Where are you going?

Sept 18, 2017 11:10:29 GMT irishrover said:

Sept 18, 2017 10:30:04 GMT strung out said:

Not football, but I was here a couple of weeks back:

Chewie - I think I have been passed that ground on a number of occasions going to see relatives in the valleys.  There is a very interesting ground that's similar (although clearly bigger in capacity) at the bottom of the Brynmawr valley but I think they only play Rugby there.

Not sure where that could be, Treharris have a lovely little ground as well though...

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Not quite on the same theme but I wanted to mention this somewhere.

Would you rather be 3-0 down at half time or down to 9 Men after 30 minutes? A short while ago  I saw both of these things happen in 72 hours between the same teams!

FA Cup Qualifying Round between Stockport County and FC United - I attend as an FC United supporter.  First game at Edgeley, FC are absolutely dreadful despite a pretty big away following. Stockport play them completely off the park and they get into half time 3-0 down and it could/should have been 7. It looked like a pro team playing a side 3/4 divisions below them.  Cue 3 substitutions, a switch of formations and the bringing on of an 18 year old winger from Oldham who proceeded to tear Stockport a new one (said 18 year old has since been swiftly recalled - I can imagine the conversation 'Umm...why did we let one of our good players go to Conference North when we have 11 bad players in our stating 11?'.  FC absolutely batter Stockport for the entirety of the 2nd half and pinched a well deserved equaliser with a couple of minutes left through a penalty.  The away end was going mental - most fun I've had at a match for ages.  The replay date is set 2 days later at Broadhurst Park.

Again, a decent crowd shows up and there's an air of expectation that surely FC have all the momentum on their side.  Instead after 15 minutes a Stockport player slips though and is (questionably) shirt tucked down by an FC player who is the last man.  Looked like a borderline dive to me but the ref had no hesitation in sending him off.  Then after 30 mins, an FC centre midfielder who was already on a booking launches himself insanely into a tackle studs up - at least a booking, probably should have been straight red they are down to 9 men for 60 mins. Stockport's performance reminded of that time we managed to lose to a 9 (possibly even 8 come the end) man Luton at home. They just got really tight trying to break FC down and no one was running at players - it was very predictable, work it outwide , throw it in the box and hope the extra man creates the chances. Except they didn't - FC were unbelievably disciplined for a semi-pro side, held their shape almost perfectly and restricted Stockport to shots from 20-25 yards from which the goalie made several smart saves. Then, about 5 mins into the second half, FC won a corner and veteran striker Tom Greaves (now manager due to poor league form leaving FC precariously in the Conference North relegation zone) slipped in at the back post to score what turned out to be the winning goal.

Now I'm not sure you can find an example of a team coming through a cup tie with the odds so insanely stacked against them.  Disappointingly they then went and lost rather limply at Telford in the final qualifying round but I'm not sure I've seen anything quite like it.  Our old friend Jim Gannon, still unbelievably the manager of Stockport (3rd go around I believe) was typically magnanimous in defeat 'They may have fluked a win in the Cup but that won't stop them going down' - FC play at Edgeley next Saturday, I will enjoy reprising the 10 years dormant 'We all agree Jim Gannon's a w****r' chant!