Macclesfield Town 1-2 Lincoln City, Saturday 15th September 2018

Macclesfield Town 1-2 Lincoln City, League 2, att. 2589 (1000+ Lincoln) 

Welcome to ....

Here we go again.  Thanks to Macclesfield’s promotion from the National League (nee Vauxhall Conference) I’m back down to 90 of the 92.  Still, any excuse to miss the Super Reds’ visit to the Ricoh Arena.  Not only the most soul destroying of any trip to a football ground, but, as I discovered from our German coach, Barnsley hadn’t won in 95 years.  Why did I not know this fact?  (FYI, Barnsley lost 1-0; I didn’t miss much.)

The teams (and lion) meet and greet.

So, a trip to the Cheshire stockbroker belt and a meet up with 3 other Londontykes (2 who’ve moved back up north), who’d also resisted the allure of Coventry’s suburbs.  Super!  I met The Captain off the train and we pootled up the hill to the chippy before strolling through Macc towards the ground, via a couple of pubs.  

A quaint wooden gate onto the pitch.

The first, the Silk Trader, looked tremendous, with a selection of ale to boot.  But there was nobody in it, so after a pint we walked on to the Railway View.   The landlord was a character, there were a few people in, but the beer choice was poor to say the least.  By now our 2 mates had rocked in, having parked their jalopy.  We spared them a pint and headed to the ground.

The view towards the exec boxes/social club.

Rather marvellously, Macc’s social club allowed anyone in, as long as they had a match ticket.  We purchased ours and headed to the bar.  Beers quaffed overlooking the pitch on a fine Cheshire day.  What wasn’t to like?  But we’re not exec types, so we went outside, walked through the stand seats and took a pew on the terrace behind the goal, with the hardcore.  Well, you can’t beat a bit of ‘Maccy Maccy Maccy Maccy Macclesfield.’  Bizarrely, there were a few rows of seats in front of us.  Had they been rammed in just so’s the club had enough seats for the football league?  I can’t be bothered to find out.

A (not so?) random bunch of seats on a terrace.

Moss Rose itself is a very tidy stadium.  The away end is an open terrace behind the other goal, but a small Main Stand, straddling the halfway line, has a paddock in front, running the length of the pitch.  The (real) main stand, the one with the exec facilities, is a pitch-length cantilever with exec boxes at the back, leaving the aforementioned home end, complete with roof.

The mascot chats to a fan.  

Today’s visitors were league leaders Lincoln City, backed by an excellent following.  Although they’ve spent big, they’ve spent wisely (Shackell, Akinde) and look good value for promotion this season.  They absolutely battered Macclesfield, who were kept in it only by a superb performance from the goalkeeper, Kieran O’Hara.  Turns out he’s on loan from Man U.  I’ll say this – he’ll be playing higher up than Macclesfield next season.

Lincoln attack their end.

O’Hara had already made several fine saves before Lincoln went one up after 21 mins, a drive from inside the area.  Save after save followed, before, in the 83^rd minute, Macc shocked the visitors, equalising when a long cross to the backpost was hooked back across goal.  Surely Macc couldn’t nick a point?

The Main Stand.

No, they couldn’t.  O’Hara tipped one over the bar, just as he was named MOTM but he couldn’t get on the end of the resultant corner and Shackell drove home through a crowd of players.  Nothing less than Lincoln deserved, but you had to feel sorry for the keeper.  It’s going to be a long season for Macclesfield.

Indeed.  This IS Macclesfield...

The Captain had a train to catch and dashed off, while Molly and Wadd jumped in the car.  However, I had an hour to kill and found a super little craft beer place in Macc town centre, the Red Willow.  Pub of the day.  I really enjoyed my trip out today.  Is it too much to hope Barnsley play here soon?  (Be careful what you wish for…)

Come on you Silkmen!

The Damage:

£15 ent
£3 prog

= £15

The Tunes:

Thirst For Romance (Cherry Ghost)
Slowdive (Slowdive)
React Test 1 (Various)
Abbey Road (The Beatles)
Pentamerous Metamorphosis (Global Communication)

Moss Rose panorama

1st view of ground

A mosaic outside the ground.

Looking towards the home end from the social club.

The players warm up.

The view from behind the goal.

Back of the home end.

Loud and proud!

Those were the days...last season, in fact.

BFC 1-1 Walsall, Saturday 8th September 2018

‘I’ll get mi’ lube’

Welcome to ...

We have nothing to fear except fear itself.  Well, that and complacency.  For a second game in a row what I witness is a Barnsley side completely outplaying the opposition, finding it oh so easy…missing chance after chance…and allowing inferior opponents to get back into the game.  OK, Walsall were a lot better than Gillingham, and actually did come away with the draw (we could have done with them equalising sooner), but we only have ourselves to blame…

Drab. (The fans' outfits, not the town, obvs.)

Who missed what? Well, little happened in the 1^st half, so all of these were in the 2^nd, as we kicked towards the Ponty; Moore flicked a header wide from a superb Penniless cross; Thiam cleared the bar as the ball rolled nicely to him; Moncur f***ed up a 2 on 1 as his cross couldn’t have been worse (overhit for a goalkick); Victor had a one-on-one saved (the move of the match, from one end to the other, involving 4 or 5 players and quick, one-touch passes) while Moncur had a late one scrambled around the post by the keeper.  We should’ve been out of sight (again).

I'm sure this floodlight used to be INSIDE the ground...

Having said all that, Walsall missed the best 2 chances of the game, both from poorly defended corners.  Early in the second half, as a clearance was returned into our box, the defenders were too late in coming out and left their player to flick a ball over the bar from 3 yards out.  Proving this was no fluke, a minute before they equalised, an identikit move leaves 4 (4!) of their players 6 yards out and their player controls it, turns, and somehow drags it wide.  The gods are with us. We have this game won.  But as I said, complacency comes on (centre midfield), Walsall attack and they always, always, had an extra man in our box and a 10 yarder is drilled through the legs of both defender and keeper. 

The Walsall massive.

As Slacki said, it felt more like a defeat, conceding in the 87^th minute.  But we showed what we’re about, we continue to create (shame we didn’t use the 6 foot 8 bloke up front tho) and we remain unbeaten.  Given Walsall’s also unbeaten start, they’re no mugs, so maybe we need to look at it as an an extra point towards promotion?

Oh yeah, I forgot, we scored.  Victor had a shot, the keeper saved it, it hit a defender and bobbled in.  The gods are with us.  We’re gonna win this game etc.

*** Bahre.  This lad looks class.  I like him already (though since I thought his name was Ibehre, I expected Jabo’s younger brother.  He doesn’t look like Jabo’s younger brother…)  Confident on the ball, drives forward.  Tired a little towards the end, but what do you expect in his 1^st game?  Perhaps we can also buy him a shirt wot fits.

** Moore.  Perhaps a controversial choice.  Moore won everything, held balls up, brought others into play…but couldn’t get on the end of anything cos apart from that Penniless cross, the balls to him were utterly, utterly appalling, usually not beating the 1^st man. 

* Victor.  Came on for McGeehan and caused mayhem up front.  He certainly seems to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time.

Twitter MOTM: Penniless.  
Londontykes MOTM: TBA (when I get round to reading my e-mails).

The teams come out.

Despatches:
‘Who do you hate this season, Al?’ asked Nozzer as we waited for our Gala Bingo taxi.  ‘F***ing Thiam’ I returned.  Too fast for the fullback, too strong, too skilful…but simply cannot get the message from brain to feet in enough time to know what to do with the ball.  Nevermind his inability to cross a ball.  Allegedly scored 2 v Oxford the other week, crackers an’ all.  All I’ve seen is 20-30 failures and a penalty at Millwall.  If anyone here can tell me he’s a better winger than Adam Hammill…I…I…I’d be speechless.  McGeehan more than matched the ineptitude, being dragged off at half time after a couple of loose passes in midfield. How many more failures will he be allowed?  Pinnock made a couple of mistakes (complacency: thinking he’s as good as we think he is) while my favourite Lindsay moment involved him holding onto the ball too long in his own area and being forced to rush a clearance, which he underhit straight to them.  What does everyone see in him that Wadd and I don’t?  (Christ, me and Wadd agreeing on a player!?)  On the plus side, I thought the centre halves protected Walton well…but those Walsall chances from corners stick in the craw.  Walton did make one great save, tipping over a close range header in the 1^st half. I’d nearly forgotten about that.  Penniless looked solid for the most part but got stripped in the 1^st half, while Cavare looked defensively sound, but couldn’t cross a ball over 6 feet high.  Mowatt and Moncurhad their moments, though never really created owt.  Fair play to Stendal though, making another adventurous sub and changing the formation.    

Drink du jour: Arcade Alehouse this week, and I made the mistake of having a Durham Pale Ale.  Horrid.  Back on the Staropramen.  Later, vodka and orange or G&T.  I learnt yesterday the difference between London gin and non-London gin.  I have since forgotten.  

Onwards and upwards!

Away: 400.  Well, that’s what the tannoy said.  No-one on the train thought it was anything like that.

The Damage:£30 train
= £30

The Tunes:
Key Markets (Sleaford Mods)
Achtung Bono! (Half Man Half Biscuit)

The teams break out before KO.

More drabbidity behind the East Stand.

Tickets Only.  Disappointed hordes turned away.

A 2nd half downpour.

The #23 has a rest. Time was when I recognised a player by his number...

BFC 2-1 Gillingham, Saturday 1st September 2018

(Apologies, I'm out of practice, so the words have hardly flowed today.  Maybe it's that vodka...)

Town centre improvements continue apace.

‘Good to be back (good to be back)’

Why do we never hear that song anymore?  Anyway, after 5 weeks away with the Vietcong and the Khmer Rouge, it was OPENING DAY OF THE SEASON time.  Well, it was for Jonesy and I, who were all excited to be back from our hols to see the legends in action, in actual winning football.  We’d heard the hype; Mowatt was back from the dead and running midfield.  Dougall was winning everything, allowing others to play.  We were creating chances, we were scoring goals, we were winning matches.  Everyone agreed – winning 3^rd division games was far preferable to losing every week in the 2^nd.  

The pre-match climb to Oakwell.

We Megabused it up, 8am from Victoria.  Lords Selwood, Slacki and Reed would not be having any of this, but the edge was taken off by some fine Corsican wheat beer.  (Jonesy: you may bring me more of that.)  We were in ‘tarn’ by 10 past 12, early enough for a nose around the new ‘Glassworks’ market in the town centre.  Smart enough, but not exactly a roaring success, more empty stalls than full.  Then to the Old Number 7 (I’ve missed you.)

Queing at the Ponty.

It was a fine day too, the sun shining…and Gillingham were finding us too hot to handle.  I’m not sure they even left their half, such was our superiority.  And despite men behind the ball, we took an early lead, as Moore hit one early from 20 yards, surprising the keeper and finding the near post.  Good strike, but I’d be livid if Davies let one in like that.  Around the half hour mark, we doubled the lead, as we were awarded our first penalty at Oakwell in 22 months.  (Two different people told me this, so it must be true.)  It was a soft one too, as the Reds take a short corner, Penniless cuts inside and stumbles.  Maybe he got a clip, maybe he didn’t.  Moore drives the ball straight down the middle as the keeper dives right.  This is too easy.

The keeper dives out of the way of Moore's pen.

Two-nil flattered Gillingham at half-time.  We were so much on top it was unfunny.  Moore could have had 3 or 4, while Penniless had a 25 yard piledriver tipped over.  Still, we had our warning, as Gills had a goal disallowed in the last minute, a cross shot from the left being bundled home.  Just as I’d been complimenting Pinnock’s ability not to dive in and give a foul away (as Lindsay had done a minute or 2 before), he stood off and allowed the left winger space to put the ball in.  We got away with that one.

A busy Ponty End.

Second half, and all that could stop us was complacency.  Moore was still being a pain in the proverbial and coulda…shoulda…scored at least 2 in goalmouth scrambles (not connecting properly), while the keeper saved a spectacular snapshot from a narrow angle.  Long shots from other players (Mowatt, Moncur) were finding the stands.  Still, it was too easy.  Which was why we couldn’t be ar5ed to mark a bloke on the front post off a corner.  I think Davies saved the flick on, but the ball fell kindly and somehow, somehow, Gillingham were back in the game.  (With regards to defending corners, would we do any worse if we replaced Davies with someone who has no arms?  Does he ever come out and catch a ball?)

Gills' 259.  Thanks for coming.

Anyway, it was obviously all Potts’ fault, cos he was instantly dragged off for Adeboyejo.  For a few minutes, our composure fell apart, as players now found the opposition or the sidelines with simple passes (Lindsay, for one).  Good job Gillingham were/are s***.  They even had a chance to equalise, but a shot from 10 yards was hit wide.  A draw would’ve been a travesty, yet at the same time our own fault.  Still, nice to moan about a victory.

*** Moore.  (Literally) head and shoulders above anything else on the park.  Twitter MOTM.  Could’ve scored half a dozen, but a couple of saves and one cleared off the line suggest he wasn’t doing too much wrong. 

** Potts.  Sprayed the ball about, drove on, shrugged off lesser mortals.  I couldn’t see why he was subbed.

* Penniless.  While he had a couple of big moments in the 1^st half, he was superb the 2^nd, getting forward, whipping in crosses and defensively sound.  Is this the player Forest fans were raving about?  (Another one back from the dead.)

Londontykes' MOTM:  1. Moore  2. Pinillos  3. Pinnock

Welcome to ...

Despatches:

It was a difficult day to judge the new superstar Dougall, as Gillingham offered nothing.  But he made one great track back that I noticed.  As for midfield buddies Mowatt and Moncur…well, while they interlinked quite well at times, their main contribution appeared to be an ability to hit the ball over the bar with BOTH feet.  Real talent, that. Thiam was quiet.  Looked fast enough to beat his player, powerful enough, skilful enough…but looks like his brain doesn’t function quick enough to put these attributes to use.  Pinnock looked classy (no change there) but I do have one (mild) criticism which Stendal could put right: Gills, 2 down, were still retreating into their own half.  Our defenders (Lindsay) don’t have to listen to idiot fans wanting the ball played forward quickly and therefore hoof it.  Let Gills come onto US.  They’re losing, the onus is on THEM to come out.  As it was, we simply gave them the ball too easily at times in the 2^nd half.  (Actually, Gills knew what they were doing; at one point 3 of them pressed on the halfway line and 2 quick short passes later, they had 5 men the wrong side of the ball.  They came to frustrate us, but the early goal meant they couldn’t even do that.)

Well done Reds – but there’ll be better teams than Gillingham coming to Oakwell this season.

Oh, and how can I tell it’s my opening game of the season?  That’s right, no home or away shirts available in my size.  The more things change…

Drink du jour: Corsican wheat beer, Erdinger (on tap!), Vodka and orange.  Jonesy and I polished off a whole bottle of vodka, and my head feels it today.  Journey back (train!) joined by Nice Guy Chris and The Captain (fresh from ticking off Blundell Park in his quest for the 92).

Onwards and upwards!

Away: 259. Looked more like 150.

The Damage:
£12.50 bus
£20 train
£3 prog
= £35.50

The Tunes:
Let England Shake (PJ Harvey)
Dos Dedos Mis Amigos (The Pop Will Eat Itself)

Panorama from the Ponty (cheers, Jonesy!)

Ballet in the Gills' box.

Home time.

The old Main Stand.

Looking towards the away end.

Mmmmmm....pork pies on Barnsley market.