March 2009 - Posts
Grrr, we should have won that game!
Boro played Oxford on Saturday and drew 1-1. I thought it was going to be one of those games where it was a bit gritty because it meant so much to both teams.
I thought we came out well, and considering the conditions (sun, wind, rain & hail), I think the game flowed pretty well.
Mitchell looked like a really good outlet, and I was quite impressed with our new loanee, Junior Mendes. It was one of Mitchell’s daring runs that changed the game in Boro’s favour, as Damien Batt pulled him down just outside the area. Batt was sent off for his troubles, as he was last man.
We didn’t manage to convert the free kick, but all the same it put us in good stead for the rest of the game.
It was Bridges that managed to break the deadlock. He found space in the centre of the goal, after Morison crossed the ball in. It had to go in, and luckily it did.
We were 1-0 up and 1 man up. Happy Days.
There were good chances for Oxford, but I felt we could hold out, and if anything get a second.
Bridges was then in on goal again. He managed to get the ball in the back of the net but as he did so, he flew over the keeper. The goal was ruled for offside, I am not sure if it actually was, but more disappointingly so, Bridges was injured as a result. He didn’t move. The stretcher had to come on and even Westley came onto the pitch. The injury looked pretty serious, and the comet reporters are trying to find out the outcome of the injury today.
It was such a shame for 3 reasons. Firstly because he was injured, secondly because the goal didn’t stand, and thirdly, because it changed the game, for the worse.
We couldn’t click after he had gone off. We seemed a bit subdued. Oxford began to creep back into the game, and they somehow won a penalty. I still don’t understand how it was a penalty. I may be bias and far away but I just couldn’t see it. Anyway they scored. My heart sank. I was worried that they would go on and score the second. But thankfully they didn’t.
I was really disappointed after the game had finished. I felt we had enough chances to warrant the win. If we had we would have been back in the play-off position because Kiddi drew. We should have taken that chance. We need to win our home games, it is crucial.
I just hope Moro gets his goal boots back on. He doesn’t seem to have many chances in games anymore. Whether it is because people are marking him better or he has lost his confidence I don’t know, but we need him scoring again if we are going to get into the play-offs.
Tomorrow we have York away. What a game that is going to be. A must win in my eyes. We should beat teams like York, even if it is a tough ground to go to.
Just one other note: I have to give credit to the Oxford fans. They brought masses. I couldn’t see one free seat in the away end, and they even had to take up some of our home seats. They were loud, and I am sure they gave their players a great boost. It just shows you, that if you can get into the league, your support can grow by so much. It must give the team such a great feeling walking out to 2000 away support. One day, I would love it for Boro to have that. I do want to go to more away games, but it is awkward enough me trying to see spurs games when Boro are away so they don’t clash. I think I will try and go to at least one more Boro away game this season. Maybe my little shouts could make all the difference?
For the first time in ages I have felt a bit worried about the play-offs. I would have taken a draw before the game at Histon, and I am happy with that. But I am very worried about Kidderminster and Oxford. They seem to be on a roll and it makes me feel a bit uneasy.
It has been a long time coming, but we have slipped out of the play-offs. L Obviously there are still games to be played, and we have Oxford at the weekend and two matches against Kiddi to come. My God, how much pressure is going to be on the team for those games?!?
All we have to do is stay unbeaten and I think we can make it. It is going to be a tall order but I think we can do it. 3 points on Saturday is crucial. We have to win every home game from now on if we are to stand a chance.
I can still see Histon slipping, yes there were quite resilient in defence on Tuesday, but they are getting tired and I think it could be between us, them, and maybe Kidderminster at the end of the season fighting for the last 2 places.
We really really really need to win on Saturday. Constable is definitely going to be the man to watch. He seems to pop up and score all over the place at the moment.
Hopefully Moro will be back to his scoring form on Saturday. Westley mentioned this week that it will be only a matter of time for Moro to get his scoring boots back on again. And hopefully he is right, that once he does score, he will score 3. If he could do that for us on Saturday I think everyone would be absolutely overjoyed.
I am really nervous, but I will be there, and I hope all of you will too. They need us now, and I am dying for 2 trips to Wembley.
If we can maintain our form, I have a firm belief, this could be THE SEASON.
Come on Boro!
Boro fans seem to spread further than we first thought. I received an email today from a fan that lives in Hague, in Holland.
He managed to get to the Ebbsfleet game, which for him, was more like a home game, as it is much closer to Holland.
I never knew that our fanbase went this far, and to come all the way from Holland to go to the Ebbsfleet game shows such a commitment to the club, I think it deserves a round of applause!
Even more so to name your son Steven after Stevenage.
Football seems to have a strong hold in all of us, whether it be like our little superstitions, like touching wood every time a cross comes in, or even if you play, touching the turf before you start. Or now even naming your son after the club.
It just shows that we are sort of one big family. We all unite when times are good and bad and we all basically live and die for it.
I hope that now with Boro being at Wembley again, that the rest of the town, like two years ago, join us in what is a cracking day, and we manage to take even more than we did before.
Come on the Boro!
I made it to the game, and I am so glad I did!
We got there at quarter to 3, so it was pretty tight, but as the kick off was delayed because of the long queues outside of the game, we had enough time to pick our spot and get into “the zone”.
Admittedly the game was pretty rubbish. Not a lot happened, and if I am honest I thought Ebbsfleet were going to be the ones who scored. They had numerous crosses in the box, and on countless occasions Roberts, Bostwick or Day had to clear.
I was a bit gutted we hadn’t scored in the first half. It would have been great to see the lads score at our end. But it wasn’t to be.
I was quite frustrated during the game. We were failing to click, and it wasn’t working for us. The ball also seemed to bounce up a lot, so every time we got the ball, it felt like another touch was needed.
I thought Mitchell and Bostwick played extremely well. Bostwick was there at the back, and himself and Roberts looked like they had the back four in control. Mitchell was chasing everything he could, and he seemed to be the only outlet for us to score.
It wasn’t until late on in the game where we started to put more pressure on the Fleet. Then the saviour that be, Peter Vincenti came on.
We didn’t need the win, we could have just had a draw which would us seen us go to Wembley. But to finish the game on a double high, was so much better. Vincenti scored with a matter of seconds to go sending us all mad. It was a great way to finish the game and the ref blew up seconds after.
We had done it! We were on our way to Wembley. Even though we were saying we could do it for weeks, it still felt surreal that we would be going back there again. It was such a great feeling and the lads looked thrilled to have the chance to play there.
I hope now that we can focus on the league until May the 9th, as we have some real tough games coming up, and the league is getting ever tighter. If we could get a double Wembley trip I just don’t know what I would do!
Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, we're going to Wem-ber-ley, que sera sera!!
Now this may sound stupid but do we have to get tickets prior to the game on Saturday? Cos with it being a semi final and all that, I didn’t know if circumstances change.
I think I am going on Saturday, but I am busy in the morning so it all depends on timings and if I can make the game on time.
Either way, I am really looking forward to the tie. The first leg was a match full of everything; goals, sending offs (and before I hear you cry, “no there wasn’t” - their manager got sent off), flares, and an ex premiership ref.
By coming away winning 3-2 we have given ourselves a real chance. The lads would have been very disappointed to concede 2 goals, but hopefully that is the kick up the back side that they needed. They were getting complacent and the Fleet showed them, that if you give them half a chance they will take it.
We cannot afford to slip up on Saturday like last week. It could have really cost us. The most important thing was coming away with a win and luckily the lads gritted their teeth and got us that.
I think it is going to be a tight match, and playing away is going to make it a little bit more difficult for Boro. But hopefully we will bring a big crowd with us and we get an early goal, as they will both give the team added confidence.
Hopefully my next post will be about going to Wembley.
Fingers crossed and all that!
What a game!! I still can’t quite get over Boro’s clash with Ebbsfleet on Saturday. The game was a bit of an eventful one, there were 5 goals, 1 jaw break and a flare.
Firstly we go two goals up through Lee and Moro, and then we go and throw it away. We could have had 3 goals if Lawrie had taken his chance. Mind you, it was a bit of a tight angle so it was a bit hit and miss whether he was going to score.
We absolutely battered them in the first half. I have never seen so many defensive mistakes from an opposing team. The communication was non-existent.
The second goal was comical. The defence had numerous chances to clear, but they didn’t take it. We could have scored 3 times over in that small passage of play.
I really thought that in the second half we would come out flying as we completely dominated in the first half. However that was not to be. Yes there were chances for Boro, but Ebbsfleet were the ones who shone through.
They scored two goals relatively close to one another, the second one being an absolute cracker.
I was so disheartened when the second went in. A 2-0 lead and we have thrown it away. We could have cruised in the second leg but now we have decided to make it difficult.
Bridges became Boro’s new saviour late on as he got the winning goal. A great header that Roberts could have finished if he didn’t. Thank God for that. We finished with a win, which at the end of the day is the most important thing. We can draw in Kent on Saturday and still go through to the final, so it is a great advantage to have.
Obviously I still feel sickened that we could have had more than a 1 goal advantage but it is better than finishing 2-2.
Now on to that flare… Where did that come from? From my side it looked like the Ebbsfleet fans had thrown it, but apparently it came from the gap between the away and home fans. Someone had thrown a flare into the ground and could have hit a fan or players. How irresponsible. Luckily no one was harmed, but I hope they catch whoever did it, as it was not big, or clever.
Hey guys,
Does anyone know of the official dates for the playoff semi-finals and final?
If you could get back to me that would be great, as I need to get my *possible* dates in the diary.
Also I asked in my last piece if anyone knew how much it costs to get names and numbers on the back of Boro shirts? If anyone has any idea I would be grateful to know.
Cheers
First of all I apologise for such a late post. It is seriously busy here at the web desk, I don’t seem to have any time at all at the moment. But that has not hindered my enthusiasm for Boro. If anything I am getting worse.
I am so excited at the prospect of two Wembley trips. Who would of thought it! Well I don’t want to count my chickens just yet, but I am so proud of the boys at the moment, and their performances have been great. So why not?
Saturday was such a big game for us. It was a big day for me in general footy wise. It was quite exciting at our house. We had Boro on the radio from one laptop, spurs on the other, and then had sky sports news going on the TV so we could see all the other prem/bsp scores.
It didn’t start off too well, firstly, spurs were losing and then Ronnie got sent off. It wasn’t a very happy place to be. But fair to both teams they kept at it. Resilience is the key as they say.
Mark Roberts, the little legend, popped up again to score against his old club for us to get three points. He is banging in the goals at the moment (well for a defender he is). I was surprised to see Moro wasn’t on the score sheet again, but he is still top scorer, so that is a good accolade to have.
Spurs decided to leave it a bit later. I have to admit I went mental when they scored. I thought it was going to be rubbish day for footy and it all turned out well. Wrexham also dropped points which was quite funny (sorry Iwan).
This week Boro are set to play Ebbsfleet in the FA Trophy. I really really really hope we win that. Mind you the fleet beat Wrexham last night so I think they will be full of confidence. But so are we, so it could prove quite an interesting tie.
I hope there is a big crowd on Saturday. I think if Boro perform well more people are likely to go to the away leg as well.
Speaking of which, I need your help. I am finally getting around to buying this season’s Boro shirt, and I want to get it before the Ebbsfleet away game. Does anyone know how much lettering and numbering costs these days and where they do it?
Cat
I am a little bit disappointed following yesterday’s draw. It feels almost like a defeat. At least I keep thinking it was.
I was quite worried about the game before we even started, and I had taken my Dad along to take advantage of the free ticket. He hadn’t been since last season so he was looking forward to (hopefully) a great Boro performance.
The conditions were horrendous last night. The wind and rain must have made it extremely difficult to play in. Every high ball would just drop once it hit the wind, and it seemed to only way to play was on the floor.
We didn’t really kick start in the first half. But we were against the wind so I thought all would be well in the second half. We went a goal down to one ball that just went through the middle to their player. A little wind assisted as well.
They scored, but I still had confidence in Boro. Somehow we managed to get a penalty a bit later on. I am still unsure what it was for, but, hey ho, we had a penalty. Cole stepped up and scored. Excellent we were back in it.
The half ended with a bit of pushing and shoving. Their manager had already been sent off and there seemed to be a clash between Bridges and one of their players. I saw someone dive in and I thought it was one of theirs, but I was later informed it was David. They both escaped red cards and were yellow carded.
In the second half I expected us to be on top. We had the wind with us and we hadn’t scored long before the break. But for some reason we just didn’t ‘click’. The ref was making the game, stop.start and their goalies time wasting was masterful. It just wasn’t working. Graham even had to make subs to help improve the game, which hasn’t happened in a while.
Cole was injured and he went off shortly after half time. And to be honest, I think that is one of the main reasons we struggled. He seemed really up for it last night, and we seem to lack flair and pace once he left the game.
Vincenti didn’t really get involved yesterday, which was a real shame to see. Mills, Wilson and Anderson were the subs to come on. Nothing much seemed to change.
I really don’t rate Mills but I did feel quite sorry for him. They announced his name and people started to yell stuff about him. That is not the reception any player deserves. I wasn’t pleased to see him but I still clapped him. If he is going to get better he needs confidence, yelling abuse at him is only going to make it worse.
The game sort of trickled on in the second half. Drury was working very hard – I am becoming a real fan of his. His desire for the ball is great and I think him and Ronnie are a great example to the others.
Daisy also made a cracking save to keep us in it, and Jerome’s pace helped a bit, and he could have got a penalty as well. I did think we could possibly win it, but it wouldn’t have been fair. Maybe this loss of points could be the trigger the lads need, to show it is not all plain sailing.
I guess it is on to Northwich now. That is a must win game. We have a difficult set of teams coming up in the league so we have to take advantage of Northwich.
One thing is for sure, after my Dad muttered “that is the worse game of football I have seen in a long time” (And he too is a spurs fan), I don’t think he will be back for a couple more weeks yet. L
So Boro notched up another 3 points on Saturday after beating Altrincham 2-1.
It was not an easy game to listen to on the radio. We struggled to get into a flow and a rhythm for the best part of the game. The bitter blow came relatively early on for boro when we conceded a penalty. Alty scored, and I was really starting to wonder if it was going to be our day.
We struggled in the second half too. I was getting more and more irate because i thought if we were going to lose this unbeaten run, I would have liked it to be at least with us giving everything we have got and playing well. Neither of these two points were actually the case at the time.
But somehow, the boys believed. With 20 minutes left Boro started to come into the game a bit more. We were having more possession and we were creating chances. Then Drury stepped up to the plate and scored.
I have never been so relieved. We had to get something out of the game. The results elsewhere were not looking good, and I really thought we were going to suffer big time.
The boys kept plugging on, surely we couldn’t win it? Injury time was called and Mark Roberts came up with the goods. Right before the end of the game. What a result!!! I went mental, my other half went mental – he hit the wall! In the midst of excitement, we even high-fived! Then both our minds turned to the other results and how the Alty fans must feel.
What a harsh way to lose a game. Winning for so long, and then losing it at the death.
It was not an easy game, and I hope Boro learn a lot from that match, but one thing is for sure, 17 games unbeaten is something to be proud of! Well done lads!