Bristol City are firmly back on track, following a run of three defeats in a row by going five games unbeaten. A win away at Watford, and a draw away at neighbours Plymouth in a game we should have won, has restored confidence, although the huge police operation I had to encounter to watch the game hindered my enjoyment of it.
At the weekend I witnessed a typical derby against Cardiff City - full of passion and determination, but lacking in real quality. The atmosphere throughout the encounter was electric with the Cardiff fans booing ex-Swansea player Lee Trundle at every opportunity. He had the last laugh with a lucky touch on his left shoulder sending Marvin Elliot’s header in to the net just after the half time break. We had chances to extend our lead with David Noble and Ivan Sproule going close with close range efforts, but 1-0 was enough.
Cardiff had made things tricky for themselves when Steven Thompson was sent off for a disgraceful tackle on goalkeeper Adriano Basso after just 15 minutes. As is usually the case, it was not easy playing against ten men as they packed their defence. Fortunately an in-swinging corner by Lee Johnson to Elliot helped give us all three points.
We are nearly at the half way stage in the season and we are sitting comfortably in third place. Before the season began, I would have laughed at the suggestion that after 22 games we would be chasing the leaders. Many predicted that we would struggle while others would have settled for a mid table position at this point. It just shows the belief this team has. We are still keen to catch West Brom and could find ourselves top if we win next Saturday against Barnsley.
Credit has to go Gary Johnson who in just over two years has created a winning team and I am sure we will be challenging for the play-offs in May. With the announcement recently of new training ground ready for next season, and plans for a new 30,000 all-seater stadium to be built by 2011, these are exciting times for City.
We are close to the top of the table and with the transfer window fast approaching, if we make a couple a good signings we could really mount a challenge this season. I am probably getting carried away of dreaming of the promise land but I think that’s allowed after years of disappointment. But first and foremost we need to get to the 50 point mark to ensure survival and then kick on. The future’s bright, the future’s red!
ANDY DAVIES
Tuesday 18 December 2007
Wednesday 12 December 2007
Honours even in derby battle
It’s fair to say that the atmosphere at Home Park for Plymouth Argyle home matches has slowly disintegrated over the last few seasons. When the Greens stormed through the lower divisions from 2001-2004, blitzing all-comers on the way to two championships in three years, there were countless days when the Devonport End roof virtually struggled to withstand the force of noise from underneath. And, for the biggest games, the Zoo Corner of the Lyndhurst began to develop in a similar way, with hundreds on their feet, united in song, for long periods.
This is something which has slowly fallen away, and there are several reasons for this, aside from the obvious – Argyle, of course, haven’t experienced a promotion season in the intervening period. Success will always get the fans singing, and there were so many massively important ties at the time, with so much riding on them – who can forget Mansfield and Exeter at home in 2002, or Swindon and QPR in 2004? The nervous tension of these games and the large, fervent support was conducive to a raucous, intimidating atmosphere.
That was replicated a couple of times when Argyle first went up to the Championship – Leeds at home in particular – but the disappointments and defeats of a long, hard season, where Argyle struggled with the step up to the second tier, wore down the supporters. An average of 16,420 saw league matches at Home Park in 2004-05, the highest number since 1960-61. This should have been the springboard for a widening of the fanbase and increased success, but the incompetence of Bobby Williamson and conservative tactics of his successor Tony Pulis drove the crowds away.
Bristol City are currently in a similar position to where Argyle were three years ago. Flushed with the feel-good factor from promotion, the crowds are still high and roaring on their team. However, with the Robins having managed to hang on to their messiah, manager Gary Johnson, while the Pilgrims lost ours, Paul Sturrock, to Southampton. City have started their assault on the Championship impressively well, the winning momentum yet to catch up with them.
Saturday, of course, was where the two sides met, and as well as providing an opportunity to decide the strongest side in the Westcountry, it allowed an intriguing insight into the state of two broadly progressive clubs who, sooner or later, should be making real challenges for places in the Premiership.
This was the first Argyle game which came anything close to a derby since promotion to the Championship, and, with City having sold out the Barn Park End, they were obviously up for it too, despite their claims that this week’s home tie with Cardiff means more.
The police, at any rate, were not taking chances. Travelling down on the train with my Turnip companion Andy Davies, and clad in a green shirt and scarf, I was surrounded by a see of Bristolians from Temple Meads onwards. There was certainly a degree of comfort in having the boys in yellow blazers only a couple of yards away.
At Plymouth station the security was stepped up with City fans diverted away from everyone else. I very nearly got dragged with them, but thankfully several determined jabs at my scarf amid the din conveyed to the coppers that this might be unwise. On the way back, I was not able to find Andy until we had passed Bristol, with the City fans having been kept inside the ground for more than 20 minutes after the match, and the train coaches segregated to avoid conflicts.
The Britannia Inn, on the corner of the ground, held a calmer ambience, with red and green mixing happily, but this was obviously not the case inside Home Park. A small segregation area, and the apparent willingness of the stewards to allow the massed opposing ranks in the Zoo corner and away end to stand for the entire game, was conducive to a crackling atmosphere. Even Andy admitted, at the time, that Argyle outsang Bristol. And we had something approaching those days I was referring to; the first time since the Watford FA Cup quarter-final, last season, that Home Park had felt like a real football ground.
And there was the return of personalised songs. An Argyle team entering the field of play in 2003 would have been greeted by an individual chant for almost every player – from ‘Marino, woah-oah!’ (Marino Keith) to the famous Jason Bent Song (he ‘came from Canada to play for Ar-gy-le’, to the tune of ‘John Brown’s Body’, and was compared favourably to the also-dreadlocked Edgar Davids) – but as the folk heroes have been found out at higher levels, and the club have got bigger, the relationship between players and fans has become weaker and these songs have dwindled.
Also, these songs, often started as a joke by small groups of fans, are much harder to spread in the bigger crowds and designated seating of today.
But when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was tugged down in the box by Louis Carey on 23 minutes and got up to smash home the resulting penalty, the former Manchester United trainee’s enthusiastic celebrations were greeted by the Lyndhurst roaring his name to the cheesy tune of KC & The Sunshine Band’s ‘Give It Up’. Sylvan’s further exploits provoked repeat readings, and a classic was born.
Kristian Timar didn’t have the best of afternoons, slicing the ball horrifically over Romain Larrieu’s head for City’s second-half own-goal equaliser, but beforehand he had been treated to several hearty bellowings of his surname. And for Argyle’s man-of-the-match goalkeeper, ‘He’s French, he’s great, he’s David Friio’s mate’ made a welcome return.
I didn’t sit down all afternoon. And though the 1-1 result, while probably a fair reflection of the game, was mildly disappointing given Argyle’s winning position, the atmosphere was how it should be every week.
The problem of making this happen is a complex one which must be examined separately, but certainly the decision to reduce prices for the Hull City FA Cup game on January 5 is a step in the right direction.
As for the best team in the Westcountry…the league table suggests the Robins are on top, but this game was as tight as they come, and for 70 minutes the Pilgrims looked the likely winners. Four months til the rematch. I’m excited already.
RICH PARTINGTON
This is something which has slowly fallen away, and there are several reasons for this, aside from the obvious – Argyle, of course, haven’t experienced a promotion season in the intervening period. Success will always get the fans singing, and there were so many massively important ties at the time, with so much riding on them – who can forget Mansfield and Exeter at home in 2002, or Swindon and QPR in 2004? The nervous tension of these games and the large, fervent support was conducive to a raucous, intimidating atmosphere.
That was replicated a couple of times when Argyle first went up to the Championship – Leeds at home in particular – but the disappointments and defeats of a long, hard season, where Argyle struggled with the step up to the second tier, wore down the supporters. An average of 16,420 saw league matches at Home Park in 2004-05, the highest number since 1960-61. This should have been the springboard for a widening of the fanbase and increased success, but the incompetence of Bobby Williamson and conservative tactics of his successor Tony Pulis drove the crowds away.
Bristol City are currently in a similar position to where Argyle were three years ago. Flushed with the feel-good factor from promotion, the crowds are still high and roaring on their team. However, with the Robins having managed to hang on to their messiah, manager Gary Johnson, while the Pilgrims lost ours, Paul Sturrock, to Southampton. City have started their assault on the Championship impressively well, the winning momentum yet to catch up with them.
Saturday, of course, was where the two sides met, and as well as providing an opportunity to decide the strongest side in the Westcountry, it allowed an intriguing insight into the state of two broadly progressive clubs who, sooner or later, should be making real challenges for places in the Premiership.
This was the first Argyle game which came anything close to a derby since promotion to the Championship, and, with City having sold out the Barn Park End, they were obviously up for it too, despite their claims that this week’s home tie with Cardiff means more.
The police, at any rate, were not taking chances. Travelling down on the train with my Turnip companion Andy Davies, and clad in a green shirt and scarf, I was surrounded by a see of Bristolians from Temple Meads onwards. There was certainly a degree of comfort in having the boys in yellow blazers only a couple of yards away.
At Plymouth station the security was stepped up with City fans diverted away from everyone else. I very nearly got dragged with them, but thankfully several determined jabs at my scarf amid the din conveyed to the coppers that this might be unwise. On the way back, I was not able to find Andy until we had passed Bristol, with the City fans having been kept inside the ground for more than 20 minutes after the match, and the train coaches segregated to avoid conflicts.
The Britannia Inn, on the corner of the ground, held a calmer ambience, with red and green mixing happily, but this was obviously not the case inside Home Park. A small segregation area, and the apparent willingness of the stewards to allow the massed opposing ranks in the Zoo corner and away end to stand for the entire game, was conducive to a crackling atmosphere. Even Andy admitted, at the time, that Argyle outsang Bristol. And we had something approaching those days I was referring to; the first time since the Watford FA Cup quarter-final, last season, that Home Park had felt like a real football ground.
And there was the return of personalised songs. An Argyle team entering the field of play in 2003 would have been greeted by an individual chant for almost every player – from ‘Marino, woah-oah!’ (Marino Keith) to the famous Jason Bent Song (he ‘came from Canada to play for Ar-gy-le’, to the tune of ‘John Brown’s Body’, and was compared favourably to the also-dreadlocked Edgar Davids) – but as the folk heroes have been found out at higher levels, and the club have got bigger, the relationship between players and fans has become weaker and these songs have dwindled.
Also, these songs, often started as a joke by small groups of fans, are much harder to spread in the bigger crowds and designated seating of today.
But when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was tugged down in the box by Louis Carey on 23 minutes and got up to smash home the resulting penalty, the former Manchester United trainee’s enthusiastic celebrations were greeted by the Lyndhurst roaring his name to the cheesy tune of KC & The Sunshine Band’s ‘Give It Up’. Sylvan’s further exploits provoked repeat readings, and a classic was born.
Kristian Timar didn’t have the best of afternoons, slicing the ball horrifically over Romain Larrieu’s head for City’s second-half own-goal equaliser, but beforehand he had been treated to several hearty bellowings of his surname. And for Argyle’s man-of-the-match goalkeeper, ‘He’s French, he’s great, he’s David Friio’s mate’ made a welcome return.
I didn’t sit down all afternoon. And though the 1-1 result, while probably a fair reflection of the game, was mildly disappointing given Argyle’s winning position, the atmosphere was how it should be every week.
The problem of making this happen is a complex one which must be examined separately, but certainly the decision to reduce prices for the Hull City FA Cup game on January 5 is a step in the right direction.
As for the best team in the Westcountry…the league table suggests the Robins are on top, but this game was as tight as they come, and for 70 minutes the Pilgrims looked the likely winners. Four months til the rematch. I’m excited already.
RICH PARTINGTON
Thursday 6 December 2007
Halmosi and co could make Sturrock king again
Plymouth Argyle's 2-1 defeat against Championship strugglers Norwich City on Tuesday night may have continued an unspectacular start for returning manager Paul Sturrock, but the ingredients seem to be in place to suggest significant success is within reach.
Losing at home to an excellent West Brom outfit in Luggy’s first game back at Home Park was disappointing, but certainly no disgrace. And goals from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Krisztian Timar, and Nadjim Abdou chalked up the first points of the new regime in Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Scunthorpe.
Norwich seem somewhat revitalised under Glen Roeder, whose knack for making a notable initial impact at a new club continues. He did the same as Newcastle United caretaker in the latter part of the 2005-6 season, and was given the job full-time, eventually discovering St. James’s Park to be as much of a managerial graveyard as most of his predecessors.
Reduced-price ticket schemes for Tuesday’s match (shows what a big draw Plymouth are!) dragged more than 25,000 into Carrow Road, and the big crowd seemed to intimidate referee Paul Taylor, whose decision to award an 87th minute penalty for Paul Connolly’s clearly ball-winning challenge on Darren Huckerby was quite frankly shocking.
But, looking at the bigger picture, the playing staff currently present at Home Park look well-equipped for a Sturrock team.
A few are still there from his last reign, of course. Romain Larrieu and Luke McCormick continue to dispute the goalkeeping jersey, with the former deservedly holding sway at present.
Paul Connolly broke through from the youth ranks in Luggy’s last season and, after looking out of his depth in the second tier for the last few years, appears somewhat rejuvenated at right-back, his performance in the 1-0 win at Sheffield United on November 24 a particular highlight.
Lee Hodges has defied all predictions, and his own advancing years, to adapt admirably to a higher level, although again it has taken time, and those wearying legs have necessitated a move backwards from midfield.
David Norris, a Sturrock find, continues to work his arse off in midfield, and the old tendency to sprint down blind alleys appears to be waning. Paul Wotton, Mr. Plymouth Argyle and the club captain, remains also, and is approaching recovery from knee ligament damage sustained more than a year ago.
But whether he’ll break back into the side must be a moot point. For there is an abundance of talent elsewhere in the squad.
It has often been said of Sturrock that his talents are in the lower leagues; and promotions with Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon Town, and of course Plymouth (esentially twice) seem to support this. He is yet to achieve anything massive above the lower levels, unfairly sacked at Wednesday (they’ve not got any better since) and Southampton (they’ve got a lot worse).
At St. Mary’s Luggy bought Peter Crouch, who scored a hatful of goals and was sold on at a massive profit. Given only thirteen games, Sturrock won a respectable five, but was hounded out by negative media coverage, and, allegedly, a dressing room revolt involving the likes of Kevin Phillips and James Beattie, ‘star’ names who apparently objected to their managers fashion sense and strict changing regimes. Both have long since left the Saints, who have plummeted out of the Premier League and towards financial meltdown.
Sturrock, it seems, does not suffer fools, or big egos gladly. He’ll have been pleased to find a refreshing absence of those at Plymouth. Despite three nightclub-related arrests of Argyle players in the last eighteen months – Marcel Seip (twice) and Ebanks-Blake the culprits – these are a hard-working bunch with a similar team ethic to that instilled in the rampant 2001-2004 sides.
Seip is a rock at the back, magnificently consistent and an excellent reader of the game. Timar, who nicked his second goal in as many games at Norwich, in so doing recalled one Graham Coughlan – a monstrous figure arriving late in the box, splitting the defence, and delivering a powerful header.
The Gallic pairing of Abdou and the veteran Lilian Nalis reflect many of the qualities the David Friio-Steve Adams partnership brought in the centre of the Argyle midfield. Nalis is a vastly improved version of Adams, winning the ball constantly, and subtly orchestrating the midfield, albeit with the technical ability, shooting boots, and attacking thrust the Plymothian lacked. ‘Jimmy’, meanwhile, has some way to go to match Friio’s legendary status, but arriving late in the box and slotting home like he did on Saturday is a good way to go about it.
In attack Ebanks-Blake, Jermaine Easter, Barry Hayles, and Rory Fallon provide Sturrock with a far more competent stable of strikers than during his initial tenure, but the real gem is on the left hand side of midfield.
Hungarian international Peter Halmosi was Argyle’s record signing when joining from Debrecen for £400,000 in the summer, making permanent and impressive loan spell. His displays this season have raised the bar for every player at the club, a constant source of creation and invention. All three strikes against Scunthorpe were products of his assists, and Luggy is clearly a fan.
Halmosi’s humble yet fiercely determined nature – he has made it clear he wants to play in the Premiership – mark him out at the archetypal Paul Sturrock player. He’ll surely be in the top league next season, with or without Argyle.
RICH PARTINGTON
Losing at home to an excellent West Brom outfit in Luggy’s first game back at Home Park was disappointing, but certainly no disgrace. And goals from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Krisztian Timar, and Nadjim Abdou chalked up the first points of the new regime in Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Scunthorpe.
Norwich seem somewhat revitalised under Glen Roeder, whose knack for making a notable initial impact at a new club continues. He did the same as Newcastle United caretaker in the latter part of the 2005-6 season, and was given the job full-time, eventually discovering St. James’s Park to be as much of a managerial graveyard as most of his predecessors.
Reduced-price ticket schemes for Tuesday’s match (shows what a big draw Plymouth are!) dragged more than 25,000 into Carrow Road, and the big crowd seemed to intimidate referee Paul Taylor, whose decision to award an 87th minute penalty for Paul Connolly’s clearly ball-winning challenge on Darren Huckerby was quite frankly shocking.
But, looking at the bigger picture, the playing staff currently present at Home Park look well-equipped for a Sturrock team.
A few are still there from his last reign, of course. Romain Larrieu and Luke McCormick continue to dispute the goalkeeping jersey, with the former deservedly holding sway at present.
Paul Connolly broke through from the youth ranks in Luggy’s last season and, after looking out of his depth in the second tier for the last few years, appears somewhat rejuvenated at right-back, his performance in the 1-0 win at Sheffield United on November 24 a particular highlight.
Lee Hodges has defied all predictions, and his own advancing years, to adapt admirably to a higher level, although again it has taken time, and those wearying legs have necessitated a move backwards from midfield.
David Norris, a Sturrock find, continues to work his arse off in midfield, and the old tendency to sprint down blind alleys appears to be waning. Paul Wotton, Mr. Plymouth Argyle and the club captain, remains also, and is approaching recovery from knee ligament damage sustained more than a year ago.
But whether he’ll break back into the side must be a moot point. For there is an abundance of talent elsewhere in the squad.
It has often been said of Sturrock that his talents are in the lower leagues; and promotions with Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon Town, and of course Plymouth (esentially twice) seem to support this. He is yet to achieve anything massive above the lower levels, unfairly sacked at Wednesday (they’ve not got any better since) and Southampton (they’ve got a lot worse).
At St. Mary’s Luggy bought Peter Crouch, who scored a hatful of goals and was sold on at a massive profit. Given only thirteen games, Sturrock won a respectable five, but was hounded out by negative media coverage, and, allegedly, a dressing room revolt involving the likes of Kevin Phillips and James Beattie, ‘star’ names who apparently objected to their managers fashion sense and strict changing regimes. Both have long since left the Saints, who have plummeted out of the Premier League and towards financial meltdown.
Sturrock, it seems, does not suffer fools, or big egos gladly. He’ll have been pleased to find a refreshing absence of those at Plymouth. Despite three nightclub-related arrests of Argyle players in the last eighteen months – Marcel Seip (twice) and Ebanks-Blake the culprits – these are a hard-working bunch with a similar team ethic to that instilled in the rampant 2001-2004 sides.
Seip is a rock at the back, magnificently consistent and an excellent reader of the game. Timar, who nicked his second goal in as many games at Norwich, in so doing recalled one Graham Coughlan – a monstrous figure arriving late in the box, splitting the defence, and delivering a powerful header.
The Gallic pairing of Abdou and the veteran Lilian Nalis reflect many of the qualities the David Friio-Steve Adams partnership brought in the centre of the Argyle midfield. Nalis is a vastly improved version of Adams, winning the ball constantly, and subtly orchestrating the midfield, albeit with the technical ability, shooting boots, and attacking thrust the Plymothian lacked. ‘Jimmy’, meanwhile, has some way to go to match Friio’s legendary status, but arriving late in the box and slotting home like he did on Saturday is a good way to go about it.
In attack Ebanks-Blake, Jermaine Easter, Barry Hayles, and Rory Fallon provide Sturrock with a far more competent stable of strikers than during his initial tenure, but the real gem is on the left hand side of midfield.
Hungarian international Peter Halmosi was Argyle’s record signing when joining from Debrecen for £400,000 in the summer, making permanent and impressive loan spell. His displays this season have raised the bar for every player at the club, a constant source of creation and invention. All three strikes against Scunthorpe were products of his assists, and Luggy is clearly a fan.
Halmosi’s humble yet fiercely determined nature – he has made it clear he wants to play in the Premiership – mark him out at the archetypal Paul Sturrock player. He’ll surely be in the top league next season, with or without Argyle.
RICH PARTINGTON
Saturday 1 December 2007
FGR do Gloucestershire proud
Gloucestershire ‘village’ side Forest Green Rovers may not have won at the County Ground on Saturday afternoon. They may not have even won a place in Sunday’s FA Cup Third Round draw, but what they did win was the respect of the Swindon Town fans.
The weather for the game was typical cup tie weather. Drizzle soon turned into showers as I queued for a bus to the train station…only to find that the 12:46 train to Swindon had been cancelled for some reason. Fortunately there was a free bus to Swindon from Cheltenham, that took from 1:10pm to 2:50pm.
So I was already a bit late getting there. On my way to the stand I noticed a few hundred bank notes (presumably fake or I would probably have picked them up myself!) scattered over the floor saying "take your payoff and go". Unfortunately I couldn’t dwell on it too much as I had a game to get to.
Now anyone who has had the pleasure of being an away supporter at Swindon, will know that they are seated in the Stratton Bank, which is an uncovered area behind the goal….and although I had a coat, and a jumper on, I had no hood, so I was hardly shielded from the elements. I envied all the Forest Green fans wrapped up warm in their hats and scarves.
At half time, Swindon led 1-0, JP McGovern scoring direct from a corner. The first half wasn’t particularly noteworthy; despite the rain the sun was shining in the away fans faces, and it was difficult to see where exactly the ball was without getting a blinding headache.
What FGR boss Jim Harvey said to the non-leaguers at half time must have worked though. About ten minutes in, Stuart Fleetwood scored, followed by a crazy celebration in which half the team did Klinsmann dives one after the other. A word on Fleetwood before I go on by the way….that was his 24th goal this season. Compare that to the entire Derby County team who have scored a total of…five.
Most strikers would be proud to have scored two dozen goals in all competitions in May never mind early December. Just as Forest Green fans thought it couldn’t get any better, it did, Mark Beesley heading in a cross, and the away fans went wild. Only 24 minutes to hold on!
Ok…so they tried to hold on for the win, and it failed. Former Plymouth player Hasney Aljofree headed in a cross from the left, and the Rovers looked as though Rovers would have to make do with a replay.
Except they didn’t even manage that, because with minutes to go, substitute and general daddy’s boy Blair Sturrock scored a rebound from Billy Paynter’s saved shot, to send Swindon into the hat.
Despite coming so close, and missing out, the population of Nailsworth will have their heads held high tonight, after pushing the former Premiership side all the way, and almost pulling off another upset. I must confess I was already planning a trip to the New Lawn for the replay but alas it wasn’t to be and thoughts can carry on to the League, and the FA Trophy.
JAMES LEWIS
The weather for the game was typical cup tie weather. Drizzle soon turned into showers as I queued for a bus to the train station…only to find that the 12:46 train to Swindon had been cancelled for some reason. Fortunately there was a free bus to Swindon from Cheltenham, that took from 1:10pm to 2:50pm.
So I was already a bit late getting there. On my way to the stand I noticed a few hundred bank notes (presumably fake or I would probably have picked them up myself!) scattered over the floor saying "take your payoff and go". Unfortunately I couldn’t dwell on it too much as I had a game to get to.
Now anyone who has had the pleasure of being an away supporter at Swindon, will know that they are seated in the Stratton Bank, which is an uncovered area behind the goal….and although I had a coat, and a jumper on, I had no hood, so I was hardly shielded from the elements. I envied all the Forest Green fans wrapped up warm in their hats and scarves.
At half time, Swindon led 1-0, JP McGovern scoring direct from a corner. The first half wasn’t particularly noteworthy; despite the rain the sun was shining in the away fans faces, and it was difficult to see where exactly the ball was without getting a blinding headache.
What FGR boss Jim Harvey said to the non-leaguers at half time must have worked though. About ten minutes in, Stuart Fleetwood scored, followed by a crazy celebration in which half the team did Klinsmann dives one after the other. A word on Fleetwood before I go on by the way….that was his 24th goal this season. Compare that to the entire Derby County team who have scored a total of…five.
Most strikers would be proud to have scored two dozen goals in all competitions in May never mind early December. Just as Forest Green fans thought it couldn’t get any better, it did, Mark Beesley heading in a cross, and the away fans went wild. Only 24 minutes to hold on!
Ok…so they tried to hold on for the win, and it failed. Former Plymouth player Hasney Aljofree headed in a cross from the left, and the Rovers looked as though Rovers would have to make do with a replay.
Except they didn’t even manage that, because with minutes to go, substitute and general daddy’s boy Blair Sturrock scored a rebound from Billy Paynter’s saved shot, to send Swindon into the hat.
Despite coming so close, and missing out, the population of Nailsworth will have their heads held high tonight, after pushing the former Premiership side all the way, and almost pulling off another upset. I must confess I was already planning a trip to the New Lawn for the replay but alas it wasn’t to be and thoughts can carry on to the League, and the FA Trophy.
JAMES LEWIS
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