Cramming Two Posts Into One

Cramming Two Posts Into One

This will probably happen a lot. Two things I want to write about and no effort to write two posts. Anyhow, this post will feature Non-League football and International football. Starting with Ollerton Town's victory over local rivals, Shirebrook Town.

    Kyle Ludlow(bent over) Tries to take a quick freekick to Lewis Bingham(R) but is blocked off by Timmons(L).

In short, we bloody well beat them! Before the game I spoke to one of our centre backs and the two of us predicted we'd either draw or one side would be comprehensively beaten (edited). Going in at half time with the score at 0-0 I was confident that something would come from the game for us that saw our former captain and coach in their technical area, as well as our former midfielder running their midfield. Our first goal came from the penalty spot. Gav King turned the Shirebrook captain and Timmons brought him down. Sam Stretton converted the penalty. After the game the Shirebrook management and committee claimed it was a soft penalty but they were wrong. Stone wall penalty. Ollerton's second goal cam from a long through-ball courtesy of Jordan Buckham, the young wingback recently signed from Rossington Main, his ball was flicked on towards Ash Shannon who scored again to make it 3 in his last six. Not long afterwards the game descended into madness as the young Referee, in charge of only his second game at this level, dropped a bollock massively. He even admitted after the game that he'd lost concentration. He awarded Shirebrook a penalty in the last minute that nobody understood why he gave, except the man who writes Shirebrook's match report (?). Kieran Watson got the turn on Ollerton debutant Tom Moody who did foul him. However he was a good two yards out of the box, the decision was given as a freekick, but he then changed his mind and gave a penalty because he fell into the area. Watson stepped up and scored it. That's how it finished. The banter in the aftermath was enjoyable but there was no aggro.

The next thing I want to write about is the England team. In one of my previous posts I wrote about how I think the squad should set up. Southgate used the formation I wrote about (don't think I can claim responsibility though!). It seemed to work. With several key players missing England did not look out of their depth, despite failing to score in either game. The defence didn't look as dangerous to our own cause. Pickford looked quality in goal against the Germans, Stones and Maguire look good together, Gomez looked good at centreback as well when he came off the bench against Germany and in his start against Brazil. the wingback options look good. Even Ashley Young looked good when he came on. Dier was steady in the centre of the park but I can't wait for Harry Winks to take Jake Livermore's spot from him. Loftus-Cheek did well against Germany but came off after half an hour against Brazil. Lingard doesn't look like he should be playing against good teams, he doesn't suit it and should have won us the game against Germany in the final moments. Rashford needs to be played up front and he did really well against Brazil. Vardy did well in his two appearances, Abraham could and maybe should have got England a late winner against Brazil. Solanke looked impressive when he came on despite the criticism of his selection.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek(L) did well in a difficult midfield battle against the likes of Ilkay Gundogan(R) and Mesut Ozil(Not Pictured).

I'm not saying we're going to win the World Cup this summer, because we won't. But on those performances we will be a lot better than we have done in recent years. Two respectable performances against the two top teams in the world right now without key players like Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Raheem Sterling cannot be looked down on.

Anyhow, until next time.

Craig