GLENAFTON ATHLETIC (Loch Park)

WEST OF SCOTLAND CUP SEMI-FINAL, GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3-2 ARTHURLIE, ATTENDANCE: 281

As seems to be the norm, the last few weeks of the season can be stretched out with visits North of the Border, as the Junior season complete their usual backlog of fixtures. This year is no exception and, with fixtures scheduled for the next three Saturday's, season 2012/13 can safely be extended into June.

Today was a trip to New Cumnock, in Ayrshire, recently 'voted' as Scotland's most dismal town http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-21955916 though I found the views around this former mining town rather pleasant in the late May sunshine.

Formed in 1930, the club played on a colliery pitch until moving to the purpose built Loch Park in 1960. The ground is situated on land close to where the "Afton Water flows gently" into the River Nith.

The ground is just off the main road in the town and has a large main stand and rest is terracing, though most of this is overgrown, giving a sense of age to what is not, in football terms, a very old ground.

Both Glenafton and Arthurlie compete in the West of Scotland Superleague Premier Division, finishing the season in 4th and 6th place respectively. Three points separated the teams in the final table and Arthurlie won the league encounter at Loch Park back in September.

However Glenafton were not to be denied today and they won through to the final by the odd goal in five, despite playing the second half with 10 men.

Glenafton took control from the kick off and Ryan Millar gave the homesters the lead after six minutes before Ross Robertson doubled their lead after 12.

James Marks headed home after 42 minutes to halve the deficit, then right on the stroke of half time Jack Steele was given a straight red card for a challenge on 'Lie goalkeeper Kevin Macklin.

As expected with a  man advantage, Arthurlie came out for the second half all guns blazing and it was no surprise when Stephen McKeown equalised after 55 minutes. However rather than being the catalyst for a 'Lie victory the game swung back in favour of Glens and they created the better chances. With ten minutes remaining Gus Cochrane blasted home to book Glenafton's place in the final.

With "pit stops" in Dumfries and Auldgirth, it was a great day out, spent in great company.

 

  

  

EVERTON (Goodison Park)

FA PREMIER LEAGUE, EVERTON 2-0 WEST HAM UNITED, ATTENDANCE: 39,475

Well what a week it's been at Goodison Park as the club bids farewell to David Moyes after 11 years as Manager.

The Manager went out on a high after comfortably seeing off the Hammers courtesy of two Kevin Mirallas goals. The first goal was a great team effort whilst the second was a deflected shot. Everton should have scored plenty more but a combination of last ditch tackles, great saves and bad misses kept the scoreline down.




Kevin Mirallas (11) shoots at goal



Atmosphere was fantastic, It was a great team performance but as like every summer it is always a nervous time for Evertonians as we wait to see who will be still here come August. Speculation is already rife as to who is supposedly leaving, hopefully the departure of Moyes will not mean the break up of the team.

,

                  Could this be the last time we see these two in a blue shirt?

As well as Moyes leaving, it was also Phil Neville's Goodison swansong after being released by the club, though he didn't play today due to injury. In fact Neville hasn't played for the club since his suicidal back pass in the Wigan FA Cup game, when he was substituted at the interval.

I hoped that wasn't his last action in a blue shirt, but it looks like that is going to be the case, but the reception afforded to him yesterday showed that the Goodision crowd have appreciated his efforts over the past eight years. He always gave 100% and whenever he spoke, he always had nothing but high praise for the club and "got" what it meant to be a blue.

Another stalwart of the Moyes era also put in appearance to say a belated farewell to the fans, as Tim Cahill flew in from New York, despite playing for The Red Bulls the previous evening, to join in the occasion.

Not many players in the modern game have the commitment, will to win and sheer force of personality that Tim Cahill possessed and he was always superb in a blue shirt. Time waits for no man, but It was a genuinely sad day when he left last summer. He will always be one of my all time favourite Everton players.

Which brings me to David Moyes. There was always an air of inevitability that he would replace Taggart in the Man Ure hot seat when the moment arose, so it was no real shock when Moyes was appointed last Thursday.

It's a strange one for me as I have never been a huge fan of Moyes but I am fully appreciative of what he has done for Everton over the last decade, dragging us from perennial relegation candidates to regular top half finishes on a budget that was mid-table at best.

After the reign of the Blessed Walter, the bar was set pretty low so there was really only one way up. The way Moyes did it wasn't particularly eye catching at first, but I suppose you had to be pragmatic with what you had at your disposal. However, after four years of watching Moyes "get 1-0 up and defend it" type of football (amongst other reasons) it was too much for me and that is where I bailed out as a season ticket holder.



Last time in the 'home' dugout for
David Moyes

In fairness though, as the team improved over the following seasons some of the football played was superb but there was always a sense that those negative thoughts were never far away in Moyes mind. When it really mattered, when we were on the fringes of kicking on, we always seemed to fall short. There has always been the frustration with some of his negative tactics and team selections, one up front at home against "lesser" opposition or his appalling record away from home against the "Sky four". You can only blame the lack of funds so far and I think Moyes has to take some of the blame, last season's loss to the RS at Wembley being the nadir as far as I was concerned.





Another end of an era:
Today was also the last
paper issue of WSAG.
This fanzine had been
regular reading all my
adult life

Despite no silverware to show for his reign, even I cant argue with the regular top 6 or 7 finishes on a shoestring budget and there is no doubt he has left the club in a better position than when he arrived and the appreciation he got during today's game (however, the Gwladys Street did drop a wee reminder of the rivalry as the classic "Oh Manchester..." was belted out with gusto) and on the lap of honour was well deserved.





Who will follow in Moyes footsteps, well who knows, none of the bookies favourites whet the appetite, but make no mistake he will be taking over a fantastic club. We are Everton. Onwards and Upwards.



David Moyes receives a guard of honour at the end of the game,
as well as rapturous applause



Another stalwart of the Moyes era Tim Cahill flew in to say goodbye,
after playing for New York Red Bulls the previous evening



This will have to be removed by August!!


There have been plenty of highs and lows over the last 11 years, but based on games I went to (hence no mentions of regularly tossing those phonies from Citeh) here are my Five most memorable Moyes games....

1. 20/04/05 Manchester United (home) 1-0. Goodison was rocking as Big Dunc terrorised Rio Ferdinand as the Blues recorded a great win to all but seal a top four finish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=586JDNl_pv0

2.12/03/08 Fiorentina (home) 2-0. After a dreadful away leg which left us 0-2 down, the atmosphere at Goodison was electric as the Blues levelled the aggregate score before losing on penalties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yghfGTKNYdE

3.08/11/07 Nuremburg (away) 2-0. My first ever European trip and I along with 6,000 blues travelled to Germany to witness a blue victory. I will always be grateful for that chance to travel abroad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hznYtrlweXU 

4.19/04/09 Manchester United (Wembley) 0-0. My first trip to the new Wembley and Everton reach the final with a 4-2 win on penalties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JSynnf-0ZQ

5.11/12/04 Liverpool (home) 1-0. The famous Carsley Derby. What a great day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cNt76G4mIQ

PEN-Y-FFORDD (The Castle Ground)

WELSH NATIONAL LEAGUE (WREXHAM AREA) PREMIER DIVISION, PEN-Y-FFORDD 5-2 MOLD ALEX, ATTENDANCE: 38 (h/c)

With the conclusion of the season drawing ever near, there are very few games to choose from, so as I generally do at this time of year I keep it local. Today I opted for for a visit to Pen-y-ffordd and their game with Mold Alex in the Welsh National League (WNL).

Pen-y-ffordd started out as kids team in the 1970's, set up with the aim of giving the children of the village a chance to play football. The club progressed and established a senior section in 2001. Over the next decade or so they reached the level where they are now, that is the Premier Division of the WNL.

However in order to obtain promotion they had to leave their home in Pen-y-ffordd and find a ground to satisfy league requirements. After much hard work they did just that, setting up base at 'The Castle Ground' in the grounds of the Hanson (nee Castle) Cement works in 2011. This is just down the road in Padeswood.

The club organised an official opening in the October of that year and I know many ground hoppers who attended and had nothing but praise for the club.

In contrast, today's visitors have a long and illustrious history but find themselves competing at this level after relegation from the Cymru Alliance in 2010.

This game was great entertainment as both teams decided attack was the best form of defence, maybe because the respective defences were a little suspect given what occurred in the opening 45 minutes!!



Nathan Lavender's effort nestles in the back of the net



Pen-y-ffordd took the lead after just 3 minutes when a free kick was swung into the Mold box and Nathan Lavender headed home. Two minutes later though Alex were level as Anthony Mee converted a penalty kick.

After 7 minutes Pen-y-ffordd restored their lead when Tom Hainsworth curled a delicious shot into the top corner of the net.  With 13 minutes on the clock Mold were level once again when Damon Ketly raced clear, rounded the 'keeper and rolled the ball into the unguarded net.

After 20 minutes Pen-y-ffordd were in front yet again as Hainsworth shot home for his second of the game.



Anthony Mee scores from spot to make it 1-1



There could have been many more goals in the intervening minutes as both teams missed a glut of chances, Mold were especially guilty of missing a few sitters and they were made to pay as a routine shot was initially saved by the Mold 'Keeper, before a combination of errors led to the ball squirming over the line and the 'keeper getting the final touch (41).

As was expected, the managers got hold of the teams at the break and sorted out said suspect defences so the game was a little more tighter in the second period.

One further goal after half time finally put the result beyond doubt. That came courtesy of man-of-the-match Tom Hainsworth who completed his hat-trick with a neat turn and finish (58).

The scoreline completed a miserable week for Mold Alex as they lost out on the WNL title to Chirk AAA. 

An enjoyable afternoon, despite the weather, and, as I generally find, the WNL did not disappoint and I would highly recommend a visit to Pen-y-ffordd. 

RUGBY TOWN (Butlin Road)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL PLAY-OFF FINAL, RUGBY TOWN 1-3 BIGGLESWADE TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 1,126

It was a gorgeous Bank Holiday Monday as I headed down the M6 for a tasty game at Butlin Road. Rugby Town and Biggleswade Town were competing for the right to be playing Southern League Premier football next season.

Rugby Town have had an interesting history to say the least. I hope I've got it right!  The actual name Rugby Town was not the original name of the current incarnation. The club began as Valley Sports before becoming Valley Sports Rugby in 1971.

VS Rugby moved to Butlin Road in 1973 when they ground shared with the original Rugby Town, but Rugby Town folded before the year was out, after spending 15 years in the Southern League.

VS Rugby became the main tenants and, after winning the FA Vase in 1983, reached the Southern League before being liquidated in the mid 1990's. Supporters rescued the club and they became known as Rugby United before everything came full circle, so to speak, when they changed their name to Rugby Town.

After being pipped to the title by Burnham, today was a chance for the club to return to the Southern Premier. Standing in their way were Biggleswade Town, who finished 11 points behind Rugby in the table but who had taken 4 points off them over their two league encounters.

There was a bumper crowd at Butlin Road today, treble their previous best crowd of the season, and a tight close game was expected. That is how it proved to be.

Rugby started brightest but Biggleswade worked their way into the game and overall there was nothing between the sides in the opening 45 minutes. Lewis McBride crashed a shot against the crossbar for Rugby and the Biggleswade attack forced Valley 'keeper David Bevan into meaningful action.

The deadlock was finally broken after 51 minutes when David Kolodynski broke clear and lifted the ball over Michael McEntegart to give the homesters the lead.

Rugby were starting to look the more dominant team but six minutes later Biggleswade were awarded a controversial penalty. A Biggleswade player went down in the box under a challenge from a defender, but from where I was stood the contact looked minimal. The linesman put the flag across his chest and, despite the protests, the penalty was given. Lee Allison kept his cool amongst the furore and stepped up to convert (pictured below).

The equaliser seemed to momentarily knock the stuffing out of Rugby and Biggleswade had chances to go in front, one effort from Craig Daniel being cleared off the line.

As the game wore on though it became more stretched and both teams were looking vulnerable to the counter attack and unfortunately for the majority of the crowd, it was Rugby who succumbed.





Paul Barnes celebrates his 2nd goal

 With just four minutes remaining a quick break saw the ball crossed into the box and Paul Barnes was there to fire home.

Just two minutes later, as Rugby pushed forward in desperate search of an equaliser, they got caught again and another cross once again found it way to Barnes at the back post who poked the ball home to seal a famous win for Biggleswade and with it promotion to Step 3, for the first time in their history.

Disappointment for The Valley, joy for The Waders but for me, an exceedingly enjoyable day in the sunshine at a rather splendid ground.

 

 



The Biggleswade players celebrate at the final whistle