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Post by hatter_in_macc on Aug 22, 2017 17:16:33 GMT
A breather from midweek football, for the first time since the season's start, means that we are next in action this Saturday.
Back we go, as well, to EP - and receive, in Trinity, opponents over whom, appropriately enough, we have done the double three times in the last four years.
There could be goals galore, on the evidence of last weekend, too. Gainsborough's match went several better than our five-goal tussle at Leamington, as they went down by the odd one in nine against Harrogate!
Post all the usual stuff here...
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Post by hermannsays on Aug 22, 2017 21:43:50 GMT
Yup, they've conceded loads already and, sans Montrose, we've not yet clicked into the defensively-solid team on show for much of last season. A 0-0 then! For them, both Worsfold and Jarman know where the net is and King has some quality to be aware of too. Certainly not a team you can expect to keep missing their chances if you're not tight at the back.
Although the likes of Cowan, O'Halloran, Duxbury, Walker and McKenna can offer freshness across these Saturday/Monday games, the physical burden on Oswell will be great. Hopefully we're winning 3-0 with 20 minutes left so he can be withdrawn for Monday!
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Aug 23, 2017 18:23:21 GMT
My 'Take Five' piece ahead of Saturday, to appear before long on a COWS near you:
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TAKE FIVE… Gainsborough Trinity
By Hatter in Macc
1. The ‘Holy Blues’ of Gainsborough, eh? They must hark back to biblical times!
Well, compared with some of the young clubs we have faced so far, yes! Trinity, having been formed in 1873, are the most elderly outfit in the National League North by some eight years, ahead of Southport (and with County a decade behind in joint-third, alongside Chorley and Darlington).
Gainsborough can also lay claim to having, in The Northolme, the oldest ground at which one club has played continuously. And as a sporting venue - often known as ‘The Chapel’ - its history goes back even further, to the mid-19th Century, when cricket matches were first held there.
2. One of a good few clubs from the Victorian era with faith at its roots, I am guessing?
Indeed so. The top two levels of English football today have no fewer than 10 - including Aston Villa, Everton, Manchester City, Southampton and Tottenham - that owe their creation to local churches looking to provide recreational activities (and alternatives to pubs and brothels!) for the ‘labouring poor’. And, similarly, the then-vicar of Gainsborough’s Holy Trinity Church - which now houses an arts centre - is credited with having established a football club in the Lincolnshire town.
Reverend George Langton Hodgkinson was all the more altruistic in having formed the ‘Trinity Recreationists’ (as the club was initially known), given that his personal sporting passion was for cricket. He himself turned out as a right-handed batsman of some note for Oxford University and Middlesex, as well as featuring further in the first-class game for ‘Gentlemen’ against ‘Players’.
3. And where did those footballing feet of Trinity go on to walk in ancient times?
They made it to the Football League in 1896, and stayed in the Second Division until 1912 - when the ‘Holy Blues’ not only finished bottom and failed to be re-elected, but, to add insult to injury, were voted out against incoming near-neighbours Lincoln City.
Since then, Trinity have tended rather to get those feet under the tables of leagues - existing contentedly in the Midland League for much of the following half-century or so, before becoming founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968 and then clocking up a record 36 years of continuous service at that level. Even now, the constant process of non-league-pyramid-restructuring does little to unsettle Gainsborough - one of only two clubs (the other being recent opponents Harrogate Town) to have remained in the NLN since its creation 13 years ago.
4. How about players to have been at both clubs? Bet there are a few ‘Lincs.’ Arf.
There is certainly one that most fans on each side will remember - and rather fondly, too. Striker Luke Beckett, who netted 45 times for County (2002-04), later added another 38 goals to his career-tally as a Trinity player (2008-11).
No-one will still be alive to tell the tale of watching Joe Raby in action, but he made history in 1902, and having joined the Hatters after three separate spells at The Northolme, by scoring County’s first-ever goal at Edgeley Park… spookily (was The Holy Ghost at work?), against Gainsborough! And, from the not-so-distant past, attacking midfielder Phil Brown and forward Ernie Moss (both at County in 1986/87) later spent time with Trinity - the latter as manager on two different occasions - while, more recently, Ross Greenwood (2004/05) plied his trade in midfield there a couple of years after leaving EP as a defender.
5. Any tips on a winner for Saturday?
Not with my betting record. But it may be worth putting your shirt on this weekend’s victorious team for the reverse-fixture in Gainsborough next March. Every one of the last four seasons has seen either the Hatters (three times) or Trinity (in 2014/15 - the season, lest it be forgotten, in which we finished with nine players at The Northolme) do a ‘double’!
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Post by gazz on Aug 23, 2017 18:54:49 GMT
Superb reading again, Maccy - kudos to whoever came up with the idea!
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Aug 23, 2017 19:01:24 GMT
Cheers, Gazz-man - and, actually, it was me!
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Post by gazz on Aug 23, 2017 19:30:33 GMT
Cheers, Gazz-man - and, actually, it was me!
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djm68
Random Canadian Substitute
George Whitelaw's Gut
Posts: 23
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Post by djm68 on Aug 24, 2017 12:58:11 GMT
Loving "hatter_in_macc"s stuff! Gainsborough can also lay claim to having, in The Northolme, the oldest ground at which one club has played continuously. And as a sporting venue - often known as ‘The Chapel’ - its history goes back even further, to the mid-19th Century, when cricket matches were first held there. I believe if cricket and football clashed, then Trinity would plav at Sincil Bank and also at The Bowling Green Ground (which according to Wiki - "It was an extremely basic ground; there were no spectator facilities, and canvas sheeting borrowed from the local Agricultural Society was erected around the ground when matches were played".]! Never seen Trinity (well, seen Wakefield, but not this one!) before, so looking forward to it. Ye Olde Vic after for me, but not before this time (although it will be open from 12:30).
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Aug 24, 2017 13:26:21 GMT
Many thanks, djm!
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Post by ceefer on Aug 24, 2017 18:12:01 GMT
It's worth the trip to Trinity to see a really old ground with plenty of history.
Lets hope on the return trip we dont come up against that ref who sent off 2 of our players and totally wrecked the game
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Post by ceefer on Aug 25, 2017 19:43:36 GMT
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Post by ceefer on Aug 25, 2017 19:46:53 GMT
Going for a 4-2 County win. Its time now for County to step up and push forwards. A quick early goal and domination of the midfield will do for starters.
Main course and dessert later................
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Post by gazz on Aug 25, 2017 20:07:38 GMT
That's a great idea, it would be good to see something like that at EP, but I guess the local residents wouldn't be too keen.
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Post by ceefer on Aug 26, 2017 11:08:59 GMT
That's a great idea, it would be good to see something like that at EP, but I guess the local residents wouldn't be too keen. I reckon they must have given a few free tockets out as there are houses that back on to the Northolme.
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Post by gazz on Aug 26, 2017 11:29:45 GMT
That's a great idea, it would be good to see something like that at EP, but I guess the local residents wouldn't be too keen. I reckon they must have given a few free tockets out as there are houses that back on to the Northolme. Probably, mate.
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Post by hermannsays on Aug 26, 2017 17:07:00 GMT
We went with a 4-2-3-1 with Duxbury in for Hampson, Walker in for Winter and McKenna in for Stephenson. Each justified their selection with Duxbury doing well, Walker getting sponsor's MOM and McKenna getting the assist for the goal and offering the threat of pace in behind while on the pitch.
Trinity, having had a terrible start defensively to the season, clearly came with the 'do not concede' mentality and looked, somewhat surprisingly, completely devoid of ways to create any chances for their strikeforce. It wasn't until the 2nd half of each half that they really got into our defensive third - and that was only for brief spells. Such was our domination of the possession, it almost felt their best chance would could from us losing concentration stroking the ball around at the back!
The first half played out with us having lots of possession but not really creating too many good opportunities. At points, some of the lads were trying to force things forwards when keeping the ball moving quickly - even if sideways - would have been the better option. I guess they'll just have to understand to play to the principles and not to the sound of the groaners who think there's no point keeping the ball! Both Oswell and Warburton did force saves while the latter, and a range of other players, had shots from distance which were off target by some distance. Clarke had possibly the best chance of the first half with about 35 on the clock. Warburton whipped in a corner which Clarke met, unchallenged. Unfortunately his glancing contact wasn't enough to find the target.
Into the second half and Trinity dropped deep from the kick-off leaving one player up front. Could we break them down? Well, after about 10 minutes of what seemed like non-stop possession, McKenna worked a bit of magic down the left and put in a ball. The ball was fine but it just looked like it wasn't going to lead to a goal. Somehow, and to everyone's surprise, Oswell not only got to the header first but his flick was perfect, coming back in off the far post. At this point it looked like he had picked up a knock and he made his way slowly back to the centre.
Although Trinity tried to escape their defensive mentality, ultimately how they had played the first 60 minutes of the game killed them because they didn't have the strength on the bench to help them come back into proceedings. Within a minute of the new-Walker's arrival, replacing McKenna, he was through on goal. He slotted the ball past the outstretched arm of the 'keeper but his effort came back off the post. What an introduction that would have been! With Stephenson on for Oswell, he was the next to miss. Having been put in by Warburton, he rounded the 'keeper brilliantly but then, with an empty net facing him, side-footed it over. So, by now, the scoreline should have been 3-0 but it was 1-0 and such a miss gets everyone thinking this is all going to go horribly wrong!
With 10 minutes left, Smalley rose and headed onto the bar and this was followed up by the new-Walker having his second opportunity. After finally working it onto his left, he spun but put it wide of the target. The game's final effort was an excellent 25-yarder from Minihan, drilling it low and hard towards the far post. The 'keeper managed to tip it round the post for a corner.
Aside from the win, the best thing about today was seeing their manager wore a pen behind his ear.
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