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Post by Hatboy on Aug 22, 2014 6:20:40 GMT
Bishops Stortford Home Preview
DetailsPublished on Thursday, 21 August 2014 01:36 Written by Webbo Hits: 135
With the Saints having made it two wins on the trot with victory last weekend at Farnborough, they will be looking to secure another three points when they take on Bishops Stortford, in the first Hertfordshire Derby of the season at Clarence Park.Bishops Stortford FC.svg 1
Victory at Paddy Power Park came courtesy of a deflected James Comley strike just minutes before the half time interval. Thanks to that win, City have now secured 6 points from a possible 6 away from home early in the season. Despite being caught up in massive traffic problems on the M25 which delayed kick-off until 3:15pm, James Gray and Graham Golds decided to start with the same first XI which recorded a dramatic 3-2 victory away to Staines Town. The Saints started the game on top, and had numerous chances in the first 45 minutes to record a comfortable victory, but the hosts came out after half time and tested their guests, with goalkeeper Joe Welch being called upon several times to deny Farnborough a way back into the game.
This Saturday’s opponents, Bishops Stortford, have won one game, drawn one, and lost one of their opening three Vanarama Conference South seasons. The Bishops opened their league campaign with a 1-0 victory away at Weston-Super-Mare, which was followed up by a 2-2 draw at home to newly-promoted Wealdstone, before a disappointing 3-1 defeat last weekend to Maidenhead. Stortford will be looking to improve on last season finish in 15th place, and will be hoping that a win this coming Saturday could be the start of a good run of results.
Gray and Golds go into this weekend’s match with a fully fit squad, something which has helped the management team adjust to the Conference South. Most of the squad got through the win at Farnborough without picking up any knocks, and that could mean that we see the same starting XI for the third game in a row.
Victory on Saturday will give the Saints their first points picked up home this season, but the management will surely be hoping just to avoid defeat on their home turf.
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Post by asaintreborn on Aug 22, 2014 10:38:46 GMT
Wont be seeing the same starting 11 now  |
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Post by Hatboy on Aug 22, 2014 19:25:37 GMT
Best available odds:
Basingstoke Town (1) Draw (11/4) Hayes & Yeading (13/5)
Boreham Wood (9/5) Draw (13/5) Bromley (7/5)
Chelmsford (5/2) Draw (13/5) Sutton Utd (20/19)
Concord Rangers (19/10) Draw (13/5) Eastbourne (13/10)
Havant & Waterlooville (11/10) Draw (11/4) Staines Town (11/4)
Maidenhead Utd (11/13) Draw (14/5) Hemel Hempstead (31/10)
St Albans (11/10) Draw (11/4) Bishop Stortford (9/4)
Wealdstone (4/5) Draw (11/4) Farnborough (10/3)
Weston Super Mare (17/11) Draw (12/5) Gosport Borough (7/4)
Whitehawk (27/10) Draw (13/5) Ebbsfleet United (19/20)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 13:43:58 GMT
Welch
Kyriacou
Locke
Martin
Chappell
Green
Corcoran
Comley
Keenleyside
Wales
Buchanan
No Frendo...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 13:44:42 GMT
Taylor
Shields
Pires
Clarke
Coulton
On the bench.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 14:17:08 GMT
Goal - Comley. Awaiting more info
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 14:17:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 14:29:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 14:36:56 GMT
1-1  Long throw in finds Suarez who flicks a brilliant ball over the defence for McCall who scuffs his shot past Welch into the bottom corner |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 14:49:09 GMT
1-1 Half Time
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 15:22:07 GMT
Attendance 461
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 15:30:01 GMT
2-1 Big Ben Martin scores after a mistake from the BS keeper who hasn't had the best of games  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 15:39:42 GMT
Super Stevie Wales hits the post!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2014 15:53:55 GMT
And that's the ball game |
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Post by westwalessaint on Aug 23, 2014 16:02:07 GMT
Great result for the Saints. 9 points out of 12 - I would've snatched your hand off for that before the season started. How did they play and where was Frendo?
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Post by stanj on Aug 23, 2014 16:13:01 GMT
I think it puts Saints in 3rd. position??
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Post by Hatboy on Aug 23, 2014 16:26:44 GMT
Well done lads I thought we would just nick this one and would take a point at Eastbourne Monday, yeah where was Frendo ?
Yes we are 3rd and there's only 2 teams unbeaten already Eastbourne and Gosport
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Post by COYS on Aug 23, 2014 16:36:19 GMT
Bit of a strange game, that one.
First half an hour we were well on top, playing some good football and Comley's opportunistic and well-taken goal was well-deserved.
We missed a few good chances though and you could BS begin to feel like it was going to be their day - if Frendo was around (I heard he was at a wedding??) then it would have been a very different story. Their goal came out of nothing (not sure if it was a mistake from Welch or not?) and for the last fifteen mins we were second to everything and lucky to go into half-time on level terms.
Second half was far poorer in terms of quality, but we benefited from another ricket from their keeper when he appeared to get cleaned out by their own defender? Sean Shields looked dangerous every time he got the ball and is going to be a real asset over the next few weeks. He was unlucky not to finish one of the numerous chances he created for himself.
Funny old game in that we played some good football but it was through strokes of luck that we got our goals. Some very good performances though - James Comley in particular was everywhere.
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Post by asaintreborn on Aug 23, 2014 16:46:00 GMT
Shame about Corkers but Clarkey was Fantastic as well. Comely was on another planet today constantly putting players under pressure and driving forward when he had the ball. Benny was solid, lets hope we can keep him on the pitch more often this season. In terms of the Balance of play I thought we dominated the opening exchanges, then once again 10 mins before half time the back line switched off. What I am starting to notice at this level the second you switch off, the strikers will take advantage. BS then took control of the play for 30 mins after the goal, but after that Sean Shields got rid of the cobwebs and grew into the game, Pires had an impact too, linking up well with Sean and we should have extended the lead through Shields and Wales. The best things about our play is I don't think we will have to be as reliant on Frendo this season. Frendo will still be our top goalscorer, where was he today though?!
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Post by dunstablesaint on Aug 23, 2014 17:22:21 GMT
I agree the early injury was a blow, but I thought Clarkey did well. His composure on the ball was impressive and he certainly didn't let anyone down today. Not sure it would be fair to blame the defence for the goal we conceded - thought they played well, though Bishops Stortford did succeed in keeping our backs in their own half for much of the game. Buchanan worked hard and did OK, I thought, and Pires showed some signs of improvement. But overall, how great to see Sean back. Once he got into his stride, he terrorised their defence and especially that shaky goalkeeper. Hope that win gives us a momentum for Monday.
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Post by COYS on Aug 23, 2014 22:32:30 GMT
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Post by Canary Saint on Aug 23, 2014 23:24:34 GMT
Lovin' Sean's Irish accent!
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Aug 24, 2014 7:55:30 GMT
Against the odds, I managed to make it to Clarence Park yesterday. I agree with the comments above. It was a game of three phases. Saints started well and perhaps should have been more than 1-0 up. Then Bishops Stortford got back into it. Towards the end, we were putting pressure on and creating chances and it could have been 3-1.
I thought Comley was excellent. He ran the midfield and even when Bishops Stortford pushed him back in the second half he was still able to find space, get on the ball and move it cleverly. I was worried when Corcoran went off because he's always moving, always busy, always looking for the ball but Clarke came in and did much the same job. Wales also had a fine game and I could see why Shields was so popular when he was here before. He looks a super player – perhaps a bit too slight for the pro game but definitely has the ability and whenever he got the ball the Bishops Stortford defenders looked terrified and backed off, which in turn created space for others. Must mention Welch too, who has a presence between the sticks. Tough act to follow Bastock and he's a completely different style keeper but his decision-making is good.
Great to hear interviews with Jimmy Gray and Sean Shields on the club's website too. Jimmy explains why McBean has left and talks a bit about loaning players in and out.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2014 9:00:10 GMT
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Post by westwalessaint on Aug 24, 2014 11:47:37 GMT
Against the odds, I managed to make it to Clarence Park yesterday. I agree with the comments above. It was a game of three phases. Saints started well and perhaps should have been more than 1-0 up. Then Bishops Stortford got back into it. Towards the end, we were puttiong pressure on and creating chances and it could have been 3-1. I thought Comley was excellent. He ran the midfield and even when Bishops Stortford pushed him back in the second half he was still able to find space, get on the ball and move it cleverly. I was worried when Corcoran went off because he's always moving, always busy, always looking for the ball but Clarke came in and did much the same job. Wales also had a fine game and I could see why Shields was so popular when he was here before. He looks a super player – perhaps a bit too slight for the pro game but definitely has the ability and whenever he got the ball the Bishops Stortford defenders looked terrified and backed off, which in turn created space for others. Must mention Welch too, who has a presence between the sticks. Tough act to follow Bastock and he's a completely different style keeper but his decision-making is good. Great to hear interviews with Jimmy Gray and Sean Shields on the club's website too. Jimmy explains why McBean has left and talks a bit about loaning players in and out. Thanks for your excellent report recentconvert. However, I couldn't find the Jimmy Gray interview, so could someone tell me why McBean was released please? Was it the feared problems that were aired when he was a trialist? |
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Aug 24, 2014 12:21:12 GMT
The Jimmy Gray interview is on the club's site in the section 'Club', then 'News' then 'Latest Interviews'. Here's a direct link: sacfc.co.uk/index.php/the-club/2012-04-10-18-56-53/latest-interviews/2755-it-s-a-good-return-from-four-games.htmlIn a nutshell, Jimmy said that they are playing with one centre forward at the moment, with the two wide midfielders sitting a bit deeper and getting forward when they can. Basically, reading between the lines, McBean has not offered enough when he's been on the pitch and it's clear he'd slipped behind Buchanan and Pires. |
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Post by westwalessaint on Aug 24, 2014 12:36:03 GMT
Thanks for the quick response + link. Seems that we are better off getting 2 months of Sean Shields than a second string striker who's sitting on the bench. I'm happy with that decision anyway.
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