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Blackburn Rovers 1-4 Nottingham Forest (EFL Cup Round Four) It was supposed to be Notts County v Barnet on Tuesday night but for Saturday’s FA Trophy matches being annoyingly frozen off, instead replayed in slightly warmer conditions three days later at the expense of the originally scheduled National League fixture which I was set to attend. I didn’t get an invite to the Magpies re-arranged visit of Chorley which ended 2-1 to Notts, so work done for the year, books & stats packed away until 2023, I’m back watching my own childhood sweethearts Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, as a supporter only, to follow my team over an eight-hour road trip and a couple of pints with PJ in Blackburn for the Carabao Cup Fourth Round tie. Last time watching the Reds was in the last round in the win against Spurs, a game that revitalised confidence going into the ‘winter break’ as Forest backed that victory up to beat Crystal Palace and sign off ‘world cup window’ with an uplifting Premier League win. Since then, we’ve had plenty of football elsewhere to get our teeth into and of course the Qatar final which ended in magnificent theatre on Sunday night, I watched it half cut, half in the pub and half at home, marvelling at Messi, mouth watered by Mbappe, mortified by the fame seeking torture of watching celeb chef Salt Bae get in on the selfies during Argentina’s trophy parading ‘moment’. Blackburn are going well in the Championship under former Newcastle United flop Jon Dahl Tomasson. The Danish centre forward signed by Kenny Dalglish in 1997 scored just three goals in 23 Premier League games before rejuvenating his career at Feyenoord and Milan, he’s in his first year in charge at Rovers after leading Swedish side Malmo to a couple of Allsvenskan titles in recent seasons and has done well so far, the team from Ewood Park sitting third in the division. Forest played on Friday night with a small number of fans travelling over to Valencia for a friendly match in which the Reds won 2-1, the game itself celebrating 100 years of the Mestalla Stadium. Valencia actually played at the City Ground back in 1965 in a game that celebrated 100 years of Nottingham Forest. Perhaps the two cities should be twinned? It’s 4pm and I’ve just arrived at PJ’s, his dad and his father-in-law are coming with us tonight, Ted the Red who often goes home and away, Rene the Canadian who hasn’t a clue what’s going on, or just how far Blackburn is from Nottingham. “There’s a crash on the M62” I tell PJ… “It’s been closed all day” as Sat Nav redirects us strangely up the A1… I leave PJ to it, head down delving into my work emails before resetting my fantasy team for the restart of the Premier League fixtures on Boxing Day. It’s dark and wet as we hit the M62 and cut across east to west, reliably informed it’s now fully open, but traffic is building up during rush hour and peak commuter period passing Leeds. Finally onto the M66 and the A56 we’re guided off at Haslingden heading over some murky hills of green into the valley of Blackburn past the Grey Mare Inn on the B6232 Grane Road, entering a borough twinned with Darwen populated of just 140,000… Surely the Premier League’s smallest previous title winning town? The Venue Traffic is bad as there’s 6,500 away fans tonight, all most likely guided by GPS from Nottingham down the same route as we enter Blackburn via the Haslingden Road. Parked up on a bit of wasteland opposite the Blackburn Empire Theatre, we walk over the Alan Shearer Way and down Bolton Road as we notice a dodgy looking lap dancers club which is unfortunately closed. It’s getting on for 7:45pm and I’m told to collect my ticket as it failed to arrive by post no thanks to the recent Royal Mail strike, walking towards the stadium the huge lights glowing in the dark above rows of terraced houses, we come to the large Jack Walker Stand, past the hospitality and players entrance as we reach the away supporters ticket kiosk where I’m told thankfully, my tickets are there, and that kick off has been delayed due to the earlier accident which caused a backlog of fans still to be outside the stadium. Tickets in hand, priced just £12 each for this particular match, we walk around to the Bryan Douglas Darwen End where it’s slow to get in. One guy in hi-vis casually stroking people’s shoulders and hips for weapons as we scan a ticket through an unattended electronic barrier and walk up to the second tier. It’s a lovely stand, roughly 25 years old, most of the stadium was built during the golden era built on uncle Jack’s millions, which saw the club win the Premier League title in 1995. Spacious inside the venue, most fans now at their seats, I buy PJ a chicken balti pie and pint of lager to thank him for driving, with just nine minutes to drink it until kick off, we race out freshly fuelled with under a minute to spare as I marvel at the classic looking venue only half full, but for the Forest end in full voice. The Game Blackburn have made eleven changes from the side that beat Norwich, Forest are at pretty much full strength, it seems a gimme to me as I check the odds firmly in the Reds favour, so much so it’s not even worth a bet. Steve Cooper's energetic side are on the front foot from the off and Brennan Johnson is causing havoc down the right, he’s looking sharp tonight, electric pace, quicker than shit off a shovel but he spurns a great opportunity to score before being felled inside the box by Scott Wharton. Johnno slots home from the spot to send the Reds fans into a chorus of ‘he’s one of our own’. There’s so much time on the ball for him down the right, he’s squared to Taiwo Awoniyi but his effort is well saved by Aynsley Pears who I’m sure is the son of former Boro goalkeeper Stephen. At least, he looks like him and has the same surname. Uncanny? I tell PJ “no way the Rovers left back is coming out for the second half” as he’s exposed alone and unwilling to defend, Johnno has free run as Forest dominate but as I head for a pint to beat the half time rush, a cheer from the stands tells me Blackburn have scored. The Score I’m perched under the stand the whistle only just gone, with two pints of mainly froth and partial fosters in Blackburn logoed plastic cups, PJ walks over and says “bloody rubbish” as the Reds relinquish a lead that they should have added to, not surrendered. We harp on about not taking your chances and scoring when you’re on top, how they might regret not winning this game and what losing it might do to confidence, as we take our seat for the second half (along with Blackburn’s left back Mola who by now is as I predicted, replaced), a few moments in, we needn’t have worried. Jesse Lingard is racing at defender Wharton who was apparently credited for the equaliser (which I missed), the defender who already conceded a first half penalty again sticks out a leg, Lingard over with just the goalkeeper to beat but outside the box, Wharton booked, luckily for him, but not so lucky moments later, as Lingard’s deflected free kick takes a couple of nicks and wrong foots Pears to give Forest the lead. The better side in control and looking more like adding to their tally than conceding, as Pears saves from Awoniyi after slick play by Johnson inside the area, it’s one way traffic, and when Lingard finds Awoniyi on 79, the Nigerian striker does the rest, calmly shrugging off his marker to slot home past the keeper and put the game to bed. After kissing his shin pads in celebration, Awoniyi is substituted for Sam Surridge who gets a warm reception from Forest fans, you can tell when a player is liked, an underrated footballer appreciated by his own, and late on he sends Johnson through, the Welshman calmly finding the corner to round off a fabulous win for the Forest faithful, by now in full voice of cheer. The Stars A lot to be happy with as a Forest fan, Brennan Johnson the star of the show with his electric pace steals the limelight with two goals but the workrate of Jesse Lingard and Taiwo Awoniyi really impresses me, fitness levels of Lingard in particular looking so much better than they were two or three months ago, the quality the Reds shown in possession, in particular through Swiss international Remo Freuler and Lingard, often a level above what the boys from Blackburn could produce, at times the industrious Orel Mangala looks like he could be a thrilling footballer, but is one that seems to be more seven out of ten than outstanding when I’ve seen him play, I’m always left impressed, but feeling like he can do more during a game to be the absolute next level Premier League beast that can compete with the likes of Casemiro, Thiago and Kante in opposite but same position. In defence, Harry Toffolo at left back has a faultless ninety minutes and his old Huddersfield team-mate Lewis O’Brien does well when he came on as a sub. Willy Boly and Joe Worrall but for a couple of nervy moments are relatively solid as centre halves. For Blackburn, well let’s just remember that eleven changes were made by Tomasson, and this was far from a first team which rested the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Sam Gallagher & Bradley Dack, but one that has a few promising starlets inside its young makeup. 17-year-old Ashley Phillips did well at centre back whilst 18-year-old Adam Wharton, brother of Scott who assisted his older siblings goal from a free kick, looks like one for the future, the Wharton’s both born and bred in Blackburn, whilst the best player from an attacking sense looked like Dilan Markanday, a diminutive right winger signed from Spurs Academy, he’s technically superb with very good feet and could be pushing for first team opportunities in good time. The Verdict Football is back, the World Cup is over and Premier League teams are again focus of our nations newspaper sporting column inches for the foreseeable. The Carabao Cup is now getting to the business end with Nottingham Forest in a quarter finals for the first time since 1994 (back when it was sponsored by Coca-Cola) where they were then beaten by John King's Tranmere. Seven Premier League teams and Charlton Athletic of League One will now hope for a favourable draw and further shot at Wembley plus silverware. Whilst Blackburn’s eyes were looking elsewhere at their own more important Premier League push, you can probably understand just why less than 10,000 of their own supporters turned up tonight, they never had a chance, because they never gave themselves a chance to win with the side they put out, only time will tell if that was the right decision by their manager, to simply throw this one away. For Forest, a lifting victory ahead of Manchester United in their Premier League return, whilst Blackburn, a proper town where football meets the working class, well I wouldn’t begrudge them a return seat at the big table should they achieve their goal of promotion this season. A good night out in the North West and a stadium well worth a visit, just a shame the lapdancers wasn't open, so Rene could have really seen what Blackburn was all about. The Teams Blackburn Rovers: Aynsley Pears, Lewis Travis, Ashley Phillips (Dominic Hyam 72), Scott Wharton, Clinton Mola (Tayo Edun 46), Jake Garrett, Adam Wharton (John Buckley 73), Dilan Markanday (Tyrhys Dolan 72 (Ben Brereton Diaz 88)), Sammie Szmodics, Ryan Hedges, George Hirst. Nottingham Forest: Dean Henderson, Neco Williams (Loic Mbe Soh 88), Joe Worrall, Willy Boly, Harry Toffolo, Ryan Yates, Orel Mangala (Lewis O'Brien 63), Remo Freuler (Jack Colback 83), Brennan Johnson, Jesse Lingard (Sam Surridge 83), Taiwo Awoniyi (Emmanuel Dennis 82). 7:45pm Kick Off. Wednesday 21st December 2022, Ewood Park, Blackburn (att 15,138).

Nottingham Forest 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur (EFL League Cup Round Three) It’s not business but pleasure tonight, a club I’ve supported man and boy, going back to the mid eighties when under the days of the great Brian Clough, the City Ground had me hooked watching the likes of Neil Webb, Des Walker, Brian Rice and Tommy Gaynor. Back then of course, Nottingham Forest were a top league club, and these days, this season, alas, they are also a top league club, but struggling at the foot of the table after signing 111 new players in the summer transfer window. I’ve been a few times this Premier League campaign already, I was there to watch the win against West Ham… I was there to witness frustrating losses against Bournemouth & Fulham, I turned down a ticket for the win against Liverpool, on the basis that I didn’t fancy seeing the side I loved get beat and outplayed. But I really fancied seeing Tottenham, under the lights, in the Carabao Cup, nothing much on it in the grand scheme of things, a chance to play without the pressure on, staying up this season is Forest’s motive, for Spurs they probably have their eye on Champions League qualification, and trying to get as far in that competition as they possibly can. I’m picking up Kighty at 4pm before an Uber to the Test Match pub in West Bridgford, an art-deco style boozer a good fifteen minutes’ walk from the City Ground. Kighty’s hungry and there’s a new Turkish place open next door, so we have a quick couple of Madri’s before eating a lovely mixed grill washed down with another two Efes. Times flying, It’s already well past seven so we get a march on towards the stadium, walking down the Avenue, through the leafy West Bridgford and past pretentious eateries with the odd franchise thrown in. We cut down the back of the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground walking past the Larwood & Voce pub, across the Radcliffe Road and up the terraced street of Colwick Road towards the Bridgford Stand and into the car park towards our turnstile, where the queue to get in is bloody massive. The Venue “This can’t be right” I say to Kighty, there’s some issues with the ticket scanner and as Mull of Kintyre is being blasted out there’s hundreds still lining up to get in. We sneak around the side and get in ten deep, I’ve never understood the English love for queuing, there’s four doors and one bloody queue? Without an ounce of guilt, we’re up the steps of the Brian Clough Stand and at our seats in the upper tier shortly into the game, I’m sitting next to Chinese Tourists, the Premier League already taking its toll on the calibre of club attendee. The City Ground is stunning, and viewed high up in the Clough Stand, built on the back of the clubs championship and European winning success in the late seventies/early eighties, you see the more modern sloped roof stand of the Bridgford End housing away supporters to the left, the famous Trent End to the right and opposite, the old Main Stand which is soon to be knocked down and replaced with a modern all singing and dancing corporate entertaining affair. The Game Forest have made nine changes from the draw against Brentford at the weekend but on paper, this team probably looks the best gelled side that Manager Steve Cooper has put out all season. Spurs only make three changes from the side that lost against Liverpool, Harry Kane in attack, their style questioned of late for being too negative, Antonio Conte looks to have set his side up with three holding midfielders. I have it as 3-6-1 as Forest play what looks like a diamond style 4-4-2. Jesse Lingard is having a good game, buzzing around behind the front two, he’s enjoying himself and seeing a lot of the ball, Mangala in behind is exceptional, as are Ryan Yates and Lewis O’Brien, I really like this midfield quartet. Forest almost take the lead with a fortuitously deflected effort off Taiwo Awoniyi, the ball seems to cannon off him, on to the post and the rebound is saved by Fraser Forster, who also denies Joe Worrall shortly after, who should probably have done better to smash his effort straight at the goalkeeper. Forest the better side in the first half although we don’t see the final five minutes of it as we head down for two luke-warm bottles of Carling at a price of £10. The Score I’ve only just taken my seat five minutes into the second half when a slick passing move ends with Lingard sliding to feed Renan Lodi who cuts in from the left and onto his right foot before curling a beauty into the goal before celebrations of joy. Forest almost go two up as Lingard plays Surridge through to race away from his marker, the tall and lanky striker strikes straight at Forster to be denied but moments later it’s all forgotten, Aurier crossing, Surridge nodding back and Jesse Lingard heading home his first goal in Garibaldi, the Forest fans, of which I’m one, go mad, hugging and bouncing, cheering and singing. The Chinese are also getting in on the act. The atmosphere is wild, the decibel levels increased, there’s a buzz around the Forest team as they play with swagger, the fans in full confident mood are also giving it some, “Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that” is echoed to the humorous response from the Spurs fans of “you weren’t even born”. England captain Harry Kane is substituted to jeers following a largely redundant hour of football, his replacement Richarlison of Brazil gets a chorus of boos, he upset Reds fans in the recent league game where his ball juggling failed to get the approval of Brennan Johnson. Djed Spence enters the field of play for Tottenham, a star on loan from Middlesbrough last season at the City Ground, still very much loved by the Forest faithful, his applause much warmer than Richarlison’s who is shortly after tackled by Mangala, already on a yellow card, the Referee quick to send off the midfielder who was only booked a few moments earlier. That leaves Forest seeing out the game for the final fifteen minutes as changes are made to thwart any Spurs attack, who bar a Richarlison header which goes in, whilst standing five yards offside, the away side are out with a whimper, beaten by a much better team on the night. The Stars Jesse Lingard is the man of the match and he looks to enjoy the freedom he’s given in a role that suits him, playing up to two strikers and in front of three midfielders who all do the dog work, Forest look a better team when Mangala is in it, Ryan Yates and Lewis O’Brien will run forever, the gel of this particular midfield just works, but defensively their players are faultless too, Joe Worrall and Willy Boly can be proud of their performances at centre half, Renan Lodi down the left and Serge Aurier down the right, also impressive, technically good and quick, Wayne Hennessey in goal hardly having a save to make. For Tottenham, it’s a difficult night, they never really looked as if they fancied it from the off, one eye on their league match with Leeds on Saturday, one eye on the World Cup for many of their players, not wanting to get injured too near the pinnacle of all football competitions which starts in just a couple of weeks time. Oliver Skipp provided a couple of decent moments, prepared on the odd occasion to drive with the ball, but other than Fraser Forster whose saves kept the score down, none of their starting eleven exactly covered themselves or their club in glory. Off the bench, the sight of Djed Spence in full flow got me questioning, why is he not playing more regularly? His willingness to run with the ball and carry it forward with pace and power must by now have Tottenham fans asking for his name to be on the team sheet more often, he has to be better than Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal? Perhaps there’s another reason why Conte won’t play him? Richarlison, the party villain who everyone would have at their club, is a player who has exceptional qualities and a hard-working endeavour, a bit of a loose cannon, he’s in the Brazil squad to go to Qatar, that doesn’t stop him putting in a shift and challenging and racing for every ball in the half hour he’s on the field. A throwback player with a touch of panache. The man you love to hate. The Verdict No club has ever done what Nottingham Forest have done and stayed up, but that’s more reason to believe in what they are doing is going to pay off, the players are certainly playing for the manager, for the badge, for the fans, and I wouldn’t be so hasty to write them off just yet. I feel for Spurs, they’ve gone from a good footballing team that never wins anything, to becoming a poor footballing team that is probably not going to win anything. I’m never one for style over substance, but I hardly feel there’s much substance in their makeup either, perhaps Conte is on borrowed time? It was always an odd decision to hire him, considering the Spurs fans despised the football played by Jose Mourinho, the stuff under Conte, has often been worse. The City Ground faithful, on getting through a Carabao Cup third round tie against opposition who weren’t that bothered, were absolutely bouncing. It feels everyone is singing on the same hymn sheet and every win counts as much as the last one, let’s hope it’s not too long until we’ll be repeating the celebrations in the league. Starting against Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Teams Nottingham Forest: Wayne Hennessey, Serge Aurier (Neco Williams 62), Joe Worrall, Willy Boly, Renan Lodi, Ryan Yates, Oriel Mangala, Lewis O'Brien (Morgan Gibbs-White 79), Jesse Lingard (Steve Cook 78), Taiwo Awoniyi (Brennan Johnson 62), Sam Surridge (Jack Colback 79). Tottenham Hotspur: Fraser Forster, Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, Clement Lenglet, Matt Doherty (Djed Spence 65), Oliver Skipp (Dejan Kulusevski 59), Yves Bissouma, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Rodrigo Bentancur 46), Ryan Sessegnon, Ivan Perisic (Richarlison 59), Harry Kane (Bryan Gil 59). 7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 9th November 2022, City Ground, Nottingham (att 28,384).

England 3-3 Germany (UEFA Nations League Group Stages) My wife’s lads got an important FA Youth Cup game tonight and I would love to be there, but I’m fully booked for what might seem a meaningless international friendly for many, but to me, England v Germany is never meaningless. It’s the UEFA Nations League and I really like the concept. No more San Marino, instead the best plays the best, the worst (i.e., England) get relegated and the top of the tree promoted, into the semi-finals before a single match showpiece for silverware that is other than the Euros or World Cup, much needed in the International Calendar in my opinion, the only problem is fitting it all in. This is England’s last chance to be seen on these shores before heading to Qatar and I really want to be there to send them off, in actual fact this is my thirty-fifth (new) Wembley appearance, including my three boxing events attended, an NFL game and my one match played on the hallowed turf in 2019, but everytime I walk up Wembley Way (better known as Olympic Way to Millennials) and see that huge imposing arch, there’s a buzz inside me which keeps me wanting to comeback… This after all is the home of English football. The Venue It’s about two hours door to door, Daz is driving for this one, in his plush maroon Range Rover and we leave Nottingham and head down the A46 after a quick pit stop at Tollerton Waitrose where he specifically requests a Cadburys fruit and nut as I purchase some overpriced mints for the journey. Onto the M1 we head down as far as it goes picking up a decent pace but for the obvious traffic at Luton and around the M25, through that, it’s plain sailing and we’re onto the North Circular after a quick piss at London Gateway before the traffic builds ahead of our search for parking around the industrial bit close to the Stadium. I’ve done this journey many times and when driving, will always park close by as it’s much easier than they lead you to believe, it also guarantees you a quick exit back onto the Circular, you can be back on the M1 within ten minutes if you time it right when heading home (leaving shortly before the final whistle). I tell Daz to park his car with some Albanian’s on a plot that looks like it does car washing nine til' five, we park up and the haggle starts... “How much mate? Twenty?” “Forty” is the reply with an awkward smile… “But I paid twenty last time, I’ve parked here four times and been charged four different prices? How about £30 for cash?”... Nope, “£40” is the reply… “They charge £50 or £60 the closer you get” he says… “Sod this Daz, let’s get in the car again!” We literally get in the car to park 50 yards closer and are charged £25 by a much more pleasant and less greedy Londoner, onto the walk down Engineers Way as Daz marvels at the architecture of the recently developed apartments that hog the sky, we head for the club shop and stand in the queue with absolutely no intentions of buying anything. I’m one of the lucky ones, a Club Wembley member I’ve seen it all before, but the entrance, next to the Royal Box doors, always feels very VIP… Walking in through the metal detectors and into the foyer where you scan your ticket on what looks like an upscale barrier from the London Underground. Up the escalators passing the Bobby Moore Suite, the Champagne Reception area (often used to invite potential new members) before heading onto the main concourse with outlets and stalls comparable to a posh shopping centre. Daz says ‘this is how to do football’ as we get given a matchday programme featuring Bobby Moore taking the World Cup trophy from the recently deceased Queen, and walk inside the Lioness bar where we are given a band around our wrists before ordering a couple of pints. We chat football and look at the gleaming trophies in the cabinets before heading out five minutes before the players are due, the stadium stunning as you walk through the glass doors towards the seats where we sit, in my usual spot, behind the West side goal. The Game The stands slowly fill as the players appear with a first ever Wembley rendition of God Save the King sung by all England players and fans before a well-respected moments silence for Queen Elizabeth II. Then it’s game on, and a start as typical in international football as any, slow, dull, meaningless, persistent passing sideways, low press, low intensity, but for Raheem Sterling, England lack very little moving forward, their 5-3-2 formation perhaps crippling the likes of Bellingham & Foden really getting on the ball and dictating play. Kimmich & Gundogan impress, they keep things ticking over from a German perspective, but there’s more paper aeroplanes thrown than chances created, the first half is dull, we’re thankful of the break, and a chance for Daz to have his first ever taste of Bovril. “I can’t believe you’ve not drank it before” as he sips it slowly ahead of replying “Oooh it’s actually really good”. We take it outside and get ready for what we expect is more of the same, ‘one goal will win this’ before a clutter of substitutes disrupt any potential flow we might get? The Score How wrong can one be? Harry Maguire, the scourge of many football fan, the meme of many social media goer, the failure blamed to why Manchester United are so bad… He’s decided to pass the ball to Germany’s centre forward before fouling him in the box. ‘Penalty’ I shout… The Ref hasn’t seen it… It’s clear and obvious, no getting away from this one, quite ridiculous in fact, the VAR check is complete and Gundogan dispatches the spot kick with ease. I nip for a quick wee as Havertz curls a beauty home to make it two, I only catch the feint cheering of the small number of German's in attendance and watch it back on the TV screens on the concourse, great finish, but not so great for England. Back at my seat I discuss with Daz, the future of Southgate, the negativity around the squad, around his selection process, around his tactics, his substitutions, and wonder if he’ll even be in charge of England come the World Cup, then Shaw bundles home from nowhere, it trickles over the line and I don’t even get out my seat, but minutes later, a couple of Southgate’s said ‘uninspiring’ subs combine to level. Saka dancing away from defenders before passing to Mount who shoots a bullet first time. Suddenly England have got their tales up, the fans are on board, the aeroplanes are no longer in the air and hitting me on the neck, the tackles are flying in and 78,000 people inside the famous arena are smelling danger, and a reprieve, a shot deflected behind goes out for a corner, but the Referee is told of an earlier infringement, apparently Schlotterbeck left one in on his Borussia Dortmund team-mate Bellingham, VAR decision is for the Ref to take a look, penalty to England, Kane dispatches with a belter, everyone is buoyant and celebrating bar the young half and half scarf wearing German couple sitting in front of me. It looks like we’ve done it, turned it around, Southgate is king, we should never have written him off, then Nick Pope spills Gnabry’s weak shot from twenty yards which falls to Havertz and it’s again, all square. That goal queues our exit, time to go, the goalkeeper has really had one, he’ll not be back in anytime soon, the error costing England a first win in six. The nation's worst run of results since the Graham Taylor years of 1993. The Stars Raheem Sterling was excellent for England and buzzed around looking to try and make things happen, he had a couple of chances in the first half whilst Jude Bellingham’s assurance and confidence when under pressure did not go un-noticed. For Germany, Joshua Kimmich is one of those underrated players that will probably only get the respect he deserves when he retires. Ilkay Gundogan like-wise, giving an average side, a real, solid platform in midfield. Bukayo Saka did well off the bench, playing in a more attacking role than he has done on previous occasions for England, Mason Mount looked lively and capped off a decent half hour with a goal, he needs to start with his energy and aggression. Kai Havertz glided through the game and was clinical, 19-year-old Jamal Musiala looks lightweight for his size, but a star in the making, drifting in behind the German attack. The Verdict For long periods of the match, it was painful, same old England against a German side that are far from the best we’ve seen, but that last twenty-minute spell, despite the error by Pope that lead to a late equaliser, gave hope, gave happiness, gave more importantly Head Coach Gareth Southgate a cushion of less scrutiny on his own future, going into the World Cup. Wembley Stadium for me is the best stadium in the world. You have to go visit at least once in your life, it should be on every football fan’s bucket list to attend a game there, the downside is often having to endure watching England play, in long parts painful on this particular evening, but there’s always something that keeps me coming back, a 3-3 draw at Wembley against the Germans, no matter of the levels or the competition involved, is certainly a special way to spend a Monday evening in September. The Teams England: Nick Pope, Reece James, John Stones (Kyle Walker 37), Eric Dier, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Jude Bellingham (Jordan Henderson 90), Declan Rice, Phil Foden (Bukayo Saka 66), Raheem Sterling (Mason Mount 66), Harry Kane. Germany: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Thilo Kehrer, Niklas Sule, Nico Schlotterbeck, David Raum (Robin Gosens 68), Ilkay Gundogan, Joshua Kimmich, Jonas Hoffmann (Timo Werner 46), Leroy Sane (Serge Gnabry 68), Jamal Musiala (Thomas Muller 79), Kai Havertz (Armel Bella-Kotchap 90). 7:45pm Kick Off. Monday 26th September 2022, Wembley Stadium, London (att: 78,949).

Rotherham United 1-3 Cheltenham Town  (FA Cup Round One) I drove all the way to Liverpool on Wednesday for their Academy match with Hertha Berlin, almost 4 hours it took me due to traffic on the M6, I arrived with only ten minutes to kick off, to be told they didn’t have any accreditation for me, so back in the car I went, fortunately it took just under two hours to get home and I was back in time for the second half of Spurs v Man City. Lessons learned I’ve got a ticket for todays FA Cup match with Rotherham and Cheltenham to be on the safe side, last night saw Alfreton thumped at Notts County 5-1 whilst Huddersfield were sent packing at Tamworth for a giant killing upset, a Tom Tonks deflected throw-in the difference, if only the Huddy coaching staff read my blog, they might have known what to expect from the Lambs attack. I’ve not been to Rotherham since Rotherham played at Millmoor… It’s not the sort of place you visit frequently, and United haven’t played there since 2008, but weirdly enough, despite the new ground opening in 2012, Millmoor still stands, apparently owned by the scrap metal merchants next door, it’s not used for anything these days but I’ve decided if I get in town early enough, I’ll take a walk around the old place as the New York Stadium is only a short walk away. So after a Saturday morning dog walk around Holme Pierrepoint I head off at twelve, leaving Nottingham I’m up the M1 and off at Junction 33 within an hour, turning right onto the A630 which drives you past the clubs new home standing impressively with red letter branding on my right, but instead of turning right towards the AESSEAL New York Stadium I turn left and pull up on a side street so I can walk down to Millmoor where you can see the old style metal floodlights in the distance. The Venue It’s eery, I’m on Coronation Bridge overlooking the back of the old Millmoor Stadium, a place which first hosted football in the 1890’s, which was completely abandoned in 2015. It’s all fenced off but it feels it still has so much to give, a proper English lower league home, I’m walking down the side of the stadium down a single sloping track called Millmoor Lane, a huge brick wall on my right, I can imagine a few fights down here back in the day, I walk to the end of the Twitchell where you can smell burning metal from the scrap yard, looking up at the floodlights under the dimming sky, the terrace doors have all been boarded up. At the end of the road you can see the new stadium in the distance, it’s very industrial as I walk towards the ground by the side of the train tracks, no one around here, no cars, just me, I’m under the fly over where you can see the new stadium in front and across the way, old one behind peering over the industrial units and scrap yards, eventually I’m onto Main Street where the smell of burgers, onions and sound of disco music from the fanzone loudens, more modern, down the New York Way it’s certainly a home to be proud of the new place, grey cladded with white cantilevers, on entry it’s mobile scan and into the concourse nice and wide and spacious, a Yorkshire brew and a pukka pie ordered, meat and potato wrapped in plastic, before I walk up to my seat a row off the back of the stand, it’s steep in here, quirky with good acoustics, the stand opposite has corporate boxes in the centre, left and right have sloping roofs, all bowl like and attached to the stand I’m in 12,000 at full capacity. Apparently the foundations were laid with the view to potentially adding more tiers in later years, I doubt they’ll need them today? Under three thousand in attendance and two of the stands are hardly in use. The Game It seems we are all congregated in the stand where I’m sat, it’s cosy as it fills with locals ahead of a match against lower division opposition who themselves have brought a couple of hundred (they’ve all come in a horse box one fan says), Rotherham are fourteenth in League One but I’m told they have a top six budget, Cheltenham are sixteenth in League Two, today might provide a decent distraction, but I’m not envisaging a classic. Rotherham kick off in red and white, their opponents in jade green, it’s a finicky start with lots of free kicks, not much quality as both sides go long, the hosts like to get it down the sides, the visitors happy to have men behind the ball, it’s far from thrilling is the opening as I listen into the conversations of those around me, educated football fans are Rotherham fans, whilst I notice their score board is perhaps the best in the business. Pre-game it screened Stoke City’s win over Derby in the early kick off, and it has the scores from the other games in England running across the bottom. On 37 as folk start to wander off for their half time pints, Cheltenham win a rare corner, as all expect it to be pumped into the box the ball is passed to the edge of the area by Young, Colwill takes aim, his shot deflects in. That goal lifts Rotherham into action who instantly reply, Mallick Wilks runs into the box unattended and shoots low, 1-1, suddenly the game has sprung to life, one bloke who’s just been for a piss has missed both goals. The Score On the stroke of half time a right wing cross by Thomas is headed brilliantly home by Colwill who gets his and Cheltenham’s second of the game. ‘Nowt we can do about that one’ a fella says besides me. ‘Good Goal’. At the break I’m hoping not for a Rotherham resurgence as I really don’t fancy extra time and penalties today, the FA Cup these days is all to be decided in one sitting, so I’m relieved when Ethon Archer dances through the Millers defence on 58 to add a third. That goal dents any hope of Rotherham getting back into the game, they never really got going and played at a canter, whilst Cheltenham weren’t exactly firing guns blazing to cause an upset, they were simply more clinical, there’s been four shots on target in the whole game, all four have gone in. Late on there’s frustration from the home support that the football is aimless and agonising to watch, the biggest cheer of the game comes when folk burst into laughter that the home side man of the match is crowned as goalkeeper Cameron Dawson, he’s not saved a shot yet, but there’s been nobody outfield worthy either, as an old boy asks to get past me, he says “I’m leaving early before I slit my wrists”. The Stars Rotherham don’t play with any panache, perhaps all their ability is being saved for league action, but they do have good players, left back Cohen Bramall is one I know from his days playing for Market Drayton, I last saw him in action when I was coaching Rainworth Miners Welfare, he’s quick and direct, but fans say he can be frustrating. Another player with a non-league background is right sided midfielder Jack Holmes who apparently played well in a pre-season friendly for Stamford against Rotherham, so well that Steve Evans signed him, he looks good, direct, hard working, whilst the stand out player ability-wise was perhaps Cameron Humphreys, now 26 he’s a centre half who began life at Manchester City’s academy, you can tell, easy on the eye and composed on the ball, although lacks a bit of height for the hustle and bustle of League One. For Cheltenham, blonde haired midfielder Jordan Thomas caught my eye the most, he had a lovely right foot and is a big lad who could get around the pitch and battle, their star man was Joel Colwill who did little bar score two goals, Ethon Archer though who got the third, was a real nuisance on the left of attack and always tried to make something positive happen, he scored a very good goal too. The Verdict It won’t be a huge loss to Rotherham, not reaching round two, but more worrying was the way they played, fans walking out of the stadium saying that’s the worst they’ve been this season. Rotherham are one of those sides that regularly yo-yo’s between levels two and three of the English game, they aren’t quite good enough for the Championship, but are often too good for League One, perhaps this is the year that they are perfectly at home in League One? As for Cheltenham? They'll be alright as they are in League Two, safe from danger, away from promotion, but a good cup draw will at least boost their coiffeurs some more. The Teams Rotherham United: Cameron Dawson, Joe Rafferty (Alex MacDonald 70), Cameron Humphreys, Zak Jules, Cohen Bramall, Hakeem Odoffin, Christ Tiehi (Sam Nombe 46), Joe Powell (Liam Kelly 69), Jack Holmes (Joseph Hungbo 70), Jordan Hugill, Mallick Wilks (Ben Hatton 74). Cheltenham Town: Joe Day, Lewis Payne, Sam Stubbs, Scott Bennett, Tom Bradbury, Liam Kinsella, Luke Young, Jordan Thomas (Arkell Jude-Boyd 69), Joel Colwill (Tom Pett 87), Ethon Archer, George Miller (Matt Taylor 87). 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 2nd November 2024, New York Stadium, Rotherham (att 2,770).

York City 5-1 Aldershot Town (National League) I was in New York last weekend for a shopping and show birthday getaway with the wife, this weekend it's old York and back to the matchday grind. I tell her 'if it weren't for the football we wouldn't get these luxurious long haul trips away' which at least appeases her to release me when we haven't got something 'better' to do. York are going well in the National League under Stuart Maynard, Aldershot aren't, under a new Manager in John Coleman, they are still yet to take a point from his first five league matches in charge and are in a rut of seven straight defeats with just one point from ten, relegation form, however they did beat Fulham in the National League Cup on Tuesday, derby defeat last weekend at home to Woking though, would have really hurt the already downbeat Shots fans who are really starting to feel concerned. I'm not going to harp on too much about the history of these teams, two former league sides of course, York first appeared in the Football League in 1929 and were an ever present until 2004, reaching the second tier in 1974 at their height (a league which Manchester United won), before relegation a season later in 1976. The Minstermen were relegated to the Conference National in 2004 and spent eight seasons in the fifth tier before promotion via the playoffs in 2012 (beating Luton Town in a Wembley final), they lasted four years in League Two before successive relegations had them fall as low as the National North, they have been in the National Premier since 2022 and after finishing second last season, are a front runner for promotion again this time around. Aldershot Town formed in 1992 following the closure of Aldershot FC who had fallen into debt after struggling in the bottom division of the Football League for a number of years. The original Shots actually spent 60 years in the Football league spending most of their days in the fourth division and prior to that, the old third division south. Post 92 Town first appeared in the Isthmian League, winning the third tier in their first season running before promotion the following campaign to the first division which they eventually won in 1998. After five years in the Isthmian Premier they won that division in 2002/03 and gained promotion to the Conference/National League which they won in 2008, joining the football league where they stayed for five seasons, before settling in at level five, where they have been now for thirteen years. The Shots did win the FA Trophy last season after a 3-0 Wembley win against Spennymoor but things have been difficult since, it's a long old trip near 500 miles return for the Hampshire based outfit today, a little less for me, around 180 there and back. A two hour drive, I'm out the door for 11am, it's a wet grey day and it's been raining all morning, I didn't even get to take the dog out it's been that bad, as I battle against the Black Friday shoppers first down the ring road in Nottingham, then as I approach York centre on the A64 which is chockablock with traffic. The Venue Finally, a little later than scheduled, I arrive at the Vangarde Shopping Park which is across the way from the York City LNER Community Stadium and Leisure Complex. The whole place around here is alive with modern retail therapy, you can park your car outside Next or M&S but you must pay a fiver on match days which covers a four hour stay, as I walk through the car park through crowds of shopper's and over puddles in the rain I'm tempted by a quick coffee and cake at Cafe Hotel Chocolate but head straight for the media door instead, asking if my name is down, "not today" the bosses have forgotten to add my request again. I'm told to ask at reception if they can sort me out a ticket and I walk through the glass doors and ask a guy in a Hummel York tracksuit who obliges without hesitancy, he takes me into the club offices and prints me a ticket which I can use to get through security and scan in on the media door entrance. I like the back stage feel of entering York's new ground this way, you walk through a long white painted corridor under the stand and open a door which takes you out behind a bar serving beer, before making your way through the concourse and up to the press seats around ten or so rows high, rain falling down on the tables state that cover isn't guaranteed, but the seats are comfy, cushioned with arm rests, blue leather, power if needed below. I really like the stadium, it's a pain in the arse to get to, North East side of York, it's not great for free parking, and it's horrendous getting out, but the stadium itself is certainly one of the best in the National League, if not the best, a real modern home of a club which feels is in a really good place right now. Four sided, all seated, enclosed, modern, unrestricted viewing, it's one reason I don't mind the two hour drive to visit, which I often do nowadays at least two or three times a year. The Game I've noticed a David Longhurst banner behind the goal, a flag which I've seen before, one is touching, a player who tragically died during a match against Lincoln City in 1990. I must have been eleven years old but remember it vividly, as it was the first tragedy of a footballer dying whilst playing that I can remember. More upbeat, Club mascot Yorkie is dancing to local band Shed Seven's Talk of the Town played over the tannoy, he knows all the moves and is bopping around in full red kit on the pitch, he's got a bit of a beer gut, but as mascots go I quite like him, he's trying to get the kids involved from the clubs under nines, they are egging him on and joining in with some moves, it must be good fun to be a mascot, under cover, you can basically act like a kid again and nobody (bar me) bats an eyelid to your weirdness. As Yorkie (and the much better looking female Yorkie) finally head off the dancefloor, the two sets of teams come out, still wet, grey skies, it's bloody freezing but I have a new fur hat which I brought from Macy's last week, keeping my head warm, my big coat is protecting me from the rain and my hand warmers are keeping the fingers alive. York are in red, Aldershot all yellow, and the home side immediately kick on the front foot, Josh Stones plays like a 30 year old running against children, he's powering through the Shots defence not once, but twice, in the early stages, his second forage has him make space for Alex Newby, he crosses in from the left and Greg Olley is waiting, to head home his second goal in as many matches. As Aldershot look off it I'm thinking to myself are they the worst team in the National League I've seen this season? John Coleman has made six changes to the side that lost against Woking but one player who does stand out is their left footer Ryan Jones, he's driven forward on a couple of occasions linking with their busy and willing skipper Ryan Hill, before taking aim on thirteen, Jones shooting low past Harrison Male after being given far too much time, it's a goal that sparks Aldershot into life, suddenly they believe. The away side are dominant, by now they are creating chance after chance as the home fans begin to yell and moan, they are irate, annoyed of the way Maynard's team play, often sideways and back, slow tempo and lacking imagination, at one point Ryan Fallowfield passes to his goalkeeper as one fan shouts 'get it bloody forward' his next attempt is to take the fans advice, when he should have played back, he tries to go forward and gets caught in possession, it's not been very pretty, the away side have had a series of corners on the bounce, eight two they lead in that department at the break, the teams locked at 1-1 as the fans around me head off with discontent to get their pies and pints. The Score I'm chatting to a scout from Genius who's a Forest fan from Leeds, he like me is freezing and feeling the force of the weather, my notepad is wet, my phone is wet, my knees are cold but at least my head is warm thanks to my new hat. The yellow glow of the floodlights at least brightens the pitch against darkening grey skies, no sooner has the whistle restarted the second half, have York retaken the lead, which leads to a mass of returning fans from the warmth, had they not scored so soon, I doubt they would have came back so quickly. It's a neat move down the left, Newby and Pearce combining and space opens up, centre half Malachi Fagan-Walcott is for some reason on the edge of the box, he drives low and via a deflection the ball bounces in. I'm thinking it's Joe Felix who scored as York's only other black player on the pitch, he's a right sider and it should be the position which you would think he takes up, but what was Walcott doing there? Doing good, scoring goals, is the answer. That goal lifts the home side who regain their dominance, by now the Aldershot attack is filtering away, confidence draining down their drenched shirts, heads dropping towards the soaked pitch, moves not now coming off, the home side are starting to be strong again. Josh Stones back bullying defenders. They have full control by the time they make their second sub on 63, Joe Grey is a player I once scouted for York, whilst at Hartlepool two seasons ago, well they took my advice and signed him in the summer, he's replaced Joe Felix, and has got on the ball immediately, jinking into the area, he's dropped a shoulder, which drops a defender to the floor, Grey then smashes home hard and high right footed into the roof of the net. What a sub. Instant impact. Grey is not done yet. He receives a pass by Greg Olley with time and space too much to slide home low, then is bundled over inside the box on 86, he picks himself up, and the ball, before calmly slotting home his hat-trick. I feel like a proud dad watching him for the first time in red and blue. There's time late-on for Aldershot to implode some more, Archie Taylor at left back has had a torrid time since coming on as a first half sub for the injured Ryheem Sheckleford, he's dived in on Grey again, frustration, a second yellow, then red, he walks off straight down the tunnel as York see out the game, the rain finally stopping as Joe Grey match ball in hand, waves to the fans behind the goal, in celebration after what was a good half an hours work, York didn't have it all their own way during this match, but they got the job done, and emphatically stamped their name on the title race some more, a point behind Rochdale and Carlisle they are third, level on points with Forest Green and a point ahead of Boreham Wood in fifth. The Stars It was a Grey day and Joe may have taken his thirty minute man of the match with a finely taken hat-trick but he only optimised the space given to him which was down to some good York movement and some shoddy defending by Aldershot. The yellows had few highlights on another bad day. Ryan Hill was competitive and at least trying to unlock doors from midfield, Hady Ghandour did some neat things alone in attack, Ryan Jones was their best player by far, nobody else worthy to take even a hint of praise. York were much better in the second half but you can see in the way they play, they have structure and confidence, good players all slotting into a 343 that likes to pass and probe patiently. Centre back Malachi Fagan-Walcott is composed and cultured, often roaming free whenever he likes. Dan Batty is a good Yorkshire name, a midfielder tigerish who passes more often than not backwards, which by no means is a bad thing. Sometimes retention is key, he drops into defensive pockets and keeps the ball ticking along, offering space in midfield areas for others to utilise. The real key to York's success this season is no doubt in attack. Ollie Pearce on the left of their three is the divisions top goal scorer, he only needs half a yard to get a shot away, Josh Stones is a real powerhouse handful and a player I think who's improved since I last saw him. At one stage reminding me of a very young Stan Collymore many years ago. A striker bigger, quicker, stronger, than the defenders he faced, a bully with pace, who can score goals, I doubt he'll be in the National League for long. Greg Olley is also a nice compliment to the front three, the former Gateshead player is inventive on the ball and takes up good spaces whilst working hard for the team. Depth is also a quality that will help in a promotion race, Joe Gray is a silky smooth player who has ability to punch further, one question is does he do it often enough? In Hirem Boateng, Ashley Palmer, Ollie Banks, they have football league experience in reserve, which may help during more testing times this season. The Verdict Can York go one better than last season? I certainly think they'll be in the mix come May? A good footballing team with goal threat, they may slip up against those a little more direct, but will outscore most opponents they face. For Aldershot, they face a long hard remainder of the campaign, I don't think they have the tools or heart for surviving relegation. I feel for their Manager John Coleman as it's not his fault, inheriting a team lacking characters, which is what they need to add, if they are to attempt to stay up. The Teams York City: Harrison Male, Ryan Fallowfield (Zak Johnson 46), Mark Kitching, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Alex Hunt, Josh Stones (Ben Brookes 80), Ollie Pearce (Ashley Nathaniel-George 80), Dan Batty (Hirem Boateng 80), Greg Olley, Joe Felix (Joe Grey 63), Alex Newby. Aldershot Town: Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Cameron Hargreaves, Ryan Jones, Ryan Hill, Hady Ghandour, Will Nightingale, Ryheem Sheckleford (Archie Taylor 39), Sam Inwood (Kiban Rai 89), Dejen Tetek, Matt Penney, James Henry (Tyler Frost 77). 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 29th November 2025, York Community Stadium, York (att 6,454).

Scotland 4-2 Denmark  (World Cup Qualifiers)   I'll be honest, I've been looking forward to this one for a few weeks now. Scotland's defeat by Greece and Denmark's failure to beat Belarus on Saturday has set up this European Group C qualifier really quite nicely. If Scotland win, they qualify, if Denmark don't lose, it'll be they who get to go the World Cup.   Our contract with UEFA is to apply in game stats and analytics which are used by the bet markets and live score apps, as well as to counter corruption, it means little old me gets to go to games like this, quite possibly the biggest match in world football tonight?   We don't get paid huge amounts, but what we get is to watch and work these wonderful games of iconic status on the international level, which is why I don't bat an eyelid to travel from Nottingham to Glasgow and back in a day, to ensure a seat in the stadium, whilst watching a piece of history hopefully unfold.   I've done so many miles in my own car recently, I'm taking a hire car to Scotland, it’s 10am, as I walk through the doors of Arnold Clark to pick up a white Vauxhall Mokka, a Scottish company I'm told who are actually based in Glasgow.   It's a long old drive, five hours, even worse on the way back in thickening snow, but I'm supported by TalkSport who big up tonight's game with various interviews with Scottish celebs, it's going to be a cracker, it really is, you can feel something special in your bones.   It's a familiar route from the East Midlands to Glasgow, up the M1, M18, A1, A66, M6 & M74. I was last here for the qualifiers when Scotland beat Greece and Belarus last month. Steve Clarke's side weren't great in either match, but somehow managed to get the job done in both. I'm sure they'll take more of the same tonight.   The Venue   My one stop off is at the idyllic services of Annandale Water on the A74(M). Swans greet you on arrival into the car park under blue but crisp skies, it's a small services with a McDonalds, Costa, WH Smith and BP Petrol Station with attached M&S. I love it as it has a large glass fronted dining area which overlooks a lake, I even contemplate a room here in the adjacent hotel which also looks out with balconies facing the water, just £45 a room tonight.   I must get back early though as the wife has a hospital appointment tomorrow and I need to get this car back within 24 hours. Maybe next time I'll take an overnight stay, a lovely spot, a services I would highly recommend.   Back on the road, I reach Hampden around 5pm where I drive around the Kings Park Avenue looking for somewhere to park my car. I finally find a spot in a housing estate outside the restricted matchday parking zones and walk ten or fifteen minutes in the cold and dark towards the stadium where I see a red bus of Danish fans, which I first mistake for Santa's Coca Cola truck.   I walk over to the main reception of Hampden Park, it feels sombre, the calm before the storm, still a couple of hours to go I’m into the media doors where I collect my pass, before going into the media room for a bit of food and wind down before the action.   It’s packed today, certainly more in here than they were for the Belarus match, as a queue for the food leaves the dregs left of some Chinese stir fry beef by the time I get there.   A few faces I recognise, many who I don’t, who I probably should, BBC’s Kelly Cates walks in ahead of going live to the nation on BBC Scotland, you forget the presenter is of Scottish decent, of course, the daughter of the King of these parts, the great Kenny Dalglish.   Fed with a coffee to take away, I’m heading up the lift to floor five where the commentary positions are. High, set back, half-way, I’m joined by a girl from Genius Sports (who used to be Opta) who I recognise from the last game I did here, we have a chat about our roles as we take in the atmosphere which slowly builds up, the Proclaimers and Baccara amongst the toe tappers as she takes out her phone to video the stadium sing along and record clips of Archie Gemmill's goal v Holland on the big screen.   It's a fine historical arena is Hampden, a circular bowl like, you are set back from these seats I'm in, but assisted by a rather large TV in front of you, the pitch feels very distant as the players do their warm ups ahead of a light show, with the odd firework cracking off, before they re-appear, out to the noise of the Hampden roar, the iconic flower of Scotland sung by one and all, spine tingling as the stadium moves with every lyric thumped out by every fan it seems inside this place, bar myself, and a few Danes in red down below.   The Game   I’m struggling for an internet connection as the match kicks off with a roar of anticipation, Scotland are at it like mad men, hunting everything down, I don’t get to set myself, I suspect the Danes don’t either, they give the ball away in the left back channel and Ben Doak crosses in, Scott McTominay is upside down, inside the box, he overhead kicks the most amazing goal you’ll ever see, everybody is up and bouncing already, I’m still sat down working out the WI-FI password.   That goal is just what Scotland need you feel, exactly how Stevie Clarke would have dreamed it to be, it’s a fitting winner in fact, arguably the best-ever goal scored in this stadium and that includes a Champions League final winner by Zinedine Zidane, now Scotland have only 87 minutes to defend their advantage.   It’s not pretty though, the early goal has probably not helped, Scotland stick, don’t twist, they sit in deep and Denmark have the ball, they prod, probe, and look alarmingly close at times, Scotland’s only outlet is the speedy right winger Doak, but he’s done his hamstring and has to come off, Kenny McLean replaces him, he’s honest, gutsy, but doesn’t have the attacking pedigree of Doak.   Denmark have chances, at one stage the stats board reads 17 attempts by them to Scotland’s 1. They also have the ball in the back of the net, Rasmus Hojlund has been getting nearer and nearer, he’s fluffed a couple before he’s given again too much time inside the six-yard box, but as he takes a Hojberg cross on his knee and volleys home into the roof of the net, he’s done for a push in the back of Aaron Hickey which is obvious for all to see.   The Score   The nice girl from Genius grabs me a Scotch pie and tea at half time from downstairs, Scotland you feel need to do more if they are to cling on to their lead, “it’ll be a long 45 minutes” I tell her, as she takes out her blanket and puts it across her knees.   I feel Denmark are much the better team, but it seems Scotland have had the luck in this competition so far, which is something their fans will often tell you, they don’t always get, it’s down to Denmark’s inability to beat Belarus which has put them in this position, the writing feels like it’s on Hadrian’s Wall, set in the Scottish stars that it just feels like Scotland’s time.   But that hope and expectancy all disappears on 57 minutes, Gustav Isaksen has been Denmark’s best player all night, jinking in from the right wing, teasing Andy Robertson who has mostly done well, he’s left a leg out on the edge of the area, Isaksen falls over it, play goes on, but the Referee wants to have another look, the monitor in front of me suggests it’s close to the penalty area, not conclusive, it’s certainly a soft foul, a hold up adds nerves and tension, but by the time the Referee runs over to his pitch side monitor, you start to feel the inevitability of the outcome, maybe it’s not Scotland’s time after all? A penalty awarded, dispatched by Hojlund who converts after missing around five or six attempts previous, boos ring around Hampden as the Danes celebrate with their fans in the corner. From here you fancy Denmark in their red and white driving seat but this story has another twist, on a night where nothing should surprise, the extra-ordinary evening is about to heat up some more, which is great, because under the sleet dropping skies and freezing temperatures, any bit of warmth is largely appreciated. Rasmus Kristensen has already been booked, he’s tripped John McGinn and receives his marching orders, another soft decision but one that suddenly prizes back Scotland advantage.   Steve Clarke now has aces to play, he brings on attacking re-enforcements, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland enter the field, then Kieran Tierney comes on, as Denmark replace midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard with defender Jannick Vestergard, suddenly you feel Scotland can go on and win it, and they do, when a Lewis Ferguson corner is crossed in, Shankland left unmarked, prods home, it’s huge, the roar can be heard as far south as Gretna.   Scotland have just twelve minutes to hold on, but any Scotland fan in Scotland will tell you that Scotland don’t do things easily, two minutes later, Christensen is sent forward for Denmark, he nods down to Dorgu and he places home from inside the box, silence, 2-2, suddenly it’s the Danes that are going through. Again.   You feel there’s another twist, it just cannot end this way, as Denmark take off their best player Isaksen, the board goes up for six added, do they really have the strength to see it through? Scotland by now are hopeful, balls into the box without much class, but the Danes are nervy, 92 strikes towards 93 and McClean sends one in long, it’s headed half clear, then nervously scuffed by Hjulmand, the ball falls to Tierney who curls it back left footed right where it came from, through a crowd, past Schmiechel, into the net, to spark off incredible scenes of joy and celebration, I'm stood up, have Scotland snatched it? Surely they can’t let this slip now?   And there’s more… In the dying seconds Denmark are pushing, Kasper Schmeichel is playing quarter back and the red shirts are pressed all inside the Scottish half, a loose pass however finds a grateful navy blue adidas shirt, Kenny McLean has the ball to relieve some tension, but Schmeichel is way out of his goal, cries of shoot, shoot, from those around me including Stephen Thompson and James McFadden who are on co-comms for BBC, McLean takes aim from the half way line, the roar slowly lengthening as it loops over the goalkeeper running back, the ball bristles against the mesh and every substitute, coach, physio, analyst, steward and sundry, races onto the pitch, arms aloft, Scotland have done it, 28 years they are finally going to the World Cup, there’s people on the pitch, there’s fireworks going off, the Referee has apparently blown his whistle, Freed From Desire is now being belted out by the masses, the most amazing night of many Scottish fans lives.   The Stars Scottish folklore forever goes in the names of Scott McTominay, for his amazing overhead kick, for Kieran Tierney, for his amazing winning goal, for Kenny McLean, from the halfway line, Scotland having their own goal of the season competition, all against the Danes. In truth, it was a difficult night for Scotland and they didn’t play well, but football is about big moments, and those who produce them, will be forever remembered. I was more impressed largely with the Danes, the best player on the pitch Gustav Isaksen, a left sided winger with white hair, who plays his football for Lazio, a real quick, strong, powerful and productive player who wouldn't look out of place in the Premier League. Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard was good, floating around the final third with endeavour, whilst Rasmus Hojlund might have missed a few, but he’s certainly a handful number nine. Patrick Dorgu often a nuisance popping up inside enemy territory from the left. The last word however saved for the Scottish stalwarts, 42 year old Craig Gordon in goal, doing a job because Angus Gunn is injured, because they have no one else of any quality to turn to in desperate times, in Andy Robertson who has been magnificent for Scotland for many years, like John McGinn, Mr consistency, deserving that next summer, after giving everything for their country, they’ll be finally, after waiting so long, playing on the biggest stage of all.   The Verdict Scotland have made it to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998, they have topped a qualifying group for the first time since 1992, and Steve Clarke has become the national team’s most successful manager ever, in doing so, which tells its own story of his fabulous, unprecedented achievements. Some say Clarke is too pragmatic, Scotland aren’t easy on the eye, they are organised and gritty, but if they play like they have done in the last four games (of which they have somehow managed to win three), then they might not go so far in the World Cup? I would say let the shackles off, don't be so defensive, be brave, be more attacking, because this team can score goals, thirteen in their last five matches since opening up the group with a 0-0 draw in Denmark, which was arguably their best performance of the lot? For the Danes, they’ll have another chance in the playoffs, I back them to be good enough to make the grade, but in group C, they just let the pressure get to them at a time of squeaky bums, and will only have themselves to blame, doing it the hard way is usually Scotland’s route to take, but after making a mess of qualifying, at least the Danes still have that chance, even if this result, and more so Saturday’s draw at home with Belarus, is a mighty bitter pill to swallow. They'll bounce back, but tonight, Tuesday 18th November 2025, well that day will forever belong to Scotland. The Teams Scotland: Craig Gordon, Aaron Hickey (Kieran Tierney 72, Grant Hanley, Scott McKenna, Andy Robertson, Ryan Christie (Lawrence Shankland 64), Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn, Ben Gannon-Doak (Kenny McLean 21), Scott McTominay, Lyndon Dykes (Che Adams 64). Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel, Rasmus Kristensen, Joachim Andersen, Andreas Christensen, Patrick Dorgu, Morten Hjulmand, Pierre-Emile Hojberg, Gustav Isaksen (Mika Biereth 90), Victor Froholdt, Mikkel Damsgaard (Jannick Vestergaard 64), Rasmus Hojlund (Christian Norgaard 84). 7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 18th November 2025, Hampden Park, Glasgow (att 49,587).

Barwell 5-2 Stratford Town (Southern League Central Division) Formed in 1992 as a merger between Barwell Athletic and Hinckley, Barwell FC became Founder members of the Midland Alliance in 1994 where they joined Stratford Town in the division, and the two teams would play each other, at least twice, every season, until 2009/10 when the Leicestershire side would become champions, thus moving to the Northern Premier League Division One South. That same year, Stratford finished third, and they themselves would gain promotion after winning the title in 2012/13, formed in 1941 as Stratford Rangers, they have been in the Southern Premier League since 2015, and like Barwell, who played briefly in the Northern Premier League between 2013-2018, have both been in the Southern League Central Premier Division since the beginning, after the inclusion of a fourth ‘division’ of step 3 on the pyramid eight seasons ago. So, you could say the two teams are familiar with each other? A quick look on Flashscore at the pairs head to head record says in 13 games since 2018 Barwell have won six, Stratford four, with three draws, and funny enough my first game ever at Barwell, as recently as 2022, was a match between the two, which ended 2-1 to the Canaries, thanks to goals from Beck Ray Enoru and Brady Hickey. Andre Wright netting for the Bards. All three have since moved on and these days it’s the likes of Anthony Dwyer, Charlie Dowd and Zayn Hakeem who Barwell look to for goalscoring answers under Jimmy Ginnelly who has formerly managed the likes of Nuneaton and Atherstone. Stratford more dependent on the likes of Ty Deacon and Owen James but they still have Dan Lafferty from that match three years ago, they still have Dan Vann, Josh Hawker, Jack Storer, their Manager Paul Davis has been at the helm exactly a year since November 2024. I'm out the door for 5:30pm, Barwell is only 25 miles away but an hours drive, down many quiet, awkward, winding and pot hole plentiful narrow single track country roads, it's probably easier to get to Glasgow or Taunton from where I live in the Midlands but I'm here in good time, the smell of burning coal in the air as outdoor temperatures read just 3 degrees. It's cold, fresh, dark, real winter weather is incoming with snow predicted for later this week.   The Venue   The village of Barwell itself feels like it really is in the middle of nowhere, it's certainly about as middle as you can get in England. I've parked up on Kirkby Road and you wouldn't even know there's a football match on tonight, the ground known as the Crown Skip Hire Stadium these days is set well back off the road, behind a darkened cricket pitch, the dimly lit floodlights perhaps the only giveaway as I walk through the half full car park towards the turnstile alone.   It's £12 to get in, I pay on card before walking past the Golden Goal girl, I sit immediately up on the top row of the stand and open a packet of Vimto bonbons which I begin to chew.   There's a few sat in the stand as the players warm up below, the synthetic surface in good condition as you hear the crisp thud of the ball, to my left behind the goal there's been a name change since I was last here. The Brady Hickey End is in homage to one of Barwell's finest ever players who left for Harborough Town in the summer.   As kick off nears I'm joined by a brummie accented Scout I know, he's brought with him a solar powered power unit and a plug in electric blanket, he's smiling because he's not had chance to use it this season but tonight is the night.   The Game   Chatting away, we hardly notice the teams come out, but in bright lime green the Canaries appear, Barwell in their usual hi-vis kit, Stratford equally bright in burnt orange.   It's a fast start for the home side who immediately apply pressure on their opponents defence, Anthony Dwyer is sent through and dinks the ball over a defender before shooting hard and low an opener, the scout beside me says "it's like Gazza's goal in Euro 96".   The goal is brilliant, and deserving for the better team and Barwell make it two as they continue to play on the front foot, Dwyer again from inside the area after Dowd's shot is blocked by a defender.   The Score   I've had a real good chinwag tonight and hardly notice the game going by but Barwell have been the better team having dominated the first half, and even though Stratford make a couple of half time subs, the home side explode into life in the second half too, Dwyer we think, nipping in at the front post after good wing work by Zayn Hakeem, despite the PA announcer giving Dwyer his hat trick goal, the actual scorer we find out after, is Kane Richards.   But Dwyer doesn't have long to wait until his third goal of the night arrives, a penalty awarded on 54 when goalkeeper Weaver is slow to react to a ball bouncing inside his area, he brings down an attacker and Dwyer does the rest from the spot.   On a busy night of goal action, Cyrus Bruce nods home what looks like a consolation, before Dwyer makes it five, four for the striker nicknamed Neelo by team-mates after the goalkeeper again makes an error, dropping what looks a routine cross at the feet of Barwell's number fifteen.   Man of the match Dwyer is then immediately subbed to slightly subdued warming applause by the few hundred here, to perhaps save Stratford further punishment, and a late rally sees them end the game with something of little positive. A last minute blockbuster by Dan Lafferty flies into the net from twenty yards, the game ending 5-2 to Barwell who move above Stratford in the table to twelfth.   The Stars   No doubt who the best player of the night was, former Mansfield Town forward Anthony Dwyer is a bit of a non league journeyman having played for over 20 clubs in his career, still only 28, he does know where the net is though and his four goals, largely the difference, his first of the game a magnificent solo bit of magic.   I was impressed with Barwell who pressed hard in the cold, a defence marshalled by Rashaan Frances a midfield which had energy, led by Prince Mancinelli and Ethan Hill centrally, out wide they caused problems with Hakeem down the left and Charlie Dowd on the right both offering themselves to run at full backs.   In return Stratford didn't look at it, but they weren't outplayed, Barwell simply took their chances during a game where they had similar attempts at the same number of corners to their visitors (five each). Max Lott just 18 years old looked a player with promise on the right of midfield, Jack Storer, once of West Brom, I'm told by my Brummie friend, offered a threat going forward in parts and Dan Lafferty wearing ten perhaps the Bards most creative spark, Lafferty scoring a belting goal late on, too little to help his side from falling to a comprehensive defeat.   The Verdict   Stratford didn't play well and got what they deserved which was a worthy defeat inflicted by the better team on the night. Barwell brilliant from the off, taking the game to their opponents, but the main difference was taking the chances they created. They have firepower that is sufficient for the level they are at with Richards, Dwyer and even Tyrell Waite in attack.   Jimmy Ginnelly's side now have 21 points from 16 played and are six points outside the playoffs places. Stratford having played a game more have a point less, but whilst I think promotion for either side is a long way off, ensuring they'll be staying in the division next season, at least, should be more reasonable targets, for both to achieve. The Teams Barwell: Finn Osborn, Kornell McDonald, Will Grewel-Pollard, Freddie Cook, Prince Mancinelli (Sid Atcha 83), Charlie Dowd (Reuben Wyatt 71), Ethan Hill (Sonny Singh 80), Kane Richards (Tyrell Waite 74), Zayn Hakeem, Anthony Dwyer (Jeavin Seaton 77), Rashaan Frances. Stratford Town: Jake Weaver, Daniel Vann (Bo Morris 46), Finley Brennan, Joshua Hawker, Lewis Ison, Ty Deacon (Cyrus Bruce 46), Dan Lafferty, Jack Storer (Rico Patterson 81), Paul McCone, Owen James, Max Lott. 7:45pm Kick Off. Monday 17th November 2025, Kirkby Road, Barwell (att 250).

Forest Green Rovers 3-1 Gateshead (National League) I'm feeling a bit guilty cooking sausages for breakfast ahead of visiting the world's first vegan football club today. Forest Green are going well under Robbie Savage, third in the National League a point behind leaders Carlisle whilst their opponents this afternoon Gateshead are struggling this season in nineteenth, just six points above the drop zone. Kick off time has been put back to 3:03pm which is a statement by the National League for their 3 up campaign. Many of the divisions clubs are in favour of an extra promotion place from next season but they need the Football League to vote it through. I wasn't sure at first as I quite like it being 'tough' to break into the 92 from non league football with their existing two up two down system but a quick glance at the top six in the table will tell you there's plenty of teams that will do well a division higher. I just wonder if those with self interests will give it the green light? The extra three minutes in bed means I can drop the dog off at the in-laws for 11:03 this morning, the wife's out Christmas shopping so I'm on the road with no kisses goodbye, a two hour journey to the Cotswolds where I hope to get parked up in Nailsworth before the cavalry arrives. Not that I expect the biggest of attendances today, Gateshead fans are travelling a long round trip of 550 miles. They'll only have a handful here which makes parking in this small village much easier. It's a lovely drive on a Saturday which I don't mind doing, nightmare midweek from my home in Nottingham, as you circle the south of Birmingham on the M42 to the M5. Sat Nav takes me down to J13 and through Eastington, up the Frocester Hill where it starts to get misty, the village of Nympsfield is stunning, set in stone, I'm down the Tinkley Lane through green fields below grey skies to the New Lawn. The road recently resurfaced probably because it gets so much foot fall due to football traffic on matchdays. The Venue I've actually drove past the ground and turned left on a housing estate where there's a parking space outside some flats near a bus stop which says Forest Green. Apparently the smallest settlement ever to host league football (FGR lasted seven years in the football league between 2017-24), the village of Nailsworth has a population of just under 6,000. It feels there's more cars than people around here which is why the club are probably looking to move further afield, but I like it, village vibes on a matchday, as I walk up the quaint and quiet hill of Nympsfield Road, the odd scarf wearing fan following as I pass a school where some extra parking places are offered to those on the guestlist, the live music from the fanzone blearing out becomes louder, noisy drums and electric guitars playing rifts as people in their cottages watch their flat screen TVs in the warmth as smoke comes out their chimneys. Through the gate there's a queue of cars, but the fanzone only has a few people splattered around, it's 1:30pm and I'm straight to the collections window to tell them my name. They've forgotten to print me out a ticket despite sending me an email yesterday, all sorted as the man behind the glass writes out my media pass, then into the stadium for a wee, before watching a bit of England U17's who are beating Korea 2-0 on the understand TV. I half fancied a cuppa, but they only do oat milk in these parts. I ask the girl on the counter who tells me there's a touch screen system in place to take my order. I take a look at it. Chips and curry, a vegan sausage roll, some kind of mushroom burger, I'm still full from my breakfast, plus I had a bag of chocolate peanuts in the car, I can't be bothered with the hassle, so decide to walk up to my seat where there's an old friend, the Forest Green Rovers co-commentator for DAZN. I don't even know his name but he's a lovely lad, he knows his players at the level and we talk through the recent form of his club. The view is terrific, homely, as I decide which seat to take, the press tables very tightly squeezed there's not much leg room but right of half way, you're elevated, two roofed standing areas behind each goal, an open end opposite where the away fans will suffer in the cold, hills in the back drop as a load of kids full kit wearing sat behind me in the executive boxes shout "Robbie, Robbie, Robbie" as Savage walks across the pitch. It's like a Justin Bieber gig as screaming kids drown out anything I can hear from anyone, as I'm joined by a scout I know from Leicester who asks me "what are you doing in these parts?". We get chatting about recent matches we've been to and hardly notice the time has drawn towards kick off, the two teams enter the field from the far corner, as the mist appears from the hills behind the ground. The Game Forest Green have this yellow and black almost leopard print number they play in, Gateshead are changed claret and blue, the colours you would probably associate more with near neighbours South Shields, but they have been wearing these colours for years when not in black and white, I need to one day find out why. The visitors have only a splutter of hard core attendees in the stand opposite, they start well, aggressive, front foot, not giving their hosts an inch, FGR look off it, unsettled, not allowed time and space for their playmakers to get on the ball. Robbie Savage has mixed it up again. Harvey Bunker who can play 'anywhere' seems to be doing a job at centre half? I can't work out whether Tom Knowles or Laurent Mendy is playing right back? It's all very fluid as they interchange when in possession, but one causing havoc down the left is Jili Buyabu who's terrorising Gateshead. He looks to be standing in an offside position as Jayden Clarke's low shot is saved by Brook. No flag, Buyabu prods home and gives Forest Green the opening goal. That settles Savage FC as more kiddie cries for "Robbie, Robbie" are squealed behind me. "Stop shouting him he's trying to manage" says one of the young boys who at least has a bit of common sense and concern for those around. Gateshead look a better team going forward than they do defensively as Rovers continue to pepper their goal, but there's a good chance when Kian Pennant tries to round the keeper, in the final third they have some technical and talented young players, Kain Adom also tries his luck, he's a player regularly in the National League goals, but at the other end their defenders struggle against a combative centre forward in Temi Babalola, he gets on the end of a Nick Haughton cross to beautifully diving head his third goal since joining the club from Worthing. The Score As the fog thickens ahead of half time Gateshead create two more opportunities which suggests they aren't completely out of it, first Jacob Butterfield in space inside the area forcing Isted into a save, he should score, then Kain Adom rockets a shot goal wards from 18 yards, tipped on to the post by the goalkeeper, a scare for the home side who would brush themselves off and go up the other end to make it three. Jayden Clarke looked offside, for the second time the hosts getting the rub of the linesman's eyes, Clarke is sent over the top before shrugging off a defender to slot home one on one. That earned a yellow card for Ben Williams in protest. FGR have been the better team but in my opinion, two of their goals were very dubious indeed. It's a little harsh on Gateshead at half time, three down but they haven't defended well at all. With results going their way, it looks like Forest Green Rovers are going top, as Carlisle are being held by Eastleigh, Boreham Wood are losing at home against Tamworth and even Scunthorpe are being battered by Solihull. The only concern is that thickening fog might put pay to their points, but the mist clears as the hosts continue to push for more goals, by now Tiernan Brooks is by far the busiest player on the park, Clarke has an effort saved, Bunker hits a post, McAllister drags a shot wide, Haughton, Whitwell and Babalola then test the goalkeeper's resilience again, the best save of the lot is from substitute Aidan Dausch who heads downwards at goal, Brooks palms away with the rebound cleared off the line, it's one way traffic as Gateshead look down and out, ready for their long trek home, but as the fifth minute of injury time approaches, Jacob Butterfield takes aim, he's around thirty yards out, left footed, whipping an effort over the goalkeeper for a consolation, hardly any noise heard as the ball ripples the net, Butterfield walks back to his half head down and no sooner do Forest Green restart, the full time whistle is blown. The Stars I'm mightily impressed with Forest Green left back Jili Buyabu who enjoys himself bombing on from his defensive position into forward areas all afternoon. He's quick and direct, full of energy, you can tell when a player has woken up the morning and said to himself "I'm up for it today". Another star is another youngster in Harry Whitwell, a player on loan from West Brom who I've heard good things about, one aged 20 with high IQ, a midfielder good in tight spaces, seems to have that extra yard in his head, before he gets the ball he already knows what he's doing with it. Abraham Kanu is solid at centre half, Nick Haughton busy in midfield, Jayden Clarke always a threat left forward of a three, but I did really enjoy watching Temi Babalola, I remember seeing him last season at Worthing and thinking he's a handful, he looks to be the perfect spearhead for FGR after failed attempts with Kairo Mitchell and Yahya Bamba leading the line. Babalola is your traditional front line attack, a battering ram who'll wrestle with defenders, who can score goals and take pressure off his team. For Gateshead, I worry for them slightly, they have good young players, and decent experienced footballers, but seem to be lacking that bit in between. Tiernan Brooks was exceptional in goal, he's always very good when I watch him, David Ferguson is a solid left back with experience which is needed in a relegation battle, I thought Curtis Edwards was very good in midfield having been disappointed previously when he was at Notts County, 35-year-old Jacob Butterfield was the most influential architect but cannot do it alone, not a good day for Kain Adom who had a couple of pops in search of his tenth league goal this season, but was subbed during the later stages of the match. Adom did look busy and for me has Gateshead's best goalscoring potential, Dom Telford, only a substitute, perhaps would ideally be a starter as I thought Kian Pennant on loan from Leicester and Josh Home recently signed from Birmingham shown glimpses, but against decent opposition were only mostly on the periphery. The Verdict Gateshead need their experienced players to stand up, and their not-so experienced stars to kick on, if they are to have a chance at avoiding the messy drop zone below, but in fairness, getting something at Forest Green was never realistically a target, they'll have more winnable games at home, and against those around them when away. The Robbie Savage circus continues with same old success, he's taken to management like he's taken to the hearts of a nation through football media as a commentator and pundit, completely at home and using his flamboyant character to get the best of everyone around him, players, staff, fans, have all brought into his ethos, togetherness, his team has a real chance of promotion, and if he does succeed that will be two in a row for him, in only is first two seasons in football management. The Teams Forest Green Rovers: Harvey Isted, Tom Knowles (Tre Pemberton 69), Laurent Mendy, Abraham Kanu, Jili Buyabu (Neil Kengni 68), Harvey Bunker, Nick Haughton (Isaac Moore 74), Harry Whitwell, Kyle McAllister (Aidan Dausch 82), Temi Babalola (Christian Doidge 81), Jayden Clarke. Gateshead: Tiernan Brooks, Fenton John, Ben Williams, Max Melbourne (Lucas Lowery 88), David Ferguson, Josh Home, Curtis Edwards (Harry Gettins 79), Harry Chapman (Callum Bone 89), Jacob Butterfield, Kain Adom (Dom Telford 79), Kian Pennant (Kyle Hurst 59). 3:03pm Kick Off. Saturday 15th November 2025, The New Lawn, Nailsworth (att: 2,386).

Braintree Town 0-1 Brackley Town (National League) I said that Carlisle United's win at the weekend was perhaps the biggest shock in the FA Cup on Saturday, but what I didn't consider was Brackley Town's win against Notts County on penalties, the Saints marching on in the cup after knocking out the League Two side following a 2-2 draw which was largely thanks to a late Callum Stewart leveller in the 96th minute from the spot. Brackley next host Burton Albion in round two but attention draws back to league action, they'll be coming down off their mountain high win to take on a Braintree Town team who had very much a different kind of weekend in the cup. The Iron were hammered 4-1 by Chelmsford City in the Essex derby, a game like at Brackley, shown live on TV, a match where they were comprehensively beaten by a side of a division below. Pressure is mounting on Manager Steve Pitt who I'm told is every week and every defeat nearing the sack, a loss tonight against opposition at home, in the bottom half of the table, will keep the pressure on. Braintree are 21st and top the four relegation places in the division, it's a tough ask to compete with the big boys in the National League but with a similar budget, promoted this year, Brackley seem to be doing ok, despite a couple of cup wins in between though, they haven't won a league game in six. I got home from Carlisle around 1:30am so slept in whilst passing dog walking duties on to my wife, a relaxing day of admin is followed by a 3pm exit, I'm on the A52 and down the A1 with the aim to get past Cambridge down the M11 and beat the traffic at Stansted, where I join the A120 which takes me all the way to Cressing Road. The Venue I've pulled up outside the Orange Tree pub for 6pm, dark skies it's bonfire night and fireworks are cracking off in the sky, loud bangs and flashing lights, excited families walking in groups to various events. There's one at the Rugby Club tonight which is just around the corner, the club saying 'parking might be an issue' but it seems there's plenty around here. I'm not expecting the biggest crowd. My walk is short across the road into the 'stadium complex' down the Clockhouse Way where houses are flat roofed, white painted, there's people looking out of their apartment windows as the fireworks continue, the Brackley Town bus has already pulled in, as I walk through the blue gates and am pointed to the only turnstile tonight in use, where my name is down on the list. I think it's still called the Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium, I'm not entirely sure, the clubs official website reminds me of the one I did for my local amateur side in 1999 and isn't the easiest to work out? But the place itself stinks of retro era football, and that I really like. Unloved, messy, potholes and traffic cones, goal posts behind the bike shed, run down portacabins, the pitch itself is fluffy, unchanged perhaps since first hosting games in 1923, but for a few thousand cuts, Autumnal leaves have fallen to the pitch perimeter, there's cold weather sheets down to the side which look like they haven't been moved for years. That said, the stadium has real quirk, an apexed roof terrace on half way, opposite the main seated stand, rectangular, box like, propped up by blue metal posts, each end open, the whole place is lined by trees. It's classic non league, as I sit down at the back where the press seats are lined there's metal flip down tables full of rust, opposite I get a real glare of the floodlights which light up the playing surface. The Game I'm expecting an 'after the lord mayors show' from Brackley who played a tough 120 minutes against decent league opposition at the weekend, whilst I'm intrigued to see whether Braintree provide 'a bounce' after their shambolic defeat to local rivals Chelmsford. I get a bit of both as the two teams kick off, but Braintree in orange and blue halves have made a few changes, four in total and they don't really look well gelled, or oiled, gritty and game yes, but they lack cohesion and as a team it doesn't feel they have a collective dynamic. Brackley in bright yellow are no better, I'm disappointed as they concede possession more than they keep it, both sides are as bad at holding on to the ball as each other as the only thing of real note is happening loudly, in the skies above. The fireworks light up a dim half of football that is pretty much the worst I've seen this season. The home side look to have players capable of breaking on the counter-attack, they don't defend at all bad, but when Marshall-Miranda from midfield, or when Kyle Pinnington from right back, venture forward with the ball at their feet, nobody else dares commit, leaving big John Akinde the only forward target, he's not the quickest but at 36-years-old is being asked to do it all alone. The Score The away side are hardly any better. Scott Pollock in the 'ten role' is one they look to get on the ball, Jack Price playing 'quarterback' is trying to make things happen from deep, but even he finds touch more than he finds his friends, defensively dogged as I've seen before, I like Tyler Lyttle, Gareth Dean, Zak Lilley on an early booking, the 3-5-2 formation is never attractive, but in the second half they tweak it, and the game becomes more open. I'm not even sure what they have done? Right wing back Michael Nottingham has moved to right wing (or at least he's stopped tracking back) whilst left wing back Riccardo Calder just stands over by the dugout on the far side. The three man defence still in place, but looks offset, unbalanced, until Gavin Cowan brings on two strikers, as Braintree opt for midfield re-enforcements, and suddenly the home team have more of the ball. In Goran Babic and James Vennings the hosts have a bit more shape and cohesion, you feel they now know what they are doing as they start attacks by passing it out wide and getting balls into the box, there's a couple of sniffs for Akinde who's a nuisance, more prominent as they play to his strengths, using him as a number nine between the lines, rather than threading balls through for him to run on to. I'm suddenly impressed, Braintree can get something, against a side who's not at it, perhaps, but Tyler Lyttle cracks a post from range out of nothing, Brackley aren't done yet, and as Matt Lowe races forward he's shoved inside the area, after the ball had already left his foot, the Referee has been finicky all night, he's not about to let that one go, a soft penalty indeed, dispatched by Shane Byrne. The last fifteen minutes have Braintree push, Brackley retreat and deal with anything now coming into their box, the goal has provided them with uplift, sudden resilience and belief, they probably came for a point, it looks like now they'll take all three. The home side end up with more bookings than chances created, six yellows, which tells the story of what the night was all about. An ugly desperate attempt at football. When it was played, it wasn't that bad, but for most of the evening, the only entertainment came from the fireworks up in the sky. The Stars Most were hidden by the gunpowder haze, but down below it was a night for digging in, when defenders would take their seven out of tens and be happier than those forward flick fancying playmakers who usually get the plaudits. Gareth Dean, 35 years young, heading and kicking anything in his way, big John Akinde giving the Brackley back three some physical trouble, but they all stood up, Tyler Lyttle is one of those plucky no bullsh*t defenders who always seems to do ok. I like what Jack Price 'attempted' to do in midfield, he got on the ball more than anyone on the night, Scotty Pollock ran around a bit, Matt Lowe actually got better, more effective as the night went on. For Braintree, I was told to look out for Jacob Pinnington ahead of the match, a young right back who's athletic, quick, progressive and was actually one who had a couple of attempts from range, a player I like the look of, he and Marley Marshall-Miranda the two stand outs for me. I asked a scout who'd been watching Braintree all season on how Miranda had been doing, he said he's has been by far their best player. Another player who impressed me was Goran Babic when he came on, he seemed to give Braintree a foothold in midfield, where they would keep possession much better in his presence, whilst Chay Cooper and Regan Clayton are young midfielders with potential, Goalkeeper Jack Thompson just 18 years old, They have John Terry's nephew at left back who did ok, whilst Terrell Works a Fulham loanee is apparently Braintree's top goalscorer, aged 20, he came on too late to offer more than just a cameo. The Verdict I'll be very surprised, regardless of whether or not they get a new manager, that Braintree Town have the tools this season to survive? A young inexperienced team reliant on a striker past his sell by date (I think John Akinde can flourish more in a mid table long ball side that actually plays to his strengths), It seems to have the ingredients mixed ready for relegation, and I think that's what will happen, unless they at least attempt make drastic changes, but it might take a few quid, and a few new players, as much as a new Manager's magic wand. Brackley will be ok, they do the ugly stuff well, and they can nick a goal, with enough attacking threat from their forward players, midfield and defenders, they know how to defend and that's first and foremost, a good starting base for survival. Who's to say they won't beat Burton and reach round three of the cup too? A good year for the Saints will be survival and a cup run, which is probably what they'll achieve. The Teams Braintree Town: Jack Thompson, Jacob Pinnington, George Langston, Tommy Smith, Frankie Terry, Marley Marshall-Miranda, Regan Clayton (Terrell Works 84), Chay Cooper, Lewis Walker (Goran Babic 46), Elliott Thorpe (James Vennings 25), John Akinde. Brackley Town: Jonny Maxted, Tyler Lyttle, Gareth Dean, Zak Lilley, Michael Nottingham (Danny Waldron 67), Jack Price, Shane Byrne, Riccardo Calder, Scott Pollock, Matt Lowe, Morgan Roberts (Callum Stewart 67). 7:45pm Kick Off. Wednesday 5th November 2025, Cressing Road, Braintree (att 732).

Mansfield Town 3-2 Harrogate Town (FA Cup Round One) Saturday afternoon, 3pm, the FA Cup. How much more traditionally English can one get? Upon hearing Friday's sorry announcement that the Premier League is playing just one Boxing Day fixture (Manchester United v Newcastle United at the ridiculous KO time of 8pm) this coming Christmas, to have a small bit of traditional value left in our football, is slightly satisfying for one who likes the simplicity, purity and once high values of our old and established famous game. Speaking of tradition, Field Mill is said to be one of the oldest Football League grounds of all. Officially hosting soccer since 1861, some records have the game being played at the very same spot in Mansfield as far back as 1850. Although Mansfield Town didn't actually move here until 1919. I was supposed to be in Worksop today, another of England's oldest football clubs, covering the Tigers National League North match against Scarborough Athletic, but priorities had me moved to Mansfield, which is around twenty minutes closer to home than Worksop, the Stags currently in a fine run of form under Nigel Clough, eighth in League One and unbeaten in five whilst Harrogate are struggling of late, nineteenth in League Two having lost their last four, tough times on Simon Weaver's side who like Mansfield, will see the cup as a nice side distraction today. It's bright but cloudy as I head up the A60 and pull up off Quarry Lane down the back of some industrial units, listening in to Leicester City against Blackburn as I notice Chelmsford are battering Braintree in the Essex derby, last night Luton edged Forest Green 4-3 in a classic. The magic of the cup well under way already. The Venue I pass it often but I've not been to Field Mill for years, the One Call Stadium can be seen on top of the hill, grey backed with floodlights high sitting over a number of retail spaces that include Poundstretcher, Dunelm and Smyth's Toy Store. Walking in from Quarry Lane I avoid all that shopping jazz, a quiet and leafy trek towards the main car park and the two tiered Ian Greaves Stand which is the only home stand in use today. It's busy outside as people sit drinking at Sandy's Bar, some kids heading up to the fanzone which is next to an adjacent 3g training pitch which now backs on to a Padel Tennis Centre. As I walk to the turnstiles I'm slowed down by a sniffer dog with luckily nothing on me bar some keys a wallet and phone, as I walk by telling the Police lady "she can probably smell my own dog". Upstairs I'm straight to the kiosk, a peppered steak pie and tea, I take a walk outside to eat it where I have a small issue, firstly I'm followed by the nations last living wasp who's trying to get at my grub, then I notice the seat I've brought in the 'R' block is actually safe standing, I'm concerned that I might be in the 'mix' which is somewhere I don't really want to be. Luckily, I have a word with the steward, I tell him I'm a scout and have noticed on the opposite wing of the stand lots of free seats available, he's very friendly and assists my need by walking me through the Directors section to the opposite side where mostly the players families are sat. The view is great up here. You can see the whole of Mansfield down below. Each end has yellow and blue seated covered terracing behind each goal, around 170 Harrogate fans in the stand to my left, nothing in the right bar a couple of ball boys, opposite a once condemned stand now re open with brand new shiny blue seating, again no one in it today but it's looking much better than it once did when boarded up, for so long Field Mill has been a three sided stadium but the Radford's, who own the club have put some serious investment into the place. You get the sense of a real good feel factor around here. Which is testament to how the club is run, both on, and off the pitch. The Game More great tradition provides a lump in the throat moment as veterans of the army, navy & RAF walk out to applause before the teams follow and respect the last post, a good few minutes of silence is then backed by more applause. There's something about football that does remembrance month/week/day brilliantly, and it seems to be these small town clubs like Mansfield which always do it best. One tradition I hope we have the decency to continue for many more generations to come. Unlike our efforts re Boxing Day. Underway, Mansfield in yellow look to keep the ball and probe openings, Harrogate in jade green sitting off with intent to defend and break, but a neat move down the left soon undoes the visiting defence, McLaughlin pulling back low to Regan Hendry who makes no mistake following a late run from midfield. That settles some early nerves but whilst bossing the game, I'm not sure that Mansfield are fully at their best. The pornstar moustached Aaron Lewis impressing me most with his hard work ethic and ball distribution. One player who looks lively down the right is Nathan Moriah-Welsh. He scuffed a shot which lead to Jordan Bowery scoring in the week against Plymouth, and he's fluffed a couple of attempts today, dragging one wide and blazing one over, the second from inside the six yard box looked harder not to score after Gardner's effort was parried back to him, I worry does he lack the end product, does his pace flatter to deceive? Those scares allow Harrogate to gain some confidence and by half time they are far from out of the game, they've hardly tested Liam Roberts goal but you wonder if Mansfield have done enough to be leading? Not entirely at their 'A' game despite a few half chances. The Score Stags Manager Nigel Clough is obviously not happy. He makes two changes at half time and a further sub just nine minutes into the second half, the drastic tweaks perhaps not doing the team any short term favours, the lively Stephen Duke-McKenna suddenly has time to let fly and does so on the edge of the box, his right footed rocket into the top corner, levels the tie and Mansfield have a game on all of a sudden. It takes all of ten minutes to put things right though. George Maris, one of the half time subs has a pop from distance, his shot takes a big deflection and loops over the goalkeeper Oxley to regain Mansfield's lead. The Stags by now look much more solid. They have in parts played some lovely football, they have a good bench and bringing Bowery and Lucas Akins on they now have power and presence in the final third, but Harrogate get a corner with ten minutes to go, Smith crosses to big centre half Anthony O'Connor who heads powerfully home, the travelling fans behind the goal go wild. I'm thinking of extra time and another half a hour which isn't ideal as I've told the wife I'll pick up a Five Guys on the way back, but another attack is smooth as silk or the skin of a stag at least, Moriah-Welsh finding Maris with a lovely pass who strikes home, low on the angle, his second. For the second time the announcer celebrates the goalscorer name as "Georgio Marisio". The Stars What I really like about the Mansfield Town team is an uncomplicated philosophy installed by one of the countries most underrated managers, Nigel Clough, who may have had big shoes to fill in the game, but living and breathing football, he has his own philosophy to that of dad, which works really well, in getting results. A big goalkeeper, a tall shot stopper, I worked with Liam Roberts on loan at Rainworth Miners Welfare many years back, then Walsall were really keen on him but he had issues with his kicking, he's still not the best with his feet but that doesn't bother Clough, because Roberts job is to simply keep the ball out of the back of the net. Despite conceding two, I was impressed defensively, two old style centre halves who are told to when under pressure, just get rid, both aerially good and physically strong, are Adedeji Oshilaja and Frazer Blake-Tracy who have tons of experience at the level. As does their left back Stephen McLaughlin who I actually think is a lower league super star. Now 35 he's been a mainstay under Nigel Clough at Mansfield, previously a left winger in his younger days where he started out at Nottingham Forest after moving over from Ireland, a wand of a left foot, he has played over 200 Stags games and is a bit of a free kick specialist. Right back Kyle Knoyle is another experienced player who does the basics well, then in midfield, Aaron Lewis, dark fluffy hair and moustache, just oozes cult hero, he works hard but has a bit of class, whilst in the first half, young Forest loanee Jamie McDonnell beside him, is a player who shown the odd spark, is one I like, who perhaps didn't have his best game taken off at the break. Another Forest loanee is the talented left winger Joe Gardner, who loves running at players, as does their striker Rhys Oates, who but for injury might have had an even better career. The jury is out for now on Nathan Moriah-Welsh but he does have talent and promise. For Harrogate, I think that they perhaps started with a lack of belief, but grew into the game largely because Mansfield thought it was too easy, their best player for me, Stephen Duke-McKenna who was positive in his play, driving at opposition defenders, he linked up down the left really well with young Brighton loanee Jacob Slater at left back, another who grew into the game, he shown good feet and had a long range low effort fizz wide. Another player I like is young Bobby Faulkner at centre half, on loan from Doncaster, he had a tough afternoon especially later on up against Lucas Akins, whilst Jack Muldoon, a player we once nearly signed from Worksop Town when at Grantham in 2013, he's had a stellar career since and been a regular scorer for Harrogate after joining the club in 2018. The Verdict The Stags march on and they'll be hoping for a good draw in round two, before a big lucrative tie in round three, they do have cup pedigree in recent years having twice beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, and earlier this season were one of the first visitors to Everton's new stadium, losing 2-0 in the Carabao Cup. Bigger focus however will be back in league action, where they'll first aim to stay in League One for a second successive season, then see how high they can go from there, reaching for the stars? Only once in their history have they been in English football's second tier. They couldn't do it again? Could they? As for Harrogate, well survival is now key. They'll be hoping an uplift in form will have them away from the struggles below, as they look to prolong their league two stay for a sixth successive season. The Teams Mansfield Town: Liam Roberts, Kyle Knoyle, Adedeji Oshilaja, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Stephen McLaughlin (Ryan Sweeney 84), Aaron Lewis, Jamie McDonnell (Louis Reed 46), Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Regan Hendry (George Maris 46), Joe Gardner (Jordan Bowery 54), Rhys Oates (Lucas Akins 69). Harrogate Town: Mark Oxley, Zico Asare, Bobby Faulkner, Anthony O'Connor, Jacob Slater, Jack Evans, Bryn Morris, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Reece Smith, Ellis Taylor, Jack Muldoon (Sean McCoulsky 73). 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 1st November 2025, Field Mill, Mansfield (att 3,301).

Peterborough Sports 2-1 Southport (National League North) Formed in 1908 as Brotherhoods Engineering Works it wasn’t until 2001 (after a brief affair as Bearings Direct) did the name Peterborough Sports emerge from a puff of smoke fit for an Aladdin’s lamp of three very ambitious wishes… Wish one was to get out of the Peterborough & District league where their predecessors had stood as amateurs since 1925, which the newly named representatives did successfully after winning the Premier Division title in 2007. Wish two was to get out of the United Counties league, which they did thanks to present Manager Jimmy Dean, in charge since 2015, winning back-to-back titles they topped Division One in 2016 before winning the Premier Division and promotion to step four of the non-league ladder the season after. Wish three was to reach the National League North and step six of the football pyramid, having won the Southern League Central First Division in 2019 they finished second in the Premier Division last season to eventually beat Coalville Town in the playoff final and secure a place in unchartered territory where they have since held their own in the middle of the table. It hasn’t been without cost though, Chairman Grant Biddle has spent over £600,000 of his own money in the last five years and the club are under a transfer embargo after falling behind with HMRC payments. Biddle has been looking for investors to help-out, after admitting that the club may have now hit their financial ceiling. Today’s opponents Southport have much less fairytale but more thoroughbred history in comparison and have never been outside the top six divisions of English football. Formed in 1888 as Southport Central, in 1921 they were invited to become founder members of the Football League Third Division North, enjoying top four division professional status until 1978. Dropping firstly into the Northern Premier League before a long spell in the Conference and more recently the National League North, the Sandgrounders are eighth in the table and unbeaten in eight in the division whilst their hosts for the day, who beat them 3-0 at Haig Avenue earlier in the season, are eleventh after three successive league defeats. It's a wet one as I check Twitter to see if the game is going ahead, rain pelting down as I turn off the A52 at Grantham and head South down the A1, passing one of the few remaining Adult Stores along the Old Stamford Road, a break in the skies appears as I fly past RAF Wittering before turning onto the A47 where I follow the River Nene towards Peterborough and Lincoln Road, the Bee Arena as it’s called for reasons I don’t know? The Venue I’m following a Mercedes with a private reg, racing through the traffic on the Bourges Boulevard before turning onto Lincoln Road where it’s ushered into a car park by a steward (by now I've long gathered it's a player late for duty). The road is permit only and packed full of take-aways and convenience stores from Polish to Portuguese, Indian to Lithuanian, it looks a busy old place, one which I wouldn’t chance parking on, I decide rather than aiming for a street spot I’ll chance my arm by driving past the steward with a quick nod and a wink. Into the car park of an NHS walk in centre I’m through the gates of Peterborough Sports Club which is lined with Palm Trees, an exotic looking entrance in the style of a Mediterranean Restaurant more than a sixth tier part-time football club. Parking up, dangerously behind the goal (too dangerously I later find thanks to a ball print on my windscreen), there’s players and staff arriving as I head for the entrance behind a new looking brick built pavilion to the left, I’m behind a family of Southport fans who are keen and early as I ask the gateman if my name is on the list. Inside the arena I’m pleasantly surprised, the pitch is in good condition despite the recent weather, flat wide and green, the stand to my left housing the Directors seats is small before an open end which has a tea bar and portacabin club shop in the far corner, to the right of that the Colin Day Stand which will include my seat for the day, a press table on row one, pitch side, all be it level with the eighteen yard box, up from that the dugouts and changing rooms, behind the top goal is a small low roofed stand in one corner. I’m searching for a cup of tea but nowhere takes card, I’m going without as I’m writing the line-ups for the match, no team sheets provided, in fact I’m the only one sitting in the press seats, I’m joined shortly before the game by around twelve cackling Peterborough United fans who’ve came up to see their local non-league team as Posh are without a game. The Game “He’s brought his homework” one of them shouts as he see’s me writing down the subs… Southport are warming up within touching distance in front of me, the mullet haired Michael Carberry is having banter with another blonde flowing looker in Jack Bainbridge, the rest of the players are deadly silent during shuttles as Carberry shouts out “Antii Niemi, he’s not finished” a gag I fondly remember from the time a TalkSport listener phoned in and stated the Finland International Goalkeeper should play for Scotland. The crowd has gathered around me at some pace, still nobody sitting in the press seats though, apart from a kid and his mum who use the tables provided for media workers to sit and have their burgers on… All the while the cackling behind me goes on, four women & six men chatting gibberish, there’s one who loves a bit of sarcasm too, they’re already planning a coach trip to watch Stamford play and a train excursion to Kings Lynn as well as trip to Port Vale with Posh. In amongst all this chat the game kicks off, it takes the away side all of ten minutes to get their first booking, a soft looking foul on halfway by Keenan Quansah, I was thinking pre-match in near 30 games I’ve not seen a red card all season, will today be the day? The opening is scrappy, Southport have no intention to play football, just get rid and launch, Peterborough the better of the two sides in possession look to use their wingers, the right side in particular a threat as full back Kayden Williams-Lowe links up with Dion Sembie-Ferris who seem to have a good understanding of each other. There’s an half chance when Sembie-Ferris runs through but he drags the shot wide as the sarcastic Posh fan behind me mumbles to his mates “That’s why Colchester released you” the chirpy guvnor shortly after eats his words as Sembie-Ferris cuts in from the right and unleashes a left footed thunderbolt past McMillan from the edge of the area. By now the Referee has taken a couple more Southport scalps, in fact he checks the back of one players shirt to see his number after a free kick is conceded, he’s definitely dishing out today, he’s already made that decision ahead of kick off. The Score It’s musical chairs at half time as some of the women swap places to chat as the men get the tea, at least a little silence from the endless jokes and nonsense, another friend of ‘theirs’ comes over and sits in the media seats without a care in the world, he’s been looking for his mates all half apparently… “Was the goal any good” he asks “I was in the bar”. Lights switched on as the second half kicks into gear, Peterborough are again the enforcers but chances and quality, are few and far between, Southport continuing to opt with the more direct route as the turbines attack down the sides before a foul for tugging on half way by Keenan Quansah, gives the Referee 'his moment' at last, a second booking and that inevitable red he craved providing since waking up this morning. There's not been a dirty foul all game, Southport have had five bookings and a sending off. Down to ten it leaves the away side a difficult task which gets even tougher when Nathan Fox trudges into the box to cross low where Dion Sembie-Ferris slots home his second, the hosts sailing into a two-goal advantage with less than twenty minutes to play, a formality to see out the game, not so as Southport react late on with a gutsy rally, they pull one back on 86 as Chris Doyle heads home a corner from close range, but it’s too little too late, they can’t breach their opponents in the final five minutes of injury time and Peterborough hang on to a first win in five. The Southport fans aim their frustration at the man in the middle who they boo off the field of play. "I never want to see you again Ref" one cries. He's still dishing out cards as players are walking off the pitch. The Stars Not much took a shine on a game where little football was played. Dion Sembie Ferris who impressed me against Alfreton earlier in the season was quick and direct and a real problem to Southport left back Carberry who just couldn’t handle him. The former Colchester winger linked up well with right-back Williams-Lowe who despite his small size had a touch of technique and did the simple things well, the former QPR defender now 22, certainly has the potential to make a bit of cash in the game, his level could even be higher than the one he's already at. Late on Peterborough brought on the experienced big defender Richard Jones who headed back everything that Southport threw at him, a tactical masterclass, all be it a simple necessity made by Manager Jimmy Dean, who must take credit for his side trying to play with a bit of grit and physical presence in their armour. Centre forward Mark Jones a big number nine, quietly going about his business up top, allowing others to run off him and take the credit as he takes a few kicks and elbows for the team. For Southport, it wasn’t a day where many of their guys could take credit for playing well, looking forward to watching Jordan Archer, he didn’t impose himself the way I expected or hoped he would. Centre backs Anson & Evans were at least no-nonsense, but they certainly weren’t pretty, in no way elegant, Southport looked very organised but very ordinary, a team perhaps crying out for a bit of pace and guile. The Verdict The place itself, the venue and set up, I must admit, was better than I had expected, having heard off the grapevine of its basic amenities and layout, I doubt it would be allowed to host fifth tier football if the side were ever in contention to again go up, but should this be the highest that Peterborough Sports will ever sit in the football spectrum, credit to those involved for doing a bloody good job in getting them this far. It might be mid-table for both of these teams this season, but whilst Southport will no doubt still be kicking around at the level in another ten or fifteen years, I can’t be as confident as to say where the Turbines will be? Maybe if the wind is blowing in their direction, they’ll continue to sale along their magical fairytale story, at least, that is, until the storm really hits, and they do run out of money for good. The Teams Peterborough Sports: Peter Crook, Ryan Fryatt, Connor Johnson, Nathan Fox, Kayden Williams-Lowe, Dan Jarvis (Michael Gash 79), Diadier Camara, Josh McCammon (Richard Jones 87), Dan Lawlor, Mark Jones (Maniche Sani 79), Dion Sembie-Ferris. Southport: Tony McMillan, Chris Doyle, Adam Anson (Connor Woods 57), Declan Evans, Michael Carberry, Charlie Munroe, Josh Hmami (Niall Watson 57), Keenan Quansah, Connor Heath, Jack Bainbridge, Jordan Archer (Charlie Oliver 69). 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 7th January 2023, Lincoln Road, Peterborough (att 281).

Tamworth 4-0 Southport  (National League North) I was at the Old Vol in Caythorpe last night for a bite to eat and a couple of pints. The place was once a good old run down after work ‘locals only’ village boozer but now looks like the Love Island Villa and attracts celebrities like Forest footballers, Notts cricketers and local BBC News presenters which is all a bit ‘Instagram’ famous for me but the food was at least half decent. We opted not to sit inside an outdoor glass pod though, but instead ate our meal in a room that had real life plants growing out the walls and ceiling.   Today I’m hobbling with a sore foot which has given me standard nightly jip of late as I take Bruce to the mother in laws ahead of my commute down the M1 and onto the M42 and through the back end of Tamworth as I pass Statfold Country Park.   The Lambs were silenced in defeat at Chester in their last match but they’re still in a dogfight with Scunthorpe at the top of the National League North. The chase really hotting up after 21 games with just a two point gap leaving little margin for error.   I’ve never actually seen Southport play well and they got tonked last time out in the FA Trophy by high flying National League leaders Chesterfield 6-1. They're fifteenth and have otherwise done ok in recent weeks, the last league match ending in a 1-0 win at Buxton.   The Venue   I’ve managed to find a space on the Kettlebrook Road which saves a few quid in using the clubs official car park and I walk through to the reception where I’m told where to go despite my name not being on the guestlist.   A quick wee before ordering a tea, I also buy a snickers as a guy serving food tells me there’s a minimum charge of £5 to use my card, I luckily have a twenty pound note which he accepts, whilst flipping some burgers and charging me £3.50.   The stench is fried onions as I help myself to milk on the side before walking to my desk in the media section five rows up and not far from half way. The sun belting down in my eyes behind one of the goals, it’s really warm as I take my coat off and tell the Tamworth Radio presenter setting up, “I can’t believe it’s December”.   The ground is quaint, red painted low roofed and compact with terraced houses behind the far side, some quirky floodlights like something your auntie Thelma would have in her hallway dangling down from the ceiling. The green synthetic carpet glistening under the sun as I notice on the concrete floor where I’m sat, those annoying bits of black rubber hoops that come standard on these horrible but efficient all weather pitches, these bits have made it has high as the top tier of this cushty little West Midlands football ground. I don’t miss my days of playing five a side when I used to offload them all in my bathroom after getting home on a Wednesday night and taking off my socks before hopping in the shower following an hour’s run around with mates.   The Game   Since last Saturday, I keep getting early goals in the games I cover and that happens again today as within six minutes a free kick is curled home by Tshikuna from outside the area after a rash challenge by a lunging Southport leg goes punished. The home side are on it as they attack their opponents goal. Midfielder Tom Tonks is tiny but he can throw it a mile. Tamworth have a bit of everything from the barrel chested no nonsense defender Liam Dolman to the tricky Kyle Finn out wide, they also have quite a bit of pace in Ben Acquaye, Chris Wreh and the thick set Tshikuna who all link excitedly together. Southport are nothing special, but they have a player I remember from his academy days at Nottingham Forest. Balding midfielder David Morgan now 29 is captain of the Sandgrounders and is a former Northern Ireland youth international who has had two spells at Haig Avenue since 2017. Morgan takes all the set plays but can’t impact his team to a positive persistence on Tamworth’s back line. At the other end Tonks tricks everyone and throws short for Acquaye to hook in over his head and double the home sides advantage. There’s a few handbags and it’s nitty picky, stop starty and irritatingly slow as referee Melissa Burgin stamps her authority on the game. At one point I’m thinking she’s abandoning the match for something which was said in the crowd to her. The bookings have totted up for each side prior to the break as she frequently talks to the teams dugouts and her own assistants. When play finally resumes, Chris Wreh, a home debutant suddenly has time and space to make it three. It’s going to be a long, miserable way back to Southport from here. The Score Half time can’t come soon enough for the away side and in fairness to Southport they improve and have a go in the early stages of the second 45. The game suddenly becomes open, end to end even as the away side play more directly on the break as Tamworth themselves push players forward as 'everybody' wants a goal. Andy Peake has made some substitutes and welcomes back club captain Ben Milne along with last season’s top scorer Dan Creaney from injury. The depth of quality the side has is impressive and I like the way they have that bit of everything in their makeup. Right winger Kyle Finn has been quiet but he has time and space with ten left and wraps his left foot around the ball to curl home a beauty from outside the area. There’s time for more attempts late on as Tamworth search for five but not before Finn brawls with Southport sub Jack Bainbridge which surprisingly goes unpunished. Plenty of fight in both sets of teams but one is miles ahead of the other in talent and technique department. The Stars Nathan Tshikuna shines a light for me as a powerful progressive player in the final third. His touch of class coming off his right boot when he scored an early free kick. On the left, Ben Acquaye was effective, direct, tricky, quick and on the right, Kyle Finn certainly has some star quality. Defensively, I like the keeper Jas Singh who’s most competent whilst Jordan Cullinane-Liburd is an elegant centre half who reads the game really well. Less elegant, but even more educated is Liam Dolman who was awkwardly fantastic as he always is when I watch him. He’s one of those players due to his rounded shape that attackers will always fancy getting the better of, until they actually play against him and he smashes them to pieces, using that weight to every bit of effect, he's almost impossible to run around. Few positives for Southport but in the second half especially, Tyler Walton was at least confident and direct down the right wing and he caused problems on the break, defensively Southport weren’t at the races but their goalkeeper Chris Renshaw can at least sleep easy tonight that he played his part in keeping the score down. The Verdict I told a Tamworth press guy that ‘Scunthorpe will be everyone’s Cup final and that just might play into your hands’ as the title race hots up further into 2024. Nobody will be looking forward to playing Tamworth but some will fancy taking the big scalp of Scunny, that might just be the difference when it comes to the seasons end with little to choose between the two sides. Southport are a funny old team who I’m still yet to ever see play well... I’m sure they have something to offer in the National League North, I’ve just not yet seen it myself in the last year as I look for signs of 'what they are good at?'... Now sitting eighteenth with a five point margin on the bottom four, the really surprising thing for me however, is that they are also five points off eighth and a potential playoff push. The Teams Tamworth: Jas Singh, Matt Curley, Kyle Finn, Luke Fairlamb, Ben Acquaye (Kai Williams 85), Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Liam Dolman, Nathan Tshikuna (Ben Milnes 72), Jamie Jellis, Tom Tonks, Chris Wreh (Dan Creaney 74). Southport: Chris Renshaw, Matt Thomson, Harry Flowers, David Morgan, Marcus Carver, Tyler Walton (Michael O'Neill 78), Keenan Quansah, Josh Hmami (Jack Bainbridge 61), Brad Holmes, Will Squires, Richie Bennett. 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 16th December 2023, The Lamb Ground, Tamworth (att 1,100).