Green Un Bristol Post 09 September 13 by Creative Services Studio

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Your 20-page Monday sports special

09 SEP 2013

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We’re disappointed because we’d been on a good run of form and we were confident of getting a result – Bristol Rovers’ David Clarkson Pages 2-3

Buttler’s blast is in vain as England lose to Aussies Page 17

Rovers

Non-League football | Pages 10-12

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Plymouth woe for

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We’ll go there (Ukraine) conscious they’re a strong team but confident in our own abilities. We’ve got the team to get a result, without a doubt – England’s Frank Lampard Page 6

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Fan’s view with Dennis Payter IT was the manner of our defeat at Plymouth that was so disappointing after our encouraging second-half display at Ashton Gate. I know it doesn’t always follow that teams will take one performance into the next game, but for some reason we had so little to offer at Home Park. It is no excuse to say we had a tough game in midweek, so did Plymouth. We can hardly point to a crowded fixture list just lately, yet so many players did not perform to their potential. Our big problem is still the lack of firepower up front. I have said from the start of the season our strikers have not received a good service, but perhaps Ryan Brunt, Matt Harrold and even David Clarkson are not fully fit yet. They are lacking pace at the moment and with Eliot Richards also missing I have to sympathise with John Ward’s striker crisis. I know we have to be patient and it is an opportunity for youngsters like Mitch Harding to get some experience. I am not against that policy, but we are having to rely on too many youngsters at the same time, putting them under a lot of pressure. The experience in playing in the cauldron that was Ashton Gate will benefit people like Harrison in the long run, but it could also have shattered his confidence for the moment. Yes, he is still young with a lot of potential, but he is not performing like he did last season and could benefit from some time out of the firing line. Ward says the budget is used up on the current squad, yet recently chairman Nick Higgs was quoted as saying there was some money available. I am not a great fan of short-term loans, but at the moment unless we can get some fit forwards performing our season could be over before it has hardly started. Even if we did have some strikers they will need more support than they have been getting in our three away league games to date. On Saturday we again had little to offer going forward. More than 1,000 fans have gone to each away game, they deserve better. Once I saw Guy ‘Pickle’ Branson, our loanee from Aldershot last season in the Argyle line-up I felt confident he would be exposed for lack of pace, but it never happened. Ward talks about the experienced players coming back. Matt Gill is not everyone’s favourite, but he has not had a chance under the manager and maybe we need someone like him to put his foot on the ball in midfield. I was saddened to hear last week of the death of Robin Perry, who for more than 20 years was the Rovers’ reporter on The Post. For the price of a pint he would keep me spellbound for hours as he recalled his colourful tales of life on and off the pitch at Eastville.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Plymouth Argyle vs Bristol Rovers | Home Park, Saturday, September 7

Bristol boy Reid gives Rovers a real headache IT was certainly somewhat ironic to hear Bristol Ward boss John Ward bemoan his side’s lack of cutting edge after watching Reuben Reid, who had grown up within a Mark McChrystal clearance of the Memorial Stadium, score the goal that settled this game for Plymouth Argyle. “I’m a Bristol boy,” Reid said minutes later. “I grew up just around the corner from the stadium at Alton Road. Ian Holloway was the manager at Rovers when I was growing up, but I was never involved in the youth set-up because it was all about cricket for me at that time. “I played for Bristol West Indies and I went on to represent Gloucestershire seconds before switching my focus to football during my time on a scholarship at Millfield School in Somerset.” The former Fairfield School pupil went on to have trials with Manchester United and Crystal Palace before being picked up by Plymouth eight years ago to begin a career that has seen him take in 11

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I’m a Bristol boy. I grew up just around the corner from the stadium at Alton Road

Plymouth Argyle’s match-winner Reuben Reid

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clubs before returning to Home Park on a loan deal from Yeovil Town at the start of the year. On Saturday, it was certainly a case of getting his head, rather than his bat, on a sweetly-delivered 81st minute outswinger off the boot of Argyle skipper Conor Hourihane to settle a scrappy game that only ever looked likely to be decided one way or the other by a set-piece. Argyle manager John Sheridan admitted that Rovers had been the better side throughout a rather uneventful opening period during which John Ward’s side certainly had looked the more likely to break the deadlock.

James

McNamara Expert analysis Plymouth Argyle

Bristol Rovers

That said, however, neither goalkeeper had been called into any sort of meaningful action. Striker Ryan Brunt shot across the face of goal and wide on another occasion, but that really was as good as it got for two sides that appeared to struggle to piece together enough passes at any one time to control the game. “I’m just closing my eyes,” said one press box lag midway through the first-half. “Can someone give me a nudge when there’s a shot on target?” He was awoken from his slumber in the 48th minute when David Clarkson finally aimed an effort between the posts that was easily saved by goalkeeper Luke McCormick. Pretty much from that point on, however, the game turned in Plymouth’s favour and Rovers were forced to retreat onto the back foot in an effort to defend their goal. “I’d said to the lads at half-time that I hoped we hadn’t missed our opportunity to win the game,” Ward explained afterwards. Unfortunately for Ward, and the 1,300 Rovers supporters who had made the relatively short trip down the M5, Plymouth were a different proposition on their return. Sheridan was rewarded for ditching the orthodox 4-4-2 with which he had started the game in favour of moving tricky winger Romuald Boco in off the touchline to a more central position in what looked like a 4-2-3-1 set-up. The change in formation served to ask more questions of Rovers at the back as they sought to try and fathom a way to deal with the

deeper-lying Boco. Plymouth began to dominate possession of the ball higher up the pitch enabling them to win a greater number of corners or free-kicks in dangerous area from which they attempted to profit. They almost did on one such occasion when central defender Neal Trotman saw his header from a Hourihane flag kick thunder back off the post in the 62nd minute. In reply, Ward, now seemingly resigned to the fact that his side were destined to play the remainder of the game on the break, sought to add some pace to his toothless attack by moving wide-man Ellis Harrison inside to play up front. Harrison instigated one moment of danger in front of the Plymouth goal with a tricky run that served to offer Oliver Norburn a chance to shoot from distance. The effort was repelled, but only at the expense of a goalmouth scramble that ended with McCormick smothering David Clarkson’s attempt to poke the ball home from close range. Other than that, Rovers were unable to find any further guile that allowed them opportunity to to get in behind a resolute and well-organised Plymouth back four before Reid produced the defining, and only real moment, of quality in an otherwise forgettable game between two sides that had been staring non-league football in the face the last time they met a matter of nine months ago. New players to inject an organisation and an improved defensive resilience meant respective battles against relegation over the final

● Bristol Rovers’ Ellis Harrison is challenged b months of last season were ultimately successful, yet, based on the evidence of Saturday, the creativity and flair and to go on and become serious promotion contenders is still some way off for both sides. “It will take time and hard work,” Ward said. “We are a work in progress; I’ve never said anything different. There is no miracle cure or fast track to success. I don’t have a magic wand.” Neither, it seems, does Ward have any money to address the problem based on what the manager said when asked about the re-opening of the transfer market for loan signings later this week “I have always been fully aware of the and I’m fine with it,” he added.

Match reaction BRISTOL Rovers striker David Clarkson dismissed suggestions that an Ashton Gate hangover was in any way to blame for defeat at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday. Rovers slipped to a 1-0 defeat following an 81st-minute goal off the head of Argyle striker Reuben Reid just three days on from losing a pulsating Bristol derby against City in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Manager John Ward admitted on Thursday morning that the build-up

and the occasion at Ashton Gate had left some of his squad feeling a bit ‘weary’ ahead of Saturday’s trip to Home Park, but Clarkson, pictured, said: “I don’t think we can use the fact that we had a big game in midweek as any sort of excuse because we’d done everything properly in terms of our recovery. “I feel good after working hard over the pre-season and I don’t think any of us could put forward tiredness as a reason as to why we’ve lost the game here.”

Ward, meanwhile, admitted that his team had struggled to make an impact in the final third before succumbing to Reid’s late strike and Clarkson admitted: “We weren’t quite good enough to make the breakthrough. We’re disappointed because we’d been on a good run of form and we were confident of getting a result. “The game was a bit scrappy, but it is important for us to learn not to lose confidence when one or two passes go astray. “It’s about having the confidence to go and play our game. We have to learn from this and quickly pick

● Bristol Rovers’ players prepare to face Plym

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Player Rating (out of 10) ● Steve Mildenhall: –Didn’t have much to do other than pick the ball out of the net.

● Tom Parkes: Did his best when under the cosh throughout the second-half.

● Mark McChrystal: Made a couple of useful blocks.

● Lee Brown: Couple of decent crosses and did well against Lewis Alessandra.

● David Clarkson: Never really got into the game at all.

● Oliver Norburn: Possibly the pick of the midfielders.

● John-Joe O’Toole: Put himself about, but unable to create much going the other way.

● Tom Lockyer: Got roughed up a bit, but got up and worked hard.

● Ellis Harrison: Things never really came off for him in the first-half. He was moved up front for most of the second-half.

● Ryan Brunt: Unlucky not to score a goal in the firsthalf and worked hard for little reward.

ged by Plymouth Argyle’s Durrell Berry during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Home Park

Pictures: Neil Brookman

Star man

● Michael Smith: Made a couple of good tackles and tried to make inroads going forward.

Plymouth Argyle Luke McCormick – 7 Durell Berry – 6 Guy Branston – 6 Jamie Reckord – 6

Lewis Alessandra – 6 Hamza Bencherif – 7 Conor Hourihane – 7 Romuald Boco – 7

Reuben Reid – 7 Marvin Morgan – 7 Neal Trotman – 7

Substitutions ● Rovers’ Tom Lockyer gets away from Plymouth's Jamie Reckord

ourselves up and get ready to go again at Dagenham next week.” Plymouth Argyle boss John Sheridan, meanwhile, says the tactical switch he made at half-time proved decisive. Sheridan moved winger Rommy Boco into a central role behind eventual goalscorer Reid and deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation after starting the game with an orthodox 4-4-2. “I don’t think we played well in the first half,” Sheridan admitted. “We have tried to instil it in the players that we need to hit the ground running, especially when we are at home.

“We know the crowd will support us if we can get them going, but I thought it was a bit flat. We didn’t really get going and I expected a lot better. “We were just too direct and we weren’t trying to make openings. I told the players to express themselves a little bit more, and I changed it around. “I thought we played at a better tempo in the second half. There was an enthusiasm there and a will to win. “The crowd got behind us and I think we deserved to win the game in the second half.”

Rovers: Alefe Santos for Clarkson (70 mins), Matt Harrold for Harrison (83 mins), Shaquille Hunter for Lockyer (87 mins).

Referee Andy Davies. . .Took good control of the game

Match facts Shots on target Shots off target Corners Fouls conceded Offsides Attendance

Home 3 8 6 11 1 8,631

Away 3 4 7 16 0

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Plymouth Argyle at Home Park

Plymouth: Luke Young for Bencherif (66 mins). ● Bristol Rovers’ Ryan Brunt gets the better of Plymouth's Guy Branston

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Plymouth Argyle vs Bristol Rovers | Home Park, Saturday, September 7

● Bristol Rovers’ keeper Steve Mildenhall makes a save during the 1-0 defeat against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Saturday

Pictures: Neil Brookman

● Just some of the 1,300 Rovers fans who made the trip to Plymouth

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● Rovers’ keeper Steve Mildenhall

● Bristol Rovers’ Shaquille Hunter

● One family enjoy the day out at Home Park

● Rovers’ Tom Parkes loses out to Plymouth's Conor Hourihane

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Plymouth Argyle vs Bristol Rovers | Home Park, Saturday, September 7

● Rovers’ Ellis Harrison shields the ball from Plymouth's Durrell Berry

● Ellis Harrison takes on the Plymouth defence at Home Park

● Bristol Rovers’ striker Ryan Brunt fires just wide during the first half of the game against Plymouth Argyle

● Rovers’ David Clarkson clears as Plymouth's Durrell Berry closes in

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● Rovers’ players applaud the travelling fans as they finish their warm-up before the game at Home Park

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Monday, September 9, 2013

International football

Lampard joins the 100-cap club, but knows Kiev will be a hard act

● England’s Frank Lampard celebrates one of the 29 international goals, against Brazil earlier this year, that he has scored during his 14-year career Post reporter

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epsport@b-nm.co.uk FRANK Lampard expects Ukraine to be out for revenge when England face them in Kiev tomorrow night. The Three Lions face the biggest test of their World Cup qualifying campaign next week when they take on their Group H rivals. Victory will put England three points clear at the summit, but defeat would likely leave Roy Hodgson’s men destined for the lottery of a play-off. Ukraine know victory will put them on top of the group, but they will also still be reeling from the 1-0 defeat to Hodgson’s men during Euro 2012, according to Lampard. “That win won’t help us, I don’t think, but maybe it maybe means a bit for them to get revenge,” the Chelsea man said. “I have already got the buzz of the game. They can be very tough. It might not be the most enjoyable of games, but it’s a big game on Tuesday night and we will give our best to get a result.” All the talk at yesterday’s media conference surrounded Lampard’s 100th cap, which he is expected to receive tomorrow. With Ukraine hoping to snatch top spot, and a raucous atmosphere inside the 70,000 capacity Olympic Stadium, it will, no doubt, be a night for experienced heads like those of Lampard and centurions Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole. He said: “The three of us need to bring that experience to the table and show that we can get the right result. The experienced heads, and the young boys, are playing fantastically well for their clubs have to stand up and show they can do it on the international stage.

England’s centurion footballers ● ASHLEY COLE (104 caps, 2001-) Cole has made the left-back role his own for over a decade, having made his England debut as a 20-year-old under Sven-Goran Eriksson. He has overtaken Kenny Sansom to become England’s most-capped full-back, and while he may not be the most popular player among supporters there has been little questioning of his position, with the likes of Wayne Bridge and Leighton Baines having been unable to usurp him. ● STEVEN GERRARD (104 caps, 2000-) The current captain, Gerrard may have struggled at times to bring his Liverpool form to the international stage but he has remained a key man in the England engine room, taking over from David Beckham as its driving force. Determined to lead the team to next summer’s World Cup, which is likely to mark his international swansong. ● PETER SHILTON (125 caps, 1970-1990) Shilton, who started out his long “That’s what we need. We’ll go there conscious they’re a strong team but confident in our own abilities. We’ve got the team to get a result, without a doubt.” Already shorn of Wayne Rooney, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Phil Jones, Glen Johnson and Andy Carroll through injury, manager Roy Hodgson has been hit by another two blows over the weekend. Danny Welbeck was ruled out of Tuesday’s game after picking up a

career at hometown club Leicester, made his England debut against East Germany at Wembley in 1970. He would go on to feature at the European Championship twice as well as three World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 1990. ● DAVID BECKHAM (115 caps, 1996-2009) Beckham remains England’s most-capped outfield player, having made his debut for new manager Glenn Hoddle against Moldova in September 1996. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid man captained England at two World Cups, coming full circle after being vilified for his sending-off against Argentina at the 1998 finals in France. ● BOBBY MOORE (108 caps, 1962-1973) West Ham centre-back Moore led England to World Cup glory at Wembley in 1966 and was respected throughout the game for his superb defending and sportsmanship – featuring in a famous photograph embracing Brazilian legend Pele after their clash at the 1970 booking for kicking the ball away in the 4-0 win against Moldova and in-form striker Daniel Sturridge then withdrew from the squad with a thigh problem. Yet despite their injury worries, Hodgson’s men put on a good display against Moldova, with Rickie Lambert scoring once and setting up two goals. Lampard admits losing Welbeck has hit England’s preparations, but he is sure they will be able to survive

World Cup. He passed away in 1993 aged 51. ● BOBBY CHARLTON (106 caps, 1958-1970) Manchester United attacking midfielder Charlton was part of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad, and remains England’s all-time record goalscorer with 49. Charlton’s last appearance for the Three Lions came in the quarter-final defeat to West Germany at the 1970 World Cup, which made him at the time England’s most capped outfield player. ● BILLY WRIGHT (105 caps, 1946-1959) Wolves defender Wright was England’s first centurion, the team captain earning his 100th cap against Scotland at Wembley in 1959. Wright was also skipper of the England team which suffered a shock defeat to the United States at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, but would go on to play again at two more tournaments. He passed away aged 70, his ashes scattered on the pitch at Molineux. His statue now stands outside the ground. without the Manchester United forward. He added: “It’s a big blow, he’s started the season well and he’s a very talented player. I’ve enjoyed watching him for Manchester United and he scored two goals the other night, but we’ve got players who can come in and do the same job. With Theo Walcott, Raheem Sterling, Ashley Young and James Milner, we’ve got a lot of depth on the wings. It’s up for someone to and stand up.”

International football

Lampard and Gerrard can be in the same side FRANK Lampard rolled the ball sideways to Steven Gerrard on the edge of the penalty area and the England captain duly clipped the ball past Moldovan goalkeeper Stanislav Namasco. It was Gerrard’s 20th goal for his country and 15 of them have come in the 57 matches he has started alongside Lampard. Apologies for the dry statistics on a night when England defeated Moldova 4-0 at Wembley, but it is important to nail the myth that Gerrard and Lampard cannot play together. Yes, they can and not just because Gary Lineker was prompted to tweet ‘who said Lampard and Gerrard can’t play together?’ within seconds of Gerrard’s goal rippling the Moldovan net. As an English double act Gerrard and Lampard might not be viewed as affectionately as Morecambe and Wise, nor be as successful as Marks and Spencer – but when it comes to longevity in football terms there is not much to beat them. In a week when new FA chairman Greg Dyke underlined the dearth of English talent the sight of the Liverpool and Chelsea stars was good news and bad news. Bad, in that England are desperate for a new hub of creative midfield talent to replace men with so many miles on the clock. Good, in that England’s remaining matches in World Cup Qualifying Group H will require composure and experience if they are to be negotiated successfully. In short, the road to Rio appears to rest on the success of Gerrard and Lampard, a soap opera which has been going for more than a decade. Gerrard is 33 with 105 caps and 20 goals to his name. Lampard is 35 with 99 caps and 29 goals. The debate during that time has been endless. They can play together. They can’t play together. One can hold when the other attacks. Neither has the instinct to defend, leaving the team vulnerable against the top sides, or so the critics argue. We really have heard it all, dissected every nuance of two of the finest midfield players to grace the English game in the Premier League era. Yet the most pertinent fact of all is that they are still here, running the show at Wembley after all these years, even if it was against a Moldovan side lacking any ambition. Shedding buckets of sweat and leading by industrious example with yet another man-of-the-match performance in the case of Gerrard. Probing, linking, gliding to the aid of the strikers in the case of Lampard. They give England solidity, no question about that. Yet the suspicion is that England will need more if they are to negotiate the very clear danger of Ukraine on Tuesday and Montenegro and Poland at Wembley next month. That is where Jack Wilshere comes in. Let’s be honest, the 21-year-old Arsenal man’s ninth cap for his country was not his best. He was subdued and failed to make any real impact apart from in the 24th minute when, with one twinkle-toed run, he showed a glimpse of England’s future.

Monday, September 9, 2013

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International football

Football

England’s strike threat rests on Rickie’s shoulders

Hoddle wades into the foreign players debate

Post reporter epsport@b-nm.co.uk RICKIE Lambert’s newly-elevated status within England’s ranks was confirmed by the simple act of manager Roy Hodgson removing him from the routine win against Moldova at Wembley. On the same date a decade ago, the 31-year-old was an unused Stockport County substitute against Port Vale – now he was being taken out of the action for England’s World Cup good. It completes quite a journey. The man whose original selection for the friendly against Scotland was treated by some as almost a novelty pick by Hodgson is now last striker standing as England face a game against Ukraine in Kiev tomorrow that will go a long way to determining their qualifying fate. He may be the beneficiary of Hodgson’s misfortune with his attacking resources, but the former Bristol Rovers striker has also proved his worth by becoming the first England player to score on his first two caps since Peter Taylor in 1976. Lambert has scored three goals in five appearances for club and country this season. The Southampton striker has scored two and provided two assists in just 94 minutes of action for England And with Wayne Rooney out injured, Daniel Sturridge facing a fight against Hodgson’s own stated odds to be fit for Kiev after a thigh injury, and Danny Welbeck suspended after a harsh booking, much is riding on this latecomer to the international stage. The Southampton striker’s ascent has been presented as a wonderful story, proof it is still possible to make your way through the tiers of the game to the highest level without the benefit of Champions League football or playing for one of the elite group of clubs. It is all of these things, but most importantly Lambert has looked fit for England’s purpose and Hodgson may be left to hope he can make another leap in his standards. The striker has coped with ease against Scotland and Moldova – how will he go in the hothouse atmosphere of Kiev’s Olympic Stadium against opposition on another plane? For all the discussion about Lambert’s goalscoring – and his effort on Friday was a stooping header of the poacher’s variety – he showed sub-

tlety too in England’s comfortable 4-0 win that put them top of Group H after Montenegro’s draw in Poland. He has the predator’s instinct but the perfect long ball he played for Danny Welbeck’s first goal – England’s third – should also be noted, as should the vision displayed by the clever short pass he fed in for the Manchester United striker to add another after half-time. Lambert may find life tougher if he gets his chance in Kiev, but no-one

How they stand Group H Played WonPoints England .......................... .............. 7 4 15 Montenegro .................... .............. 8 4 15 Ukraine ........................... .............. 7 4 14 Poland ............................ .............. 7 2 10 Moldova .......................... .............. 8 1 5 San Marino ..................... .............. 7 0 0

could deny he was one of England’s outstanding performers at Wembley and carried the crowd with him from the first whistle. He is even more firmly in the frame for Kiev after an incident just before half-time that had Hodgson almost dancing up and down on the spot with rage. Hodgson’s wide-ranging musical tastes may not stretch to the great Albert King blues staple, “Bor n Under A Bad Sign” – but he looked for all the world like the man in the song who complained: “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all.” Rooney accidentally kicked in the head in training; Sturridge, in the hottest form of his life, sidelined with a thigh injury; and then, most frustratingly of all in some respects, he loses Welbeck. Photographic evidence supports Hodgson’s belief that an injustice has robbed England of the striker he would have relied on in Kiev. Welbeck was booked for playing on after he had been whistled for offside, but pictures showed Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak with the whistle to his lips just as the striker made contact with the ball. It was a close call – and Welbeck, as well as England, paid a heavy price for coming down on the wrong side of this particular line. In all other respects, this was a job well done by England against a side who fall very much into the “must beat” category but do not slip as low

● Rickie Lambert celebrates after scoring against Moldova on Friday down the chain as San Marino, where the task is simply to rack up as many goals as quickly as possible, as Ukraine did in their 9-0 win on Friday. Captain Steven Gerrard thundered his first England goal in more than three years to get the show on the road and there was a tantalising glimpse into the future with a 30-minute cameo from Everton’s outstanding teenager Ross Barkley, on for the roughed-up Jack Wilshere. Barkley looked instantly at home, demanding the ball and using it simply when the occasion demanded

as well as showing his flair with a shot that flew inches wide. Lambert is at the other end of the age scale and how his stock has risen in his brief England career. Few would have believed Hodgson would be removing him from one World Cup qualifier to keep him in cotton wool for the next, more important, game. The good news for Hodgson is that, so far at least, Lambert has relished the challenge of international football. The long apprenticeship he has served through the divisions will serve him well if he is picked in Kiev.

FORMER England manager Glenn Hoddle has called on the government and Football Association to explore ways to limit the number of foreign players in the Barclays Premier League. Speaking days after new FA chairman Greg Dyke highlighted the “frightening trend” of reduced numbers of domestic players in the top flight, Hoddle claimed it was time to “show some teeth”. English players made up only around 32 per cent of teams’ starting line-ups in the Premier League last season and Hoddle fears that figure will only continue to dwindle. Any attempt at a quota system would be hampered by European employment laws but Hoddle insists the matter still must be explored. “We all know it is difficult, because at the end of the day the rules are the rules and the Premier League will just abide by that,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme. “We have got to show some teeth. If it is a maximum of five (foreign) players and the rest have to be English, whatever we can do with the rules, but it always seems they come up against a brick wall. “Maybe the government could be helping that, but it is a bigger, deeper issue for politicians and the FA to get together, because this 32 per cent is going to get less and less each year.” Hoddle, who guided England through to the knockout stages of the 1998 World Cup, believes quality coaching from a young age remains the answer. He said: “We have to focus in on English talent and be bold enough to say if foreign players are coming in to fill our clubs aged 17, 18 or 20, then we have to build a 10-year plan which allows these lads being taught by the best coaches – being paid good money, which is what the Dutch did – and bring them through where they master the ball first. “There is definite talent out there, we just need to source it.” The FA’s head of elite development Dan Ashworth, meanwhile, remains confident in the coaching processes in place, which centre on the new facility at St George’s Park. “We are as good as anybody for consistently qualifying for tournaments across the age groups, from seniors down to under 17s – what we are not very good at is getting out of the groups or through the knockout stages,” he told Sportsweek. “That could be down to a number of factors – through our game style, with a high-pressing game then by the latter stages our players are not perhaps physically as right as other countries. It could also be psychological factors, and that is something we will be looking at.”

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Monday, September 9, 2013

International football

Coleman set to extend his deal as Wales boss CHRIS Coleman will sign a contract extension next week, even though Wales are in danger of finishing bottom of their World Cup qualifying group after a humbling defeat in Macedonia. The 2-1 loss leaves Wales just one point ahead of Group A basement side Scotland, with three games remaining, and capped a difficult couple of days for Coleman. The former Fulham boss lost his passport and was unable to travel with the team to Skopje last Thursday, and missed the pre-match press conference and their final training session as a result. The 43-year-old also faced questions about his decision to name Gareth Bale, the world’s most expensive player, on the bench against Macedonia, despite Coleman later admitting he had no chance of playing any part in the game. His inability to use the new Real Madrid signing was highlighted as the winger barely moved from his seat in the dugout, even though Wales desperately needed his pace, power and skill as they chased the game in the closing stages. Defeat also means Coleman has a win ratio of just 27 per cent – significantly lower than his immediate predecessors Gary Speed and John Toshack – but the Football Association of Wales is happy with the job he is doing and believe he is taking the team in the right direction. His two-year contract extension has been agreed in principal, with the deal set to be signed following tomorrow night’s meeting with Serbia at the Cardiff City Stadium.. Coleman said: “It’s been agreed basically. “We just wanted to get these two

games out of the way. That was the most important thing. “What has gone on with Gareth Bale is enough of a distraction, we didn’t need anything else. But that has basically been agreed.” Coleman is adamant a bright future awaits Welsh football, with talents like Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and Crystal Palace’s Jonathan Williams in the squad, and does not feel the attention being lavished on Bale, or his inability to locate his passport, should detract from that.

27 ● The percentage of games Wales have won since Chris Coleman took charge as manager “There are a lot of positives surrounding us, one or two negatives but forget that,” he said. “I can see where we are going. I can see the potential when everyone is ready. We are on the right road. “I accept what is coming with Gareth because he’s a super player. “We have to accept what’s coming when he’s with us. But we can’t let people use it as a tool against us. It will happen but I’d rather have it than not have it.” Coleman also has the backing of his players. Skipper Ashley Williams said: “We have always said we are happy with him and we are happy with the work he is doing. “He is a good guy and I would fully welcome a contract extension for him.”

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No Macedonia trip for Adam and Rhodes

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● Chris Coleman is set to extend his contract as Wales manager

SCOTLAND travelled to Macedonia yesterday without Jordan Rhodes and Charlie Adam. The Scottish Football Association announced on its Twitter feed that the pair were out of the squad for the World Cup Group A match tomorrow night. Rhodes came on as a substitute for Leigh Griffiths midway through the second half of Scotland’s 2-0 defeat by Belgium on Friday night, while Adam was an unused substitute. Manager Gordon Strachan also has Nottingham Forest forward Jamie Mackie and Leeds striker Ross McCormack to call on for the match in Skopje. No reasons were immediately given to explain the absence of the pair. Scotland are looking to get off the bottom of the group when they face Macedonia, who drew at Hampden in the second match of Scotland’s campaign – when Craig Levein was in charge. And full-back Steven Whittaker is determined to achieve some tangible results to mark the progress he believes is being made under Strachan. Victory in Zagreb against Croatia in their most recent competitive away match gave Scotland hope of avoiding bottom spot, but Macedonia’s win over Wales on Friday, coupled with the Belgian defeat, means Whittaker is desperate to get a result tomorrow ahead of the final qualifier against Croatia. The Norwich player said: “Obviously, Macedonia is going to be a tough game, but we believe we can go there and get a result and we have Croatia at home and, hopefully, again we can get momentum going into that game. “I think we have played some good stuff the last few games, we are getting more positive and, hopefully, we can start creating chances and getting goals and results to match. “We do that by working hard, listening to what the manager is trying to tell us and putting it out there on the pitch.”

International football

Evans: We’ve got the spirit to do well

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We’re in a good place as a squad. It feels like we have things worked out a bit and if we can continue in that fashion there is that wee bit of hope

Jonny Evans

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JONNY Evans believes Northern Ireland are heading in the right direction under Michael O‘Neill and is hopeful of an improved showing in Euro 2016 qualifying. The Manchester United defender has become an increasingly influential figure at international level during O‘Neill’s first campaign, relishing the chance to establish himself at centre-half after filling in at left-back for much of his early career. And his enthusiasm for the Northern Irish cause is stronger than ever. The side may have won just one of their seven matches in World Cup qualifying, a shock success over Fabio Capello’s Russia, but the mood around the team has been positive under O‘Neill and two strong showings against Portugal – a 1-1 draw in Porto and Friday night’s unfortunate 4-2 defeat – offered further optimism. Hopes of a place at Rio next sum-

mer may have gone, but Evans raised the prospect of a real challenge for the European Championships in France, when the number of participating teams increases from 16 to 24. “Extra teams are qualifying in the next campaign and that gives us a big incentive,” said Evans. “We need to go back to this campaign, finish as strong as we can and put points on the board. That might have an effect on the seedings and the draw for the next qualifying campaign. “We’re in a good place as a squad. It feels like we have things worked out a bit and if we can continue in that fashion there is that wee bit of hope. “There is a good spirit among the squad. You hear people saying ‘we enjoy it’ but we actually are enjoying it. It’s a good atmosphere.” Although they are away from home, Northern Ireland will be expected to see Luxembourg tomorrow.

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Obituary

Robin, a great servant to The Post and Rovers ROBIN Perry, The Post's former Bristol Rovers correspondent, has died at the age of 75. He succeeded John Coe in the 1960s, continued for the next 25 years and remained on The Post sports desk as a sub-editor until his retirement. He arrived in Bristol from Marlborough and started as a junior reporter with the Western Daily Press before joining The Post. He initially specialised in golf, although he never played the game, and was a great tennis enthusiast. He was distraught when the West of England Championship at Redland Green was discontinued, as the prestigious pre-Wimbledon tournament attracted international stars and winners included Margaret Court, Betty Stove, Arthur Ashe and Ken Rosewall. But he enjoyed two weeks reporting at Wimbledon each June and took a keen interest in the progress of Bristol’s Jo Durie, who once reached number five in the world rankings. In 1966, he covered the World Cup and always described watching England beat Germany at Wembley as the greatest moment of his career. He remained president of the Bristol Sunday League long after his retirement and enjoyed making the annual presentations. He took great pride in his work for the Green ’Un, the Saturday night sports paper, which meant he was able to read his report within minutes of leaving the press box at Eastville. Robin was close friends with managers, players, directors and supporters, who admired his professionalism, fairness and integrity. Bert Tann was the first Rovers manager he worked with. Fred Ford, who later became manager of Bristol City and Swindon Town, was his assistant and later took over at Eastville. He was also highly regarded by future managers, Bobby Campbell, Harold Jarman, Bill Dodgin, Don Megson, Terry Cooper, David Williams, Bobby Gould and Gerry Francis. Bobby Gould recalled Robin’s days at Rovers. He said: “On going into management for the first time at Bris-

tol Rovers in October 1981, I tried a bit of my own media tutoring. “There were two football reporters in Bristol – Ralph Ellis, who wrote for The Western Daily Press and Robin Perry at the Bristol Evening Post. “So, to keep them happy on my first day, I had them both in my office together. I gave them each a sealed envelope with a scoop story they could use in their own papers. “The only thing either was interested in was whether the scoop I gave the other one was better than the one they had! That taught me that you were never going to keep the media happy unless they got the best story.”

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In 1966, he covered the World Cup and always described watching England beat Germany at Wembley as the greatest moment of his career He worked under four sports editors – Bob Cooper, George Baker, David Solomons and Peter Godsiff – who performed a similar reporting role with Bristol City for 25 years. Peter said: “We operated in a golden era for sports journalism. “We dug for news and there was no internet to rely on to make our lives easier. We spoke to players, officials, directors, managers, players, supporters. “We were closer to the hub of clubs than reporters today who are often kept at arm’s length by press officers and officialdom that often attempt to dictate what is reported and written. We also sometimes travelled with the team.” Robin was one of the best-dressed members of The Post editorial department and always took immense pride in his appearance. He leaves a widow Maria, daughters Emily, Mandy and Samantha and grandchildren Kelly, Jack and Jake.

● Robin Perry enjoyed making presentations at the annual Bristol Sunday League awards and is seen here, four years ago, giving the Premier Division trophy to Lebeq’s Tariq Whitcliffe

Bristol City fan’s view by Matthew Withers

It’s so sad that such a memorable derby should be tarnished by a minority of fans

ances outside of the ground before and after the game was, sadly, no great surprise. It seems that no matter how many years go by, there is always a small minority of idiots at football clubs up and down the country who are intent on causing trouble and looking for violence. A number of friends of mine, both red and blue, didn’t attend the game on Wednesday because they feared there would be trouble and, unfortunately, they were right. It seems absolutely idiotic to me that grown men cannot passionately support their football team without wanting

to get into a fight. What’s even more pathetic is that they may very well have been shouting abuse and goading opposition fans who were, in fact, family, friends, school-mates and work colleagues. Some of the scenes were reminiscent of the dark days of the 1970s and 1980s, with seats being ripped up and coins and missiles being thrown into a crowd. If it was a group of men that wanted a tear-up away from everyone else, I wouldn’t care, but this affected children, women and the elderly and will have put some fans off from ever going to a football game

again. That’s just not right. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured. I was ecstatic at the final whistle, but the thought of running ont o the pitch never entered my head and I’m as passionate as any City fan. I can understand, but don’t condone, youngsters and teenagers who don’t know any better wanting to run on the pitch, sliding across the grass, congratulating their players. It’s the men in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s who deliberately ran towards the away end to confront the Rovers fans that is totally wrong. I was actually fearful that some of

the idiots would try to assault the Rovers players, management and coaching staff as they left the pitch, but thankfully that never happened. I’m sure when CCTV images are shown within the local media and these people are identified, we will hear how out of character it was and that they had never done anything like it before, but any football fan knows that if you go on to the pitch you are breaking the law and liable to a hefty fine and a ban from attending future games. This could in some instances be a lifetime ban.

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HE international call-ups for Marvin Elliot, Greg Cunningham and Wes Burns and the resulting postponement of Bristol City’s game with Shrewsbury Town has allowed me to focus on last week’s derby against Bristol Rovers. Sadly, the actions of a few hundred City fans and a small fraction of Rovers fans tarnished what had been an excellent game of football and took the gloss of a hard-fought and well-earned victory. The fact that there were disturb-

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Monday, September 9, 2013

FA Vase, Toolstation League and Hellenic League

Ashton & Backwell see off Westbury challenge Keith Watson epsport@b-nm.co.uk ASHTON & Backwell booked their place in the next round of the FA Vase with a first qualifying round victory at Westbury. The visitors ran out 3-1 winners, with Jack Dicker and Adam Crooks giving their side a two-goal lead either side of half-time. Westbury’s Charlie Walton halved the deficit, but Aaron Read’s goal ensured that Ashton & Backwell would go through. James Mainstone and Ben Dowdell scored the goals in Winterbour ne’s 2-1 victory at Ringwood, although Karim Rendall was arguably the hero of the day for the visitors. Front-man Rendall took over in goal following an injury to Tom Sheppard and kept a clean sheet as his side came from a goal down to win. Tony Bellatt gave Ringwood the lead, but Mainstone equalised after the break and then Dowdell popped up with the winner. Bristol Manor Farm triumphed 3-2 at Chippenham Park, Kye Holley giving the visitors an early lead before Phil Baker levelled matters for the hosts. Manor Farm effectively secured victory before half-time, though, Jon Moss and Billy Downes, with a penalty, scoring before Mark Nolan pulled one back after the break. Tom Collett scored twice, including one from the penalty spot, as Hallen progressed thanks to a 2-0 home win over Whitchurch. Keynsham put their league struggles to one side to see off Fleet Spurs 2-1, but Oldland Abbotonians went out 3-2 at Hythe & Dibden. Jerome Ingram put Oldland in front inside two minutes, but a goal in each half from Simon De’Ath turned things around, before Hakeem Osumah added a third. Ashley McDowell pulled a goal back late on for the visitors. Bradford crushed Portishead 5-0, with Sam Jordan scoring a hat-trick and Tom Rideout and Steve Hulbert also on target.

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● In the Toolstation League, Bitton bounced back to form with a 2-0 home victory over high-flying rivals Cadbury Heath in the Premier Division. The goals both came in the second half, Tom Morgan giving the home

side the lead before Luke Bryan wrapped up the points. Gillingham missed the chance to go top of the table as they went down 3-2 at home to Brislington, who twice came from behind to win. Ryan Murray’s early spot-kick gave the home side the lead, Frank Gingell equalised, but Ben Thomson edged Gillingham back in front shortly before half-time. However, Mike Rimmer scored Brislington’s second equaliser seven minutes after the break and Danny Barwood netted the winner with a penalty eight minutes later. Longwell Green recovered from a goal down to beat Radstock 4-2, Dan Hunt scoring twice in quick succession after Luke Hall-Cousins had put the visitors in front. Sam Thomas added a third before the interval and Lawrence Perkins made it four, before an Aaron Cornwall penalty gave Radstock some consolation. Larkhall steamrollered struggling Bishop Sutton 5-1, Ben Hogan and Tyler Sibbick giving the Bath-based side a two-goal lead at the break. Sibbick then claimed two more for his hat-trick, before Scott Lye added the fifth and Mike Purnell replied ten minutes from time. Aaron Nash scored one of the fastest goals in Slimbridge’s history as the Swans beat visiting Heng rove 2-1, the forward opening the scoring after ten seconds. Will Wellon added a second for the home side, while Javere Blackman pulled a goal back for Hengrove late on. Cribbs surged to the top of the First Division with a 5-1 home win over Roman Glass St George, Andy Forward giving the hosts a second-minute lead. Mikey Golding equalised midway through the first half, but from then on it was all Cribbs as Matt Davis, a Jack Kinnerley double and an own goal saw them home. Almondsbury UWE were beaten 2-0 by visiting Chard, Benjani Ben Salem scoring both goals inside the final ten minutes. ● In the Hellenic League Division One West, Tytherington Rocks drew 2-2 away to Fairford Town. Justin Bishop gave Rocks a 23rd-minute lead, but the home side levelled through Matt Boucher just before half-time. Bishop scored again for Rocks, but Dan Drewett equalised for the hosts.

Skrill South

Weston make it three victories in succession Weston-super-Mare

Boreham Wood

WESTON’S best start to a season for several years continued as they recorded a third successive victory which moved them up to third in the Skrill South table. Boreham Wood had to play the entire second half with ten men after central defender Mark Bentley, the former Southend and Gillingham player, received a second caution in added-on time at the end of the first half. The visitors created the better of the chances in a scrappy first half, with Greg Morgan on target with a long-range effort, Mario Noto just over with a free-kick and Graeme Montgomery going close from anoth-

er free-kick. Weston took control in the second half and opened the scoring on 48 minutes when skipper Jamie Laird scored with a header from Dale Grubb’s corner. Naby Diallo forced a save from goalkeeper James Russell, while Martin Slocombe ended a good run by firing into the side netting. The goal of the game came on 62 minutes when Tristan Plummer ended a flowing move, which involved Diallo, Slocombe and Grubb, by beating goalkeeper Russell with a rising shot. Boreham kept battling away and Jake Woolley was denied a goal in the 75th minute by a fine save from home goalkeeper Luke Purnell. With a few minutes to go, Kane Ingram scored a simple goal after Boreham Wood’s Charlie O’Loughlin slipped and lost possession on the wet surface.

● Weston’s Dale Grubb, right, comes under pressure from Jam Cox

● Tristan Plummer celebrates after scoring We

Calor Southern League

United pay the price for poor finishing at Cirencester

Clevedon’s winless run goes on

Cirencester Town

Mangotsfield United

MANGOTSFIELD had enough chances to have taken something from this game. Ben Hunt was denied by Cirencester goalkeeper Glyn Garner early on. Then, in the 17th minute, Mangotsfield goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer made a superb save from Sam Collier’s powerful strike.

Mangotsfield’s Josh Egan saw an effort hit the top of the crossbar, then Shaun Lamb should have done better for the visitors with a header that went wide. At the other end, Sawyer was called into action on the half-hour when he saved a fierce drive from Collier. On 32 minutes, an error by Sawyer gifted Cirencester the lead. Collier received the ball in space and his long-range strike went under the body of Sawyer. Mangotsfield started the second half on the front foot, with Hunt

firing a shot wide of the left-hand upright. On the hour mark, Mangotsfield were denied twice by Garner, who blocked a header from Lewis Powell and the follow-up from Hunt. However, on 74 minutes, Lee Smith put Cirencester further ahead when his shot took a deflection off Matt Sysum and beat Sawyer at his near post. With three minutes of added-on time played, Jamie Reid pulled a goal back with a close-range finish against his former club.

Clevedon Town

North Leigh

CLEVEDON are still searching for their first victory of the Calor Southern League Division One South & West season following North Leigh’s win at the Hand Stadium. The visitors’ late arrival delayed the kick-off and Town looked to be taking advantage of the situation with a positive start against their high-flying

opponents. Scott Murray had a shot blocked by Andy Gunn, before the former Bristol City man saw another effort come back off the post after beating goalkeeper Paul White. Adie Adams, Aron Robbins and Matt Thorne all had chances to put the hosts ahead. However, five minutes into the second half, Gunn played Conor McDonagh through and he slotted the ball past Danny Greaves. The hosts conceded a second goal three minutes from time when Aaron Woodley beat a couple of players before scoring.

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Skrill South

Salmon strikes to rescue a point for Bath

● Weston’s Ashley Kington tries to get past Boreham Wood’s Jam Cox

g Weston’s second goal in the win over Boreham Wood

Picture: Artur Lesniak

● Weston’s Nabi Diallo challenges Boreham Wood’s Greg Morgan for the ball

Ebbsfleet

Bath City

BATH left-back Will Salmon scored a second-half goal, his first in five seasons, to help the Romans claim a point against a lively Ebbsfleet side at Stonebridge Road. Anything other than an Ebbsfleet victory looked unlikely during a strong first -half display by the home side. In the 21st minute, Billy Bracknell made a good run down the right for Ebbsfleet. His cross fell to an unmarked Anthony Cook, but the striker put his shot well wide. Then, from a free-kick wide on the right, Ebbsfleet took the lead. It was delivered to the far post, where Shane Huke got his head to the ball first to head back across goal and beyond Bath goalkeeper Jason Mellor. Further chances fell to the home side. Bricknell had a long-range shot, which Mellor did well to parry away. Then, Cook got the better of Aaron Brown down the right, but Mellor parried his effort at his near post, with Cook’s follow-up then rebounding off the upright. Bath put in a much-improved performance in the second half. Mark Preece twice went close, until with just over 20 minutes to go, Bath won a free-kick on the left. The ball into the box bounced off Preece, and as the home defence hesitated, Salmon was first to react, firing home from ten yards. From then on, an onslaught from Ebbsfleet might have been expected, but apart from one sharp shot from Cook, which Mellor saved with his feet, it was Bath who finished the stronger of the two sides.

● Will Salmon scored for Bath

Calor Southern League

Away-day misery for Yate

Paulton back at the top after defeating Evesham

Didcot Town

Yate Town

Paulton Rovers

Evesham United

MIKE Perrott, Brandon Barnes and Josh Klein-Davies were all on target as Paulton returned to the top of the Calor Southern League Division One South & West table. However, it was a tough afternoon’s work for the home side as Evesham belied their lowly league position to push Nick Bunyard’s men all the way.

Indeed, the visitors created the better chances throughout the first half, with Lindon Dovey firing wide before Marcus Jackson worked Rovers goalkeeper Kyle Phillips. The lively Dovey ought to have put Evesham in front, but he blasted the ball over the crossbar after Mitchell Botfield had exposed the hosts’ defence. Instead, Paulton broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time when Barnes delivered an excellent corner kick and Perrott headed into the net.

Rovers improved after the break and doubled their lead on 62 minutes. Barnes followed up to score after an effort from on-loan Jake Harris had hit the post. Just three minutes later, though, Evesham pulled a goal back when Carl Brown headed past Phillips from Mike Tambling’s corner. Phillips had to be alert to deny Brown an equaliser, before Josh Klein-Davies settled matters in stoppage-time, rounding the goalkeeper to score from Barnes’ long pass.

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YATE slipped to a second defeat inside a week as Didcot scored a goal in each half to triumph in Division One South & West of the Calor Southern League. The Railwaymen’s Jermaine Ferreira was dangerous throughout the game and it was his cross that allowed Lewis Joyce to turn in the

28th-minute opener from close range. Former Bristol Rovers and Port Vale striker Lewis Haldane went close with a free-kick for the visitors, before Ross Staley saw his effort saved by home goalkeeper Kieron Beasley. Didcot scored the crucial second goal six minutes into the second half when Luke Carnell headed in from a free-kick. The defeat saw Yate drop down to 12th place in the standings, while Didcot moved up three places to 18th.

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Gloucestershire County League

Hanham’s late show secures the three points Keith Watson epsport@b-nm.co.uk HANHAM scored twice in the last three minutes to edge an eight-goal thriller at Bristol Academy in the David Wilson Homes Gloucestershire County League. Billy Hodge and Tolo Taylor both struck to give the visitors a 5-3 victory, after six goals arrived in the final half-hour of the match. Nathan Winter’s free-kick opener for the hosts was quickly equalised by Adam Grinter, and the score remained level at the break. Ryan Hughes put Hanham in front on the hour, Toby Waterman equalised three minutes later, but Grinter put the away side back in front almost immediately. Dave Sims-Burgess scored a second leveller for the Academy six minutes from time, but Hodge and Taylor popped up late on to settle matters decisively. There were also eight goals at

Lodge Road, this time shared evenly as the reserve teams of Yate and Bishop’s Cleeve drew 4-4. Yate led three times, but eventually needed an 84th-minute equaliser from Scott Robson to secure a point. Robson, Jordan Rogers and Joe Guest each put the home side in front, but Will Pugh and James Bayliffe, twice, equalised, before James Vercesi put Cleeve ahead for the first time with nine minutes remaining. Patchway drew 1-1 at Frampton, John Pugsley equalising for the visitors after Matt Cook had put the home side in front. Shane Budding scored the only goal of the game on 77 minutes as Rockleaze beat Chipping Sodbury 1-0. ● In round one of the GFA Trophy, Thor nbury were beaten 2-0 at Gala Wilton, as Lee Allen scored twice. Bristol Telephones went out by the same scoreline at Ellwood, with Matt Addis and Mike Nelson on target for the Forest of Dean side.

Somerset County League

Shirehampton fire eight past Yatton SHIREHAMPTON maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier Division season with an 8-1 hammering of Yatton Athletic. Rob Moore's 22nd-minute own goal gave Shirehampton the lead, and the visitors scored three more times before the break, through Aaron Anglin, Max Western and Kyle O'Donovan. In the second half, Danny Morne, Tony Beacham, Dan Spicer and O'Donovan added further goals for Shirehampton, while Lloyd Richardson was on target for Yatton.

No other Premier Division games took place, as most of the teams were involved in the first round of the Somerset Senior Cup. Defending Premier Division champions Nailsea United gained a 2-1 home win against Cutters Friday, while Nailsea Town were also 2-1 home winners, against Timsbury. Fry Club won 4-0 away to Bishop Sutton Reserves, but Imperial suffered an 8-0 defeat at Premier Division leaders Minehead. Rich Watkins struck twice as Saltford beat Clevedon United 3-1.

● Rockleaze Rangers’ Frank Stallard, left, has an aerial battle with Chipping Sodbury’s Karl Reese during the Picture: Artur Lesniak Gloucestershire County League game, which Rockleaze won 1-0

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Results South West Counties Youth: Bath City 1 Andover Tn 4, Bristol Academy 0 Poole Tn 5, Cirencester Acad 0 Newport Co 2, Dorchester Tn 4 New College Ac 5, Forest Green 3 Salisbury City 0. FA Vase, first rd qualifying: Barnstaple Tn 3 Witheridge 2, Bovey Tracey 3 Wells City 2, Bradford Tn 5 Portishead Tn 0, Chippenham Park 2 Bristol Manor Farm 3, Hallen 2 Whitchurch Utd 0, Hythe & Dibden 3 Oldland Abbotonians 2, Keynsham Tn 2 Fleet Spurs 1, Laverstock & Ford 5 Cheddar 2, Melksham Tn 4 Devizes Tn 1, Pewsey Vale 0 Folland Spts 5, Plymouth Parkway 4 Bridport 2, St Blazey 3 Ilfracombe Tn 2, Sherborne Tn 3 AFC St Austell 1, US Portsmouth 6 Calne Tn 1, Welton Rov 0 Petersfield Tn 2, Westbury Utd 1 Ashton & Backwell Utd 3, Winterbourne 2 Ringswood Tn 1. Calor Southern League, Premier Div: AFC Totton 2 St Albans City 5, Bideford 4 Bedford Tn 0, Biggleswade Tn 0 Hungerford Tn 1, Chesham Utd 4 Truro City 2, Corby Tn 3 Bashley 1, Frome Tn 0 Arlesey Tn 1, Hemel Hempstead Tn 2 St Neots Tn 0, Hinckley Utd 2 Weymouth 2, Hitchin Tn 2 Poole Tn 2, Redditch Utd 2 Banbury Utd 3, Stourbridge 1 Burnham 0. Div I South & West: Bishop’s Cleeve 2 Shortwood Utd 1, Cirencester Tn 2 Mangotsfield Utd 1, Clevedon Tn 0 North Leigh 2, Didcot Tn 2 Yate Tn 0, Fleet Tn 0 Bridgwater Tn 2, Guildford City 1 Tiverton Tn 4, Merthyr Tn 3 Swindon Supermarine 1, Paulton Rov 3 Evesham Utd 1, Stratford Tn 1 Godalming Tn 3, Taunton Tn 3 Thatcham Tn 0, Wimborne Tn 2 Cinderford Tn 2. Uhlsport Hellenic, Div I West: Clanfield 6 Purton 1, Easington Spts 3 Tuffley Rov 2, Fairford Tn 2 Tytherington Rocks 2, New College Swindon 0 Lydney Tn 2, North Leigh Utd 11 Letcombe 0, Shortwood Utd 6 Old Woodstock Tn 0. Toolstation Western League, Premier Div: Bitton 2 Cadbury Heath 0, Gillingham Tn 2 Brislington 3, Larkhall Ath 5 Bishop Sutton 1, Longwell Green Spts 4 Radstock Tn 2, Odd Down 3 Buckland Ath 2, Slimbridge 2 Hengrove Ath 1, Street 3 Willand Rov 2.

First Div: Almondsbury UWE 0 Chard Tn 2, Corsham Tn 0 Wellington 1, Cribbs 5 Roman Glass St George 1, Wincanton Tn 2 Shepton Mallet 4. Gloucestershire FA Challenge Trophy, rd I: Ellwood 2 Bsl Telephones 0, Gala Wilton 2 Thornbury Tn 0. David Wilson Homes Gloucestershire County: Berkeley Tn 0 Kings Stanley 2, Bristol Academy 3 Hanham Ath 5, Frampton Utd 1 Patchway Tn 1, Rockleaze Rangers 1 Chipping Sodbury Tn 0, Yate Tn Res 4 Bishops Cleeve Res 4. Somerset FA Senior Cup: Ashton Utd 4 Stockwood Green 1, Berrow 8 Worle 2, Bishop Sutton Res 0 Fry Club 4, Bridgwater Tn Res 4 Hengrove Ath Res 2, Brislington Res 1 North Curry 2, Broad Plain House 0 Westfield 2, Burnham Utd 7 Ilminster Tn 2, Castle Cary 0 Wrington Redhill 3, Chard Tn Res 4 Ashton & Backwell Utd Res 4, Cheddar Res 2 Cleeve West Tn 6, Churchill Club 70 1 Tintinhull 2, Clutton 2 Bishops Lydeard 0, Congresbury 1 Westland Sports 2, Dundry Ath 0 Tunley Ath 8, Langford Rov 2000 2 Wells City Res 5, Long Ashton 2 Glastonbury 5, Middlezoy Rov 6 Winscombe 1, Minehead 8 Imperial 0, Nailsea Tn 2 Timsbury Ath 1, Nailsea Utd 2 Cutters Friday 1, Peasedown Ath 0 Keynsham Tn Res 2, Portishead Tn Res 2 Larkhall Ath Res 0, Radstock Tn Res 2 Weston St Johns 5, Saltford 3 Clevedon Utd 1, St George EIG 2 Welton Rov Res 1, Staplegrove 5 Odd Down Res 1, Uphill Castle 1 Watchet Tn 2. Somerset County, Premier Div: Yatton Ath 1 Shirehampton 8. Div I: Frome Coll 6 Banwell 1. Div II East: Cutters Friday Res 0 Chew Magna 3, Farrington Gurney 0 Chilcompton Spts 2, Fry Club Res 4 Stockwood Green Res 1. Div II West: Weston St Johns Res 0 Nailsea Tn Res 7. Bristol Premier, Premier Div: DRG Frenchay 0 Longwell Green Res 4, Highridge Utd 4 Bitton Res 0, Mendip Utd 0 AEK Boco 0, Old Sodbury 3 Totterdown Utd 2 Wick 3 Lebeq 2, Winterbourne Utd Res 1 Nicholas Wdrs 2.

Div I: Bristol Manor Farm Res 1 Olveston Utd 0, Frampton Ath 4 Sea Mills Park 1, Greyfriars Ath 2 Lawrence Rov 4, Made For Ever 1 Eden Grove 4, Patchway Tn Res 5 Oldland Abbots Res 2 Seymour Utd 2 Brimsham Green 3. District, Senior Div: Bristol Barcelona 6 Wick Res 0, Crosscourt Utd 0 Longwell Green Spts A 0, De Veys 4 Pucklechurch Spts 4, Iron Acton 2 AEK Boco Res 1, Nicholas Wdrs Res 2 Portville Warriors 10, Shirehampton Res 2 Henbury Res 4, Warmley Saints 2 Hallen A 2. Div I: Bradley Stoke Tn 3 Mendip Utd Res 2, Chipping Sodbury Tn Res 8 Miners 0, Hambrook 5 Winterbourne Utd A 1, Lebeq Res 1 Soundwell Vic 2, Seymour Utd Res 1 Talbot Knowle Utd 2, St Pancras 5 Stanton Drew 2, Totterdown Utd Res 0 Rangeworthy 2. Div II: AEK Boco A 2 DRG Frenchay Res 0, Bendix 1 Lloydy Coalpit Heath 0, Chipping Sodbury Tn A 1 Frampton Ath Res 1, Hanham Ath Res 5 Hartcliffe 2, Iron Acton Res 0 Greyfriars Ath Res 0, Nicholas Wdrs A 0 Frys Club A 2, Real Thornbury 3 Cribbs A 1. Div III: Henbury 1 Hallen B 1, Olveston Utd Res 4 Hambrook Res 2, Pucklechurch Sports Res 2 Hillfields OB 2, Roman Glass St George A 0 Bristol Barcelona Res 2, South Bristol Central 2 Horfield Utd 0, Yate Ath 0 Stapleton 3. Div IV: Fishponds Ath 4 Bradley Stoke Tn Res 3, Frys Club B 5 Wick A 1, Greyfriars Ath A 0 Highridge Utd Res 4, Lawrence Rovers Res 2 Talbot Knowle Utd Res 2, Old Sodbury Res 2 Westerleigh Sports 3, Shaftesbury Crus Res 4 Sea Mills Park Res 2, Soundwell Vic Res 3 Bendix Res 2. Div V: Crosscourt Utd Res 0 Cesson 2, Highridge Utd A 5 Patchway NE Res 7, Rangeworthy Res 1 Iron Acton A 6, Warmley Saints Res 0 Oldland Abbots A 8, Staple Hill Orient 3 Brislington Cktrs Res 1. Div VI: Brimsham Green Res 3 Greyfriars Ath B 1, Saltford Res 1 Cutters Friday 3, Bristol Deaf 1 Seymour Utd A 2, Stapleton Res 1 Bradley Stoke Tn A 2, Stoke Lane Ath 6 Cribbs Friends Life B 1.

Suburban, Premier Div I: Avonmouth v Old Georgians pp, Lawrence Weston 1 Little Stoke 6, Mangotsfield Sports 3 Easton Cowboys Sub 2, Severn Beach 2 Stoke Gifford Utd 1, St Aldhelms 0 Tytherington Rocks Res 5. Premier Div II: AFC Mangotsfield 3 Lebeq Utd 1, Brislington A 5 Almondsbury UWE Res 2, Bristol Ath 2 Wessex Wdrs 0, CAB Olympic SC 6 Rockleaze Rgrs Res 1, Cadbury Heath Res 8 Southmead CS Utd 2, Downend Foresters 6 Glenside 5 OB 1. Div I: Broad Plain House Res 6 St Aldhelms Res 1, Cleeve Colts 0 Kellaway Rgrs 4, Parson St OB v Ashton Backwell Colts pp, Stoke Gifford Utd Res 1 AFC Hartcliffe 5, Stoke Rangers 7 Oldbury 1, Tyndalls Park Rgrs 1 Avonmouth Res 2. Div II: Almondsbury UWE A 1 Ashton Utd Res 1, Fry’s Club OB 1 Bsl Telephones Res 3, Hydez 1 AFC Mangotsfield Res 0, Keynsham Tn A 1 Wanderers 10. Div III: Bristol Bilbao 10 Severn Beach Res 0, Corinthian Sports 1 AEK Boco Colts 4, Old Cothamians Res 2 Coupland Insulation 3, Rockleaze Rangers A 5 Broadwalk Community 0, Sartan Utd 2 Downend Foresters Res 0. Div IV: Filton Ath Res 0 Severnside 4, Glenside 5 OB Res 3 Park Knowle 8, North Bristol Catalans 2 Winford PH 1, Old Georgians Res 2 Brandon Sports 1, Oldbury FC Res 3 Stoke Gifford Utd A 4. Div V: AFC Mangotsfield A 2 Avonmouth A 1, Imperial Res 1 Lockleaze Community 0, North Bristol Utd 8 Real St George 2, Wessex Wdrs Res 1 Fishponds OB A 3, Whitchurch Sports v Parson Street OB Res pp. Div VI: AFC Mangotsfield B 1 TC Sports 5, Park Knowle Res 2 Sartan Utd Res 0, Real Fishponds 4 Bristol Spartak 3, Wanderers Res v Brandon Sports Res pp, Winford PH Res 7 Cosmos 0. Bristol & Avon, Premier Div: AFC Hartcliffe Res 6 Dodington 5, Bristol Revolution 2 De Veys Res 3, Broad Walk Community Res 3 Sea Mills Park A 1, LS United 0 Bristol Sports 2, Wessex Wdrs A 6 Iron Acton B 3, Westerleigh Sports Res 4 Bradley Stoke

Tn B 2, Whitchurch Phoenix 1 Broad Plain A 3. Downs, Div I: AFC Bohemia 3 Sporting Greyhound 0, Ashley 0 Torpedo 3, Clifton St Vinc 2 Sneyd Park 3, Cotswool 0 Saints OB 3, Beachcroft 1 Retainers 2, Jamaica Bell 2 Portland OB 2, Jersey Rangers 2 Lawes Juniors 2. Div II: Ashley Res 1 Tebby 5, Clifton Rockets 1 Torpedo Res 5, Clifton St Vinc Res 1 St Andrews 0, Corinthians 1 Sporting Greyhound Res 2, Easton Cowboys 2 Sneyd Park Res 4, Hare On The Hill 3 Saints OB Res 0, Lion 3 Old Cliftonians 2. Div III: Bengal Tigers 0 Torpedo A 0, Clifton St Vinc A 1 Wellington Wanderers 1, Cotham OB 5 Sneyd Park A 1, Easton Cowboys Res 1 Retainers Res 1, Evergreen 2 Portland OB 1, Green Park Rgrs 2 Old Elizabethans 2. Div IV: Clifton Rockets Res 1 Warmley Utd 4, Clifton St Vinc B 3 West Town Utd 1, Conham Rangers 5 Torpedo B 1, Cosmos UK 0 Tebby Res 9, DDAS 5 Sneyd Park B 0, Jersey Rangers Res 1 Retainers A 2, Lion FC Res 3 NCSF Utd 3. Weston-s-Mare & District, Div I: Clevedon Utd Res 8 Berrow Res 1, Hutton 4 Nailsea Utd A 2, Portishead Tn A 1 Yatton Ath Res 0, Tickenham Utd 1 Cleeve West Tn Res 0, Winscombe Res 4 Churchill Club 70 Res 0. Div II: Burnham Utd A 2 Langford Rov Res 3, Clevedon Dons 5 St George EIG Res 3, Clevedon Utd A 7 Nailsea Utd B 2, Draycott 2 Congresbury Res 2, Locking Park 1 Weston Super Seagulls 1. Div III: AFC Nailsea 2 Uphill Castle Res 0, Axbridge Tn 2 Worle Rgrs 1, Banwell Res 3 Portishead Tn B 0, Shipham 2 Wedmore 0, Westend 4 Winscombe A 4. Div IV: KVFC 1 Cheddar A 2, Kewstoke Lions Res 0 Wrington Redhill Res 2, Pill Utd 2 Hutton Res 3. Div V: Clapton-in-Gordano 1 Priory Rgrs 6, Dolphin Ath 5 Portishead Tn Colts 6, Shipham Res 5 South Park Rgrs 2, Worle Res 0 Portishead CT 3. Div VI: Banwell A 0 Axbridge Tn Res 5, Berrow A 7 Burnham Utd B 2, Westend Res 2 Wedmore Res 5, Worle Rgrs Res 3 Clevedon Utd B 2.

GROUP A

FIFA World Cup European Qualifying

FYR Macedonia.......(1) 2

Wales .......................(1) 1

Scotland ..................(0) 0

Belgium ...................(1) 2

Trickovski 21 Trajkovski 80 Att 36,000

Serbia.......................(0) 1

Ramsey 39 (pen) Att 13,000 Defour 38 Mirallas 89

Croatia .....................(0) 1

HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F Belgium..............8 3 1 0 6 2 4 0 0 9 Croatia ...............8 3 0 1 5 1 2 2 0 6 Serbia ................8 2 1 1 9 5 0 1 3 1 FYR Macedonia.7 2 0 2 4 5 0 1 2 1 Wales .................7 1 0 2 3 5 1 0 3 4 Scotland.............8 0 2 2 2 5 1 0 3 2 GROUP B

A Pts 0 22 4 17 5 8 3 7 11 6 6 5

Czech Republic.......(0) 1 Italy ..........................(1) 1

Armenia ...................(1) 2 Bulgaria ...................(0) 0

Malta ........................(1) 1

Denmark ..................(1) 2

Gilardino 38

P W Italy ....................7 3 Bulgaria .............7 2 Czech Republic .7 1 Armenia .............7 0 Denmark ............7 0 Malta ..................7 0 GROUP C

Att 28,662

HOME D L F 0 0 6 2 0 10 2 2 4 0 3 1 2 1 1 0 3 1

A 1 3 6 7 5 5

W 2 0 1 3 2 1

AWAY D L F 2 0 7 2 1 1 1 0 3 0 1 7 1 1 7 0 3 2

A Pts 3 17 2 10 0 9 2 9 5 9 11 3

Germany ..................(1) 3

Austria .....................(0) 0

Kazakhstan..............(0) 2 Rep of Ireland .........(1) 1

Faroe Islands ..........(1) 1 Sweden ....................(1) 2

Klose 33, Kroos 51 Muller 88 Keane 21 Att 49,500

Att 68,000

Elmander 33 Svensson 57

HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F Germany ............7 3 1 0 14 5 3 0 0 11 Sweden..............7 2 1 0 4 0 2 1 1 9 Austria ...............7 3 0 1 13 3 0 2 1 2 Rep of Ireland ....7 1 1 2 7 10 2 1 0 6 Kazakhstan ........7 1 1 2 3 6 0 0 3 1 Faroe Islands.....7 0 0 2 2 6 0 0 5 1 GROUP D

A 2 8 5 2 10 16

Pts 19 14 11 11 4 0

Estonia.....................(1) 2

Holland ....................(1) 2

Romania ..................(2) 3 Turkey ......................(2) 5

Hungary ...................(0) 0 Andorra ...................(0) 0

Vassiljev 18, 57 Att 10,210

P W Holland ............... 7 4 Romania ............. 7 2 Hungary .............. 7 1 Turkey ................. 7 2 Estonia................ 7 1 Andorra ............... 7 0

HOME D L F 0 0 12 0 1 8 1 1 6 1 1 9 1 2 4 0 3 0

Robben 2 van Persie 90 (pen)

A 0 4 7 2 5 8

W 2 2 2 1 1 0

AWAY D L F 1 0 10 1 1 5 1 1 7 0 2 3 0 2 1 0 4 0

A 4 6 4 5 6 14

Pts 19 13 11 10 7 0

Aldershot .............................1 Macclesfield ...................... 0 Alfreton Town......................3 Woking .............................. 1 Braintree Town....................1 Forest Green..................... 1 Chester FC ..........................0 Dartford ............................. 0 FC Halifax ............................2 Barnet ................................ 1 Gateshead ...........................2 Hereford ............................ 1 Hyde .....................................0 Cambridge Utd ................. 1 Lincoln City .........................0 Salisbury ........................... 1 Luton....................................0 Grimsby............................. 0 Nuneaton .............................2 Wrexham ........................... 0 Tamworth.............................4 Southport .......................... 1 Welling .................................1 Kidderminster ................... 2 HOME AWAY

Pt 17 17 14 13 13 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 10 10 8 8 7 7 5 4 4 3 2 0

GROUP E

Norway.....................(1) 2 Slovenia ...................(1) 1 Switzerland..............(3) 4

Cyprus .....................(0) 0 Albania ....................(0) 0 Iceland .....................(1) 4

HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F Switzerland ........7 2 2 0 8 5 2 1 0 4 Norway ..............7 2 0 1 4 2 1 2 1 5 Albania...............7 2 1 1 6 4 1 0 2 1 Iceland ...............7 1 0 2 4 6 2 1 1 8 Slovenia .............7 2 0 2 4 5 1 0 2 5 Cyprus ...............7 1 1 1 2 3 0 0 4 2 GROUP F

A 0 5 3 7 5 8

Pts 15 11 10 10 9 4

Northern Ireland .....(1) 2 Portugal ...................(1) 4 Russia ......................(2) 4 Luxembourg ...........(0) 1 Saturday Israel ........................(0) 1 Azerbaijan ...............(0) 1

P W Portugal .............8 2 Russia................7 4 Israel ..................7 1 Northern Ireland 7 1 Azerbaijan..........8 0 Luxembourg.......7 0 GROUP G

HOME D L F 1 0 5 0 0 8 2 1 7 2 2 5 2 1 2 1 2 1

Bosnia-Herz.............(0) 0 Latvia .......................(2) 2 Liechtenstein ..........(0) 0

A 1 1 8 8 4 8

W 3 1 2 0 0 0

AWAY D L F 1 1 11 0 2 4 1 0 9 1 1 1 3 2 2 2 2 3

Pts 17 15 12 6 5 3

Slovakia ...................(0) 1 Lithuania .................(1) 1 Greece .....................(0) 1

HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F Bosnia-Herz .......7 3 0 1 10 3 2 1 0 13 Greece ...............7 1 1 0 2 0 4 0 1 6 Slovakia .............7 2 1 1 5 3 1 2 0 3 Latvia .................7 2 0 2 5 8 0 1 2 3 Lithuania ............7 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 4 Liechtenstein .....7 0 2 3 3 13 0 0 2 0 GROUP H

A 7 2 1 3 6 9

A 1 4 2 7 8 4

Pts 16 16 12 7 5 2

England ...................(3) 4

Moldova ...................(0) 0

Poland......................(1) 1 Ukraine ....................(4) 9

Montenegro .............(1) 1 San Marino ..............(0) 0

Gerrard 12, Lambert 26 Welbeck 45, 50

Att 61,607

HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F England .............7 2 1 0 10 1 2 2 0 15 Montenegro .......8 1 2 1 6 7 3 1 0 9 Ukraine ..............7 2 0 1 11 2 2 2 0 8 Poland ...............7 2 2 1 10 5 0 2 0 3 Moldova .............8 0 2 2 1 7 1 0 3 3 San Marino ........7 0 0 3 0 16 0 0 4 0 GROUP I

Finland .....................(0) 0 Georgia ....................(0) 0

A 2 1 2 3 8 22

Pts 15 15 14 10 5 0

Spain .......................(1) 2 France .....................(0) 0

HOME P W D L F A W Spain .................6 0 2 0 2 2 4 France ...............6 2 0 1 6 3 1 Finland ...............6 1 1 2 2 4 0 Georgia ..............6 1 1 1 1 1 0 Belarus ..............6 1 1 1 3 5 0

AWAY D L F 0 0 8 2 0 2 2 0 2 1 2 2 0 3 1

A Pts 0 14 1 11 2 6 6 5 5 4

Bishop’s Stortford ..............2 Havant and W ................... 1 Concord Rangers ...............1 Dorchester ........................ 0 Eastleigh..............................2 Bromley ............................. 1 Ebbsfleet United .................1 Bath City ........................... 1 Farnboro ..............................1 Dover ................................. 0 Gosport Borough ...............0 Maidenhead Utd ............... 2 Hayes & Yeading ................4 Chelmsford ....................... 0 Staines Town.......................2 Eastbourne Borough ....... 1 Tonbridge Angels ...............1 Sutton Utd ......................... 1 Weston-S-Mare ...................3 Boreham Wood................. 0 Whitehawk ...........................1 Basingstoke ...................... 0 HOME AWAY P Eastleigh ................ 6 Bromley ................. 6 Weston-S-Mare ..... 6 Basingstoke ........... 6 Maidenhead Utd .... 5 Bishop’s Stortford .. 6 Eastbourne B5....... 1 Hayes & Yeading ... 6 Dover ..................... 6 Staines Town ......... 6 Sutton Utd ............. 6 Bath City ................ 5 Concord Rangers .. 6 Ebbsfleet United .... 6 Tonbridge Angels ... 6 Whitehawk ............. 6 Havant and W........ 5 Chelmsford ............ 5 Boreham Wood...... 6 Farnboro ................ 1 Gosport Borough ... 6 Dorchester ............. 6

W 2 3 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0

D 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0

L F A W 0 3 1 2 0 11 2 1 1 4 1 2 0 6 2 1 0 4 3 2 1 4 3 1 3 2 2 0 2 4 3 2 2 2 3 2 0 6 2 0 1 7 3 0 1 4 3 1 1 2 2 1 0 2 2 1 1 3 4 1 2 1 4 1 1 3 2 0 1 6 6 0 2 3 8 1 0 1 0 0 2 1 4 0 3 3 12 0

D 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1

L 1 2 1 2 0 0 3 1 1 3 1 0 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 0 2 2

F A 4 2 3 3 5 3 2 3 6 1 6 5 2 10 5 3 2 1 4 9 1 2 3 2 4 5 5 4 4 8 6 8 1 2 1 6 3 6 0 0 3 5 1 3

Pt 13 12 12 12 11 11 9 9 9 8 8 8 7 7 6 5 4 4 3 2 1

Bradford ..................(1) 4 Hanson 41, 69 Wells 60 Thompson 64 Att 13,621

Brentford .................(0) 0

Burton Albion..........(0) 0 Att 3,416

Carlisle.....................(0) 0 Att 3,866

Crawley Town..........(0) 3 McFadzean 55 Clarke 66, 81 Att 3,984

Port Vale ..................(0) 1 Pope 90

Gillingham ...............(0) 2 Kedwell 47 (pen) Legge 69

Crewe .......................(2) 2

Peterboro ................(1) 2

MK Dons ..................(0) 1

Swindon ..................(1) 1

Oliver 15 Leitch-Smith 21 Att 4,509 Bamford 55 Att 7,738

Rotherham...............(0) 3 Agard 51 Nardiello 72 (pen) Milsom 75 Att 11,758

Barnett 45 Bostwick 90

Pritchard 17

Sheff Utd .................(1) 1 Baxter 37

Att 4,156

Stevenage ...............(0) 0

Yesterday Coventry ..................(1) 2 Colchester ...............(0) 0 Wilson 38, 59 Att 1,789

Chesterfield .............(0) 1

Accrington Stanley (0) 0

Dag & Red ...............(1) 1

Exeter ......................(0) 1

Fleetwood Town......(2) 4

Torquay ...................(0) 1

Hartlepool ................(0) 1

Wycombe ................(0) 2

Newport County......(1) 1

Mansfield .................(0) 1

Northampton ...........(0) 1

Scunthorpe .............(0) 1

Plymouth .................(0) 1

Bristol Rovers.........(0) 0

Rochdale .................(1) 1

Bury .........................(0) 0

Southend .................(1) 1

Morecambe .............(1) 3

Darikwa 47 Att 6,588 Scott 20 Att 2,003

Sarcevic 10, 37 Matt 62 Blair 90 Poole 90 Att 3,640

Zebroski 30 Att 3,709

Reid 82

Hogan 36 Hurst 30

Att 6,080

Agyemang 5 Ertl 44

Parkin 80

Benyon 89 Att 2,426

Kretzschmar 51, 69

Clucas 67

Canavan 67 Att 8,631 Att 5,616

Fleming 35, 47 Sampson 56

HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A Pts L Orient ..............5 2 0 0 5 0 3 0 0 8 2 15 Wolves ...............5 2 0 0 6 1 2 1 0 5 2 13 Peterboro ..........6 2 0 1 3 3 2 1 0 11 4 13 Rotherham .........6 1 2 0 5 3 2 1 0 6 4 12 Bradford .............6 3 0 0 10 0 0 2 1 4 5 11 Crawley Town ....6 2 0 1 7 6 1 1 1 6 5 10 MK Dons............6 1 2 0 4 3 1 2 0 3 2 10 Brentford ............6 2 1 0 4 1 0 2 1 2 6 9 Swindon .............6 2 1 0 8 2 0 1 2 1 4 8 Colchester .........6 1 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 2 3 8 Preston ..............5 0 2 0 2 2 1 2 0 7 4 7 Walsall ...............5 1 1 1 4 5 1 0 1 1 1 7 Port Vale ............6 1 1 1 4 5 1 0 2 2 4 7 Oldham ..............5 1 0 2 3 3 1 0 1 5 5 6 Shrewsbury........5 1 2 0 3 1 0 1 1 2 5 6 Stevenage .........6 0 1 2 4 6 1 1 1 1 1 5 Crewe ................6 1 2 0 7 6 0 0 3 0 8 5 Tranmere ...........6 0 2 1 3 8 1 0 2 3 5 5 Sheff Utd............6 1 1 1 3 3 0 0 3 2 8 4 Bristol City .........5 0 1 1 3 4 0 2 1 7 8 3 Gillingham..........6 0 2 1 2 3 0 1 2 4 9 3 Carlisle...............6 0 0 3 1 10 0 2 1 1 5 2 Coventry ............6 2 1 0 11 8 1 1 1 7 4 1 Notts Co ............5 0 0 3 2 6 0 1 1 2 3 1 *Coventry deducted 10 points for entering administration

HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A Chesterfield .......6 3 0 0 5 1 2 1 0 6 2 Oxford Utd .........6 1 2 0 5 4 3 0 0 9 2 AFC Wimbledon 6 3 0 0 6 2 1 1 1 3 3 Fleetwood Town 6 2 0 1 9 5 2 0 1 3 2 Exeter ................6 3 0 0 6 2 0 2 1 1 3 Burton Albion .....6 1 1 1 3 4 2 1 0 6 4 Morecambe........6 2 1 0 5 2 1 0 2 3 5 Wycombe...........6 2 0 1 3 2 1 1 1 4 4 Newport County.6 2 1 0 6 2 0 2 1 3 5 Mansfield ...........6 1 2 0 5 2 1 1 1 2 3 Southend ...........6 2 0 1 4 3 1 0 2 3 4 Plymouth............6 2 0 1 2 2 1 0 2 4 4 Rochdale ...........6 2 1 0 6 2 0 1 2 1 3 Bury ...................6 2 0 1 7 3 0 1 2 3 5 Scunthorpe ........6 1 2 0 4 2 0 2 1 3 4 Bristol Rvrs ........6 2 1 0 4 2 0 0 3 1 4 Portsmouth ........6 1 0 2 4 6 0 3 0 6 6 Dag & Red .........6 1 2 0 4 2 0 1 2 2 7 Torquay ..............6 0 2 1 2 4 1 1 1 4 6 Cheltenham .......6 0 2 1 5 7 1 0 2 2 6 Northamptn ........6 1 1 1 5 4 0 0 3 0 4 York ...................6 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 3 3 7 Hartlepool ..........6 0 0 3 1 4 0 2 1 0 3 Accrington..........6 0 1 2 2 4 0 0 3 1 8

AFC Totton ..........................2 St Albans........................... 5 Bideford ...............................4 Bedford Town ................... 0 Biggleswade Town .............0 Hungerford Town ............. 1 Chesham .............................4 Truro City .......................... 2 Corby ...................................3 Bashley ............................. 1 Frome Town ........................0 Arlesey .............................. 1 Hemel Hempstead ..............2 St Neots Town .................. 0 Hinckley Utd........................2 Weymouth ......................... 2 Hitchin .................................2 Poole Town ....................... 2 Redditch ..............................2 Banbury............................. 3 Stourbridge .........................1 Burnham ........................... 0 Cambridge City ...................2 Chippenham ..................... 1 HOME AWAY

Bishops Cleeve...................2 Shortwood Utd ................. 1 Cirencester ..........................2 Mangotsfield ..................... 1 Clevedon Town ...................0 North Leigh ....................... 2 Didcot Town ........................2 Yate .................................... 0 Fleet Town ...........................0 Bridgwater Town .............. 2 Guildford City .....................1 Tiverton ............................. 4 Merthyr Town ......................3 Swindon Supermarine ..... 1 Paulton ................................3 Evesham ........................... 1 Stratford Town ....................1 Godalming Town .............. 3 Taunton................................3 Thatcham Town ................ 0 Wimborne Town ..................2 Cinderford ......................... 2 HOME AWAY

Calor Lge Premier

P Hemel Hempstead. 7 Bideford ................. 7 Poole Town ............ 7 Chesham ............... 7 St Albans ............... 7 Arlesey................... 7 Stourbridge ............ 7 Weymouth ............. 7 Hitchin.................... 7 Cambridge City...... 7 Banbury ................. 7 Corby ..................... 7 Chippenham .......... 7 Truro City ............... 7 Burnham ................ 7 Hungerford Town ... 7 Biggleswade Town . 7 Bedford Town......... 7 AFC Totton............. 7 Redditch ................ 7 Frome Town ........... 7 St Neots Town ....... 7 Hinckley Utd .......... 7 Bashley .................. 7

W 4 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 3 1 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0

D 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 1

L F A W 0 16 2 2 0 11 2 2 0 6 4 3 0 11 5 2 0 6 2 1 0 7 4 2 2 5 5 2 0 6 1 1 0 6 3 1 1 6 5 1 2 3 5 2 1 7 5 0 2 4 4 2 1 3 5 2 2 2 6 2 2 4 6 2 1 5 3 0 1 6 4 0 3 8 13 1 4 4 17 2 3 1 9 1 3 3 7 1 2 3 6 0 2 3 6 0

D 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 1

L F A 1 6 2 0 5 2 0 9 5 1 6 5 2 7 6 2 5 4 1 10 4 1 7 6 1 3 3 0 3 2 1 8 7 2 1 8 2 7 4 1 8 8 1 7 4 2 7 4 1 3 4 3 4 16 2 4 8 1 5 6 1 3 4 3 4 6 2 4 8 3 3 10

Pt 18 17 17 16 13 13 12 12 12 12 10 10 9 9 8 7 7 7 6 6 5 3 3 2

York ..........................(0) 0

AFC Wimbledon .....(1) 2 Smith 31, 73

Att 3,530

Pts 16 14 13 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 9 9 8 7 7 7 6 6 6 5 4 4 2 1

Calor Lge South & West

P Paulton .................. 5 Bridgwater Town .... 5 Merthyr Town ......... 6 Swindon S ............. 6 North Leigh ............ 6 Tiverton .................. 6 Cirencester ............ 5 Godalming Town .... 6 Wimborne Town ..... 6 Cinderford .............. 5 Shortwood Utd....... 6 Yate ....................... 6 Thatcham Town ..... 6 Stratford Town ....... 6 Taunton .................. 5 Bishops Cleeve ..... 5 Fleet Town ............. 6 Mangotsfield .......... 5 Didcot Town ........... 6 Clevedon Town ...... 6 Evesham................ 5 Guildford City......... 6

1 3 1 1 1 3 1 3 1 2 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

W 2 1 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 0

D 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 1 1 2 1

L F A W 0 8 2 2 0 6 2 3 0 9 4 2 0 8 3 1 0 12 2 1 1 5 3 1 1 5 6 1 1 3 5 1 0 10 3 0 1 5 3 1 1 8 8 1 1 6 5 0 1 2 5 1 2 3 8 1 0 6 3 0 1 7 4 0 1 3 4 0 0 6 4 0 1 5 4 0 2 2 5 0 0 5 5 0 2 4 10 0

D 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 0

L F A 0 11 3 0 8 2 1 7 4 1 5 6 2 4 4 1 7 8 1 4 4 2 4 8 2 2 4 0 6 3 1 6 3 1 5 7 1 4 4 1 7 5 1 5 6 2 2 7 1 1 6 2 2 6 3 2 8 2 1 5 3 2 11 3 3 14

Pt 13 13 13 13 12 10 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 7 6 6 6 5 4 2 2 1

TREBLE CHECK: Complete check for Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters: 3 = Score Draws, 2= No Score Draw or Void 1= Home or Away

EPB-E01-S3

HALF TIME

Potter 49 Rose 85

Portsmouth .............(2) 2

McGlashan 36, 90

Platt 78 Att 4,132

Tranmere .................(0) 0

Oxford Utd ..............(0) 2

Cheltenham .............(1) 2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

P W D L F A W D L F A Cambridge ............. 7 3 0 0 9 1 2 2 0 4 2 Nuneaton ............... 7 3 1 0 8 3 2 1 0 4 2 Barnet .................... 7 2 1 0 7 3 2 1 1 6 3 Lincoln City ............ 7 3 0 1 5 2 1 1 1 2 2 FC Halifax.............. 7 4 0 0 8 3 0 1 2 4 10 Forest Green ......... 7 2 1 0 11 1 1 2 1 5 5 Alfreton Town ......... 7 4 0 0 11 5 0 0 3 2 7 Kiddermnstr ........... 7 2 0 1 6 4 2 0 2 5 6 Southport ............... 7 3 0 0 4 1 1 0 3 4 9 Hereford................. 7 2 1 0 4 2 1 1 2 6 6 Grimsby ................. 7 1 1 1 5 4 2 1 1 3 2 Braintree Town....... 7 1 1 2 3 5 2 1 0 4 1 Luton...................... 7 1 3 0 3 1 1 1 1 2 1 Salisbury ................ 7 2 0 1 4 2 1 1 2 3 5 Welling ................... 7 1 2 1 4 4 1 0 2 6 6 Tamworth ............... 7 1 2 1 6 5 1 0 2 1 4 Gateshead ............. 7 1 1 2 6 7 1 0 2 4 6 Dartford.................. 7 1 0 2 2 4 1 1 2 2 5 Wrexham ............... 7 1 1 1 4 5 0 1 3 4 9 Woking................... 7 0 1 2 3 6 1 0 3 4 7 Chester FC ............ 7 0 1 3 1 6 1 0 2 3 6 Macclesfld.............. 7 0 1 2 2 4 0 2 2 3 5 Hyde ...................... 7 0 1 3 3 6 0 1 2 4 13 Aldershot ............... 7 3 0 1 6 2 0 1 2 1 3 *Aldershot deducted 10 points for entering administration

FULLTIME

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Monday, September 9, 2013

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Monday, September 9, 2013

The National Village Cup final

Rockhampton’s Lord’s adventure ends in

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● Rockhampton openers Will Tyler, left, and Matt Tyler, right, take to the field during the 2013 Davidstow Village Cricket Final against Cleator at Lord’s WILL Cartlidge had taken only four wickets in this season’s Davidstow Village Cup run for Rockhampton before the big final at Lord’s, but even saving his best for last with a magnificent return of 4-35 could not prevent a heartbreaking one-wicket defeat against Cleator. The 23-year-old swing bowler went for two boundaries in his opening over before settling down to rip through the Cumbrian side’s top order and put Rockhampton in charge. But not the first time in a dramatic day’s cricket, the pendulum swung the other way – and then back and forth again – as the Cumbrian side produced a superb fightback to seal victory by the narrowest margin with nine balls to spare. The WEPL side made much of the early running, racing to 133-1 in the 26th over thanks to half-centuries from skipper James Williams and opener Matt Tyler. But Cleator pulled the innings round, pegging back the WEPL side to 192-7 when 250 had appeared on the cards at one time. And they then showed great heart with the bat, rallying from 65-5 before last wicket pair David Bell (16) and David Rooney (10) kept their nerve amid incredible tension. It was tough going early on for Rockhampton who struggled against

Steve

Hill

with Rockhampton at Lord’s the swinging ball after losing the toss. Both Tyler brothers – who each came into the game averaging over 50 in the competition – played and missed several times against Blackwell and Darren Clark, who bowled with discipline in helpful conditions. But both men started to find their feet, Will on driving the first boundary of the match while Matt then got in on the act with two fours off Blackwell. The WEPL side were progressing nicely when Will Tyler changed his mind on a shot and ballooned a catch to gully for 19 with the score on 46. That brought helmet-less skipper Williams to the wicket, and he immediately made his intentions clear with a clipped boundary off his legs for four to bring up the 50. Nine more fours plus a one-handed six over long on followed in an assault that at times was simply brutal as he raced to 57 off only 37 balls, giving his

side great momentum before being bowled by off spinner Bell attempting another big hit. Matt Tyler, meanwhile, survived two chances as he dropped anchor at the other end, eventually reaching his half century off 86 deliveries in 95 minutes, hitting five fours and two sixes, including one maximum into the heart of his club’s cheering supporters in the Mound Stand and a nonchalant drive over extra cover. But he then perished an over after Williams, chipping the returning Rooney to mid off. And worse was to follow as Guy Brothwood was trapped lbw by Bell as 130-1 soon became 134-4. After a 20-minute break for rain, Simon Hore (14) and Rowan Cartlidge (23) perished in the run chase before their side ended at 192-7, Bell (2-32 from nine) and Rooney (1-28 from nine) the pick of the Cleator attack. It was the lowest total by some distance the Rams had compiled batting first in the cup all season, but

they got off to a superb start with the ball. Cartlidge conceded two boundaries in his first over to James Rogers but then bowled fellow opener Chris Quin, shouldering arms, for just two. Dangerman Darren Clark quickly settled in with the shot of the day, a sumptuous off drive for four off Chris Pearce. But he was then trapped lbw on the back foot for a huge second breakthrough by Cartlidge for 11 as Cleator slipped to 26-2. Rogers had a reprieve when he was dropped at backward point off first change seamer Sam Nichols. But Rockhampton were soon back in business at the other end when Rob Mason, on three, feathered a catch behind off Cartlidge which older brother Rowan held on to, making it 42-3. Tom Sharpe was next out, inside edging a ball from Nichols on to his stumps. And at the other end Cartlidge then put his side firmly in the driving seat with his fourth strike, bowling Rogers for 35 as he aimed a big heave at the short boundary, as the total slid to 65-5. The decision to bowl Cartlidge straight through had already been more than justified. But he came within a whisker of a fifth victim, having a huge shout for a catch be-

Pictures: Max Flego hind turned down as Ian Clark flapped at his first delivery before the seamer retired with the superb figures of 4-35 from his nine. Scott Kiggins made the most of being dropped by Williams to thump Nichols for three boundaries in an over as Cleator fought back. At the halfway stage, the Cumbrian team were 85-5, compared to Rockhampton’s 85-1. And although Kiggins gave his side hope with an expansive six, teenage spinner Brothwood then tossed one up and beat the burly batsman in the flight for a timely wicket. Rain then interrupted play for a second occasion, this time for 50 minutes, before 52-year-old Ian Clark – by some distance the oldest man on the field – revived Cleator with some direct hitting. But he fell to a fine catch on the midwicket boundary by Jack Spence for 37, off Nichols, with the total at 147. And the seamer then claimed a third victim when, amid rising tension, Graeme Lilly spooned a full toss straight back at the bowler, making it 158-8. Blackwell hammered the returning Hancox for a six before falling lbw to the spinner – 178-9 – leaving it to Bell and Rooney to grab the winning runs.

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Cricket

the most heartbreaking fashion

A return visit to Lord’s is our aim – Williams ROCKHAMPTON’S historic first visit to the home of cricket may have ended in defeat – but skipper James Williams sees no reason why the tiny village club cannot now become a consistent force in the Davidstow Village Cup. The WEPL club had never progressed out of the Gloucestershire group before this season’s fantastic run all the way to the final. But now that the club have had a taste of success they’re eager for more. Williams, who top-scored for his side with an aggressive 57, said: “I certainly hope we can do well again, we’ll be entering next season with the aim of getting another favourable draw and putting a run together. “There’s no one out there we cannot beat, but fair play today to Cleator. They were unflappable and, sad to say, they got the better of us. “I was disappointed we didn’t get 220 or 230 after such a good start, and I was disappointed to get out when I did but I still thought that 192 was defendable. “We were in the box seat when they were six down, but they bided their time very well and played some very intelligent cricket, I can’t fault them.”

● Rockhampton’s Matt Tyler on his way to 50 at the home of cricket against Cleator

● Sam Nichols, right, is congratulated after taking the wicker of Cleator’s Graham Lilly

“

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I’d probably give up a half-century at Lord’s for a win ... I thought that we had them, but it wasn’t to be. They had a few experienced old heads and they made the difference. We’re a young side so there’s no reason why we can’t get back here as we’re only going to get better

Rockhampton’s opening batsman Matt Tyler

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● The travelling Rockhampton fans enjoy their day out at Lord’s

● The storm clouds gather as Rockhampton take on Cleator at Lord’s

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● A jubilant Chris Pearce, right, celebrates after taking a Cleator wicket

He added: “Losing is a massive disappointment but I also have to say that not many sides even get here. The whole experience has been surreal, from being at the hotel and in the home changing room to the way we’ve been treated here and the support from our fans ... it’s been outstanding.” Opener Matt Tyler, who compiled a patient 50, said: “I’d probably give up a half-century at Lord’s for a win ... I thought that we had them, but it wasn’t to be. “They had a few experienced old heads and they made the difference. We’re a young side so there’s no reason why we can’t get back here as we’re only going to get better. “I’m told that there’s no better place to lose a game ... that might be true but I’m still gutted.” Tyler paid tribute to the six coachloads of supporters who made the trek up the M4. He added: “One of the umpires said to me ‘half your village must be here today’, and I said ‘this is way more than the number of people who live in Rockhampton!’ “I was here years ago cheering on Gloucestershire in one-day finals so to be now be here as a player feels a bit surreal.”

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Formula One

Golf

Vettel revels in the boos as he upsets Italian fans with victory

Bjorn back to winning ways in Switzerland

● Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, left, is joined by Red Bull's Adrian Newey,second left, winner Sebastian Vettel and runner-up Mark Webber SEBASTIAN Vettel soaked up the boos on another champagne day when he took a giant step towards winning his fourth consecutive Formula One world title. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner described Vettel’s drive en route to taking the chequered flag at the Italian Grand Prix for the third time as “flawless”. That was with a small exception of a lock up into the first chicane on the opening lap when he flat-spotted his front-right tyre, sparking brief consternation on the pitwall. Aside from what was a rare error, Vettel coasted to another easy win, as was the case a fortnight ago in Belgium, for his sixth victory in 12 races this season and 32nd overall of his career. It was no surprise, therefore, when he stepped on to the podium and ahead of being interviewed by the

“

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I said to the guys on the in-lap the more we get booed the better we have done

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel

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only man to win world titles on two and four wheels, John Surtees, the Ferrari fans rounded on Vettel. It is the third time this season – Canada and Britain were the other two events – where Vettel has been jeered, suggesting his popularity is waning, the hallmark of a repetitive winner. Taking it all in his stride, the 26-year-old German said: “You can hear the difference when you don’t win in a red (race) suit.

Hamilton concedes his F1 title race is run MERCEDES driver Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is out of the fight for the world championship after finishing ninth in the Italian Grand Prix. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel took his sixth victory of the year and is 81 points clear of Hamilton in third, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso second. “Obviously that’s that for the championship,” Hamilton said. Asked to confirm he thought his chances were now over, he added: “I think it would be sensible to say yes.” Hamilton fought back up into the points after dropping almost to the back of the field following an early pit stop after he picked up a slow puncture. A radio problem meant that stop

“You get a lot of that, but it’s very nice because it means you’ve done a very good job and beaten the red guys, so we are very proud of that. “I said to the guys on the in-lap the more we get booed the better we have done. People obviously don’t like the same driver and team on the podium, but we enjoy winning as a team and there were a lot of Red Bull fans as well. “You can see most people are dressed in red and are here for Ferrari, but there are a few blue caps as well. “They are difficult to spot, but if you look closely then you see Red Bull caps poking out in all the red, so they should also be happy.”

took place at least three laps after it should have done and having to make it forced him onto a disadvantageous two-stop strategy. Hamilton started 12th after making a mistake during the second part of qualifying, damaging his car and failing to get into the top 10 shoot-out – an error that led him to say he had driven “like an idiot”. “It was a difficult weekend,” Hamilton said. “I’m ninth, and we should have been much further ahead. So [I’m] very disappointed with myself. “I blew it in qualifying and it was impossible to catch up. The radio failed in the race and I didn’t know what the hell was going on. I missed my pit stop by quite a few laps. It was a disaster of a weekend.”

Horner believes Vettel will only be fuelled by the booing as he said: “Anybody racing a Ferrari and beating a Ferrari at Monza, in Italy, is never going to be cheered. “It was inevitable there was not going to be a big reaction for Seb beating Fernando in front of the tifosi (Ferrari fans) that have come to cheer their car and team around. “So the reaction didn’t surprise us. If anything it fuels motivation, certainly of Sebastian, to go out there and continue to improve.” As for Vettel’s rivals, Fernando Alonso provided Ferrari fans with some cheer as he finished second, but has fallen 53 points adrift in the title race.

On the back of a disappointing display in qualifying for both Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton, their situation failed to improve in the race. Hamilton collected a slow puncture at the first corner as a result of Raikkonen running into the back of McLaren’s Sergio Perez. In a one-stop race, Raikkonen was forced to pit immediately for a new front wing, whilst Hamilton required fresh rubber after 13 laps once his problem became apparent. Both produced charges through the field, but in needing a second stop, Hamilton could only finish ninth and Raikkonen 11th to leave them 81 and 88 points, respectivley, behind Vettel. Vettel and Alonso were joined on the podium by Mark Webber, with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa fourth ahead of Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg. McLaren’s Jenson Button was 10th and Max Chilton 19th for Marussia, while Paul Di Resta crashed out at the first corner in his Force India after running into Lotus’ Romain Grosjean, earning a reprimand from the stewards.

How they stand Formula One world championship

1 Vettel ....................................... Red Bull 2 Alonso ........................................ Ferrari 3 Hamilton ................................ Mercedes 4 Raikkonen .................................... Lotus 5 Webber.................................... Red Bull 6 Rosberg................................. Mercedes 7 Massa......................................... Ferrari 8 Grosjean....................................... Lotus 9 Button ...................................... McLaren 10 Di Resta............................. Force India

222 169 141 134 130 104 79 57 48 36

THOMAS Bjorn denied Scotsman Craig Lee a first European Tour title when he capped a superb final day with victory on the first play-off hole in the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre. Following a delay because of fog which would later hold up the golfers on the closing few holes, Bjorn – whose last Tour victory came in the Switzerland tournament two years ago – began with a birdie on the par-five first. The Dane picked up three more ahead of a two on the par-three ninth, which saw him leapfrog overnight leader Lee to head into the turn at 19 under with a two-stroke advantage. However, Lee – who had held a two-shot cushion after carding a stunning 61 on Saturday – fought back with birdies at 12, 14 and the 15th. As the conditions again turned, with a further delay for the final group approaching the 18th, Lee was agonisingly close to sinking a birdie for the championship, which would be decided on a play-off as both men finished the regulation 72 holes locked at 20-under-par. Lee, the 36-year-old from Stirling, recovered after a poor tee shot at the first extra hole to make par. However, that presented an opportunity for Bjorn, which the experienced Dane rolled in from 12 feet at the first time of asking. Bjor n’s victory was reward for the 42-year-old’s consistency throughout the competition, with just two bogeys in his final card of 264. Bjorn, pictured, said: “It was nice. I had a really good run through the summer and did not really get close enough. I had to grit my teeth for a while and I really wanted to get out and try to win a golf tournament again. “I came in this week not playing particularly great, but promised myself I would stick to how I play this golf course. I did that and had two bogeys in 72 holes, which is good going around here.” Bjorn added: “It was nice to do that in a play-off. I have had a hard time dealing with pressure situations and there is no more pressure than that.” Frenchman Victor Dubuisson saw his challenge hit by two costly bogeys at the start of the back nine, and had to be content with third place just a shot adrift of forcing a three-man play-off. Spain’s Alejandro Canizares – who had opened the day with an eagle three – was fourth on 18-under. There was also a frustrating end to the day for England’s Ross Fisher, who after an eagle on the first, dropped shots on 11 and 16 to finish in a tie with Miguel Angel Jimenez, whose three birdies over the closing four holes brought the veteran Spaniard to 15 under. France’s Gregory Havret shot the best round of the day, with nine birdies as he finished with an eight-under 63 and tied seventh.

Monday, September 9, 2013

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One-day International cricket

International cricket

Clarke’s ton is enough to give Aussies victory

MICHAEL Clarke’s Australia earned a measure of redemption in Manchester as the captain’s hundred powered them to an 88-run victory over England in the NatWest Series. At the ground where Australia conceded the Ashes last month – despite Clarke’s 187 back then – they returned with a vengeance to take a 1-0 lead with three to play in this one-day international campaign. Clarke (105) struck the first ODI century by any Australian in England, after ten previous matches here against their hosts, and combined with George Bailey (82) in a fourth-wicket stand of 155 in a total of 315-7. Despite half-centuries from Kevin Pietersen (60), captain Eoin Morgan (54) and Jos Buttler (75), they never seriously threatened to do so. From 9-2, there already appeared to be no way back – and so it proved as England were eventually bowled out with the final 5.4 overs unused. Clarke had earlier reached his eighth century in this format from only 94 balls, having hit 14 fours, but taken few obvious risks as only Boyd Rankin among England’s bowlers was able to consistently exert much control. The 30-over platform was a very good one, at 159-3, especially after Australia lost Shaun Marsh without a run on the board. The left-hander, who hit a century in a record opening stand of 246 with Aaron Finch in Tuesday’s victory over Scotland, lasted only four balls this time. Marsh followed some full-length swing from Steven Finn, edging behind, and it was almost nought for two next ball. Instead, Shane Watson profited from the vagaries of the Decision Review System when Aleem Dar’s third-umpire deliberations overturned Richard Kettleborough’s initial lbw verdict on Hotspot evidence of bat on ball. Watson played a fretful part in the first of three successive 50-plus

stands until DRS got him in the end, Dar again unable to endorse Kettleborough – this time on the basis of audio only, to conclude the number three had edged a wide ball behind off Bopara for birthday boy Buttler’s second catch. First-change Ben Stokes made a nervy start. Australia also refused to let James Tredwell settle, and the hosts needed some respite by the time their off-spinner had Finch routinely held when he picked out Joe Root at long-on five short of his 50. Bailey was assured and fluent from the outset, though, as he and Clarke stayed ahead of the game – sufficiently to call an early powerplay, in which Australia cashed in 43 for none. In the last of those five overs, Stokes conceded 13 as Bailey followed his captain to a half-century with his third six to go with three fours from 47 balls. Bailey and then Clarke too, caught behind off the deserving Rankin, both went in the last 10 overs as England fought back to restrict the damage a little. Their reply got off to a miserable start, though, thanks principally to Mitchell Johnson. Bowling at 90mph or more, the erratic left-armer veered much closer to his irresistible best than occasionally unfathomable worst. Michael Caberry and especially Jonathan Trott could attest to that, gone for four and nought respectively. The opener contributed significantly to his own downfall by slapping a catch to point off the back foot but then the number three departed to an outstanding short ball which took the shoulder of the bat for caught-behind. Root could not come to terms with requirements and, having fortuitously survived Johnson’s new-ball spell, was bowled through the gate on the back foot by James Faulkner. Pietersen changed gear with a sudden rush of big shots and hit five fours and two sixes in his 50. But when Clarke recalled Johnson

Ireland do a quickfire double over Scotland IRELAND completed a World League double over Scotland at Stormont with a seven-wicket win yesterday. The hosts won by one wicket in Friday’s thriller, but this was much easier after Scotland were all out for just 165. Kevin O‘Brien and Max Sorensen both claimed three wickets while Calum MacLeod top scored with 39. The Scots were given hope with Ireland on 22-2, but Niall O‘Brien hit an unbeaten 65 from 70 balls to help Ireland to 166-3 in 33 overs. Scotland were 127-4 before the fall of Richie Berrington for 35 triggered

● Niall O’Brien hit an unbeaten 65 a collapse with the visitors losing their last six wickets for just 38 runs. Eddie Richardson and Stuart Thompson shared the other four Scots wickets in Belfast. Irish skipper William Porterfield was dismissed for five and Paul Stirling quickly followed, before Ed Joyce (39) and O‘Brien steadied the innings with a 69-run partnership. Gary Wilson (35 no) and O‘Brien brought Ireland to the victory target with 17 overs to spare.

● Australia’s captain Michael Clarke celebrates his century against England to try to break the fourth-wicket stand with Morgan, two testing overs cost only four runs – and as the ever-increasing required rate pushed eight-an-over, Pietersen responded by mistiming a tame catch to cover off Watson. When Morgan went in the first over of the batting powerplay, mistiming

the returning Clint McKay (3-47) to extra-cover, only the scorecard details were yet to be decided. Thanks to Buttler’s maiden ODI 50, completed with a six off Faulkner from just 49 balls, the meagre consolation was that England at least limped past their heaviest runs defeat against Australia.

One-day International

Captain Morgan puts his faith in England’s batting line-up Morgan said: “It was very disappointing. Not to get a win under our belt is disappointing but we can learn a lot from today. Moving on from here were are looking forward to Wednesday. “We have a very strong batting line-up and one we have confidence in regardless of whether we bat or bowl first . “We have a lot of bowling options and guys we can turn to. (Batting wise) there were not enough guys putting their hands up. “We felt the lengths we tried to hit

at the back end and middle period where Australia played really well and we just didn’t cope well with the wicket. “Unfortunately today we lost wickets at unfortunate times.” Man-of-the-match Clarke was pleased to claim a win following the 3-0 Test series defeat. “It’s a a nice feeling. The boys deserve credit as to make more than 300 on that wicket was a really good score and our bowlers executed well,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how you win it’s

about crossing the line. As a one day outfit that’s our goal. We are here to win the series and 1-0 is a good start. I always want more runs and hopefully this is the start of a few more during the series.” Clarke also played down the problems of balancing a side, adding: “It’s always hard with every team. You want to have your cake and eat it, strengthen your batting and have an extra bowler. The guys in our changing room have so much talent, if they feel confident they can take a bowler no ground is big enough.”

Scoreboard England v Australia Emirates Old Trafford. Australia beat England by 88 runs

Australia Innings

SE Marsh c Buttler b Finn .................................. 0 AJ Finch c Root b Tredwell .............................. 45 SR Watson c Buttler b Bopara ......................... 38 MJ Clarke c Buttler b Rankin.......................... 105 GJ Bailey c Tredwell b Bopara ......................... 82 AC Voges not out ............................................ 16 MS Wade b Rankin ............................................ 0 JP Faulkner c Morgan b Finn ........................... 18 MG Johnson not out .......................................... 6 Extras: b1 lb1 w2 nb1 pens 0 ............................. 5 Total: 7 wkts Innings Complete (50 overs) .... 315

Fall: 1-0 2-60 3-116 4-271 5-283 6-283 7-308. Bowling: Finn: 10-1-68-2. Rankin: 10-0-49-2. Stokes: 10-0-66-0. Bopara: 10-0-57-2. Tredwell: 8-0-60-1. Root: 2-0-13-0. England Innings

KP Pietersen c Faulkner b Watson .................. 60 MA Carberry c Clarke b Johnson ....................... 4 IJL Trott c Wade b Johnson ............................... 0 JE Root b Faulkner............................................. 3 EJG Morgan c Clarke b McKay ........................ 54 RS Bopara c & b Voges ..................................... 1 JC Buttler c Johnson b Ahmed......................... 75 BA Stokes c Bailey b McKay .............................. 5 JC Tredwell run out ........................................... 1 ST Finn c Voges b McKay................................ 16 WB Rankin not out ............................................ 1 Extras: lb1 w6 pens 0 ......................................... 7 Total: (44.2 overs) ......................................... 227

Fall: 1-8 2-9 3-38 4-97 5-103 6-154 7-167 8-169 9-216. Bowling: McKay: 9.2-1-47-3. Johnson: 10-2-36-2. Faulkner: 8-1-39-1. Voges: 6-0-32-1. Ahmed: 7-0-55-1. Watson: 4-1-17-1.

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ENGLAND one-day international captain Eoin Morgan has confidence in the balance of his side after Australia beat them by 88 runs in the second NatWest Series match in Manchester. Australia captain Michael Clarke struck 105 as Australia posted 315-7 – their highest score against England in this country. England lost early wickets in their pursuit of what would have been a record chase and never recovered to be bowled out for 227 from 44.2 overs.

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Rugby

Dings are punished for playing an expansive game against Southend

Rugby

Clifton edge a thriller in win at Canterbury Canterbury

Clifton

John White epsport@b-nm.co.uk

● Dings’ debutant scrum-half Ross Hickery scores a try during the defeat to Southend at Landseer Avenue on Saturday

Dings

Southend

John White epsport@b-nm.co.uk DINGS player-coach Sam Cox was upbeat about his side’s prospects this season, despite being on the wrong end of a 32-26 opening-day defeat against Southend at Landseer Avenue. Crusaders looked the more dangerous side in attack, but the former Bristol midfielder has warned his side that they need to tighten up their defence and cut out their unforced errors. He said: “When you look back at the game, you’d have to say that we gifted Southend the majority of their points – all of their tries came from our mistakes, and we gave away a few soft penalties in kicking range. “But we put some nice things to-

gether, and we can build on those positives. “This was our first competitive game of the season, and we’ve got a lot of new guys coming into the side. It’s going to take time for everything to click, but even though we lost, we know we can improve as a team, and the results will come.” Dings handed league débuts to scrum-half Ross Hickery, flankers Sam Steer and Conor Phillips, wing Jack Hughes, lock Jake Holcombe and replacement hooker Craig Britton. Crusaders showed greater enterprise and a willingness to attack with ball in hand during this fast and frenetic campaign opener, but their blind ambition proved to be their downfall. The Lockleaze-based side showed glimpses of better things to come when they managed to hang onto the ball and go through the phases. Former Barton Hill skipper Steer put in an eye-catching performance at blind-side flanker, while prop Mike Flook was impressive at the set-piece.

Another new boy, former Bristol Harlequin Hickery, marked his first run out for Crusaders with a try. But as a collective, Dings often went too wide, too soon, and allowed Southend to stay in touch with a series of handling

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This was our first competitive game of the season, and we’ve got a lot of new guys coming into the side

Dings player-coach Sam Cox

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errors, loose kicks and slack defending. In contrast, Southend appeared to be happy without the ball – they just sat back, soaked up the pressure, tackle aggressively and opted for the kick-chase as their weapon of choice. Southend led 10-0 after six-minutes,

Picture: johnwhitemedia.co.uk thanks to a Chris Vaughan try, plus a penalty and conversion from centre Alex Harrison. Dings hit back with a 20-point blast, wing James Oakley and Hickery touching down for tries, and full-back Mark Woodrow slotting two conversions and two penalties. But the visitors continued to take advantage of Crusaders’ charity, and the sides went into the interval on level terms after visiting centre Sam Nash crashed over and Harrison added a conversion and a penalty. Woodrow nudged Dings ahead shortly after the interval, but the Essex side came back strongly to open up a 32-23 advantage as the Dings challenge began to fizzle out. Wing Tom Gannon raced in at the corner for an unconverted try, before Harrison’s converted effort brought up the try bonus-point. Crusaders emptied their bench in an attempt to add fresh impetus to their challenge, but could only manage a further three points from Woodrow’s boot, which secured them a losing bonus-point.

A 78th-minute try from No 8 Mitch Eadie, converted by scrum-half Callum Braley, secured a dramatic 32-30 victory for Clifton at Canterbury. Darren Lloyd’s side, playing down the slope and with the breeze at their backs, led 20-8 at the turnaround, but found themselves 30-25 adrift with two-minutes of the contest remaining. But the Henbury-based side didn’t panic, and mounted a multi-phase attack that resulted in them taking all five points. Lloyd said: “Obviously we’re delighted to have won our opening game of the season. “But what impressed me the most was the way this group gelled today, and found a way out of a sticky situation. “This is a young group of players who want to run everything and attack at every opportunity – you can only do that if you look after the ball, and we did that well in some parts of the game. “Some of our attacking play was electric – we kept the ball for 35-phases for Mitch Eadie’s try at the end. “The other lessons the players have learned today, is that you have to play for the full 80 minutes if you want to get anything out of the game.” Clifton raced into the lead with a fourth-minute try from full-back Will Pomphrey, before the home side responded with a penalty from Clyde Best. The visitors continued to call the tune and extended their lead with quick fire tries from flanker James Stephenson and Braley, pictured, – the scrum-half also adding a penalty and conversion to make it 20-8 at half-time. But Canterbury, now with the elements in their favour, fought back to tie it up at 20-20. Pomphrey collected his second try, before the home side surged clear with two further unconverted tries, to lead by five-points with two-minutes left on the clock. But Clifton’s last-gasp effort secured the bonus-point victory.

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Rugby results FRIDAY Aviva Premiership: Newcastle 0 Bath 21. RaboDirect Pro12: Glasgow 22 Cardiff Blues 15, Newport-Gwent Dragons 15 Ulster , Scarlets 19 Leinster 42. SATURDAY The Rugby Championship: Australia 12 South Africa 38, New Zealand 28 Argentina 13. Aviva Premiership: Gloucester 16 Sale 22, London Irish 20 Saracens 42, Northampton 38 Exeter 11, Wasps 15 Harlequins 16.

RaboDirect Pro12: Benetton Treviso 19 Ospreys 24, Connacht 25 Zebre 16, Munster 34 Edinburgh 23. SSE National One: Blaydon 9 Loughborough Stud 34, Cinderford 6 Rosslyn Park 11, Doncaster 47 Blackheath 17, Henley 51 Tynedale 17, Hull Ionians 12 Coventry 4, Old Albanians 41 Fylde 45, Richmond 22 Esher 28, Wharfedale 38 Worthing 34. National Two South: Bournemouth 42 Taunton 21, Canterbury 30 Clifton 32, Dings Crus 26 Southend 32, Exmouth 3 Chinnor 9, Hartpury Coll 37 Bishops

Stortford 13, London Irish WG 10 Ampthill 37, Redruth 27 Cambridge 35, Shelford 21 Cornish AB 9. National Three South West: Amersham & Chiltern 38 Worcester 5, Avonmouth OB 8 Weston-s-Mare 33, Barnstaple 12 Redingensians 3, Bracknell 27 Old Reds 10, Brixham 35 Newton Abbot 24, Chippenham 22 Old Centralians 17, Lydney 42 Old Patesians 17. South West One West: Bridgwater & Alb 37 Bideford 5, Camborne 29 Wadebridge 23, Cleve 2

Hornets 15, Clevedon 40 Sidmouth 6, Coney Hill 15 Chard 29, Cullompton 20 Thornbury 3, North Petherton 21 St Austell 22. Western Counties North: Avon 23 Matson 34, Barton Hill 45 North Bristol 15, Berry Hill 23 Chosen Hill Former Pupils 30, Bsl Harlequins 35 Old Bristolians 32, Chew Valley 27 Drybrook 10, Midsomer Norton 14 Cirencester 9, Oldfield OB 19 Keynsham 17. Somerset Premier: Bristol Barbarians 7 Yatton 32, Gordano 38 Wiveliscombe 3, Keynsham 0

Winscombe 46, Nailsea & Backwell 11 Tor 9, Old Reds 10 Minehead Barb 0, St Bernadette’s Old Boys 18 Stothert & Pitt 20, Weston-s-Mare 8 Taunton 27. Somerset One: Castle Cary 17 Clevedon 13, Chard 3 Wellington 46, Imperial 24 Bridgwater & Albion 10, North Petherton 48 Midsomer Norton 26, Old Reds 12 Crewkerne 27, Yatton 5 Wells 20. YESTERDAY Aviva Premiership: Leicester 32 Worcester 15.

Monday, September 9, 2013

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Aviva Premiership

Tigers put in a lacklustre effort to beat Warriors Leicester

Worcester

BACKS coach Paul Burke insisted Leicester would get it right for next week’s trip to Bath after a disappointing start to the defence of their Aviva Premiership title. Leicester beat Worcester Warriors in their opening match of the season at Welford Road, but they produced a lacklustre performance and only clinched a bonus point in the last minute thanks to a fabulous solo try from Fijian winger Vereniki Goneva. Burke, standing in for director of rugby Richard Cockerill who is serving a nine-week match-day ban for swearing at the officials in last season’s final against Northampton, said: “When you play at home to Worcester – and no disrespect to them – everyone expects you to get a bonus point. “Is it a point lost if you don’t get a bonus point? Worcester made it difficult for us, they are a good side, they are coached well and they will cause teams a lot of problems this season. “I am very happy with the bonus point, but I am disappointed with our performance at times in the second half. “But it’s our first hit out and we will look at it and put it right for the trip to Bath.” Burke admitted Leicester might have got a bit complacent when leading 25-3 after 47 minutes. “Possibly,” he said. “It’s a mindset thing. “As champions you are expected to win, you have got everything to lose. We knew Worcester would be physical and get stuck into us.

“Our urgency was poor at times and we allowed them to stifle us. We wanted to play with tempo, but with a 17-6 penalty count against Worcester it was difficult to get any momentum.” Leicester led 18-3 at half time thanks to tries from winger Adam Thompstone and new French scrum half David Mele and a conversion and two penalties from fly-half Ryan Lamb. A try by number eight Jordan Crane, converted by Lamb, shortly after the break put Leicester in a strong position, but Worcester hit back with tries from replacement Chris Jones and centre Josh Matevesi before Goneva sealed the bonus point win for Leicester right on full-time. Worcester’s new boss Dean Ryan, back in the Premiership after an absence of four years, was unhappy with the yellow card given to lock Mike Williams for a body check on Lamb but was pleased with Worcester’s fightback. He said: “At half-time I said let’s be more direct and get field position and we will get something out of it, and we did. “Halfway through the game we could have crawled under a rock and got a good beating. “But we didn’t. We came back and their ten-point lead looked pretty fragile for a while. “I am looking for character and behaviours that will underpin the club for a two year period and that second half was a great start. I am really proud of the guys. “We are not a Leicester squad, we don’t roll internationals off the bench. “But I think we are a courageous squad and we will work really hard, which was illustrated today.”

Mako and Billy put on a display of raw power London Irish

Saracens

SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall hailed the destructive powers of Mako and Billy Vunipola after London Irish were crushed at Twickenham. The 2011 Aviva Premiership champions launched their title challenge with a bonus-point victory that saw Mako and Chris Ashton cross after hooker Jamie George had scored two first-half tries. While George confirmed his status as a hooker of rich promise, it was the tackle-busting Vunipola brothers that led the assault. “You can see their quality on the ball and in that second half things opened up a little bit,” McCall said. “You give Billy and Mako time on the ball and things happen around them. “Mako is a decision-maker on the ball – when to offload and when not to, he never makes errors.” The England forwards were playing their first game together for Saracens after Billy, making his debut for the club, left Wasps during the summer to join elder brother Mako at Allianz Park. Since returning from the summer tour to Argentina where he won both of his caps, Billy has been on a strict conditioning program that has seen him shed body fat and pack on lean muscle. “Billy was great out there, part of a good back row. He can do very well for us and will play number eight regularly, but he can play a few positions,” McCall said. “The one thing Billy has done since he’s come to the club is learn to work hard. He’s lost some weight over a short period of time, the type of weight you want to lose. He’s in the best shape he’s ever been in and that’s transferred on to the pitch. Hopefully his work ethic will continue. “To go to the next level he must work hard.”

● Leicester’s Ryan Lamb lands one of two penalties against Worcester

Aviva Premiership

Goode’s last-ditch miss hands points to Quins

Gloucester put on a poor show

Wasps

Harlequins

Wasps’ director of rugby Dai Young said: “Andy will win us more games than he loses. It is the curse of the kicker. You are either hero or zero. We could have given him a better angle but the result is no reflection on Andy. It could have gone either way. We had white line fever on a couple of occasions but held our own in every department.” O’Shea’s side already thought they had wrapped up the victory when replacement scrum-half Karl Dickson sold the Wasps defence a dummy and darted over for a try converted by Nick Evans. It put them in front for the first time having been slow out of the blocks.

Gloucester

Sale

SALE Sharks capitalised on a lacklustre Gloucester to begin their Aviva Premiership season with a bang. Two tries for Sale from wing Mark Cueto and centre Andy Forsyth plus penalties from fly-half Nick MacLeod and full-back Tom Arscott helped seal the Sharks’ victory. Replacement Joe Ford added a drop goal towards the end and the gap, opened up during the first period, proved too much for Gloucester to close, despite three penalties from Freddie Burns and a second-half try from centre Henry Trinder.

Gloucester went into the match as favourites but a hapless first period took the Cherry and Whites into the break 14-3 ahead. Sale looked the more inventive, causing problems down the wings and their kicking game, via scrum-half Dwayne Peel and MacLeod, had the home side on the back foot. It was a sharp contrast to the last time the clubs met at Kingsholm in the Premiership last November, when a struggling Sharks outfit went down 29-3. Within 13 minutes, Sale had put the bite on Gloucester as MacLeod landed a short-range penalty before the first of their tries, a movement which saw former England wing Cueto glide past the home defence on the right to score easily in the cor ner.

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CHRIS Robshaw was a relieved man after seeing his Harlequins side strike it lucky at Twickenham and walk away with the points. The Quins captain feared the worse when Andy Goode stepped up to take the final kick of the match – a penalty to win it for Wasps. But the veteran fly-half ’s effort crashed against a post and came out leaving Conor O’Shea’s men to celebrate a hard fought opening Aviva Premiership victory. And England skipper Robshaw, pictured, admitted: “I thought Goodey would get it. He is a cool lad and a very good penalty taker. So we were

worried he might do it for them. Thankfully, he missed. It was a cliffhanger again but we won. That’s the important thing. It’s never going to be pretty. “Wasps are a good side and a dangerous one, but we managed to get over the line.” Goode’s final kick of a match which failed to live up to the hype and expectations but threw up plenty of drama bounced agonisingly back off an upright to Wasps dismay. Quins breathed a huge sigh of relief having seen Wasps’ England lock Tom Palmer force his way over from close range for a try which moved his side to within a point of their opponents.

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Bristol Rovers 2013-14 The season so far . . .

Bristol City 2013-14 The season so far . . .

Bristol Rugby 2013-14 The season so far . . .

LEAGUE ONE AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

15 Cornish Pirates............................................................................. (Sandy Park) 22 London Scottish............................................................................................ (H) 28 Jersey........................................................................................................... (A)

OCTOBER

6 Bedford........................................................................................................... (H) 12 B&I Cup .................................................................................................... Rnd 1 19 B&I Cup ....................................................................................................Rnd 2 27 Nottingham ................................................................................................... (H)

LEAGUE TWO AUGUST

3 Bradford (H)................................................................................................................ 2-2 6 Gillingham (Capital One, First Round) (A) ................................................................. 2-0 11 Coventry (A) ............................................................................................................ 4-5 17 Wolverhampton (H) ................................................................................................. 1-2 24 MK Dons (A) ............................................................................................................ 2-2 27 Crystal Palace (Capital One, Second Round) (H)................................................... 2-1 31 Gillingham (A) .......................................................................................................... 1-1

3 Exeter (A) .................................................................................................. 1-2 6 Watford (Capital One Cup, First Round) (H) ............................................. 1-3 10 Scunthorpe (H) ........................................................................................ 0-0 17 Newport County(A) .................................................................................. 0-1 24 York (H) ................................................................................................... 3-2 31 Northampton (H) ...................................................................................... 1-0

SEPTEMBER

4 Bristol City (JPT, First Round) (A) ............................................................. 1-2 7 Plymouth (A) .............................................................................................. 0-1 14 Dag & Red ................................................................................................(A) 21 Hartlepool ................................................................................................ (H) 28 Southend ..................................................................................................(A)

SEPTEMBER

4 Bristol Rovers (JPT, First Round) (H)........................................................................ 2-1 14 Peterborough............................................................................................................ (H) 17 Shrewsbury ..............................................................................................................(H) 21 Swindon.................................................................................................................... (A) 24 Southampton (Capital One, Third Round) (A) 28 Colchester ................................................................................................................(H)

OCTOBER

2 Plymouth ........................................................................................................ (A) 9 London Welsh ................................................................................................ (A) 17 Rotherhamv (H) 23 Cornish Pirates ............................................................................................. (A)

NOVEMBER

5 Port Vale ..................................................................................................................... (A) 12 Crawley Town........................................................................................................... (H) 19 Crewe ....................................................................................................................... (A) 22 Brentford................................................................................................................... (H) 26 Carlisle ..................................................................................................................... (A)

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

5 Fleetwood .................................................................................................. (H) 12 Mansfield ..................................................................................................(A) 19 Wycombe ................................................................................................ (H) 22 Accrington Stanley ...................................................................................(A) 26 Chesterfield ............................................................................................. (H)

NOVEMBER

1 Leedsv (H) 8 B&I Cup ......................................................................................................Rnd 3 15 B&I Cup .....................................................................................................Rnd 4 21 Ealing (A)

2 Oldham .......................................................................................................................(H) 16 Tranmere .................................................................................................................. (A) 23 Sheffield United ........................................................................................................(H) 26 Leyton Orient ............................................................................................................(H) 30 Preston ..................................................................................................................... (A)

DECEMBER

JANUARY 2014

5 Moseley .......................................................................................................... (H) 12 B&I Cup ....................................................................................................Rnd 5 19 B&I Cup ....................................................................................................Rnd 6 26 Plymouth ...................................................................................................... (H)

DECEMBER

14 Rotherham ................................................................................................................(H) 21 Notts County ............................................................................................................. (A) 26 Walsall ......................................................................................................................(H) 29 Stevenage ................................................................................................................(H)

14 Morecambe ..............................................................................................(A) 21 Portsmouth .............................................................................................. (H) 26 Torquay ....................................................................................................(A) 29 Rochdale ..................................................................................................(A)

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

2 Jersey ............................................................................................................. (H) 8 Bedford ........................................................................................................... (A) 15 Nottingham ................................................................................................... (A)

MARCH

1 Rotherham...................................................................................................... (A) 9 Cornish Pirates ............................................................................................... (H) 22 Leeds ............................................................................................................ (A) 30 Ealing ........................................................................................................... (H)

APRIL

5 Moseley .......................................................................................................... (A) 12 B&I Cup .......................................................................................... quarter-final 18 London Welsh .............................................................................................. (H) 26 London Scottish............................................................................................ (A)

MAY

3 B&I Cup ................................................................................................ semi-final 10 Championship semi-final ......................................................................... 1st leg 17 Championship semi-final ....................................................................... 2nd leg 23 B&I Cup ....................................................................................................... final 29 Championship final.................................................................................. 1st leg

JUNE

2 Oxford Utd ..................................................................................................(A) 16 Bury ......................................................................................................... (H) 23 Burton Albion ............................................................................................(A) 26 Cheltenham ..............................................................................................(A) 30 AFC Wimbledon ...................................................................................... (H)

4 Championship final.................................................................................. 2nd leg

JANUARY

1 Cheltenham ............................................................................................... (H) 4 Scunthorpe .................................................................................................(A) 11 Exeter ....................................................................................................... (H) 18 York .......................................................................................................... (A) 25 Newport County ....................................................................................... (H) 28 Accrington Stanley .................................................................................. (H)

FEBRUARY

1 Chesterfield ................................................................................................(A) 8 Oxford Utd ................................................................................................. (H) 15 Bury ..........................................................................................................(A) 22 Burton Albion........................................................................................... (H)

MARCH

1 Northampton............................................................................................... (A) 8 Plymouth ................................................................................................... (H) 11 Dag & Red............................................................................................... (H) 15 Hartlepool ................................................................................................. (A) 22 Southend ................................................................................................. (H) 25 Fleetwood .................................................................................................(A) 29 Morecambe ............................................................................................. (H)

APRIL

5 AFC Wimbledon ......................................................................................... (A) 12 Torquay ................................................................................................... (H) 19 Portsmouth ............................................................................................... (A) 21 Rochdale ................................................................................................. (H) 26 Wycombe .................................................................................................(A)

MAY

3 Mansfield ................................................................................................... (H)

1 Leyton Orient .............................................................................................................. (A) 4 Coventry .....................................................................................................................(H) 11 Bradford .................................................................................................................... (A) 18 MK Dons................................................................................................................... (H) 25 Wolverhampton ........................................................................................................ (A) 28 Brentford ................................................................................................................... (A)

FEBRUARY

1 Carlisle .......................................................................................................................(H) 8 Oldham ....................................................................................................................... (A) 15 Tranmere.................................................................................................................. (H) 22 Sheffield United ........................................................................................................ (A)

MARCH

1 Gillingham .................................................................................................................. (H) 8 Shrewsbury ................................................................................................................ (A) 11 Peterborough............................................................................................................ (A) 15 Swindon.................................................................................................................... (H) 22 Colchester ................................................................................................................ (A) 25 Port Vale................................................................................................................... (H) 29 Rotherham ................................................................................................................ (A)

APRIL

5 Preston .......................................................................................................................(H) 12 Walsall ...................................................................................................................... (A) 19 Notts County............................................................................................................. (H) 21 Stevenage ................................................................................................................ (A) 26 Crewe .......................................................................................................................(H)

MAY

3 Crawley Town............................................................................................................. (A)

Columnist

Working as a waiter and chef at The Dragonara was one of my Best experiences

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HERE was an article in the ‘Past Times’ section of this newspaper recently relating to the Kiln restaurant, which was very popular back in the mid-Seventies and early-Eighties. The restaurant, which sat on the former glass production site in Redcliffe, was part of a hotel then named The Dragonara. It was frequented at the time by sports stars and celebrities, and was a really popular place for wining and dining. It made interesting reading for me, because this is where I started my working career as a waiter before later becoming a chef. I was employed there during the

Dave Payne Writes for the Green ’Un time when Bristol City were in the top division of English football. As arguably Bristol’s premier hotel, we often had City’s opponents staying the night before their fixture at Ashton Gate, which then ended with a pre-match meal. I can recall seeing the great Leeds United and Liverpool players of that era eating a meal that little old me had prepared – granted, it

was only egg or beans on toast. At about this time, there was a testimonial game I remember watching at Ashton Gate, which featured one of the biggest stars that football has ever seen, the one and only George Best. He was an idol to millions of football fans, and I was no exception. He had everything that a player could wish for in bucket-loads. At that time, he was not at a league club, but touring and playing in charity events. It was the only occasion I saw Best play live, and I was mesmerised by his ability on the pitch. During the match he threw a dummy that was so good that as a defender approached, I went the wrong way as well and had to pay to get back in!

As you can imagine, I was delighted to find out he was attending a function at the hotel I was working at, so was able to get his autograph, which I still have till this day, tucked away somewhere. One other person, who stayed during my time working at the hotel, was, if you can believe it, an even bigger superstar than Best, and arguably the biggest in the world, boxing legend Muhammad Ali. I was awestruck when he walked in through the reception area. You may not believe me, but I swear I got involved in a conversation with the greatest boxer of all-time. He was having a debate with a couple of his security guys, about United States marines, of all things. I was standing

a yard or so away when Ali caught my eye and said: “Young man, do you know the difference between a marine and a soldier?” I nervously replied: “Certainly sir, you cannot dip a marine in your boiled egg!” Going back to football, this was the time when, as a 16-year-old, I first played in men’s soccer, where I represented our hotel team. There was a Sunday league that was set up for the staff of Bristol hotels and restaurants. It was like playing international football, because employees who work in this trade come from all over the globe. We had Italian waiters, French chefs and Russian doormen in our line-up. The standard of football wasn’t the best, but the buffet afterwards was always a bit special...