Town in 2008 . The pitch was flooded, but was mopped to enough for the referee to allow the game to start. The water soon returned and the correct decision was eventually made to abandon the game. That was well after a foul-mouthed tirade from the Hardwicke manager at groundhoppers in general, that was utterly uncalled for, and left a sour taste in the mouths of all present. Hardwicke won the division that season but when unable to take promotion due to ground grading issues, the manager and team departed, and the club dropped into the Stroud & District League. They’re now back in the GNSL, but here’s Peter Leavis’ footage of that game!

It became clear immediately that the Hardwicke of today are an incredibly friendly bunch, and were happy enough to answer the questions I asked, I for one will make a point of visiting them is the future.

Chalford were very second best on this occasion, and once Sam Mitcher turned a low cross from the left past his own keeper, Hardwicke didn’t look back. Rob Hine slammed in the second direct from a corner, and Sam Hill’s beautifully directed lob-header rounded off the scoring.

All in all a highly satisfying evening out. Next time I’m in the area I will get there earlier and photograph the village, and visit some of the galleries. Its a place worth more time than the 2 hours I spent there.




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