6-3-1

Yes, you guessed, I found another unpublicised match.

Barnstaple Town travelled to Horndean and won the match 3-1 so Barnstaple are through to the next round of the F.A.Vase.

With Tiverton through and Bideford still fighting in the F.A.Trophy that is three chances of reaching Wembley. I might even purchase a ticket if one of my teams gets there but the coverage is so much better with a lot more information provided if you watch the match on TV.

So a very positive weekend with a double bonus in the cups.

Now to get on with my open university studies. I see they are now doing a course on football. I have already signed up, as I have a passion for it. I just have to make sure that learning about things does not kill the passion as it always did in school and at university.

5-3-1

It is easy to miss things with so much going on and particularly where the F.A. are concerned. The cups they run are certainly special but the publicity is miserable to the point of non existence.

I found that Tiverton Town were also in the F.A.Trophy away at Peacehaven & Telscombe. A solid 3-0 win has put the Southern League South & West side into the next round, and my score for the weekend just went up.

Now to check the F.A.Vase just in case I missed another one.

Four wins, three draws and one defeat

A second results service and this time ... on the same day ... although it includes the result from last night. Four wins from eight matches played and I have to be happy. Three draws, but that is football, and one defeat (the crowd will be down next week then).

Arsenal travelled to Swansea and beat them 3-0 with goals from Giroud, Koscielny and Campbell. This Campbell is not one of those that killed the Macdonalds but he is the one that killed Swansea.

Brentford won the local derby for the first time in 50 years I am told. The Judge and Djuricin combined to pass judgement. Queens Park Rangers were despatched as 1-0 losers.

Weston-super-Mare have not been having a good season but travelled to Brighton to take on Whitehawk and managed a 2-0 victory in the Conference League South.

The fourth win was by Exmouth Town who travelled south to Stoke Gabriel where they won 2-0 in the South West Peninsula League Premier Division. A level 10 league.

 The three draws were Southend at home to Rochdale, where both sides scored two goals, Torquay away at Altrincham with both sides scoring a single goal, and Bideford in the F.A.Trophy taking on Farnborough at home where the match finished 1-1. A replay in the week will have to be added to my fixture list.

The defeat came for my home town club Exeter, who are expecting to lose to Didcot Town in the first round of the F.A.Cup just like they did to Warrington, and who today travelled to Barnet and lost 2-0.

A, broadly speaking, good set of results. Did you like the comma after one letter?

Results Service

While Arsenal were beating Bayern Munich, Southend United were losing 3-0 at Chesterfield and Bideford were beating Frome Town 2-0 at home. One day later Brentford beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 away and Exeter beat Cambridge United 1-0 at home.

The weekend that saw Arsenal beating Everton had Brentford beating Charlton Athletic 3-0, Southend and Exeter drawing 1-1 with Gillingham and Notts County respectively. Weston-super-Mare went out of the F.A.Cup 2-1 away at St. Albans City. Bideford drew 2-2 away at Bedworth United. Tiverton and Barnstaple both won 2-0 with the opposition being Bashley and Hallen. Exmouth Town travelled to Callington Town and came away with a 3-1 victory.

While Arsenal were jacking in the Capital One Cup Bideford drew 1-1 at home to Cirencester Town and Tiverton beat Slimbridge 1-0.

That brings us up to date and tonight Brentford are beating QPR 1-0 with 85 minutes gone.

Judge and Djuricin

The Brentford pair combine to score the first goal. 1-0.

Part of the QPR team

Part of the QPR team.

Chery, Luongo.

Brentford

Well, as my number one team are obviously rubbish having played in black and blue and performed like a bunch of newly promoted lads who have never played together before ... er .... Arsene? ... I think it is time to watch my number two pick, Brentford who are on Sky Sports tonight against Queens Park Rangers.

Red and White stripes take on Blue and White hoops. It looks good on a green and green surface.

The Brentford team comprises: Button, Yennaris (seen him before somewhere), Dean, Tarkowski,

Bidwell, Woods, McCormack, Diagouraga, Swift, Judge and Djuricin. I will let you know if anyone stands out in the next 90 minutes.

The QPR team comprises: Green Onuoha, Hall, Hill, Konchesky (familiar), Tozser (really?), Henry, Phillips, Chery, Luongo, Emmanuel-Thomas (seen him before as well).

So far there is a lot more enthusiasm than skill and with 10 minutes coming up Djuricin is caught offside but only by about 15 yards, so no problem there then.

Brentford have just had a period of dominance but it only led to a cross and a misdirected header.

I will come back to the game I hope but for now I leave you wanting the result.

Arsenal

Well, I have to be happy this week. So much could have gone wrong, but it didn't.

Three goals away to a team that had only conceded one goal at home all season, proof that Arsene IS capable of learning lessons from other teams as we played second best and beat Bayern Munich, then the beating of Everton, and holding onto the lead after a tough week of competition.

Why come down off my high by checking other results? I can do that when we take on Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup tomorrow night. I have also started an open university course and that will take up some of my time from now on.

The F.A.Cup first round draw took place this evening without Sporting Khalsa but congratulations to them for reaching the fourth qualifying round. Southend United are away to Scunthorpe and Exeter City take on Didcot Town who now have the chance to "do a Warrington".

The week reviewed

The week was boring. I spent most of my time in the office. There has to be more to life than this ... and there is ... Football! Four of my pyramid picks played on Tuesday night and I almost missed the Tiverton Town result as they drew 0-0 with Taunton Town in the Red Insure Cup. This was followed by a 3-0 defeat on penalties. I think penalty practice is the order of the day this week.

Woking hosted my Vanarama team Torquay and an honourable 2-2 draw was played out.

Barnstaple beat Clevedon Town 4-0 in the Western League Premier Division so I am happy with that.

Finally Exmouth Town beat Witheridge 4-2 in the match I almost attended. It would have been good.

And then Saturday comes:

Arsenal beat Watford 3-0 after Watford eventually tired. They played well for the first two thirds. Brentford beat Rotherham 2-1 and Southend beat Barnsley 2-1. Exeter travelled all the way to Carlisle and lost 1-0. Torquay were held to another draw, this time 1-1, by Grimsby. Weston went to Maidenhead United and lost 2-0. Bideford travelled to Chesham United and lost 3-1. Tiverton Town held Burnham 0-0 away. At the end of the list Barnstaple had a second win in a week, this time it was 2-0 away at Bridport.

Now it is time to settle down with my Mrs as we are watching series 5 of Game of Thrones once again. Tyrion and Mormont have just been attacked.

Grand Western Canal

So on non league day I chose to spend my time with friends and family on a horse drawn barge starting from Tiverton and ending in the middle of nowhere with the view of an aqueduct that allows tractors to traverse the water course via a short tunnel. I have photographs.

I did think about the F.A.Cup several times but you know how it is, family and friends sometimes have to take precedence. So how did my teams to this week?

Southend United beat Crawley 3-0 in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Exeter took on local rivals Plymouth Argyle in the same trophy and lost 2-0. So Southend march on and Exeter march out.

Torquay entertained Dover and chose to lose 3-2. My choice for the Conference South next season may have to change from those Seagulls that I have yet to go and watch live.

The Seagulls went away to Wingate & Finchley in the F.A.Cup third qualifying round and managed a 3-1 victory. It was expected as the opponents are an Isthmian League team. Weston-super-Mare can now look forward to the fourth qualifying round when victory may see them up against Football League opposition.

Bideford managed a 1-1 home draw with Stratford Town but when you are in a relegation battle every point is gratefully accepted.

Tiverton Town performed one better by managing a 2-2 draw away at AFC Totton.

 Barnstaple lost 2-0 in midweek to Buckland Athletic but when I check the competition it is only in the Devon St. Luke's Bowl which really does not concern me much. The good news is that the defeat seems to have produced a reaction as my Barnstaple boys travelled to Welton Rovers and thrashed them 7-0. It is a small but gratifying high point in this week's blog.

Exmouth Town who started the season so brightly seem to be struggling at the moment. In midweek the team travelled to Plymouth Parkway and lost 4-2. Yesterday the lads travelled to Tavistock and lost 5-1. I cannot blame them as Tavistock is beyond the back of beyond. They still burn peat there.

I have to report that although I have now covered all of my top ten picks, my number eleven choice, Exwick Villa, who I have watched live managed to beat Tiverton Town Reserves 9-0 in the cup. I have no idea what cup but it would have been a good day to support them once again.

And ..... to end things for today ..... I have just watched Exeter City on television and the TV voodoo seems to have struck again but not so vehemently as a 3-3 draw at home to Stevenage was achieved.

I have matches listed for Torquay, Tiverton, Barnstaple and Exmouth listed for midweek. It is about time I visited the home of Exmouth Town.

October starts well

Arsenal have just beaten Manchester United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium as I sit down to write about my pyramid teams. My number one pick are easy to follow as they are almost always shown live on TV making an inroad into my living room that I just cannot ignore.

My number two pick Brentford seem to be going through a bad patch as they sink down the league.Twentieth position in the Championship is just above the relegation zone. Buck up Brentford.
Losing 2-0 away at Derby County is not what the doctor ordered.

Southend United travelled to Burton Albion and managed to lose 1-0. This places my league one pick in 11th place in the table.

Exeter City managed to get a 1-1 draw away at Newport County and also sit in 11th place in their league.

Torquay United lost at home to Aldershot in the National League and are now firmly in a relegation position in 22nd place. Conference South here we come unless there is a dramatic change in fortune.

Weston-super-Mare have crept off the bottom of the table while I looked the other way so I guess the result yesterday was not a bad one. Sure enough the long trip across country to Margate resulted in a 2-0 win for the seagulls. Who in the world likes seagulls?

Bideford are similarly one place above the bottom of the table in the Southern League Premier Division. Losing 2-1 away at Slough Town certainly will not help the attempt to rise up the league.

Tiverton Town were involved in the F.A.Trophy yesterday and spent their time beating AFC Totton 2-0 to go through to the second qualifying round. The 1-0 win over Yate Town on Tuesday was enough to see them into fifth place in the Southern League South & West Division.

Barnstaple Town were involved in the F.A.Trophy yesterday. They managed a 4-1 win away at Ivybridge Town. Their position of fifth in the league matches Tiverton and just behind the promotion places is a good place to be at this time in the year.

 Lastly, at level 10 in the South West Peninsula League Premier Division I am following Exmouth Town and have already missed two chances to watch them live. They sit in ninth position and with no match yesterday I shall reserve judgement until the next match.

Now to follow my heart down to levels 11-21. You don't get to hear much about those teams though.