Friday 21 February 2020

Winter Break

So I have completed my mid winter break.

YOU can go and find out what happened while I was away. Some very interesting results I can tell you.

This week Southend United lost 1-0 at home to Gillingham. They are in deep trouble.

I managed to watch Portsmouth v. Exeter as I now have access to Sky Sports via Now TV. I refuse to pay Rupert Murdoch directly but I have to admit that Sky Sports provides what people like me want.

The match was a tight game for 78 minutes. Jake Taylor battered the ball into the net to put a very young Exeter side ahead in what had been a tight game. This should have been enough and in most cases would have been. Portsmouth equalised in the 86th minute and that should have been it. We were now expecting a penalty shootout. Exeter kept chasing the game and a well placed cross led to an own goal in the 89th minute. Surely that was it. Exeter had just achieved a famous victory against a very strong Portsmouth team.

The fourth official indicated that there would be 5 minutes of injury team although nobody could work out where that had come from. Was this Fergie time? Kenny Jackett may have taken on the mantle and now influenced the fourth official from his position close to the touchline. In the 91st minute Portsmouth equalised. OK, So we will have to accept the lottery of a penalty shootout. Nope! In the 96th minute of a 95 minute match Portsmouth scored the winner. This young Exeter side had produced a brilliant performance but it was not enough. They will have to learn fast.

Portsmouth 3 Exeter 2 - (96th minute of a 95 minute match).

The Exmouth match away at Odd Down was postponed. Perhaps it had something to do with the rain?

We were discussing the first knockout match this season in the Europa League. A narrow defeat would be acceptable but I was only going to be happy with a 0-0 scoreline. The new Arsenal under Mikel Arteta needs to recreate the Arsenal of old where we DO NOT CONCEDE. As it happens we did not have to worry. Olympiacos attacked strongly at the beginning of both halves but could not break our leaky and wobbly defence. What is more Bukayo Saka is proving to be the find of the season as he created a number of chances the best of which led to Alexander Lacazette scoring the winning goal. Laca is Backa! I hope he scores many more in the weeks to come.

This weekend the matches to look forward to are:

1) Arsenal v. Everton on Sunday.

2) Brentford v. Blackburn Rovers.

3) Southend v. Burton Albion.

4) Northampton Town v. Exeter.

5) Torquay v. FC Halifax Town.

6) Weymouth v. Billericay Town.

7) Tiverton v. Wimborne Town.

8) Barnstaple v. Thatcham Town.

9) Exmouth v. Wellington.

10) Dartmouth v. Elmore

No match listed for Liverton but that has become more the norm as the season goes on.

The local league matches are my business and not yours so I will only mention exceptional performances.

Enjoy your weekend wherever you are watching your football.

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