If you can't be bothered to read why not try ...
http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BelperSouthport/
For the expert's eye" there's always .....
http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/SuthprtFACH0708/album1.html
I always thought it was going to be a long shot (I mean, I only “won it” late Thursday night) – but the new lens did not arrive. Not to worry – Mossley have a friendly game against Marsden on Tuesday - so hopefully, I can have a “bit of a play” up there.
Anyway to Saturday – left Mossley just before midday and had a fairly trouble-free trip down the A6 to Belper (went round the new “Sainsbury’s sponsored by-pass thingy” in Matlock as well – state of things to come in Belper maybe – but substitute Tesco for Sainsburys !) Got to Belper about 1330 – and I found myself in the “George” by 1345 slurping Falstaff Brewery “A Fistful of Hops” and watching Bath beat Harlequins, before the two-minute “hop” to Christchurch Meadow.
Both teams were giving it the pre-match warm-up routines – which seem to start earlier every season – I’m sure some of these routines are directly responsible for teams “running out of steam” in the last 15 minutes of a game – they’re knackered before they start !! Time for words with Tim (“Snapper”), MC Allington and "Mr. Laughlin" before a swift pre-flight pint of Pedigree from the jug.
Last time I was at Christchurch Meadow – against Causeway United in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying - there was a goal in the first 45 seconds, which caught me on the hop. This week I was prepared – just at the wrong bloomin’ end, as the ball looped over Adam Ogden’s head to give Southport a (very) early lead. After that however, it was fairly “even stevens” up to half-time. The second half saw all the pressure coming from Belper Town – a little bit more confidence, a little bit more “self-belief” and I’m sure an equaliser would have come. However it was a breakaway goal from Gray with about 15 minutes left that totally put the mockers on it …the third was academic.
So it’s Southport who move one step closer to the 1st Round Proper – but they certainly were not 3-0 better than Belper on the day. A fine bunch of fans as well – I just detected a touch of “arrogance” on the field – a bit of “us and them” – and I thought the referee was woeful – no sour grapes here either, there were fans from both sides (and neutrals too) who agreed. He seemed to be too easily intimidated by the “big boys”, and I think by the end his confidence and his self-belief had completely evaporated.
A couple of beers after the game was followed by a vain attempt to stay awake in front of the Rugby – I can remember 5-9 for some reason. Came back early from Belper this morning as our Michelle not feeling too good (some tropical disease from the Soukhs of Marrakech no doubt !) - and so to this .....here's the STS exclusive - a bit blurry I'm afraid, as it's been "cropped to buggery" as they say in the trade (!!) - but there's some strange goings-on between the Belper 'keeper and one of his defenders involving puckered lips and lifting of shirts ...
http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BelperSouthport/
For the expert's eye" there's always .....
http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/SuthprtFACH0708/album1.html
I always thought it was going to be a long shot (I mean, I only “won it” late Thursday night) – but the new lens did not arrive. Not to worry – Mossley have a friendly game against Marsden on Tuesday - so hopefully, I can have a “bit of a play” up there.
Anyway to Saturday – left Mossley just before midday and had a fairly trouble-free trip down the A6 to Belper (went round the new “Sainsbury’s sponsored by-pass thingy” in Matlock as well – state of things to come in Belper maybe – but substitute Tesco for Sainsburys !) Got to Belper about 1330 – and I found myself in the “George” by 1345 slurping Falstaff Brewery “A Fistful of Hops” and watching Bath beat Harlequins, before the two-minute “hop” to Christchurch Meadow.
Both teams were giving it the pre-match warm-up routines – which seem to start earlier every season – I’m sure some of these routines are directly responsible for teams “running out of steam” in the last 15 minutes of a game – they’re knackered before they start !! Time for words with Tim (“Snapper”), MC Allington and "Mr. Laughlin" before a swift pre-flight pint of Pedigree from the jug.
Last time I was at Christchurch Meadow – against Causeway United in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying - there was a goal in the first 45 seconds, which caught me on the hop. This week I was prepared – just at the wrong bloomin’ end, as the ball looped over Adam Ogden’s head to give Southport a (very) early lead. After that however, it was fairly “even stevens” up to half-time. The second half saw all the pressure coming from Belper Town – a little bit more confidence, a little bit more “self-belief” and I’m sure an equaliser would have come. However it was a breakaway goal from Gray with about 15 minutes left that totally put the mockers on it …the third was academic.
So it’s Southport who move one step closer to the 1st Round Proper – but they certainly were not 3-0 better than Belper on the day. A fine bunch of fans as well – I just detected a touch of “arrogance” on the field – a bit of “us and them” – and I thought the referee was woeful – no sour grapes here either, there were fans from both sides (and neutrals too) who agreed. He seemed to be too easily intimidated by the “big boys”, and I think by the end his confidence and his self-belief had completely evaporated.
A couple of beers after the game was followed by a vain attempt to stay awake in front of the Rugby – I can remember 5-9 for some reason. Came back early from Belper this morning as our Michelle not feeling too good (some tropical disease from the Soukhs of Marrakech no doubt !) - and so to this .....here's the STS exclusive - a bit blurry I'm afraid, as it's been "cropped to buggery" as they say in the trade (!!) - but there's some strange goings-on between the Belper 'keeper and one of his defenders involving puckered lips and lifting of shirts ...
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