|
|
Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 29, 2016 11:50:49 GMT
Next up - and, in terms of the new year, first up - the return-fixture in our festive double-header.
Only the second New Year's Day match at EP since we dropped into Non-league World, I think. Nice not to have too long a schlep to make, for a change!
Post all the usual malarkey, and your hopes and fears for 2017, here...
|
|
|
|
Post by hermannsays on Dec 29, 2016 13:43:10 GMT
County 2-1 (Lloyd and Ball), att. 4004.
|
|
|
|
Post by another_ruined_saturday on Dec 29, 2016 20:00:34 GMT
1-0, 3797.
|
|
|
|
Post by harrogatehatter on Dec 31, 2016 7:20:33 GMT
1-1 Big Kay. Att 3859
|
|
|
|
Post by another_ruined_saturday on Jan 1, 2017 13:08:50 GMT
guaranteed county win. i know i'm getting a bit 'dog ate my homework' at the moment, but...last night i was unloading grocery shopping bags from the back seat of my car. i have the stupid blokey thing of having to try and take everything in one trip, so i was getting the bags with my car keys in one hand and house keys in the other. dropped my car keys. if you projected a four foot circle around me it included a grid, but obviously that was only in one small bit of the four foot diameter. nevertheless, that's where they must have gone, because i was on my hands and knees looking under the car, checked all the floors inside, had the handbrake off and rolled it forward. also repeated that this morning in the light. no key. i have a spare. i have no idea where the f*** it is. my county fandom is an unfunny comedy at the moment.
|
|
|
|
Post by gazz on Jan 1, 2017 13:38:48 GMT
That's rotten luck, ars. I hope you can find that spare key soon, mate.
|
|
|
|
Post by another_ruined_saturday on Jan 1, 2017 16:27:11 GMT
well in michael clarke. 1-0 county, header from a corner.
|
|
|
|
Post by gazz on Jan 1, 2017 16:53:47 GMT
1-1 ffs
|
|
|
|
Post by another_ruined_saturday on Jan 1, 2017 16:53:52 GMT
1-1, and self-inflicted. smalley back pass from distance rolled under hinchliffe's boot and in, in the 88th minute.
|
|
|
|
Post by gazz on Jan 1, 2017 17:00:38 GMT
Very frustrating to drop two points in that manner.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 17:32:42 GMT
Just got back home now - what an utterly bizzare way to drop points. Very frustrating but you just have to laugh at times like this - it's like nothing I've ever seen at EP before and I've seen some strange stuff!
Harrogate were poor, and we should have had a penalty at 1-0 that could have killed the game. Hinchliffe will know just how big a mistake that was and will feel awful - as might Smalley for fizzing in a back pass at that stage of the game. I'm not going to chastise either of them for it - it was just a freak accident.
I said before Xmas I'd be happy with 4 out of 6 points in the Harrogate double header - and we've got them. It should have been 6 from 6, but it keeps us up there in the mix still.
Not much more you can say about it - only at County!
|
|
|
|
Post by jimboslovechild on Jan 1, 2017 17:48:29 GMT
I agree GTS: If you wanted to sum up the experience of supporting County, today's equaliser with two minutes to go would do the job.
|
|
|
|
Post by ceefer on Jan 1, 2017 18:22:30 GMT
Correction: it was Stopforth's pass back not Smalleys.  |
|
|
|
Post by bringbacklenwhite on Jan 1, 2017 18:38:15 GMT
Would have settled for 4 points from 6 over the Christmas/New Year holiday games but that seems more
like a defeat today with a bizarre late own goal.
Onward and upward though, these things happen. Could be worse ie Syria, Istanbul, being American in 2017 !!
|
|
|
|
Post by hermannsays on Jan 1, 2017 18:54:55 GMT
We started slow and invited pressure by conceding early free kicks. The formation appeared to allow them possession down Minihan's side and they doubled up a few times when help was slow to arrive from our midfield. This appeared to be Harrogate's best way of creating a chance but when they put balls in, we defended them well.
At the other end, little was building off K due to a lack of quality service combined with their two centre backs being allowed to pull him all over the shop. I don't think he was awarded one freekick throughout his time on the pitch. Same old story! We did rattle off a few attempts though, especially in the last 5 or so minutes of the half. Although a stalemate, our few chances had been better than theirs, we had looked a threat on a corner or two, and we knew JG would do something to change the game.
The boys came out for the 2nd half and CMW had been removed for Ross. CMW had taken a booking for a pull back to stop a break and had slid in to tackles several times - nothing sinister but always risking a second yellow if he kept it up. Lloyd, who had switched wings first half continued on the right, Minihan moved into right central midfield and Ross slotted in at right back. It took a little adjusting to but, with the extra legs in the centre and Lloyd getting more of the ball, the pressure started to be applied.
Then a moment of quality came with K getting it to Lloyd who hit a great strike... but the 'keeper pulled off an incredible save. Corner. Up came Clarke and Smalley and the ball in was great, giving Clarke something to attack. That he did and he notched once more.
We continued to turn the screw, again looking dangerous from corners to the back stick. K was struggling a bit by now after going completely committed into a 50/50 but taking a whack. Amis came on for K and he did what he usually does - try. And to be fair, he had a decent impact and tried to get a couple of shots off and forced their 'keeper and defenders to rush kicks which led to throws for us.
There was a shout for a penalty but, from the Pop, it looked like the defender came through the side and took the ball. Seemed like JG thought it was a pen though and most of the crowd so the highlights will show what happened! Lloyd also got bundled into the hoarding by what looked to be an unnecessary shove after the ball was out. No punishment. Their centre back, already on a booking after pulling Amis back then committed a second yellow - clear as day. Ref just called him to talk. It's the player's job to keep himself on the pitch, not the ref's! Ref wasn't the worst but clear yellows aren't just 'come here, let's talk' moments.
Then came 'their' goal. I remember shouting praise to Smalley - he was outstanding today - and knowing Stopforth was playing the ball to Hinchliffe, I turned to see our attackers, expecting a launched ball. I turned back to see Hinchliffe picking it out of the net. So, in the turn of a head I basically missed the OG!
Gutting, and freaky, to drop points like that but the defence was great today. I'll include Ross as he put his head in to difficult spots too when he came on, but defenders were committed in the air and on the ground and they worked hard to maintain their shape. Individually, that's the best I've seen Smalley play and Clarke always looked to be organising and a threat at set plays. Duxbury well deserves a mention for his 2nd half performance too.
Nothing happened today to suggest we can't be in the playoffs.
|
|
