Grass Roots Footie 2015/16 (everything except EPL)

Post by **socksy** » April 6, 2016, 8:52 am

To all of those clubs and the SPL who voted to send us to the bottom tier. Foxtrot Oscar.

Thank you Zid, at least if I go back to Surrey for visits, I'll be able to see the other lot locally at Brentford, Reading, QPR and if they stay up Fulham. And if Millwall go up that's another journey not too far.

Post by **747man** » April 6, 2016, 9:08 am

And if Millwall go up that's another journey not too far.Socks You'll be Needin' to take yer Boxing Gloves,There Larrrrrr !!

Post by **socksy** » April 6, 2016, 12:47 pm

747man wrote:And if Millwall go up that's another journey not too far.Socks You'll be Needin' to take yer Boxing Gloves,There Larrrrrr !!

I'd have to leave my black and white stripes at home 747, as well as having to write down my order at the local establishments in case anyone heard my accent. Plus 'nae Nooky Broon' - only the local brews. I remember going to an Ipswich v Rangers pre-season friendly some years ago and the jocks weren't even allowed into the local 'Battle Cruiser's'.

Post by **Zidane** » April 8, 2016, 8:29 am

The weekends fixtures for our featured local teams....

Scunthorpe v Burton Albion
Barrow v Macclesfield
Braintree v Forest Green
Guiseley v Cheltenham
Woking v Gateshead
Corby Town v FC United of Manchester

Post by **Zidane** » April 8, 2016, 4:42 pm

Sorry,forgot to mention that this Sunday sees the Scottish Challenge Cup Final at Hampden Park between Rangers and Peterhead,kick off 9pm Thai.
More glory for Rangers to offset another Toon loss,socksy ?

Post by **socksy** » April 10, 2016, 6:25 am

Yesterday's results whilst the main men are lavishing, and living it up in their temporary exotic and tranquil surroundings.

Scunthorpe 1 v Burton Albion 0
Barrow 1 v Macclesfield 1
Braintree 1 v Forest Green 1
Guiseley 0 v Cheltenham 2
Woking 1v Gateshead 1
Corby Town 2 v FC United of Manchester 3

Post by **socksy** » April 10, 2016, 6:30 am

"More glory for Rangers to offset another Toon loss, socksy" ?

You were spot on with the latter Zid. Unless I can get a stream from somewhere on the net I can't see the final as it's on BBC Alba and in any case I would understand 'Jack ----' of the commentary as it's in Gaelic. I just hope Rangers don't take the opposition too lightly as well as having one eye on the Scottish Cup semi-final next week against the bead rattlers.

Post by **Drunk Monkey** » April 10, 2016, 11:32 am

Superb win for The Iron at home against high flying Burton Albion .... not impossible to sneak a play off spot this season but must be one of the favourites to challenge next season as the new boss seems to be doing the trick and is well enough connected to bring in some quality new blood ..the futures bright ...the futures claret n Blu !!!

.

Off grass roots topic but wouldnt it be strange to see Villa , Newcastle and The Mackems go down whilst all 3 of last seasons promoted clubs survive ...CMON Norwich !! with the Championship so difficult to get out of we could see Scunny v the "big boys" very soon

DM

Post by **socksy** » April 11, 2016, 6:30 am

Rangers beat Peterhead 4- 0 in front 0f over 48,00 at the Scottish Challenge Cup Final at Hampden.

Post by **Zidane** » April 11, 2016, 8:47 am

Well done to Rangers for another success this season,socksy ! =D>
It looks like Cheltenham will be all but promoted back to the Football League if they beat Halifax next Saturday,due to their vastly superior goal difference.Thus they will avoid having to get a result at their tricky away trip to Macclesfield the following weekend.

The play off places look to be Forest Green (for sure),Grimsby,Dover and one from Tranmere,Braintree,Wrexham and Eastleigh......I have a sneaking suspicion that it might just be Eastleigh.

Post by **socksy** » April 11, 2016, 9:42 am

Cheers Zid

Here are the short highlights of the final - only just over a minute. Check out the second peach of a goal from Tavernier. It starts a little blurred but soon improves. It's from the official Rangers website therefore it's biased commentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKt57b9_zNE

Post by **Zidane** » April 12, 2016, 3:43 pm

One or two interesting fixtures in the Conference tonight involving both play off hopefuls and relegation threatened sides...

Eastleigh v Barrow
Grimsby v Braintree
Guiseley v Wrexham
Kidderminster v Halifax
Macclesfield v Dover
Torquay v Altrincham

And in the Scottish Championship,a match that could have a big say on who comes runners up to Rangers...

Hibernian v Falkirk

Post by **Zidane** » April 13, 2016, 10:03 am

Last nights Conference results....
Eastleigh v Barrow 3-1
Grimsby v Braintree 0-1
Guiseley v Wrexham 3-1
Kidderminster v Halifax 1-0
Macclesfield v Dover 0-0
Torquay v Altrincham 2-0

These results mean that Guiseley and Torquay are almost safe from relegation but difficult for Altrincham to avoid the drop now and Wrexhams play off hopes dashed.
Macclesfield striker,Jack Sampson,had to play 86 minutes in goal after keeper,Richie Branagan,was dismissed in the 4th minute.Injury to Maccs first choice keeper,Shwan Jalal,meant there was no substitute goalkeeper on the bench.
Sampson made some fine saves,particularily in the first half,but his task was made easier when Dover were also reduced to 10 men and Macc looked the more likely winners.

In the Scottish Championship Falkirk were down to 10 men and losing 2-0 to Hibernian with just 4 minutes but two late headers gave them an amazing 2-2 draw.Falkirk now odds on favourites to secure the runners up spot in the league now,I think.

Tonight....FA Cup 6th round replay....West Ham v Manchester United....more despair for Van Gaal and mat80 ?

Post by **socksy** » April 13, 2016, 1:18 pm

And in the Scottish Championship,a match that could have a big say on who comes runners up to Rangers...Hibernian v Falkirk

Hibs blew it with 2-2 the final score. They were 2-0 up with only about ten minutes remaining and Falkirk (after going down to ten men) scored two, with the equaliser in the 90th minute. 'Una' Stubbs was not a happy bunny and I hope it found my brother equally pissed off. If Hibs win their remaining games and Falkirk win theirs it will be Falkirk finishing second likely due to a superior goal difference.

Sorry Zid just realised you've updated

Post by **Zidane** » April 14, 2016, 12:34 pm

West Ham 1 Manchester United 2

West Ham unbeaten at home in 17 games,United playing some dreadful dross this season.....there was only going to be one result wasn't there ?

But United deserved there win with great displays from de Gea (who else) and the two 18 year olds Fosu-Mensah and Rashford.
Rashford gave United the lead 9 minutes into the second half with a great curling shot and Fellaini bundled in a second midway through the half before Tomkins pulled one back for the Hammers with just 10 minutes left but United managed to hold out.
So its another reprieve for Van Gaal and mat80 but even if United win the FA Cup and come 4th in the EPL (which they wont) Van Gaal has to go after some of the shocking displays this season.
Last season he did just about enough getting United back in the UEFA Champions League but this season they have gone backwards and some of the performances have been truly dreadful.

So the FA Cup semi finals at Wembley are...
Saturday,April 23rd:Everton v Manchester United
Sunday,April 24th: Crystal Palace v Watford

Post by **Zidane** » April 16, 2016, 8:30 am

Fixtures for our featured teams......

Crewe v Scunthorpe......Crewe already relegated so could it be a goalfest for Scunny ?
Cheltenham v Halifax.....Cheltenham could clinch promotion back to the Football League today.
Forest Green v Woking....Forest Green have to win today to keep their very slim title hopes alive.
Macclesfield v Guiseley....the visitors not entirely safe from relegation.

also two big games for potential play off teams in the Conference....
Dover v Grimsby,Tranmere v Wrexham.

FC United of Manchester v Stalybridge Celtic.....both teams should just about survive in the Conference North.

A huge game in Scotland tomorrow is Rangers v Celtic in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi final.The other semi is Hibs v Dundee United today.

Post by **Zidane** » April 17, 2016, 7:43 am

Crewe 2 Scunthorpe 3
Cheltenham 2 Halifax 0
Forest Green 1 Woking 2
Macclesfield 1 Guiseley 0
Dover 1 Grimsby 1
Tranmere 1 Wrexham 2
FC United of Manchester 0 Stalybridge Celtic 1
Hibs 0 Dundee United 0 (Hibs win on penalties) SF,WHSC.

Really only one thing to be said....congratulations to Cheltenham who return to the Football League at the first time of asking,as Champions of the Conference. =D>
Two goals from Dan Holman in the first half secured victory in front of a crowd of 5,245.
Who will be joining Forest Green in the play offs is less sure but Tranmere could rue that loss at home to Wrexham.

Don't forget tonight....the second William Hills Scottish Cup semi final between Rangers and Celtic kicking off at 6pm Thai time.

Post by **socksy** » April 17, 2016, 10:41 am

Fortunately for Hibs and in particular Jason Cummings they overcame Dundee United in the first semi yesterday 4-2 on penalties after extra time. This in demand player, who you may remember missed an open goal from one yard against Raith recently, tried to be a smart arse and showboat, and chip the keeper with a first half penalty, sending it over the bar. Had they lost 'Una' would have gone through him like a dose of salts. Incidentally if the 'bead rattlers' beat my lot today, Hibs would automatically qualify for the 'Michael Mouse', Thursday evening European competition next season.

Post by **Zidane** » April 18, 2016, 8:17 am

Rangers 2 Celtic 2 (Rangers win 5-4 on penalties)
Quite a match and Rangers will now face Hibs in the final.
I leave it to socksy to fill in the details of the game when he's sobered up ! $\:D/$

Post by **socksy** » April 18, 2016, 9:25 am

Rangers were in total control and outplayed those from the 'midden' in the first half but in the second Celtic played far better. We were probably a bit fortunate to win as they created the best chances, and loanee from Man City, Roberts missed an absolute sitter when he hit the side netting with an open goal a begging. See the highlights of a typical Old Firm game below. Just a pity it doesn't show the rodents, Leigh Griffith's and Scott Brown's faces not being so smug at the end. $\:D/$ =D>

I'll take the win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UynIGu6zz1g