Tonights Games

[Dan]

FGR pulled it back to 3-2 in injury time at tranny.

[Martin Shaw]

FT Southend 1-2 Cambridge. Southend beaten at home after 4 consecutive home wins. They should have been out of sight at ht with a barrage of long throws and set pieces, but with the wind against them in the second half, they couldn't repeat it in the 2nd half and Cambridge came back to win. Akinola impressive for Southend, Mullin impressive for Cambridge.

[Birminghamstag10]

Tranmere are beating FGR 2-0 taking them above us.

We'll stay 13th on GD.

[Dan]

Tranmere are beating FGR 2-0 taking them above us.

We'll stay 13th on GD.

We’re 14th. Tranmere are 3 points clear of us now.

[Birminghamstag10]

Tranmere are beating FGR 2-0 taking them above us.

We'll stay 13th on GD.

We’re 14th. Tranmere are 3 points clear of us now.

Apologies the table on the app I use didnt update like it normally does.

Shows how terrible this league is this year, everyone beating everyone.

[chip63]

Shows how important our last few games have been, results and me are certainly looking up now.

[Martin Shaw]

Southend playing for set pieces in the Cambridge half and Greg Halford is hurling long throw missiles into the Cambridge box. A big threat. 0-0 after 25 minutes but Southend could be 2 up.

I bet Southend, Cheltenham will be like watching Barce, Real. Don't bother cutting the grass.

Southend have clearly seen Cheltenham's success with the long throw-ins and brought in Halford, who was without a club in December, specifically to try to emulate it.

[Tippy Tappy Football]

Southend have clearly seen Cheltenham's success with the long throw-ins and brought in Halford, who was without a club in December, specifically to try to emulate it.

It was the battle of the long throws at Cheltenham tonight. The final score was Ben Tozer 3 Mickey Demetriou 3

[Martin Shaw]

Southend have clearly seen Cheltenham's success with the long throw-ins and brought in Halford, who was without a club in December, specifically to try to emulate it.

It was the battle of the long throws at Cheltenham tonight. The final score was Ben Tozer 3 Mickey Demetriou 3

Both beaten by Halford then.

[Tippy Tappy Football]

19/01/21: Cheltenham Town 1 Newport County 1 (HT: 1-1)
Long Throws: Ben Tozer 3 Mickey Demetriou 3
Possession: 58:42% xG:1.3 v 0.3

This game kicked off in blustery conditions with Newport having the benefit of the wind which Newport keeper, Tom King, took advantage of in the 12th minute by scoring from a goal kick from 105 yards (a world record) . The ball bounced on the edge of the D and then over Cheltenham keeper, Josh Griffiths' head who was stood on the edge of his six yard box (see video). King nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and walked back to his goal line.

King's freak goal was against the run of play as Cheltenham were the better side in the first half playing against the wind. They had around six or seven good chances to score and Matty Blair eventually equalised in the last minute of first half injury time by running on to Alfie May's pass on the right hand side of the area and shooting past Griffiths.

This was ironic as the BBC Gloucestershire commentators were complaining before the game that Cheltenham's midfield players and wing backs did not score any goals. The second half was a much tighter affair. Newport changed shape as they had let Cheltenham create too many chances in the first half. Michael Flynn made an attacking substitution in the 67th minute by bringing on three attackers but the defences held tight.

Cheltenham MOM: Finn Azaz (1st Half)/Ellis Chapman and Will Boyle
Newport MOM: Tom King and Matty Dolan

[Tippy Tappy Football]

19/01/21: Harrogate Town 0 Exeter City 0
Possession: 36:64% xG:1.0 v 0.9

A game of few chances. Exeter City dominated possession but Harrogate's Aaron Martin probably went closest to scoring in the 2nd half when his left foot shot was saved by Maxted diving to his right. Jack Muldoon crossed the ball back into the area and Martin headed wide. Archie Collins and Matt Jay played a couple of great through balls for Exeter but Ryan Bowman and Josh Key could not control them in the area. Warren Burrell was unlucky to be sent off in the 73rd minute for Harrogate for two quick yellow cards especially as the ref had not booked anybody all game.
Matt Taylor thought that Exeter should have won the match easily but the Grecians' fans disagreed on Exeweb in a 46 page match thread. Lots of negative comments from the Exeter fans.

I still fancy Exeter for the top seven. They have some good young players in Archie Collins (21), Josh Key (21), Joel Randall (21) and Matt Jay. Ryan Bowman (29) is a good target man and still a handful up front. Tom Parkes has been solid at centre half with Pierce Sweeney. They may run out of steam though as it is the breakthrough season for Kay and Randall; and injuries may cost them. Losing Randell Williams to injury is a big blow. Jake Taylor is also out injured.

Harrogate MOM: Aaron Martin and Connor Hall
Exeter City MOM: Jon Maxted and Pierce Sweeney/Tom Parkes

[MTFCMusings]

Just an FYI for anyone with Sky Sports, the NTT20 boys are scheduled to do a small feature on George Lapslie and Mansfield after the Stoke game tonight.

[The One]

Harrogate Salford 2 2

[Tippy Tappy Football]

22/01/20: Salford City 2 Harrogate Town 2
Possession: 60:40

Robbie Gotts on loan from Leeds United and who is from Harrogate gave Salford the lead in the 21st minute. He received the ball from Oscar Threlkeld on the edge of the area and turned and shot past James Belshaw. Jack Muldoon equalised for Harrogate when he intercepted a dreadful short back pass from Di'Shon Bernard which gifted him a goal. Harrogate nearly took the lead just before half time when centre half, Connor Hall, fired a shot in at Vaclav Hladky frpm the edge of the area which he could not hold. It bounced out to Aaron Martin who somehow managed to head it over the bar.

Brendan Kiernan crashed a shot against the bar for Harrogate at the start of the 2nd half and James Belshaw then saved well from Ash Hunter at his near post as he ran free on goal down the left. Richie Wellens made four substitutions on 57th minutes bringing on Richie Towell, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Paul Coutts and Tom Clarke. This paid off as James Belshaw in goal for Harrogate could not hold Richie Towell's shot from the edge of the area and it hit Brandon Thomas-Asante's knee or thigh and went in. It was Thomas-Asante's first goal for over a year. Harrogate pressed for an equaliser and in injury time they had two great chances to equalise. Josh March played in Josh McPake on the edge of the area and he cut inside Tom Clarke but curled his shot just past the far post. Josh Falkingham then played a great diagonal ball to Simon Power (on loan from Norwich) running into the right hand side of the area and he banged it across goal but Josh March's first time shot was saved by Vaclav Hladky on the line and went out for a corner. However George Thomson's resulting corner fell amongst a group of players challenging for a header including Harrogate keeper, James Belshaw. The ball fell on the floor and the prone Belshaw stuck out a leg and stabbed it towards goal where Harrogate left back, Ed Francis tapped it in from a yard out for his first league goal. Hladky ran to the linesman to complain but it was a well deserved equaliser. Belshaw may have possibly handled the ball as he fell down to the floor but it made up for him not hanging on to Towell's shot. Richie Wellens claimed Francis was offside as he was nearer to the goal than Hladky with a Salford defender on the line. However Francis looks onside in the match photos.

Salford MOM: Robbie Gotts and Oscar Threlkeld
Harrogate MOM: Connor Hall and Aaron Martin

[Spiritater]

Stevenage losing

[ST4GS]

Stevenage losing

Exeter winning #looking upwards

[Sweden Stag]

Stevenage and Grimsby losing. I can see Grimsby being one very strong candidate for one of the two relegation places. Haven't won in seven and their next two games (Barrow away and Stevenage at home) will be very crucial and a pointer for the remainder of Grimsby's season.

[bellwhiff]

Stevenage and Grimsby losing. I can see Grimsby being one very strong candidate for one of the two relegation places. Haven't won in seven and their next two games (Barrow away and Stevenage at home) will be very crucial and a pointer for the remainder of Grimsby's season.

Their goal difference is appalling too which is worth another point. I think they’re raspberried

[Dan]

I’ve been at Scunny today and Grimsby were absolutely woeful at best. They’re in massive trouble.

[MTFCMusings]

Dapo Afolayan scored for West Ham in the cup today.

[MTFCMusings]

Also Danny Rose scored at Sincil Bank, apparently an absolute screamer.

Edit - here it is :

[cassellswasmagic]

Brilliant from Danny.

[cassellswasmagic]

Cheltenham fantastic so far.

[ST4GS]

Cheltenham fantastic so far.

They are and they have not yet dropped too deep in defending. Bold but might be the way to hold on.

[bellwhiff]

Cheltenham fantastic so far.

They played well and although City were deserved winners, they kept them honest and pushed them all the way.