tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43774849196914494362024-03-13T08:55:11.309+02:00The Amber ArmyA Blog Dedicated to the Welsh Clubs in the English football league, particularly Newport CountyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-62343662199539921882012-09-21T12:08:00.001+02:002012-09-21T12:08:03.855+02:00Next Amber Army Blog Update<p align="justify"><font size="2">Many apologies for the lack of Newport County blogs for the Barrow game last week and the Southport game tomorrow. Unfortunately, the challenges of work have prohibited me from being able to do the necessary preparation work to write the blogs. However, this period has now come to an end and the next blog will therefore be posted on Monday morning previewing the away fixture at Telford on Tuesday.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">I have now made significant progress in compiling and organising statistics relating to Newport County goals over the past 24 seasons and some of these statistics will be used in the blog on Monday. However, as a taster, did you know that the most league goalscorers that Newport County have ever had in a single season is 19. This occurred on 3 occasions:</font></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="2">1998-1999 in the Southern League Midland (Finished 2nd; promoted)</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="2">1999-2000 in the Southern League Premier (Finished 7th)</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="2">2010-2011 in the Conference Premier (Finished 9th)</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Consequently, despite having 19 different scorers in a single season on three occasions, County only actually got promoted on one of the occasions. In comparison, have a look at the top four league scorers in a season for County:</font></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="2">32 Ceri Williams in 1994-1995 Southern League Midland (Champions; promoted)</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="2">29 Karl Bayliss in 1998-1999 Southern League Midland (2nd; promoted)</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="2">24 Craig Reid in 2009-2010 Conference South (Champions; promoted)</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="2">23 Chris Lilygreen in 1989-90 Hellenic Premier (Champions; promoted)</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font size="2">A clear statistical pattern therefore emerges – it is not the number of players who score that makes the difference; it is the number of goals that your leading striker gets that makes the difference.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-7478244042136657682012-09-08T12:09:00.001+02:002012-09-08T12:18:46.657+02:00Consecutive Scoring Sequence Poll Result<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uit6_jZhos4/UEsZLMzBMQI/AAAAAAAAAcM/5Vo7-n9-XrE/s1600-h/Goalscoring%252520Image%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Goalscoring Image" border="0" alt="Goalscoring Image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UyNj1x-0SEE/UEsZOSqnv9I/AAAAAAAAAcU/H7C-HRrdsvo/Goalscoring%252520Image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="161"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">(Photograph courtesy of <a href="http://newportcountyphotos.sharepoint.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Sam Shingler</a>)</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Last week’s poll asked the question, ‘During their impressive 1994 scoring sequence, how many consecutive games did the Exiles score in?’. There were four possible options, which are listed below along with the percentage of people that voted for that answer:</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">1. 17 consecutive games <em>16%</em></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">2. 30 consecutive games <em>66%</em></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2"><font style=""><font style="background-color: #d19049"><font color="#000000">3. 43 consecutive games <em>16%</em></font></font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">4. 58 consecutive games <em>0%</em></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">The longest consecutive run of games in which Newport County scored lasted for an entire year and 43 league games. The goalscoring run started on 29 January 1994 with a Townsend hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Sutton Coldfield Town as the Exiles continued to recover from a dreadful start to the season in the Southern League Midland Division and included a memorable sequence of 16 goals in a week in the April as an 8-3 demolition of Forest Green Rovers followed 3-1 (Redditch United) and 5-0 (Leicester United) victories earlier in the week.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">As the goalscoring run continued into the promotion season of 1994-95, several opponents received heavy thrashings at the hands of the potent Newport strike force. Having conceded eight the previous season, Forest Green received a 6-2 beating on their own territory and Hinckley Town, Sutton Coldfield Town, Ilkeston Town all conceded five. The run came to an end on 28 January 1995 with a 0-0 draw at Bedworth United, with the Exiles having scored at least two goals in all of the ten games prior to that.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Given the incredible nature of that run, it is all the more remarkable that Newport have never even come close to matching the sequence. The nearest they got was a run of 18 consecutive games, a run which started in the April of the same season and continued to the October of their first season in the Southern League Premier Division.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-16945778293187385042012-09-07T19:49:00.001+02:002012-09-07T20:38:08.730+02:00Exiles Remain Positive Despite Defeats<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9vrZ9qHxYtQ/UEozTxyw_-I/AAAAAAAAAbI/ZIc2PsXiTE4/s1600-h/Newport%252520Badge%2525202012%252520Smaller%25255B24%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 3px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport Badge 2012 Smaller" border="0" alt="Newport Badge 2012 Smaller" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KOrOMBGr-f8/UEozY_dQO8I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/GssrXFnRYCY/Newport%252520Badge%2525202012%252520Smaller_thumb%25255B22%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="146" height="146"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kghquQEn0g8/UEozezgdgPI/AAAAAAAAAbY/jfef2MhrQy4/s1600-h/Stockport%252520County%252520Badge%25255B5%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 3px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Stockport County Badge" border="0" alt="Stockport County Badge" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w7UloLP7fQ0/UEozjOWTJDI/AAAAAAAAAbg/eqWAtoY8dXM/Stockport%252520County%252520Badge_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="146" height="146"></a></p> <p align="center"><strong>Newport County v Stockport County</strong></p> <p align="center"><strong>Conference Premier Division</strong></p> <p align="center"><strong>Saturday, 8 September 2012</strong></p> <p align="center"><strong>Rodney Parade, Newport</strong></p> <p align="center"><strong></strong> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><strong>2011 Campaign Helps County Stay Focused On The Good Times</strong></font> <p align="justify">Whilst some of the gloss may have been taken off Newport County’s excellent start to the season after the recent losses at Wrexham and Dartford, County fans would do well to remember that the Exiles current position of 15 points from 7 games and 3rd in the league remains far superior to the situation they found themselves in last season. As Newport prepared for the away trip to Mansfield on the equivalent weekend last season, they had just one win (against Hayes) and five points to show for their seven outings and things would get a lot worse before they improved. <p align="justify">Many have argued that the away trip to Mansfield, which resulted in the 5-0 mauling that effectively put an end to Anthony Hudson’s reign, was County’s worst performance since returning to the Conference Premier. Even though Newport recorded a remarkable 4-3 victory there this season, Field Mill is never a particularly easy place to go. However, 12 months ago, Newport made it look like the equivalent of Old Trafford as, in front of the live cameras, they went behind to a 12th minute Green strike and were outplayed and outfought in every area of the field. To cap off a thoroughly miserable day for players and fans alike, in testament to the unpredictability of British weather given the pleasant conditions on the photograph beneath, the final five minutes of the game were then played out in absolutely torrential rain. <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hzH6GagTGKs/UEozoyk-bgI/AAAAAAAAAbo/K4EiYpUusrQ/s1600-h/Mansfield%252520Town%252520v%252520Newport%252520County%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mansfield Town v Newport County" border="0" alt="Mansfield Town v Newport County" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--GNCWixA1uA/UEozt2r-47I/AAAAAAAAAbw/VOFFws_KxO8/Mansfield%252520Town%252520v%252520Newport%252520County_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="194"></a> <p align="justify"><em></em> </p> <p align="justify"><em>As the author and his 6yr daughter look on, Mansfield Town fire yet another shot at the Newport goal during the 5-0 drubbing the Exiles received on this weekend in 2011.</em></p> <p align="justify"><strong><em>Photo courtesy of Sam Shingler <a href="http://newportcountyphotos.sharepoint.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">(see Newport County Photos)</a></em></strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p align="justify">Unfortunately for County, things continued to spiral downwards after the Mansfield game as three points from draws against Barrow, Forest Green Rovers and Saturday’s visitors Stockport County were all they had to show from the next six games. By the time the club began its recovery with a 4-1 victory at Fleetwood, in what was arguably the biggest shock of the whole Conference Premier season, Newport were already in such dire straits that, rather than trying to avoid a season long relegation battle, they were just simply focused on trying to stay in the relegation fight. </p> <p align="justify">The table below compares Newport’s results up to and including the Mansfield game in 2011 with the results achieved so far this season:</p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="525"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 53pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2560" width="70"> <col style="width: 143pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6985" width="191"> <col style="width: 52pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2523" width="69"> <col style="width: 146pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7094" width="194"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" height="20" width="70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Date</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" width="190"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">Newport County 2011</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" width="69" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Date</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" width="194"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Newport County 2012</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">13-Aug-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-3 (A) v Kettering Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-3 (A) v Mansfield Town</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">16-Aug-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-0 (H) v Hayes & Yeading Utd</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">14-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-0 (H) v Nuneaton Town</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">20-Aug-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">0-0 (H) v Grimsby Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-1 (H) v Lincoln City</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23-Aug-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">0-0 (A) v Ebbsfleet United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">25-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt"><a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/county-target-second-best-conference-run.html" target="_blank">2-1 (A) v Braintree Town</a></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27-Aug-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-2 (A) v Telford United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt"><a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/local-rivals-meet-at-conference-summit.html" target="_blank">2-0 (H) v Hereford United</a></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">29-Aug-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-3 (H) v Kidderminster</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-Sep-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> <a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/role-reversal-at-racecourse-ground.html" target="_blank">0-2 (A) v Wrexham</a></font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt"></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3-Sep-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">0-1 (H) v Cambridge United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-Sep-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt"><a href="http://www.amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/09/county-focus-on-repelling-accurate-darts.html" target="_blank">1-2 (A) v Dartford</a></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10-Sep-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">0-5 (A) v Mansfield Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">8-Sep-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">(H) v Stockport County</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="4"><strong>Stockport County Overview</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">One of the biggest problems that Stockport encountered in their first season outside league football since 1904-05 was the lack of a regular marksman. Whilst an impressive 16 players got on the scoresheet at some point during the season, their top goalscorers Tom Elliott and Danny Rowe, both of whom scored against County last season, only managed eight goals apiece. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">This statistic probably explains why one player is no longer with the Hatters, with changes clearly needing to be made as Elliott transferred to Cambridge United for an undisclosed fee in the summer. Danny Rowe, however, was a loan player who has returned to County until January 2013. Whilst a new set of forwards have been moderately successful in answering the charge to score more goals, with County bagging three on Tuesday evening against Macclesfield and finding the net in each of their last four games, the defence has been leaking them in at least equal measure, with eight goals being conceded in the last four games. This does not bode well for the Hatters as they come up against what many expect to be one of the most potent strike forces in the division this season.</font></p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="261"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 53pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2560" width="70"> <col style="width: 143pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6985" width="191"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" height="20" width="70" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Date</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" width="190"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Stockport County</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-0 (H) v Alfreton Town</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">14-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-1 (A) v Grimsby Town</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">0-1 (A) v Tamworth</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">25-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-2 (H) v Gateshead</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-2 (A) v Telford United</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-Sep-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-1 (H) v Cambridge United</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-Sep-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">3-4 (H) v Macclesfield Town</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Indeed, after an extremely positive start in which Stockport were one of only two teams who recorded back to back wins in the opening two games of the season, the other being Newport County, things have started to go wrong. The Hatters, in a sequence of results that is eerily reminiscent of Newport last season, have now only picked up two points from the last five games despite having only met Grimsby of those sides who were tipped to be vying for promotion at the start of the season. This will be viewed by Director of Football and Stockport legend Jim Gannon as somewhat disappointing, given that the club had been taking steps to strengthen and improve the squad even before the end of last season in the hope of making a concerted challenge for promotion back to the Football League this season. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Given the current losing streaks of both clubs, Gannon will be impressing on his players the importance of not conceding an early goal on Saturday. Whilst Newport may have lost their previous two matches, confidence would quickly return to their side should they get ahead, whereas Stockport’s confidence is currently at a much lower ebb. Should the Hatters be able to prevent the home side from being able to open them up with their intricate passing game, and thus begin to frustrate both the players and the home fans, Stockport may then be in with a realistic chance of snatching a draw, or even catching the home side on a counter attack. However, recent defensive performances suggest that it will be a tough afternoon for the visitors.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong>Previous Encounters </strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Until last season, Newport County had not met Stockport County in the league since the former club reformed in 1989 and, as a consequence, the only previous encounters took place last season.</font></p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="526"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 58pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2816" width="77"> <col style="width: 86pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4205" width="115"> <col style="width: 19pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 914" span="2" width="25"> <col style="width: 86pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4169" width="114"> <col style="width: 31pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1499" width="41"> <col style="width: 52pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2523" width="69"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2157" width="59"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="21" width="77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">20/09/2011</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="114"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" width="25" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" width="25" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="114"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Stockport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="41" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">1,205</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="69"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">D. Rose</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" width="58"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong> </strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="21" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">11/02/2012</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Stockport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3,565</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">A. Sandell</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">J. Harris</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify">The first game, a 1-1 draw at Spytty Park, took place just 10 days after the Mansfield defeat described above and, depending upon perspective, could have been viewed by the Welsh club as either positive or negative. The result was positive in the sense that it ended a five match losing streak that had seen the Exiles tumble into the relegation zone. The negatives though were that it was County’s eighth consecutive game without a win after a late Tom Elliott header cancelled out a 30th minute Danny Rose strike that had for so long looked likely to seal three points for the home side. Whilst the draw left Newport floundering at the foot of the table, it was another valuable point for the mid table Hatters as they sought to recover from relegation and the financial crisis that had been threatening to destroy the club.</p> <p align="justify">By the time of the <a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/02/harris-strikes-again-in-another-late.html" target="_blank">reverse fixture in February</a>, however, both clubs were firmly embroiled in the relegation battle. The Welsh side were still in the bottom four, although a scoreless home draw with Forest Green on the quagmire at Spytty and a stunning late turnaround against Gateshead, thanks to late strikes from Sam Foley and Jake Harris, had given cause for hope. Stockport were sitting precariously just above the relegation zone but with the knowledge that they had played more games than any of their rivals.</p> <p align="justify">In a game which the home side largely controlled after the now departed striker Danny Rowe had settled their nerves with an opening 7th minute strike. After Newport had got themselves back into the game shortly after half time through attacking full back Andy Sandell, they then compounded their own problems as their goalscorer, who was playing on the left of midfield that day, was sent off. Given the sheer volume of red cards that Newport received during the 2011-12 season, especially away from home, this was something of a typical state of affairs for the Welsh side. They were immediately punished for their indiscretion when Danny Rowe scored both Stockport and his second of the match with a splendid free kick. However, in direct contrast to the first game, it was Newport who this time rescued a point late in the game when Jake Harris, who was gaining a reputation as a super sub, found an equaliser with four minutes remaining.</p> <p align="justify">Although Stockport’s start has been very similar to the one they made last year, they will fancy their chances of coming away with something from Rodney Parade, especially if they can prevent Newport from getting off to another of their blistering starts. This said though, the guile and quality of star striker Aaron O’Connor, coupled by the backing of a vociferous home crowd in close proximity to the pitch should be enough to see the Exiles get back to winning ways.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong>Forecast</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><em>Newport County 3 Stockport County 1</em></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-78756256384612416292012-09-03T15:33:00.001+02:002012-09-03T15:33:42.331+02:00Winning Streak Poll Result<p>The question in last week’s poll was, ‘What division were Newport County in when they last won 8 games on the trot?’</p> <p>There were four possible answers and here is a breakdown of those answers and the percentage votes they got, with the winning answer in bold:</p> <p>Conference Premier 33%</p> <p>Conference South 33%</p> <p>Southern League Premier 0%</p> <p><strong>Southern League Midland 33%</strong></p> <p align="justify">The last time Newport County won eight on the spin was in April-May 1994 under the guidance of Graham Rogers in the Southern League Midland Division. The run included the 5-0 thrashing of Leicester United, a 5-1 drubbing of Bilston Town and, perhaps of more interest to those following the fortunes of teams in the Conference Premier, an 8-3 victory against currently 2nd placed Forest Green Rovers. Another one of those at Rodney Parade would go down well this season!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-43895005273451677802012-09-03T15:25:00.001+02:002012-09-03T22:22:16.529+02:00County Focus On Repelling Accurate Darts<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FgONYrRvhkM/UESvshAfnyI/AAAAAAAAAaY/RVlnkDrlaZk/s1600-h/Dartford%25255B26%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 2px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Dartford" border="0" alt="Dartford" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VLxKPSHcg7I/UESvwGFhZsI/AAAAAAAAAag/lrLdKJHsD8s/Dartford_thumb%25255B24%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="146" height="146"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ri-KI_VHCZQ/UESvxw8pioI/AAAAAAAAAao/UpiPsGfjKUU/s1600-h/Newport%252520Badge%2525202012%252520Smaller%25255B5%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 2px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport Badge 2012 Smaller" border="0" alt="Newport Badge 2012 Smaller" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ee03-gxezqg/UESv0rxiraI/AAAAAAAAAaw/jm_fgeLoD50/Newport%252520Badge%2525202012%252520Smaller_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="146" height="146"></a></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Dartford v Newport County</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Conference Premier Division</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Tuesday, 4 September 2012</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Princes Park, Dartford</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify"><strong><u><font size="3">Previous Encounters</font></u></strong></p> <p align="justify">Newport County will travel to Dartford for the first time in 14 years on Tuesday evening as they seek an immediate return to winning ways. The only time the sides have previously met was during the single season the Exiles spent in the Southern League Southern Division. Having suffered relegation from the Southern League Premier the season before, in what is still the club’s only relegation since reforming, Newport finished in a comfortable 7th position, 11 points ahead of 11th placed Dartford. At the end of the season, Newport were then switched back into their regular Tier 7 home of the Southern Midland Division. </p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="516"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 94pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4571" width="125"> <col style="width: 101pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4900" width="134"> <col style="width: 22pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1060" width="29"> <col style="width: 24pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1170" width="32"> <col style="width: 105pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5120" width="140"> <col style="width: 41pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1974" width="54"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="20" width="125" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">January 31, 1998</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" width="134"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="29" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="32" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" width="140"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Dartford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" width="54" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">608</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">April 18, 1998</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Dartford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">4</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">250</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify">The two encounters between the clubs that season were both won by the home sides with utility player Danny Hill, who only scored four times during the whole league campaign, netting in both fixtures for Newport and thus being the current top scorer against Dartford. The attendance for the game at Spytty Park was only 608 and, given that the attendance for the game at Dartford was a mere 250 as opposed to the 1,145 who saw the 5-1 demolition of Alfreton Town at Princes Park on Saturday, it is pretty much guaranteed that Tuesday evening will see the highest recorded attendance between these two sides since Newport reformed. The venue for the game is also different, as the 4-2 home victory for Dartford took place at the Kent side’s then temporary home of Ship Lane. </p> <p align="justify"><strong><u><font size="3">Dartford Overview</font></u></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><font size="2">Like Newport County, Dartford have come a long way since the two sides last met in the Southern League Southern Division. Whilst County left that division by moving sideways into the Southern League Midland Division, Dartford were moving around Kent, playing in both Thurrock and Gravesend before they were finally able to build a new ground in Dartford, which opened during the 2006-07 season. During this period, the number of ground moves was more significant than any progress Dartford were making up the football pyramid. Indeed, the start of the 2005-06 season represented Dartford’s 70th season of football in the Southern League, more than any other club. It was only after their return home that the club began to take significant steps towards the top flight of English non league football for the first time since 1986.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">The year after they moved into Princes Park, Dartford were promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division and two years later in 2009-10 they also won that league and were thus promoted to the Conference South just as Newport were leaving it for the Conference Premier Division. The club then finished a highly creditable 10th place in their first season of Conference football, especially given that they were in the relegation zone in December, drawing the highest attendance of the season (2,781) in that division for their game against local rivals Ebbsfleet United. Although the highlight of the season was a 4-0 home victory over Dover, there were also some heavy reverses as Dartford sought for consistency, with both Dorchester and Hampton & Richmond helping themselves to four goal victories at Princes Park.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Dartford learnt the lessons from that first season and significantly improved last term, bagging an impressive 89 goals in collecting 88 points. Whilst this was not quite enough to finish above Woking, it was sufficient to leave the Darts in 2nd place, some 7 points clear of third placed Welling United and some 17 points clear of play off semi final opponents Basingstoke Town. Justice was eventually done as Dartford proceeded to win all three of their play off matches to gain promotion to the Conference Premier. Given their meteoric rise in recent seasons, propelled by the goals of Bradbrook, Erskine and Harris, the former two of whom scored against Alfreton last Saturday, few would bet against Dartford doing well in the Conference Premier.</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><u><font size="3">Recent Form</font></u></strong></p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="512"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 69pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3364" width="92"> <col style="width: 153pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7460" width="204"> <col style="width: 162pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7899" width="216"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" height="20" width="92" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Date</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" width="204"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">Newport County</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" width="216"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Dartford</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-3 (A) v Mansfield Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-3 (H) v Tamworth</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">14-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-0 (H) v Nuneaton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0-1 (A) v Woking</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-1 (H) v Lincoln City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0-2 (A) v Macclesfield Town</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">25-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> <a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/county-target-second-best-conference-run.html" target="_blank">2-1 (A) v Braintree Town</a></font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt"></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-0 (H) v Kidderminster Harriers</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27/28-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt"><a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/local-rivals-meet-at-conference-summit.html" target="_blank">2-0 (H) v Hereford United</a></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-1 (A) v Cambridge United</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-Sep-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/role-reversal-at-racecourse-ground.html" target="_blank">0-2 (A) v Wrexham</a></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5-1 (H) v Alfreton Town</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify">Whilst Newport had been sweeping all before them until the trip to the <a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/role-reversal-at-racecourse-ground.html" target="_blank">Racecourse Ground</a> at the weekend, Dartford have already experienced a season of contrasts. Despite their fantastic form in the Conference South last season, the Essex side initially found adjusting to the higher level a challenge. The first two games of the season, at home to a Tamworth side who had been in free fall at the end of last season and away at Conference South champions Woking, appeared to yield the possibility of early points. However, despite playing well and netting twice against Tamworth, ‘three mistakes’ in the words of manager Tony Burman cost them the points. </p> <p align="justify">This was then followed by a 1-0 defeat to Woking after Giuseppe Sole scored an 82nd minute penalty, leaving outside observers to start fearing the worst for Dartford. However, once again there were mitigating circumstances, as Dartford had to play for 55 minutes with only 10 men after Lee Noble had been sent off, an incident that even victorious Woking manager Garry Hill recognised as being pivotal to the result. The anticipated defeat at Macclesfield the following Saturday thus left Dartford without any points from their first three games but since then Tony Burman has rapidly turned things around.</p> <p align="justify">Their first victory came in what had already become a crucial match at Princes Park against Kidderminister, given that both sides had lost all three matches prior to that encounter, with substitute Lee Burns, who had only been on the field for 11 minutes after replacing the injured Adam Green, heading home a 36th minute winner. The confidence gained from this result was then taken into Dartford’s next game, where they recorded an impressive 2-1 victory at Cambridge. </p> <p align="justify">After disposing of Alfreton 5-1 on Saturday, courtesy of a hat-trick from Harry Crawford, Dartford have now won three consecutive games and are comfortably placed in 12th position in the league table. Far from being fearful of league leaders Newport County, they will view this as another opportunity to demonstrate their credentials at Conference Premier level. Consequently, the Exiles will need to exert their authority on the game in a way that they failed to do at the Racecourse Ground. Failure to do so could mean the end of their stint at the top of the table.</p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="409"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1133" width="31"> <col style="width: 191pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 9325" width="255"> <col style="width: 30pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1462" span="2" width="40"> <col style="width: 33pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1609" width="44"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="20" width="30"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong> </strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" width="254"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Conference Premier Top Half</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="40" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Pl</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="40" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>GD</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" width="44" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Pts</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" height="21" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">6</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">7</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">15</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Forest Green Rovers</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">14</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Luton Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">7</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">13</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Gateshead</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">12</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl83" height="21" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Macclesfield Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl86" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">12</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Telford United</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">7</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Wrexham</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">8</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Tamworth</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">9</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Hereford United</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Braintree Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Grimsby Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">9</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #020202; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl87" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #020202; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl88"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Dartford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #020202; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl89" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">6</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #020202; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl89" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #020202; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl90" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">9</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><strong><u><font size="3">Post Wrexham Statistical Observations</font></u></strong></p> <p align="justify">The defeat at <a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/role-reversal-at-racecourse-ground.html" target="_blank">Wrexham</a> on Saturday was the 8th time in 13 attempts that Newport County failed to get progress beyond a five game winning streak and means that the South Walians have now failed to score at the Racecourse Ground in three attempts. Indeed, County have only collected a total of two points from five games against Wrexham at an average of 0.4 points per game, which is the worst return County have against any side in the Conference Premier this season. The table below shows the closest challengers:</p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="446"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 116pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5668" width="155"> <col style="width: 45pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2194" width="60"> <col style="width: 42pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2048" width="56"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2121" width="58"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2157" width="59"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2121" width="58"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" width="154"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Team</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="60" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Games</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="56" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Won</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Drawn</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Lost</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>PPG</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Wrexham</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.40</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Luton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.50</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Ebbsfleet United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.50</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Telford United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.50</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Nuneaton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.81</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Barrow</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1.00</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Southport</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1.00</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Stockport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1.00</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify">PPG = Points Per Game</p> <p align="justify">County have not only failed to gain maximum points against Wrexham in five attempts, but they have also failed to score against the Dragons in their last four encounters. Indeed, the only player who has managed to find the net for Newport in this fixture is the recently departed Darryl Knights, who scored in the first meeting between the two sides back in September 2010. The table below shows Newport worst goals per game ratio against the teams currently in the Conference Premier, with Wrexham once again proving to be the most problematic side for the Exiles:</p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="446"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 116pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5668" width="155"> <col style="width: 45pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2194" width="60"> <col style="width: 42pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2048" width="56"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2121" width="58"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2157" width="59"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2121" width="58"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" width="154"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Team</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="60" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Games</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="56" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Goals</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Home</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Away</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>GPG</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Wrexham</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.20</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Luton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.50</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Ebbsfleet United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.50</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Telford United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.50</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Cambridge United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0.75</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify">GPG = Goals Per Game</p> <p align="justify">A more positive statistic concerns the way Newport bounced back the last time that a five match winning streak came to an end in October 2010 with a 2-0 reverse in front of 3,246 at Grimsby Town. The following three games yielded a total of seven points as County followed up a disappointing 3-3 home draw with Eastbourne by thrashing York City 4-0, with two goals apiece from Sam Foley and Craig Reid, and beating champions elect Crawley Town 3-2 on their own ground, with Craig Reid also scoring in that game. </p> <p align="justify">Twelve months prior to this particular sequence, the Exiles had gone on another five game winning streak in the Conference South, a run that was brought to an end with a 1-1 draw against Weymouth despite yet another Craig Reid goal. On that occasion, County went on to win all of their next three matches 1-0 (against Woking, Bath City and St. Albans City). Furthermore, they went on to record six match and seven match winning streaks later in the same season in amassing 103 points. </p> <p align="justify">Overall therefore, statistics support the notion that Newport County will bounce back on Tuesday evening against Dartford. However, the form and confidence of the home side will make this a particularly tricky encounter and the old adage that the first goal is crucial is perhaps particularly apt here, as the confidence of the team that scores it will grow immeasurably. However, I suspect that the game will end in a draw, especially if the reports that the impressive Danny Crow’s injury is fairly serious prove to be true.</p> <p align="justify"><strong><u><font size="3">Forecast</font></u></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><em>Dartford 2 Newport County 2</em></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-27052380836313066382012-08-29T15:36:00.001+02:002012-08-30T07:19:59.452+02:00Role Reversal At The Racecourse Ground<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oocXpCyWTDY/UD4au1o34_I/AAAAAAAAAZc/xAHG7L43zCo/s1600-h/Wrexham%252520Badge%252520Clear%25255B11%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Wrexham Badge Clear" border="0" alt="Wrexham Badge Clear" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9jLVp5WotE0/UD4awokboQI/AAAAAAAAAZk/mSYVLpn8Xsw/Wrexham%252520Badge%252520Clear_thumb%25255B9%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="146" height="146"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uFCKvONG-5w/UD4ayLRNp9I/AAAAAAAAAZs/0xY2U6aY3rM/s1600-h/Newport%252520Badge%2525202012%252520Smaller%25255B40%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport Badge 2012 Smaller" border="0" alt="Newport Badge 2012 Smaller" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XZjPZ9D0eGA/UD4azsuMaGI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/1X8vPaaarG8/Newport%252520Badge%2525202012%252520Smaller_thumb%25255B38%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="146" height="146"></a></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Wrexham v Newport County</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Conference Premier Division</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Saturday, 1 September 2012</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Racecourse Ground, Wrexham</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="4"><u>Record League Crowd See County March On</u></font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">What a difference twelve months makes. This time last year, Newport County were rapidly dismantling the preseason expectations of their supporters as they went on a run of 12 games without a win, a downward spiral that would eventually see manager Anthony Hudson sacked and the club deeply embroiled in a relegation battle at the foot of the Conference Premier Division. The 12 game winless streak was the joint second worst sequence without a win that County had endured since reforming in 1989, with the other 12 game winless streak coming in the same calendar year as County struggled to adapt to life in the Conference Premier. Forward on 12 months and The Exiles, having won all of their matches in August, are top of the league and beginning to make a much more positive impact on the record book.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">A combination of the new surroundings of Rodney (or ‘Dave’ as the locals call it) Parade, a successful start to the season and the visit of high flying local rivals Hereford United saw the club break its <a href="http://www.amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/local-rivals-meet-at-conference-summit.html" target="_blank">previous highest league attendance</a> of 4,221. Given that this gate was recorded two years ago against Havant & Waterlooville on the day that Newport County were crowned champions of the Conference South the crowd of 4,365, following on from the 11,000+ that went to Wembley in May, may represent a watershed moment for the club in terms of permanently increasing the size of its hardcore fan base.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">In an open and entertaining game, Newport once again demonstrated the quality of player that they now have at their disposal. Both sides had failed to make the most of their chances, with Len Pidgeley critically saved an early penalty and it was increasingly starting to look like a goalless draw until attacking left back Andy Sandell unleashed a spectacular 30 yard piledriver to put County ahead. Aaron O’Connor then completed a special night for the packed crowd by netting a second in injury time, taking advantage of some sloppy play by Hereford in the midfield, as the visitors vainly attempted to find an equaliser.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">The win took Newport three points clear of Macclesfield Town at the top of the league and was Newport’s fifth consecutive league victory, a feat that they have only achieved on 12 previous occasions. On seven (over 50%) of those previous 12 occasions County failed to extend their winning streak any further, including the last occasion they got this far in September 2010. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">However, when they seek a sixth consecutive victory at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday, The Exiles will be buoyed by the knowledge that they have one of the hottest properties outside the football league at the moment in Aaron O’Connor. The former Luton striker has become only the second County player to net six times during the month of August, matching the achievement of Carl Dale during the Southern League Premier campaign of 1999. Whilst Dale went on to net on 19 occasions in the league that season, as Newport finished 7th, O’Connor will be both hoping and expecting to go beyond that figure with a minimum 25 goals now being a very realistic target.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">The table below is a compilation of all the Newport players since the club were reformed who have scored three goals or more during the month of August.</font></p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="457"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 67pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3254" width="89"> <col style="width: 85pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4132" width="113"> <col style="width: 143pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6948" width="190"> <col style="width: 48pt" width="64"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72" height="20" width="89" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Year</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" width="113"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Player</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" width="190"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>League</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" width="64" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Goals</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-99</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">C. Dale</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">6</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl74" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">August-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt">A. O'Connor</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-10</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">C. Reid</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">5</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-04</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">J. Moralee</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">5</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">D. Rose</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">4</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-96</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">A. Evans</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">4</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-94</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">L. Jones</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Midland</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">4</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-97</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">M. Boyle</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Southern</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">4</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-98</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">K. Bayliss</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Midland</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">4</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">E. Buchanon</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-95</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">D. Webley</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-99</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">L. Brown</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-02</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font color="#ffffff"><font style="font-size: 11pt">N. Davis</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-06</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">J. Alsop</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-06</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">C. Hughes</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-07</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">J. Bowen</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-09</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">S. Foley</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-09</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">C. Reid</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-90</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">C. Lilygreen</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Midland</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">August-91</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">C. Lilygreen</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern League Midland</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><strong><font size="4"><u>Wrexham v Newport County Form Guide</u></font></strong></p> <p align="justify">Whilst the Conference Premier table makes excellent reading for Newport County fans, with the South Walian side having already opened up a three point gap over nearest rivals Macclesfield, Wrexham fans may have a few reservations about their side still. In amassing 98 points last season, Wrexham became the highest ever point scorers not to be promoted. Despite a positive preseason in which the Dragons won five times, the inevitable loss of key players from last season, such as top scorer Jake Speight and midfielder Jamie Tolley, both of whom went to Mansfield Town, dynamic midfielder Lee Fowler (who left for Fleetwood in the January transfer window), Mathias Pogba (released) and Nathaniel Percival-Knight (Peterborough United), meant that Wrexham were always likely to face a tough start. </p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="409"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1133" width="31"> <col style="width: 191pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 9325" width="255"> <col style="width: 30pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1462" span="2" width="40"> <col style="width: 33pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1609" width="44"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="20" width="30"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong> </strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" width="254"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Conference Premier</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" width="40" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Pl</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" width="40" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>GD</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #974706; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72" width="44" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Pts</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="21" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">5</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">9</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">15</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Macclesfield Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">12</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Forest Green Rovers</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl83" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Hereford United</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl86" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl87" height="21" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl88"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Luton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl89" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl89" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl90" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl83" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Tamworth</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl86" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl83" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">7</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Gateshead</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl86" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">9</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl83" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">8</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Telford United</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl86" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">8</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl83" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">9</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Cambridge United</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl86" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">8</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: red; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">10</font></td> <td style="background-color: red; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Wrexham</font></td> <td style="background-color: red; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: red; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">1</font></td> <td style="background-color: red; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">8</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl83" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Braintree Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl86" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">7</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl91" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl92"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Stockport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl93" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl93" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl94" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">7</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify">Had Tamworth’s Duane Courtney not headed an 8th minute free kick into his own net to give Wrexham a crucial 1-0 win on Easter Monday, the table would look a lot worse than it currently does. The North Walians are currently lying 10th in the table and face a daunting set of fixtures between now and the middle of September, with trips to both Cambridge United and Luton Town following shortly after the visit of Conference leaders Newport County. Manager Andy Morrell will have to face these fixtures without talismanic defender Mark Creighton, whose knee injury could potentially see him miss the rest of the season and, with the transfer window due to close on Friday night, the Wrexham boss has admitted that he is struggling to capture the extra players that are needed to add depth to the squad.</p> <p align="justify">Whilst early season results can often be unusual, Wrexham will feel that they should have picked up more points that they have, with the 1-1 draw at Ebbsfleet and the 0-0 home draw with Grimsby both being disappointing results. However, Tamworth were unbeaten prior to Monday’s encounter and a second consecutive clean sheet for Wrexham is reminiscent of the miserly defence that at one point last season conceded only three goals in 14 league games. Any notion of defence frugality though is likely to be sorely tested by the impressive Newport forward line on Saturday. </p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="512"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 69pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3364" width="92"> <col style="width: 153pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7460" width="204"> <col style="width: 162pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7899" width="216"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" height="20" width="92" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Date</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" width="204"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">Newport County</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" width="216"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">Wrexham</font></strong></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-3 (A) v Mansfield Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">3-1 (H) v Woking</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">14-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-0 (H) v Nuneaton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">0-2 (A) v Macclesfield Town</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-1 (H) v Lincoln City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-1 (A) v Ebbsfleet United</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">25-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-1 (A) v <a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/county-target-second-best-conference-run.html" target="_blank">Braintree Town</a></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">0-0 (H) v Grimsby Town</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27/28-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-0 (H) v <a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/08/local-rivals-meet-at-conference-summit.html" target="_blank">Hereford United</a></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #00b050; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">1-0 (A) v Tamworth</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><strong><u><font size="4">Previous Encounters</font></u></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">Newport County have met Wrexham on four occasions since they were reformed, all of which fixtures have taken place over the last two seasons. Given that The Exiles have failed to record a win in any of these games, they must either break their duck on Saturday or see another five match winning streak come to an end.</font></p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="493"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 124pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6034" width="165"> <col style="width: 41pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1974" span="6" width="54"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20" width="165"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Wrexham</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" width="328" colspan="6" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Overall Record</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong> </strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Played</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Won</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Drawn</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Lost</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>For</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Against</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Overall</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>4</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>0</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>2</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>2</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>1</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>3</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"> <p><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Co</strong></font><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>nference Premier</strong></font></p></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">0</font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">1</font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><font size="2">County have not only failed to record a win in their two visits to the Racecourse Ground, they have failed to even score a goal. However, those statistics do not do justice to the quality of the performance from Newport when they travelled to Wrexham in October last season. With Wrexham having won the previous five league games, the last three of which were done with clean sheets and with Newport having only just emerged from their dreadful run of 12 games without victory, the 0-0 draw that they fought out at the Racecourse Ground felt like victory to the players and fans.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FBPlzuvPZ7Y/UD4a11oVorI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/BuhLU0T3_QM/s1600-h/Lee%252520Evans%252520v%252520Wrexham%2525202011-12%252520Season%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Lee Evans v Wrexham 2011-12 Season" border="0" alt="Lee Evans v Wrexham 2011-12 Season" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZXi7ibKRU_Y/UD4a3cSyD4I/AAAAAAAAAaE/WEkou9DVv-c/Lee%252520Evans%252520v%252520Wrexham%2525202011-12%252520Season_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="195" height="246"></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="2"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="2"><strong>Lee Evans during his home debut against Wrexham in April last season.</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">(<em>picture courtesy of Sam Shingler – see <a href="http://newportcountyphotos.sharepoint.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Newport County Photos</a> link on the right of this article for more of his work) </em></font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="2"></font></strong> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="2"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="2">For much of the season, it looked as though the return clash in Newport would be decisive for both clubs, with Wrexham pushing hard for promotion and County fighting desperately against relegation. However, by the time Wrexham visited Spytty Park in April for The Exiles final home game of the season, Fleetwood had already clinched the only automatic promotion place and Justin Edinburgh had managed to extract just enough from his team to keep them up. Wrexham won the game 1-0 through a first half Adrian Cieslewicz strike, leaving Newport with just two draws and one goal to show from the four encounters with their Welsh rivals. As the two teams meet this Saturday though, the roles have been reversed somewhat. It is Newport who top the Conference having strung together five consecutive victories and Wrexham who are struggling to find some form. Should Newport make it six wins on the trot, it will be the first time they have achieved such a feat at Conference Premier level and, despite what will be another frenetic derby, their fans will believe victory is more than possible.</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><u><font size="4">Forecast</font></u></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><em>Wrexham 1 Newport County 2</em></font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><u><font size="4"></font></u></strong></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-33603208495682242002012-08-26T19:19:00.001+02:002012-08-26T19:21:48.243+02:00Local Rivals Meet At Conference Summit<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jGddW9Iq9l0/UDpafCoZArI/AAAAAAAAAYw/MD0jlWuym90/s1600-h/Hereford-United11.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Hereford United" border="0" alt="Hereford United" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Fj6HoB61M8U/UDpagiLONwI/AAAAAAAAAY4/EVQO1FI6PFM/Hereford-United_thumb11.png?imgmax=800" width="134" height="134"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_-13tjRd8dI/UDpaiNY1jGI/AAAAAAAAAZA/6r4294AUvFk/s1600-h/Newport-Badge-2012-Smaller28.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport Badge 2012 Smaller" border="0" alt="Newport Badge 2012 Smaller" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6n6T47c1ve8/UDpajrNezFI/AAAAAAAAAZI/MUGoGOKZxfA/Newport-Badge-2012-Smaller_thumb28.png?imgmax=800" width="134" height="134"></a></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="2">Newport County v Hereford United</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="2">Conference Premier Division</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="2">Tuesday, 28 August 2012</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="2">Rodney Parade, Newport</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="4">Rodney Parade Brings Back The Crowds</font></strong></p> <p align="justify">On Tuesday evening, local rivals Newport County and Hereford United will meet for the first time since Newport County reformed back in 1989 in a highly anticipated top of the table clash that could break the record for Newport’s highest Conference Premier League attendance. The current record is 3,462 which was set in another top of the table clash against AFC Wimbledon back in January 2011. However, the level of interest in the game means that this record is under threat, with County taking the unusual step of recommending that supporters buy tickets in advance and Hereford potentially bringing several hundred.</p> <p align="justify">Although County’s record Conference Premier League attendance is undoubtedly under threat, it would be a remarkable achievement should their record league attendance be broken. The 4,221 that saw the Exiles beat Havant & Waterlooville 2-0 to claim the Conference South championship was more than 750 higher than have attended any other Newport match since reformation in 1989. Without doubt it was the occasion and the pending success of the club that drew the supporters out that day, as the next County home game against Woking just 12 days later saw only 1,742 attend, a drop of approximately 2,500. </p> <p align="justify">Although Newport have yet to find a way to keep such large crowds on a regular basis, significant progress was made under the Chris Blight regime. When 1,080 people turned up at Spytty Park to see the 4-2 Conference South home defeat by Sutton United on 30 August 2004, it was the first time that the 1,000 attendance barrier had been breached in two and a half years. Although the 1,000 barrier was broken again in the final home game of the season against Maidenhead United, it was only six seasons ago, in 2006-07, that County finally started to see four figure attendances on a regular basis. In the light of this reality, the attendances during the relegation battle at Spytty last season, all of which were above 1,000, were perhaps not as bad as has been made out. </p> <p align="justify">In any debate, there are always at least two perspectives. One perspective on attendances is that they are on a long term upward curve. However, there is another perspective which suggests that they are still not as high as they ought to be. Back in May, upwards of 11,000 attended the FA Trophy Final against York City at Wembley. Even allowing for the fact that some of this momentum has undoubtedly been carried forward to this season, with County recording their 6th (v Lincoln City) and 12th (v Nuneaton Town) highest league attendances since reforming, the reality is that several thousand people who attended the Wembley showpiece have not yet set foot inside Rodney Parade this season. The hope and expectation is that, with the Exiles sitting on top of the Conference Premier League table and second placed local rivals Hereford United the visitors, that many more of the Wembley attendees will be present on Tuesday night.</p> <p align="justify">Below is a list of Newport County’s top 20 league attendances. It is interesting to note that, despite now playing at a higher level than at any other time since 1989, eight of the top 20 attendances were achieved during periods of success at a lower level.</p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="522"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 26pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1280" width="35"> <col style="width: 146pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7094" width="194"> <col style="width: 65pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3181" width="87"> <col style="width: 107pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5193" width="142"> <col style="width: 48pt" width="64"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" height="20" width="34" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong> </strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl70" width="194"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Attendance & Opposition</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl80" width="86" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Date</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71" width="142" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Division</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl71" width="64" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Result</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">4,221 v Havant & Waterlooville</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">15/03/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Won 2-0</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3,462 v AFC Wimbledon</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">03/01/2011</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Drew 3-3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3,206 v Wrexham</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">05/09/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Drew 1-1</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">4</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3,201 v Dover Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">17/04/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Won 3-0</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">5</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">3,084 v Bishop's Stortford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">12/03/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Won 1-0</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72" height="20" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl73"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3,024 v Lincoln City</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18/08/2012</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl72" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Won 2-1</font></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">7</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,903 v Bath City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">01/01/2011</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Lost 1-2</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">8</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,834 v Luton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">18/02/2011</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Drew 1-1</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">9</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,802 v York City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">09/10/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Won 4-0</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">10</font></span></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,713 v Mansfield Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">18/09/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Won 1-0</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,677 v Forest Green Rovers</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">28/09/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Won 3-1</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl74" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl75"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2,646 v Nuneaton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl79" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">14/08/2012</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl74" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl74" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Won 4-0</font></span></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">13</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,546 v AFC Wimbledon</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">09/08/2008</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Lost 1-4</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">14</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,525 v Worcester City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">01/01/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Won 1-0</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">15</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,475 v Redditch United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">23/08/1994</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern Midland</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Won 4-0</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">16</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,403 v Eastbourne Borough</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">05/10/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Drew 3-3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">17</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,271 v Redditch United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">22/08/1990</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Southern Midland</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Lost 0-1</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">18</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,230 v Kettering Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">30/10/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Lost 1-2</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">19</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,217 v Tamworth</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">17/08/2010</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference Premier</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Drew 1-1</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: middle; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl69" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">20</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">2,205 v Dorchester Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">28/12/2009</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Conference South</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Won 3-0</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="4">Recent Form Comparison</font></strong></p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <p align="justify"> <p align="justify"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us">Newport and Hereford have made fantastic starts to the season and, with top spot in the league the reward for the winners, both sides will be confident enough to be looking for maximum points from Rodney Parade on Tuesday night. Newport County’s winning sequence stretched to four matches last Saturday, when they showed great strength of character in coming from behind to beat Braintree at the Amlin Stadium. Should they manage to beat Hereford they will equal their best ever winning sequence at Conference Level, though they are still a long way short of equaling the remarkable 14 game winning streak that helped the club get promotion from the Southern League Midland Division back in 1994-95.</span> <p align="justify"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us">Hereford, for their part, are still in the process of recovering from their second relegation in the space of three years. In 2008, they finished 3rd in League 2 and thus gained automatic promoted to the third tier of English football for the first time in 30 years, winning 26 of their 46 league games, including an impression 15 away from home. However, after suffering a miserable season in League 1 in which they only won six games and finished bottom of the league, the Bulls were relegated back to League 2, where they continued to suffer. Having finished in lower mid table in 2009-10, United slid still further the following season, finishing 21st and only narrowly avoiding relegation after suffering a three point deduction. Last season the club fell still further and were relegated on the final day of the season, despite recording a 3-2 victory against Torquay.</span></p></p></tbody></table> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="501"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 67pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3254" width="89"> <col style="width: 146pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7131" width="195"> <col style="width: 163pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7936" width="217"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl67" height="20" width="89"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" width="194"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">Newport County</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #974706; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl66" width="217"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">Hereford United</font></strong></td></tr><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">10/11 Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65"><font color="#ffffff"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-3 (A) v Mansfield Town</font></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65"><font color="#ffffff"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-1 (H) v Macclesfield Town</font></font></td></tr><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">14-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65"><font color="#ffffff"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-0 (H) v Nuneaton Town</font></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65"><font color="#ffffff"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-2 (A) v Tamworth</font></font></td></tr><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">18-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65"><font color="#ffffff"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-1 (H) v Lincoln City</font></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65"><font color="#ffffff"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">3-0 (A) v Alfreton Town</font></font></td></tr><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us"> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl68" height="20" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">25-Aug-12</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65"><font color="#ffffff"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-1 (A) v Braintree Town</font></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class="xl65"><font color="#ffffff"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt">4-2 (H) v Ebbsfleet United</font></font></td></tr></span></span></span></span></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us">As if often the case with teams getting relegated from a higher division, many expect Hereford to be amongst the frontrunners in the Conference Premier this season and their early season form suggests that this may well indeed be the case. After winning a tough opening fixture against the other relegated side, Macclesfield Town, they drew at Tamworth and then recorded two comfortable victories against Alfreton and Ebbsfleet. Like Newport, they have found goals easy to come by with seven different players scoring in the league already this season and Marley Watkins and Sean Canham both netting in three of the four games played so far.</span></p> <p align="justify"><span style="mso-ansi-language: en-us">Given that this is an early season top of the table encounter, a first derby between these sides since the 1980s and a game which will be played in front of a big crowd in the still new setting of Rodney Parade, it would not be a surprise if the game is a close, feisty encounter and neither side would view a point as a bad result.</span></p> </tbody></table><br clear="all"> <p><strong><font size="3"></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="4">Forecast</font></strong></p> <p><font size="4"><em>Newport County 1 Hereford United 1</em></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-980549489053277432012-08-22T12:32:00.001+02:002012-08-22T20:16:42.240+02:00County Target Second Best Conference Run<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U4N7B9GMuC4/UDS1BSuS9kI/AAAAAAAAAYE/T8Ywwx-Ujr0/s1600-h/Opponents%25255B5%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Opponents" border="0" alt="Opponents" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iWAKTkvNQIk/UDS1F6Pmo6I/AAAAAAAAAYM/jFxSZuEhk0Q/Opponents_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="131" height="141"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G7k4vUCSAdI/UDS1I89MQqI/AAAAAAAAAYU/zFPb3m7hmV0/s1600-h/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport County Badge 2" border="0" alt="Newport County Badge 2" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v9NVufG8oq8/UDS1K2GRrUI/AAAAAAAAAYc/Jibg9h_y8lU/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="126" height="139"></a></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Braintree Town v Newport County </font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Conference Premier Division</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="3">Saturday, 25 August 2012</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>Amlin Stadium, Braintree </strong></font></p> <p align="justify">Newport County will step out onto the Amlin Stadium pitch in Braintree on Saturday afternoon as the early Conference Premier Division pacesetters, after resisting a second half resurgence from Lincoln City at Rodney Parade last Saturday to record a valuable 2-1 victory. The three points maintained the perfect start to the season that County have made and cemented their place at the top of the embryonic league table. It was also, perhaps more notably, only the third time that Newport have managed to gain three consecutive victories since they were promoted to the Conference in 2010. Victory over Braintree on Saturday would therefore see them win a fourth consecutive Conference match. </p> <p align="justify">The only time that County have won more than three consecutive games at Conference level was at the start of the 2010-11 season. Under the guidance of Dean Holdsworth, a side still buoyed by the confidence of gaining 103 points in the Conference South the previous season, despite their relatively slow start to life at Conference Premier level, recorded consecutive victories against Rushden & Diamonds (2-1 away), Mansfield Town (1-0 home), Hayes & Yeading (2-1 away), Cambridge United (1-0 away) and Forest Green Rovers (3-1 home). </p> <p align="justify">The 2010 run was in no small measure due to the form of striker Craig Reid, who bagged four of the nine County goals in those five games and a remarkable 58 goals in just 96 overall appearances for the Exiles before being earning a move to the Football League with Stevenage in 2011. Similarly, the current run has been down to the newly formed County strikeforce, and in particular to Aaron O’Connor. The 29 year old Nottingham born striker has already played for a whole host of clubs during his career, including early season opponents Nuneaton Town and Mansfield Town, despite his proven ability to score goals at the lower levels. He netted 80 times in just 127 games for Gresley Rovers between 2004-07 and has started in similar fashion for Newport, scoring five times in his first three matches despite claims that he is still only 75% fit. Should his form continue, there is every chance that County will be able to extend their winning sequence.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong>Previous Encounters</strong></font></p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="505"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 116pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5668" width="155"> <col style="width: 45pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2194" width="60"> <col style="width: 42pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2048" width="56"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2121" width="58"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2157" width="59"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2121" span="2" width="58"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20" width="154"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Team</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="60" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Played</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="56" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Won</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Drawn</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Lost</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>For</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Against</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Braintree Town</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>10</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>4</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>1</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>5</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>13</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>13</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Conference Premier (5)</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Conference South (6)</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">8</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">8</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify">Saturday’s match will be the 11th time that Newport County have played Braintree Town since the Welsh club were reformed and the third time at Conference Premier level with the clubs, barring the 2010-11 season, having played in the same division ever since Braintree were promoted to the Conference South for the start of the 2006-07 season. Overall, honours are fairly even with Braintree having won on five occasions and Newport on four occasions. However, last season Braintree completed their second double over Newport, whilst the Exiles have only managed to do the double over Braintree on the one occasion, which was during the success Conference South promotion season of 2009-10.</p> <p align="justify">The corresponding fixture last season saw Newport arrive at the Amlin Stadium in the complete opposite state to how they will arrive at the weekend. They had just received a fourth consecutive league defeat in the form of a 5-0 thrashing at Mansfield Town, which during a visit to Britain the author rather predictably picked as his first Newport game of the season, and a 1-0 defeat at Braintree consequently left the Exiles in a precarious position at the foot of the table. Indeed, despite drawing the following three league fixtures, Newport considered their state to be so perilous that manager Anthony Hudson was duly sacked before the end of the month.</p> <p align="justify">By the time the teams met again at Spytty Park in March 2012, Justin Edinburgh had taken over the reigns at County and was in the process of steering the Welsh club to safety. Newport had recently seen a five match unbeaten run come to an end at Tamworth after two goals were conceded in the final 10 minutes of the match, but were still desperately in need of points to keep clear of the relegation. However, they were not to obtain them against Braintree, as midfielder Lee MInshull received a questionable red card and the visitors netted three times in the first 35 minutes on their way to a 4-3 victory that was not as close as the scoreline would suggest.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong>At The Amlin Stadium</strong></font></p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="505"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 116pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5668" width="155"> <col style="width: 45pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2194" width="60"> <col style="width: 42pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2048" width="56"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2121" width="58"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2157" width="59"> <col style="width: 44pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2121" span="2" width="58"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20" width="154"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Team</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="60" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Played</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="56" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Won</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Drawn</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Lost</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>For</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" width="58" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Against</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Braintree Town</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0"><strong>5</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0"><strong>1</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0"><strong>1</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0"><strong>3</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0"><strong>5</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #bebebe; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0"><strong>7</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Conference Premier (5)</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">1</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">0</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">0</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">1</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">0</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">1</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Conference South (6)</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">1</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">1</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #93cedd; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#7030a0">6</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify">The highest attendance at the Amlin Stadium for a game against Newport County was 1,187, a figure greatly bolstered by the fact that it was the last game of the season and Braintree were endeavoring to hold onto 5th place in the league and a play off spot in the Conference South, with Newport having already been promoted as champions. The Welsh side had pretty much put an end to those play off dreams within 11 minutes though, as Collins and Cochlin put them two up. Whilst Braintree fought back with a second half penalty, it was not enough to retain their play off position and it would be another 12 months before Braintree joined Newport in the Conference Premier.</p> <p align="justify">That particular victory was the only time that Newport have won at the Amlin Stadium in five attempts, but the form and the quality of their squad would suggest a positive return on Saturday. The County forward line will be a threat to any side in the Conference this season and Braintree have issues with their defence, after conceding five goals in three games against Hyde, Ebbsfleet and Telford, all of whom are expected to be in the lower echelons of the division.</p> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="4">Forecast</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><em>Braintree Town 0 Newport County 2</em></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-27252712438159460152012-02-14T21:51:00.001+02:002012-02-16T15:14:17.415+02:00Conference Survival Fight Part 1 – Bath City<p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-URFtLYUeCrw/TzteTbfNK8I/AAAAAAAAAT4/SbYlOIfmhUo/s1600-h/Bath%252520City%252520Badge%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Bath City Badge" border="0" alt="Bath City Badge" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-18T-Kmg5GN0/TzteUWdJsII/AAAAAAAAAUA/NdwfymTKHVg/Bath%252520City%252520Badge_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="229"></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">With the season now more than two thirds of the way through and spring on the horizon, despite the cold weather Britain has currently been experiencing, league games are becoming ever more critical. In the lower reaches of the Conference Premier table nine clubs are threatened with relegation, with 16th placed Lincoln City some 7 points adrift of Ebbsfleet United, the club above them in the league.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">This is the first in a series of articles looking at the clubs that are currently involved in the relegation with the view to making an assessment about which clubs are likely to survive and which are likely to be relegated.</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><u><font size="4">Bottom Of The Conference</font></u></strong></p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="409"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1133" width="31"> <col style="width: 191pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 9325" width="255"> <col style="width: 30pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1462" span="2" width="40"> <col style="width: 33pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1609" width="44"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21" width="30" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">16</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" width="254"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Lincoln City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" width="40" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">32</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" width="40" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-14</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" width="44" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">17</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">-8</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">30</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Stockport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">33</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-18</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">29</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">19</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Darlington</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">32</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-9</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">20</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70"><font style="font-size: 11pt">AFC Telford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-16</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">21</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Kettering Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-36</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Alfreton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-29</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">25</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Hayes & Yeading</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-24</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Bath City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">30</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-33</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Of all the sides embroiled in the relegation battle, Bath City are the team in the greatest danger. They are currently six points adrift at the foot of the table and ten points adrift of safety with many pundits having already written them off as relegation certainties. Recent form has also provided little evidence to suggest that the Romans are capable of staying up. After beating Newport County in a critical game at the start of January, Bath City have managed just one point from the subsequent four games, which included a 6-0 trouncing at Grimsby and a 3-0 home reverse against Alfreton Town in a game that the club would have highlighted as a ‘must win’ beforehand.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">As with many clubs at the foot of the Conference, Bath City are currently struggling financially. The Romans made the 1st Round of the FA Cup and earned a replay against Dagenham & Redbridge which earned some much needed and unexpected income after being watched by an impressive crowd of 1,704. City also progressed to the 3rd Round of the FA Trophy, which should have yielded another healthy attendance with the possibility of a trip to Wembley on the horizon. However, only 546 souls braved bitter weather conditions on a Tuesday evening as Bath were beaten 2-1 by Grimsby, in what has been reported as the lowest attendance to watch the Mariners in a competitive fixture since the War. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The low attendance in the FA Trophy has also been mirrored by comparatively low attendances in the league with Bath, at 890 fans per match, currently having the third worst average attendance in the Conference behind Hayes & Yeading United and Alfreton Town. This level of support is unsustainable at Conference level, given the level of wages required to acquire the quality of player that the club needs to attract in order to survive, and it is no coincidence that the three clubs with the lowest gates in the Conference currently occupy the bottom three positions in the table.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Like Newport, one of the problems that Bath faced at the outset of the season was the increased expectation of the fans. Having finished a highly creditable 10th in their first season back in the Conference, few would have anticipated that the club would be staring relegation in the face by mid February. However, t</font><font size="3">he lack of income from gate receipts has proven to be a significant hindrance in Adie Britton’s attempts to improve the squad. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">This has lead to the recent and highly controversial announcement that the Twerton Park stadium will be renamed by the winner of a draw, the entry fee for which is £50. There are virtually no restrictions on the winner in terms of what they will rename the stadium and there are also no restrictions preventing opposition supporters from entering. The aim is clearly to raise a significant amount of money through one off donations with the prize potentially being permanent recognition at Twerton Park for the winning supporter or business. However, whilst Bath are currently publicising the scheme as innovative and exciting, it has met with a decidedly mixed reaction amongst the supporters and perhaps gives a strong indication of the state of the club’s finances.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Despite the challenges that Bath City currently face with their finances, Adie Britton was still able to strengthen his squad with three January transfer window signings. The most notable of these signings in the context of Tuesday evenings game with Newport is Tommy Doherty, a player of some quality who represented Northern Ireland on 9 occasions from 2003-5 and who made nearly 200 appearances for Bristol City. During a spell at Wycombe, Doherty made the PFA League Team of the Year on two occasions and he was a regular for Newport County until Justin Edinburgh’s decision to release him in the January transfer window in favour of players with a greater work ethic. That level of ability should aid Bath greatly as they seek to produce the seemingly impossible, though sadly for the Romans goal scoring is not one of Doherty’s strongest points, with only 9 career goals from midfield.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Also joining the Romans in January were Andy Gallinagh and Sean Canham. Gallinagh, a 26 year old defender who, whilst never able to hold down a first team position at Cheltenham Town, proved to be a useful squad member, making 130 appearances over five years. Gallinagh is in some ways not new to Bath, as he has already made 14 appearances for the club this season during a two month emergency loan spell. Striker Sean Canham has also spent two months on loan at Twerton Park this season and returns to the club on another loan deal, having scored five goals in 14 games during his first spell with Bath City. Whilst Canham has previously been sent out on loan a number of times before, he has generally produced a reasonable goal return with a particularly successful spell at Hayes & Yeading in 2009 when he netted 6 times in just 14 games. However, apart from this short spell, he has never managed to recapture the form that saw him score 68 times in 120 appearances for Team Bath. The Romans will need him to net a number of times between now and the end of the season if they are to survive.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">This week has become a critical week in determining whether Bath City have any chance of escaping the drop. On paper, there were three very winnable fixtures against sides in the bottom half of the table. However, despite creating chances on Tuesday evening, the Romans fell to a 1-0 defeat against Newport County at Spytty Park in the first of these matches after an early Lee Minshull goal. This blow now means that the forthcoming home games against Ebbsfleet United and Hayes & Yeading are absolutely critical. Should Bath manage to accumulate a minimum of six points from these games, they could move potentially move themselves within touching distance of the teams above them. This would allow the club to go into a tough sequence of games against promotion chasing Kidderminster, Luton and York with more confidence. Anything less, however, and the task will be virtually impossible.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The reality of the situation is, as was demonstrated at Spytty Park last night, that whilst supporters will highlight games that they see as potentially winnable at this stage of the season, it would actually take a dramatic change of form for the Romans to be able to put together the kind of winning run that is necessary to avoid relegation. Given that Newport are down at the foot of the table and were totally outplayed at Twerton Park in January, Romans fans will have anticipated gaining at least a point and yet they came back with nothing. Even if they now manage to pick up six points in the games against Hayes & Yeading and Ebbsfleet, they then have to play four of the top five over the course of the next month and it is unlikely that they will pick up many points from these games, even allowing for the fact that three of them will be played at Twerton Park. Consequently, as many of their fans clearly already believe, it is highly probably that Bath City will now be relegated in April. </font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><em><font size="3">Prediction: Bath City will be relegated.</font></em></strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong><em><font size="3"></font></em></strong> </p> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Remaining Fixtures</font></u></strong></p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="465"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1133" width="31"> <col style="width: 91pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4425" width="121"> <col style="width: 40pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1938" width="53"> <col style="width: 41pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1974" width="54"> <col style="width: 41pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2011" width="55"> <col style="width: 55pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2669" width="73"> <col style="width: 58pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2816" width="77"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20" width="152" colspan="2" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">Table</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72" width="53" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">Bath<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72" width="54" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">Hayes</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72" width="54" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">Alfreton</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72" width="73" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">Newport</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: yellow; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73" width="77" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">Kettering</font></strong></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">1</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Fleetwood</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">31-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">25-Feb</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">2</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Wrexham</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">18-Feb</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">6-Apr</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">17-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">3-Mar</font></strong></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">3</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Luton Town</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">3-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">9-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">14-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">4</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">York City</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">10-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">3-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">9-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">14/4,<font class="font5"><strong>TBC</strong></font></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">5</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Kidderminster</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">25-Feb</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">9-Apr</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2">14-Apr</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">6</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Southport</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">7-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">3-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2">13-Mar</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">7</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Grimsby Town</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">TBC</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">8</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Gateshead</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">6-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">31-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">9</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Mansfield Town</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">21-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">14-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">20-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">18-Feb</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">7-Apr</font></strong></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">10</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Cambridge </font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">24-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">20-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2">9-Apr</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">11</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Barrow</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">6-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">28-Apr</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2">18/2,21/4</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">12</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Forest Green<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">9-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">17-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">21-Feb</font></strong></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">13</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Braintree Town</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">31-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">6-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2">25-Feb</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">14</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Tamworth</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">4-Apr</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">21-Feb</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">15</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Ebbsfleet </font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">18-Feb</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">27-Mar </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2">24-Mar</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">16</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Lincoln City</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">17-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">21-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">10-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">24-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">17</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Stockport </font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">24-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">28-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">6-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">31-Mar</font></strong></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">18</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Darlington</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">14-Apr</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">18-Feb</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">10-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2">28-Apr</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">19</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">AFC Telford</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">24-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">3-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">7-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">TBC</font></strong></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">20</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Kettering Town</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">10-Mar</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">17-Mar</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">21</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Newport County</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"> </td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">21-Apr</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">22</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Alfreton Town</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">28-Apr</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2">21-Apr</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">17-Mar</font></strong></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">23</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><strong><font size="2">Hayes </font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">21-Feb</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" align="middle"><font size="2">10-Mar</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" height="21" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">24</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71"><strong><font size="2">Bath City</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font size="2"> </font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font size="2">21-Feb</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80" align="middle"><strong><font size="2">28-Apr</font></strong></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80" align="middle"> </td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt"> </font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><em>Do you agree with the prediction? Why not vote in the poll to the left of this article and indicate which four teams you think will be relegated. At the end of the series, the results of this poll will be compared with the results of this table.</em></font></p> <p><font size="3"><em>The next article in this series will feature Lincoln City, who are currently 16th in the table. </em></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-6369649713996513602012-02-11T23:05:00.001+02:002012-02-12T13:29:24.659+02:00Harris Strikes Again In Another Late Show<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IZilsitSy14/TzbX_pf9k1I/AAAAAAAAATI/WvWIPjkPKfw/s1600-h/Stockport%252520County%252520Badge%25255B5%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 3px 8px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Stockport County Badge" border="0" alt="Stockport County Badge" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ySe8xa2KWe4/TzbYA55PbQI/AAAAAAAAATQ/o04ReW977k8/Stockport%252520County%252520Badge_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="134" height="142"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A8ab54i5AKs/TzbYCiXxd4I/AAAAAAAAATY/_X1EDaBaxBw/s1600-h/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 8px 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport County Badge 2" border="0" alt="Newport County Badge 2" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rsOV-WOqw3Q/TzbYDucwVII/AAAAAAAAATg/xO_GpxbgJsw/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="137" height="143"></a></p> <p><strong> Stockport County 2 Newport County 2</strong></p> <p><strong> Conference Premier</strong></p> <p><strong> Saturday, 11 February 2012</strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong> Edgeley Park, Stockport<br clear="all"></strong><font size="3">Despite the very real possibility of a trip to Wembley in the FA Trophy after the spectacular 4-0 demolition of Carshalton Athletic in midweek, Newport County were well aware that the most important match of the week, and quite possibly of the season, was the weekend relegation encounter against Stockport County at Edgeley Park.<br clear="all"></font><font size="3"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst the two teams came into the game in totally contrasting moods, this owed more to transfer activity than it did to recent form on the field, as both clubs having been showing evidence in recent weeks that they have sufficient quality to survive the drop. On the pitch Newport, in addition to making the quarter finals of the FA Trophy, have also drawn at home to Forest Green Rovers and beaten Gateshead at the International Stadium after two late goals from Sam Foley and Jake Harris gave The Exiles an unlikely 3-2 victory. Stockport have also shown similar signs of improvement with a 2-1 victory over high flying Kidderminster in their last league outing following on from draws against Telford and Braintree Town. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The difference is that Newport County, after signing the likes of Lee Minshull, Ryan Charles and Andy Sandell, in addition to discovering what may be a special goalscoring talent in Jake Harris, have made themselves into a stronger, quicker outfit that is far more suited to Conference football than the side that entered into the January transfer window. In contrast, Stockport have lost 4 of the 16 man squad that featured in the New Year’s Day victory against Barrow after manager Jim Gannon acknowledged that trimming the wage bill and securing the long term future of the club was more important than ensuring Conference survival. Consequently, locally born goalkeeper Matt Glennon was released by the club on 31 January to the disappointment of many County fans, whilst former Irish under 19 international Sam Sheridan was sent out on a month’s loan to Southport, despite having made 20 appearances for Stockport. Mark Lynch, Ryan McCann, John Miles, Chris Blackburn and Jon Routledge also left the club in January, leaving Jim Gannon with a smaller squad and perhaps a bit less quality than he had at the start of January.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">As if the departure of seven players within a month was not enough, Lord Snape, the Stockport chairman, was forced to announce that Stockport would continue playing football in their home town. This was because of the suggestion that Sale Sharks, a rugby club who effectively own Edgeley Park, are intending to move back to Salford, a decision that would force the departure of Stockport also. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Despite these problems, the evidence of the first 30 minutes of the game would have suggested to neutral observers that it was Newport that had lost important players rather than Stockport. One of the problems for the visitors was the change of personnel, with Ryan Charles returning after his suspension to replace Buchanan, who had scored twice in his previous two outings, Jake Harris being left on the bench again despite having scored four times in his previous 100 minutes or so of football and Yakubu still suspended after his sending off against Forest Green.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The home side, after taking advantage of some poor away defending to net in the 8th minute through the first of two Danny Rowe goals, were able to dominate proceedings as Newport gave the ball away too easily, and Stockport might well have had more goals as the visitors struggled to deal with balls being played over the top of the defence. However, despite creating a number of promising situations, Stockport were unable to get the crucial second goal and they were punished for this shortly after half time as Adam Sandell thundered home from 25 yards to add to his already blossoming reputation.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Much of the press coverage has claimed that Sandell turned from hero to villain in the 57th minute, as the left sided midfield was given a straight red card. It was the 7th red card that Newport have received this season and therefore would appear to be an issue of discipline that desperately needs addressing. However, more than one of the red card decisions have been extremely debatable and Sandell can consider himself extremely unlucky to receive a straight red for Referee Bond must have assumed was an elbow, though some elements of the press were suggesting that foul and abusive language was also involved.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">As occurred after the sending off of Ryan Charles at Luton, Newport fell behind almost immediately after the sending off, as Danny Rowe claimed his second of the game with a free kick from the edge of the area. This seemed to have cost Newport the match and is an issue that Justin Edinburgh will have to address. If Newport are to successfully negotiate their way out of the relegation minefield, concentration is required for the full 90 minutes and focus must be maintained even in the midst of frustration and anger.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">What will have pleased the manager though, is the way that the club have started to fight in recent games. Seven days ago the Gateshead game appear to be lost as County went 2-0 down and yet they fought back to claim a critical win. In similarly adverse conditions at Edgeley Park, they did it again. On both occasions the hero was Jake Harris, a 21 year old striker who was signed from Weston-super-Mare in June last year. </font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fiwl0Cuo3T0/TzbYFbIcgEI/AAAAAAAAATo/FGMFDGRaX6Q/s1600-h/Jake%252520Harris%252520Squad%252520Photo%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 8px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Jake Harris Squad Photo" border="0" alt="Jake Harris Squad Photo" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rEdybiEoZTo/TzbYGWzikWI/AAAAAAAAATw/J9efdtvg-aw/Jake%252520Harris%252520Squad%252520Photo_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="205" height="246"></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><em><font size="2">Jake Harris (photo courtesy of Sam Shingler) has been a revelation in his substitution appearances for County this season, scoring late winners at Worksop and Gateshead, and now getting a crucial late equaliser at Stockport County.</font></em></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Despite having elected to change the forward line for this crucial encounter, Justin Edinburgh left Harris on the bench again. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the manager to keep the Englishman out of the team and Harris is highly likely to feature again in some capacity for another critical match against Bath at Spytty Park on Tuesday.</font></p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="409"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1133" width="31"> <col style="width: 191pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 9325" width="255"> <col style="width: 30pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1462" span="2" width="40"> <col style="width: 33pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1609" width="44"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 16.5pt" height="22"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="22" width="30"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong> </strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76" width="254"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Conference Premier (Bottom)</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" width="40" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Pl</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" width="40" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>D</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" width="44" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Pts</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">16</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Lincoln City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-14</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">30</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #366092; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">17</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #366092; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Stockport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #366092; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">33</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #366092; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">-18</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #366092; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">29</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Darlington</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-7</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl83" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">19</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">AFC Telford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-16</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">20</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Kettering Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-36</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">21</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">30</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">-9</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">27</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Alfreton Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-29</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">25</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Hayes & Yeading</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">31</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-24</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl86" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl87"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Bath City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl88" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">30</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl88" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-33</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl89" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The draw was of much more value to Newport than it was to Stockport, as could be gauged by the reaction of the fans at the full time whistle. Newport, as the table above shows, are within a point of moving out of the bottom 4 and they have a game in hand on all the teams around them. With a home game against Bath City coming up on Tuesday night, weather permitting, there is real expectation that the club will move out of the relegation zone and survive.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Stockport County, on the other hand, will feel that this was a game that they should have won. Although the club have moved up a couple of places to 17th in the league, they are only two points away from the drop zone, clubs beneath them all have have a couple of games in hand, and some key players are no longer with the club. However, this result does represent a fourth consecutive league game without defeat and Stockport will be fully aware that the financial plight of both Darlington and Kettering is considerably worse than their own. It may just be that this will be the difference between survival and relegation.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><em></em> </p></font> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-20263370243874271452012-02-04T23:16:00.001+02:002012-02-05T00:41:26.347+02:00Carshalton Aim For Second Premier Scalp<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q7HqmsT-g3g/Ty2gBoym9HI/AAAAAAAAAS4/JlPwkwrYyv8/s1600-h/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 8px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport County Badge 2" border="0" alt="Newport County Badge 2" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-D7dWr6pzgKk/Ty2gDbdlwPI/AAAAAAAAAS8/Fw3f-mdLo50/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="140" height="160"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lKuno7v4nR8/Ty2gEXTfGJI/AAAAAAAAATA/wbePHtSJSs0/s1600-h/Carshalton%252520Athletic%252520Badge%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Carshalton Athletic Badge" border="0" alt="Carshalton Athletic Badge" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QqXzZ_1xZUc/Ty2gFf-iT0I/AAAAAAAAATE/7sVPSk3frx8/Carshalton%252520Athletic%252520Badge_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="133" height="158"></a></p> <p><strong>Newport County v Carshalton Athletic</strong></p> <p><strong> FA Trophy 3rd Round</strong></p> <p><strong> Tuesday, 7th February 2012</strong></p> <p><strong> Spytty Park, Newport</strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong></strong> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">When the 3rd Round of the FA Trophy finally gets underway on Tuesday night, after snow and ice caused the postponement of all eight of the last 16 fixtures at the weekend, Ryman Premier League outfit Carshalton Athletic will be seeking to claim another Conference Premier scalp in the form of Newport County after having successfully removed Lincoln City in a 2nd Round replay.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Carshalton and Wealdstone are the only two representatives that remain from the Ryman Premier League, with Northwich Victoria the only other side surviving from outside the three Conference divisions. As a consequence, the Robins are rank outsiders in what their official homepage has described as the biggest cup game that the club have played in a decade. However, Newport would be wise to give them respect, given that Carshalton overcame Conference Premier outfit Lincoln City in the last round and thrashed Bishop’s Stortford of the Conference North 5-0 in the 1st Round.</font></p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="518"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 116pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5632" width="154"> <col style="width: 25pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1206" width="33"> <col style="width: 27pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1316" width="36"> <col style="width: 119pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5778" width="158"> <col style="width: 48pt" width="64"> <col style="width: 54pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2633" width="72"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #7030a0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="21" width="518" colspan="6" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff"><strong>Carshalton Athletic Cup Run</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Lincoln City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">488</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2nd Rnd</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Lincoln City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1,743</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2nd Rnd</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Bishop's Stortford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">243</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1st Rnd</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Maldon & Tiptree</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">72</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3rd Qual.</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Cirencester Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">225</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2nd Qual.</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Bideford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">200</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1st Qual.</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The FA Trophy is clearly beginning to capture the imagination at Carshalton as attendances at Colston Avenue have been steadily increasing as the club have progressed through the competition, culminating in an attendance of 488 for the 2nd Round Replay against Lincoln City last month.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">A delay of three days will help to increase the available options for owner and manager Paul Dipre, who may well be hoping that an appearance at Wembley might do something to alleviate the hostility that has existed between him and the fans since he banned a group of 10 fans from the stadium for allegedly abusive language. Laurent Hamici, the second highest scorer in the Ryman Premier League last season suffered from illness all last week and was expected to miss the game on Saturday. However, three extra days may be enough for the striker to recover and claim a starting place. Whilst Hamici has only netted 6 times in his 24 appearances so far this season, his influence alongside leading scorer Paul Vines, who has already bagged 18 goals this season, will be crucial in providing Carshalton with a realistic goal threat. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">With midfielders Dean Lodge (minor operation), Tony Finn (cup-tied) and Anthony Joseph (hamstring) almost certainly still out on Tuesday though, Dipre will still have a major headache in trying to put together an experienced midfield. All three players would usually be fighting to feature in the starting eleven and should all three be absent on Tuesday night, Dipre will be faced with the choice of either promoting youngsters to the first team for what will be the biggest game of their career so far, or to alter the formation of the team.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst Carshalton have been impressive on their cup run and will undoubtedly seek to make life as difficult as possible for County, the evidence of their league position would suggest that Newport should not be faced with too many problems on their own patch if they match their opponents for commitment and work rate, something that is clearly a priority for manager Justin Edinburgh given the nature of recent signings. Carshalton currently lie in lower mid table in the Ryman Premier League with a return of 34 points from the 27 games they have played to date. This leaves the club too far adrift of the top 5 to be able to mount a promotion challenge, but sufficiently clear of the bottom 3 to mean that only a disastrous run between now and the end of April could cause them to become embroiled in the relegation battle. That said, the FA Trophy run can hardly be said to have influenced their league form, as recent results prior to last week’s home victory over Margate had been extremely disappointing:</font></p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="506"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 131pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6400" width="175"> <col style="width: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1133" width="31"> <col style="width: 26pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1280" width="35"> <col style="width: 152pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7387" width="202"> <col style="width: 48pt" width="64"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #7030a0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="21" width="506" colspan="5" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">January League Results</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Cray Wanderers</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2-Jan-12</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Bury Town</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">7-Jan-12</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Aveley</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">9-Jan-12</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">East Thurrock United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">21-Jan-12</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Carshalton Athletic</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Margate</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28-Jan-12</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst the Robins were gaining their first win in eight against Margate, Newport County were gaining their first win in six after a stunning turnaround during the final five minutes at Gateshead. At 16:40 in the afternoon, County were being plunged deep into the relegation zone, as pending wins for Kettering and Stockport were threatening to leave the Welsh club five points adrift of safety with only Bath City beneath them. Then a Sam Foley penalty rebound (caricatured beneath), after the goalkeeper had saved the midfielder’s rather tame original penalty kick and a Jake Harris piledriver from the left hand edge of the box stunned the home fans and brought County a rather unlikely third away victory of the season. This also brought to an end a sequence of three consecutive away defeats, which included the disastrous defeats at Alfreton Town and Bath City.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7NBuox4dt50/Ty2gHT4IayI/AAAAAAAAASo/KMXj_Xnru4s/s1600-h/Sam%252520Foley%252520Caricature%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Sam Foley Caricature" border="0" alt="Sam Foley Caricature" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tqd8zUBAIh8/Ty2gIWbskZI/AAAAAAAAASw/6kWQy63H_Rs/Sam%252520Foley%252520Caricature_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="178" height="276"></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"> <em> Caricature of Sam Foley, courtesy of artist Tim Bye.</em></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">A quick glance at the Twitter accounts of the fans after the victory provided ample evidence of the significance of the victory. From a position which was rapidly becoming desperate, County suddenly found themselves only two points behind 17th place with at least two games in hand on the teams above them. The cancellation of all but one Conference game on Saturday also ensured that this situation did not worsen, which was importance in terms of maintaining confidence after the Gateshead win. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The third cancellation of the critical home league game against Bath City will only add to what is already a heavily congested fixture list and, from that perspective, progress in the FA Trophy will only make things worse. At the same time though, Newport find themselves playing at home to a side from two divisions below them in the football pyramid and a possible trip to Wembley is therefore becoming increasingly realistic, along with the financial benefits that such a day would undoubtedly yield. Justin Edinburgh has made it clear in his press releases that he wants Newport to do everything possible to make that dream a reality and, with the likes of Wrexham and Fleetwood already out of the competition, victory over Carshalton will leave them only two more wins from Wembley.</font></p> <p align="justify"><em><font size="3">Prediction: Carshalton have the capacity to cause problems and have a strike force that is capable of scoring goals. However, there are doubts concerning the ability of the midfield to provide the necessary supply line, given the number of absentees. With Lee Minshull and Andy Sandell having made such impressive starts and Jake Harris pushing strongly for a starting place, Newport should have the firepower to progress. <strong>County 3 Carshalton 1</strong></font></em></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-76131404629384485372012-01-15T22:29:00.001+02:002012-08-27T10:39:14.414+02:00Sublime Swans Subdue Arsenal<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3CHjKxWe9y0/TxM3ILvrLYI/AAAAAAAAARo/I5gFegftZNY/s1600-h/Swansea%252520City%252520Badge%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Swansea City Badge" border="0" height="159" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BiCfC-UDufU/TxM3Jv8B-mI/AAAAAAAAARw/6gxkvE2PcZ8/Swansea%252520City%252520Badge_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 5px 8px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Swansea City Badge" width="148" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zceywBF8bbQ/TxM3K1e0S7I/AAAAAAAAAR4/lsOzoLpdgbI/s1600-h/Arsenal%252520Badge%25255B32%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Arsenal Badge" border="0" height="158" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OTI2CiyPCmM/TxM3Mdozb6I/AAAAAAAAASA/ynGwYvxCKHQ/Arsenal%252520Badge_thumb%25255B26%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Arsenal Badge" width="131" /></a><br />
<strong> Swansea City 3 Arsenal 2</strong><br />
<strong> Premier League</strong><br />
<strong>Sunday, 15 January 2012</strong><br />
<strong> Liberty Stadium, Swansea</strong><br />
<div align="justify">
<br clear="all" /><span style="font-size: small;">A magnificent performance, coupled with a questionable refereeing decision and a crucial error by Welsh captain Aaron Ramsay, enabled Swansea City to secure back-to-back wins for the first time in the Premiership. Whilst Arsenal were always a threat in the final third of the field, the control which Swansea established in the first half and the menace that they themselves produced in goal, was enough to merit the full three points, a result which lifts the Swans into the top half of the table and, more significantly, nine points clear of the increasingly distant drop zone.</span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 409px;"> <colgroup> <col style="mso-width-alt: 1133; mso-width-source: userset; width: 23pt;" width="31"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 9325; mso-width-source: userset; width: 191pt;" width="255"></col> <col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 1462; mso-width-source: userset; width: 30pt;" width="40"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 1609; mso-width-source: userset; width: 33pt;" width="44"></col> <tbody>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl68" height="21" style="background-color: #0070c0; border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="30"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong> </strong></span></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: #0070c0; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="254"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong>Premier League</strong></span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl68" style="background-color: #0070c0; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="40"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong>Pl</strong></span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl68" style="background-color: #0070c0; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="40"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong>D</strong></span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl70" style="background-color: #0070c0; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="44"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong>Pts</strong></span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">1</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Manchester City</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">20</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">40</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">48</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Manchester United</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">32</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">48</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">3</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Tottenham Hotspur</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">18</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">46</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl74" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">4</span></td> <td class="xl75" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Chelsea</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl74" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl74" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">15</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl76" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">40</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl74" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">5</span></td> <td class="xl75" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Arsenal</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl74" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl74" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">7</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl76" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">36</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">6</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Newcastle United</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">5</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">36</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">7</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Liverpool</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">6</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">35</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">8</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Stoke City</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-9</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">30</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">9</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Norwich City</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-4</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">28</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl77" height="21" style="background-color: black; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">10</span></td> <td class="xl78" style="background-color: black; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Swansea City</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl77" style="background-color: black; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl77" style="background-color: black; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">-2</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl79" style="background-color: black; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;">26</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">11</span></td> <td class="xl75" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Everton</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl74" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl74" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-4</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl76" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">25</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">12</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sunderland</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">3</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">24</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">13</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Aston Villa</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-4</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">24</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">14</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fulham</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-6</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">23</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">15</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">West Bromwich Albion</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-10</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">22</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">16</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Wolverhampton Wanderers</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-14</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">18</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">17</span></td> <td class="xl75" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Blackburn Rovers</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl74" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl74" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-12</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl76" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">17</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">18</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Queens Park Rangers</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-17</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">17</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl71" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">19</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Bolton Wanderers</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-21</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">16</span></td></tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"> <td align="middle" class="xl74" height="21" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">20</span></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Wigan Athletic</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">20</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl71" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-23</span></td> <td align="middle" class="xl73" style="background-color: #ffc000; border-color: currentColor windowtext windowtext currentColor; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">15</span></td></tr>
</tbody></colgroup></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whilst Swansea showed their determination to progress in the FA Cup last weekend by playing a strong side, they still rested four key players in Michel Michel Vorm, Steven Caulker, Joe Allen and Scott Sinclair. However, all four were back in the starting eleven for the visit of an Arsenal side that have been in such magnificent form that the crises stories circulating in the early part of the season are but a distant memory. Needing the points themselves to try and break into the Champions League places, Arsene Wenger resisted the temptation to give a starting place to Thierry Henry after the Frenchmen booked Arsenal’s place in the 4th Round of the FA Cup with the winner against Leeds on his return to the club.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">However, it was a Russian and a Dutchman who were the first to stamp their mark on the game. Arshavin put Van Persie behind the home defence with one of his trademark through balls and the striker, who was the top Premier League scorer in 2011, made no mistake, beating Vorm at his near post from a tight angle.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">This was the worst possible start for Swansea and immediately raised questions about whether they would be able to cope with Arsenal’s style of play. Whilst the Swans have been able to outpass the majority of teams in the Premier League, especially at home, their visitors on a cold January afternoon have been one of the best exponents of the intricate passing game for over a decade. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">It would have been easy to write Swansea off at this point. However, signs of the attacking threat that City themselves possessed were manifest from the early stages. In the 10th minute, a cushioned header from the imperious Joe Allen released Sinclair, who was able to run half of the length of the pitch largely unopposed. With the situation crying out for a delicate through ball behind the defender, Sinclair played the ball straight through to Szczesny in the Arsenal goal.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">Within five minutes though, Swansea were level after referee Michael Oliver awarded the home side a controversial penalty. As Dyer twisted and turned in the penalty area, Ramsay initially appeared to trip the winger. Closer scrutinisation, however, revealed that the Welshman had not actually made contact with Dyer. Sinclair stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake, confidently striking the ball past Szczesny into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">Whilst much has been made of the aesthetic beauty of their passing game, less is said about the incredible work rate within the team. The commitment to win the ball back starts from the very front, with Danny Graham frequently pressing space and preventing defenders from having time on the ball. The midfield also work tirelessly to ensure that the back four do not get exposed, one of main factors behind Swansea’s impressively tight defense this season. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">Another noticeable trait among the team is their unwillingness to make tackles where they are unlikely to win the ball. Most Premiership players, when challenging for balls that the opponent is more likely to win, tend to commit themselves to the challenge and get themselves yellow carded or, worse still, lose out in the tackle and find themselves on the floor and out of position. Swansea’s midfielders, in contrast, noticeably do not make challenges in such situations, but rather ensure that they are in position to close down defensively when their opponents get the ball.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">The home side, having got level, began to control the game as they passed the ball around so quickly and neatly that Arsenal could not get the ball. It was from a crisp Dyer pass that Swansea’s next chance arrived. Little had been made of a corner and Joe Allen was struggling to retain possession under immense pressure. The midfielder managed to get the ball back to Dyer, who fizzed a pass straight through the Arsenal defence to an unmarked Sinclair on the left side of the penalty area. With time and opportunity to pick out an onrushing forward, the winger somehow scooped the ball over everybody.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">On the half hour mark, Swansea should have been behind. A tendency to over elaborate in defence left Ashley Williams totally out of position as the home side dangerously conceded possession inside their own half. Van Persie moved into the space Williams had departed and was found with acres of space. With a second Arsenal looking a certainty, the forward struck his shot to close to his fellow countryman in goal, Vorm coming out of his goal and making yet another fine save to add to the long list of merits he has accumulated already this season.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">Chances were few and far between in the latter stages of the first half, but the game came to life again early in the second period as both sides created decent chances. Arsenal’s chance came when a cross from Miquel was allowed to go straight across the 6 yard line as van Persie vainly tried to reach it, whilst Swansea came close as Dyer cut inside his marker on the edge of the box and fired in a shot that went just wide of the right hand post.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">Swansea were ahead soon afterwards though. Ramsay, who had already given away a penalty on his return to South Wales, however unfortunately, was caught in possession by Joe Allen, who then ran centrally at the Arsenal defence before releasing Dyer on the right hand side of the box. Despite a slightly clumsy first touch, the Barclay’s Man of the Match retained his composure to beat the keeper.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">One of the reasons why sides such as Arsenal have been so successful is that when they behind, they start creating chances and frequently turn defeats into victories. This looked decidedly possible again at the Liberty Stadium when, having shown little evidence of getting back into the game, Djourou suddenly put Walcott behind the home defense, as the England midfielder gained an inside line on the otherwise impressive Swansea left back Neil Taylor. The line of the run gave Taylor no chance of recovering his ground and Walcott was able to lob the outcoming Vorm to put the Gunners level.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: small;">The away fans were still celebrating the goal when almost exactly the same happened at the other end of the field. This time it was Sigurdsson who placed a perfectly weighted ball behind Koscielny for the ever alert Danny Graham. From a tight angle, he hit the perfect shot across the keeper into the far corner. Despite a significant amount of late Arsenal pressure and one or two nervy moments, Graham’s goal was enough to give Swansea a victory which lifts them into 10th place in the Premiership with 26 points, just 14 short of the magic target of 40 that normally guarantees Premiership survival. On this evidence, it would appear to be only a matter of time until Swansea make it.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>Congratulations to the 7% of voters who were brave enough to back a Swansea victory last week. You have been fully vindicated.</em></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-25627574883081995452012-01-13T23:31:00.001+02:002012-01-13T23:41:41.908+02:00Minshull Signs as Exiles Dream of Wembley<p> </p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XuEmzlwa234/TxCilzqVSGI/AAAAAAAAAQc/godBSUPdPo0/s1600-h/David%252520Pipe%252520Speed%252520Dedication%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 9px 9px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="David Pipe Speed Dedication" border="0" alt="David Pipe Speed Dedication" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-B8yI1bMRY5I/TxCinZAvvHI/AAAAAAAAAQk/DvOlvjYsBRI/David%252520Pipe%252520Speed%252520Dedication_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="241" height="432"></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">On Friday morning, Justin Edinburgh provided Newport County fans with an indication of both the kind of attitude he is looking for from his Newport County players and the extent of his drawing power within the game with the announcement that the Exiles had secured the acquisition of Lee Minshull from Wimbledon on a month’s loan deal.</font></p> <p align="justify"><em><font size="3" face="Aparajita"><strong>Lee Minshull will play alongside David Pipe (pictured paying tribute to Gary Speed at Yeading, courtesy of Sam Shingler) and Sam Foley in the County midfield.</strong></font></em></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Minshull, a 6 foot 2 inch powerhouse of a midfielder who has affectionately been nicknamed ‘The Tank’ by the fans at AFC Wimbledon, is noted for his tackling and his ability to get forward and score goals. He was signed by AFC Wimbledon after having netted 17 goals in just 40 games for Tonbridge Angels, who were then of the Isthmian Premier League, during the 2009-10 season and went on to play 22 games as the club were promoted from the Conference last season. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst County have already brought in Nat Jarvis, Ryan Charles and Andy Sandell during this current transfer window, Lee Minshull is the first player to be acquisitioned with the funding collected by the supporters at the start of the January transfer window, which at last estimate was standing at an extremely impressive £14,000 with plans being put in place to ensure that more is raised in the next couple of weeks before the transfer window closes. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">With Sandell having started in left midfield against Luton last weekend, it is also noticeable that every signing Justin Edinburgh has made has been with a view to resolving the goalscoring issues at the club. As yet, no defensive signings have been made and it is this area that Edinburgh may well use further fan raised funds to strengthen. Despite the 2-0 loss to Luton, which was in no small part as a result of the first half sending off of Ryan Charles, Newport have still scored 14 goals in the last 7 away games at an average of 2 a game. Those kind of statistics would suggest that scoring goals is not the major problem that some people have claimed it to be. It is at home that goalscoring has been a problem, but with only 4 goals in total being scored in the last 4 games at Spytty Park, there is a strong argument that the pitch is a significant factor.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H22nHQosNv4/TxCioZHGaFI/AAAAAAAAARM/I7qfD33KtmM/s1600-h/Worksop%252520Town%252520Badge%25255B12%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 8px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Worksop Town Badge" border="0" alt="Worksop Town Badge" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RVCwVldbmJE/TxCipvt0ggI/AAAAAAAAARQ/pXPJjF0BfhI/Worksop%252520Town%252520Badge_thumb%25255B10%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="137" height="181"></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q1YI54WfpXc/TxCirPY-dGI/AAAAAAAAARc/TNWBaZ15Eko/s1600-h/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 8px 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport County Badge 2" border="0" alt="Newport County Badge 2" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-R7dUQ3zAaCI/TxCisOpugNI/AAAAAAAAARg/9OXMk-HHTfw/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="180"></a> <strong>Worksop Town v Newport County</strong></p> <p><strong> FA Trophy 2nd Round</strong></p> <p><strong> 14 January 2012</strong></p> <p><strong> Sandy Lane, Worksop</strong></p> <p align="justify"><br clear="all"><font size="3">Should the game survive what is threatening to be a sharp frost this evening, Lee Minshull will be available for Newport County’s away trip to Worksop Town in the last 32 of the FA Trophy. Whilst avoiding relegation has to be the priority for Justin Edinburgh and his team, the FA Trophy represents the very real possibility of a day out at Wembley and a trophy.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">County’s opponents Worksop Town, who list former Sheffield Wednesday stalwarts Chris Waddle and Peter Eustace among their former players, play in the Evo-Stik Premier Division, two divisions below Newport. Their finest moment came in the FA Cup during the 1920-21 season, when they drew 0-0 with Tottenham Hotpsur at White Hart Lane.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Having been founder members of the Conference North at its institution in 2004, Worksop had developed a team that were pushing for promotion. However, financial difficulties lead to a 10 point deduction which scuppered any hopes that the club had of playing Conference Premier League football, and a couple of seasons later they were then relegated to the division that they now play in. The club are currently lying in 10th in the league, but have been quite impressive at home having won 7 of their 13 games (in comparison to County’s 3 wins in 13 at home in the Conference).</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Financial problems at Worksop were also accompanied by stadium problems with the club being forced to leave their 3,200 capacity Sandy Road stadium in 2008. The club have had huge frustrations since then, with a relocation taking place in the close season every year since then. In 2008-9 Worksop played at Hucknall Town’s ground, before moving to Ilkeston Town the season after. By 2010 the club were playing in Retford and it was only at the start of the current season that the Tigers moved back to Sandy Lane.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Despite their lowly form and Worksop’s decent home record, Newport will travel to north Nottinghamshire expecting to win and take another step towards lifting the FA Trophy. Whilst Ryan Charles is unavailable after his sending off, which may cause Justin Edinburgh to look at the possibility of actually starting Jake Harris, the other new signings are all available and the energy and enthusiasm that this should bring to the side should be enough to see them through.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Prediction: Worksop Town 0 Newport County 2</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-17086488770525996302012-01-12T09:48:00.001+02:002012-08-29T15:48:40.633+02:00Bluebirds Flying Towards Summit<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ALxglRZsLdI/Tw6QWfYDt8I/AAAAAAAAAP8/LPciZ-3KdTE/s1600-h/Doncasters%252520Rovers%252520Badge%25255B9%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 8px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Doncasters Rovers Badge" border="0" alt="Doncasters Rovers Badge" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3-kTrO-3ZCQ/Tw6QXr3T-jI/AAAAAAAAAQE/cZFVSuSBWho/Doncasters%252520Rovers%252520Badge_thumb%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="152" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CdXCHRpMPLU/Tw6QY1L0_3I/AAAAAAAAAQM/QYjZFaKsDyU/s1600-h/Cardiff%252520City%252520Badge%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cardiff City Badge" border="0" alt="Cardiff City Badge" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EOD7bsjKtbM/Tw6QZ3_Hx8I/AAAAAAAAAQU/aHjlH0gBMkI/Cardiff%252520City%252520Badge_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="136" height="183"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><font color="#000000"> Doncaster Rovers v Cardiff City</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000"> Saturday, 14 January 2012</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000"> Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><br clear="all"><font color="#000000" size="3">For the first time this season Cardiff City are within reach of the summit of the Championship after an impressive run which has seen Malky Mackay’s side undefeated in seven away from home and beaten only once in the last 13 league games. Whilst it is unlikely that they will top the division on Saturday evening, given that Southampton and West Ham United both have very winnable games at Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth respectively, an away trip to Doncaster should yield a further three points that would firmly keep the pressure on the top two.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3">Victory is almost important in terms of lifting morale after the League Cup semi final first leg defeat to Crystal Palace on Tuesday. An Anthony Gardner header from a Darren Ambrose cross late in the first half was sufficient to give Crystal Palace a narrow advantage going into the second leg, though Cardiff felt that Kenny Miller’s second half effort should have been allowed to stand rather than being ruled out for a foul on Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni. Whilst Cardiff will fully anticipate overhauling the deficit at the Cardiff City Stadium in two weeks time, as a partisan crowd anticipate the possibility of making the League Cup Final for the first time in the club’s history and earning real honours for the first time since 1927, a victory at the weekend is still important in helping the club to refocus on their ultimate target of reaching the Premiership.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3">The Bluebirds will head to the Keepmoat Stadium fully expecting three points, despite a 2-0 victory for Doncaster in the local derby with Barnsley last Saturday and the relative improvement at Rovers since former Wrexham manager Dean Saunders took over the managerial role in September. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3">However, as this article is being written, the current <em>Amber Army </em>poll suggests that Welsh football fans are not quite as expectant of a Cardiff victory as might be anticipated, with only 42% anticipating an away victory. One of the reasons for this may be the large number of away draws Cardiff have already had this season, with City finishing all square in more than half of their away games, six of which finished 1-1. The majority of these draws were not against sides in the upper echelons of the Championship, but against sides such as Millwall, Coventry, Portsmouth and Watford. Whilst it could be argued that such results represent two points dropped, when these results are supplemented with a home record that has seen the Bluebirds win five of the last six games, the net result is automatic promotion form. However, with four clean sheets in the last six away games and victory at the City Ground, Nottingham in their last outing, Cardiff will now believe that they have resolved the defensive issues that were preventing away victories earlier in the season.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3">Another impressive statistic leading into this game is that Cardiff City have scored in every away league game except the 0-0 draw at Millwall on 10 December, though on 10 of the 13 occasions they only managed one. It is a statistic that suggests a very deliberate tactic by Malky Mackay and his management team in away games. Rather than seeking to play aggressively away from home, the club are content to play a system that makes it difficult for opponents to break them down, whilst relying on players like Kenny Miller to create goalscoring opportunities through their creativity and quality.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3">Despite their recent improvement, City’s opponents Doncaster are still desperate for points as they bid to produce an unlikely escape from relegation. Their form was so poor at the end of last season that there was a feeling that Rovers would have been relegated had there been another 5 or so games, as they were being rapidly caught by the three teams that were relegated (Sheffield United, Scunthorpe United and Preston North End) in the closing weeks of the season. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3">Fans feared the worst when Rovers form in August and early September matched the closing weeks of the 2010-11 season and this lead the club to sack manager Sean O’Driscoll. This move demonstrated the importance football clubs attach to recent results and form, as O’Driscoll had been a potential target for Sheffield United after the departure of Gary Speed due to his remarkable success with Doncaster. The club moved very quickly to quell rumour and ensure they retained their manager and yet, just a few short months later, they dismissed him. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3">With news coming in over the last 24 hours that Leicester City have had a bid for star striker Billy Sharp accepted, Cardiff may well find a toothless Rovers frontline at the weekend. Sharp has comfortably been Rovers most prolific striker in recent months and, given that Doncaster have only managed a miserable 22 goals in their 25 games to date, his loss will be a critical blow to the South Yorkshire club’s chances of survival and may well be the difference between a draw and a defeat on Saturday.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3">Prediction: Doncaster Rovers 0 Cardiff City 1</font></p> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#000000" size="3">Do you agree with the prediction? Why not add your voice to the poll on the left of this article by indicating which Welsh teams you think will win at the weekend (though do note that Merthyr’s next game is not until 21 January).</font></em></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-38671926319102144442012-01-10T22:42:00.001+02:002012-01-10T22:42:09.049+02:00Red Card Decision Costs County Dear<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KhSwfHG2DcA/TwydDQ3U3DI/AAAAAAAAAMM/TGcLhPupsZo/s1600-h/Luton%252520Town%252520Badge%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 6px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Luton Town Badge" border="0" alt="Luton Town Badge" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZSJ13pgj47Y/TwydEo6yrfI/AAAAAAAAAMU/J4eAOsXzCio/Luton%252520Town%252520Badge_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="144" height="192"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6bn6rkBmoj8/TwydGIY-SHI/AAAAAAAAAMc/cXroiuaFXsk/s1600-h/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport County Badge 2" border="0" alt="Newport County Badge 2" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GFSqTKpFusw/TwydHPOUw6I/AAAAAAAAAMk/5B_ss4AfwXU/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="167" height="192"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Luton Town 2-0 Newport County</strong> </p> <p><strong> Saturday,</strong> <strong>7 January 2012</strong></p> <p><strong> Kenilworth Road, Luton</strong></p> <p align="justify"><br clear="all"><font size="3">Referee Karl Evans unintentionally made himself the centre of attention at Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon when his controversial decision to send off County debutant Ryan Charles for a two footed challenge on Dan Gleeson, who was substituted shortly afterwards, proved to be the turning point of the game.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">With new signings Ryan Charles and Andy Sandell both finding themselves drafted straight into the starting line up, the return of Sam Foley after suspension and the return of 30 year old goalkeeper Glyn Thompson in place of the transfer listed Danny Potter, Newport’s side had a considerably different composition to the side that had performed so poorly at Bath City a few days earlier. The fresh faces were instrumental in helping to provide the kind of commitment that had been so desperately lacking four days earlier and the net result was a much more competitive County side that restricted Luton to only a couple of half chances in the first half hour of the game.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Despite the encouraging performance, one issue which Tim Thraves picked up on in his commentary, which Justin Edinburgh will need to address, was the tendency for Newport’s back four to retreat when the Luton forwards ran at them. On occasion this allowed the home side far too much space and time in dangerous positions on the field. One such example was when Alex Lawless was given far too much room on the left hand edge of the penalty box. As the County players finally tried to close down the space, Lawless deftly dropped his right shoulder and, flicking the ball with his left foot, suddenly discovered that he had taken both Newport players out of the game. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">This issue aside though, County remained fairly comfortable until the 32nd minute when Ryan Charles, in attempting to recover a ball that he had kicked too far in front of him, launched into a tackle with both feet off the ground. Whilst the studs were faced down and neither leg got particularly far off the ground, referees have been instructed to issue red cards for such dangerous tackles this season. Although Justin Edinburgh deemed the decision to be harsh, County player Nat Jarvis indicated that the red card was deserved given the nature of the tackle. Such differing opinions, even within the Newport camp, demonstrate the difficulty referees have in making these borderline judgment calls.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RqBGbqwTcEw/TwydIXUeqkI/AAAAAAAAAMs/7zu-EDVkeZY/s1600-h/Ryan%252520Charles%252520Red%252520Card%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 36px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Ryan Charles Red Card" border="0" alt="Ryan Charles Red Card" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bq5kES36vvw/TwydJQfsS5I/AAAAAAAAAM0/XLHa2tH27TY/Ryan%252520Charles%252520Red%252520Card_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="429" height="317"></a></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="2">Ryan Charles sees red on his debut after a two footed challenge on Dan Gleeson (photograph courtesy of Sam Shingler)</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The impact of the sending off was immediately apparent as Luton were ahead within two minutes. A relatively short and innocuous looking corner was met by Aaron O’Connor on the near post, though quite some distance away from goal, and his header looped into the far corner of the goal. With only 10 men on the field and a player down, County had to dig deep in order to stay in the game. However, that crucial three minute spell in the first half effectively determined the outcome of the game, even though it took Luton until the 66th minute to make the game safe as Danny Crow buried a Greg Taylor cross into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst Newport County, despite the improved performance, failed once again to pick up any points in what was their fourth consecutive league defeat, the club are somehow managing to stay out of the relegation zone. An example of the dramatic changes that can take place in football comes from the changing fortunes experienced by Newport during the 90 minutes of football on Saturday. During the middle of the first half, the projected league table showed County dropping to 23rd in the league, with only Bath City beneath them, as Kettering were leading at Telford and Hayes lead at Kiddeminster. Stockport were moving further ahead of Newport as they were drawing at Gateshead and even Bath were closing the gap as they lead 1-0 at home to Braintree. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">However by full time Kettering’s weak defence had let them down again as Telford ran in 3 goals, Stockport conceded a couple to Gateshead and late goals for Kidderminster against Hayes and Braintree at Bath meant that the overall outcome from the day’s results was positive for Newport. With Justin Edinburgh hoping to make an additional three signings before the end of the month and the announcement this morning that Robbie Matthews would be leaving Newport for Salisbury, changes continue unabated at Spytty Park and there is rising confidence that Newport will survive, despite the lack of evidence from the results.</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="3">Conference Premier League (Bottom)</font></strong></p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="409"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1133" width="31"> <col style="width: 191pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 9325" width="255"> <col style="width: 30pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1462" span="2" width="40"> <col style="width: 33pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1609" width="44"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" height="20" width="30" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">16</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72" width="254"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Darlington</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73" width="40" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73" width="40" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" width="44" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="20" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">17</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">AFC Telford</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-13</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="20" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Lincoln City</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-15</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">26</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="20" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">19</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Stockport County</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-18</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">20</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newport County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">27</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">-10</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">22</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" height="20" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">21</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Alfreton Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-29</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="20" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Kettering Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-35</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="20" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Hayes & Yeading</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-21</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">21</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl82" height="21" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl83"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Bath City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl84" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-22</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl85" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Before their next engagement with Bath City on 17 January though, Newport have what might be the unwelcome distraction of an FA Trophy match at Worksop. Justin Edinburgh is likely to see this as a chance to try and build some confidence into the team and to try out different tactics with his new look team, though Ryan Charles will of course be missing after his sending off.</font></p> <p align="justify"><em><font size="3">With all six Welsh teams playing at the weekend, why not use the poll on the left to predict which sides will win. Is there anybody out there who thinks an impressive Swansea side can overcome Arsenal?</font></em></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-89341341555686062922012-01-09T21:55:00.002+02:002012-01-10T08:17:48.748+02:00Newcastle The Lure As Dragons Earn Replay<table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="546"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 181pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 8813" width="241"> <col style="width: 48pt" width="64"> <col style="width: 181pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 8813" width="241"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #e26b0a; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="21" width="546" colspan="3" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>FA Cup 4th Round</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: red; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Brighton & Hove Albion/Wrexham</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: red; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Newcastle United</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Sunderland</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Middlesbrough</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Dagenham/Southampton</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Millwall</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Hull City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Crawley Town</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">MK Dons/Queens Park Rangers</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Chelsea</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">West Bromwich Albion</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Norwich City</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Blackpool</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Sheffield Wednesday</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Arsenal/Leeds United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Aston Villa</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Stevenage</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Notts County</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Watford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Tottenham Hotspur</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Liverpool</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Manchester United</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Derby County</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Stoke City</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Everton</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Fulham</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: black; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Macclesfield/Bolton</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: black; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; background-color: black; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Swansea City</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Sheffield United</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Birmingham City/Wolves</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" height="21"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Nottingham Forest/Leicester City</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" align="middle"><font style="font-size: 11pt">v</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Swindon Town</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Wrexham are now the sole non league survivors in this year’s FA Cup after they followed up their heroic efforts at Brentford in the 2nd Round with an even better performance to earn the Dragons a replay against Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion. Whilst Wrexham were continuing their remarkable recent run of form with a 1-1 draw at the Falmer Stadium (currently known as the American Express Community Stadium), conference promotion rivals Fleetwood Town were being thrashed by local rivals Blackpool and Tamworth and Salisbury were being eliminated by Everton and Sheffield United respectively, despite hugely creditable performances.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">A remarkable 2,029 fans making the journey from North Wales down to the south coast for the encounter, which even beat the official number of 1,801 Dragons fans (there were a few more reportedly in the home stands) that made the short journey to Telford for the Boxing Day encounter. With a bumper attendance of nearly 6,000 at the Racecourse Ground sandwiched in between these away trips for the New Year’s Day encounter with Telford, the financial situation at Wrexham is undoubtedly looking considerably brighter. It will be boosted yet further should Wrexham manage to beat Brighton in the replay after the winners of the tie were given a home draw against Newcastle United.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Home advantage in front of a vociferous and partisan crowd will give Wrexham a chance of producing what would arguably the biggest upset in the FA Cup this season. However, much may also depend upon the team selection of Brighton manager Gus Poyet, who has threatened to play an entire second team in the replay. Whilst Brighton fielded a strong team for the tie on Saturday, there were still six changes, including two debutants, from the side that had beaten Southampton a few days earlier. Wrexham, in contrast, made only one change from the team that comprehensively beat Telford and that was an enforced one. With Danny Wright still not having recovered from injury, player-manager Andy Morrell came in to lead the forward line as a direct replacement for Mathias Pogba (pictured below), who was forced to miss the game with an ankle injury.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://www.timbye.com/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 11px 7px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mathias Pogba" border="0" alt="Mathias Pogba" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DsqXWT0OSck/TwtGQAnq1aI/AAAAAAAAAMI/p813lp48-RM/Mathias%252520Pogba%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="198" height="271"></a></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="2">Illustration of Wrexham forward Mathias Pogba, courtesy of Tim Bye (please see <em><a href="http://www.timbye.com/" target="_blank">Tim Bye Caricatures</a></em> link for more of his work) </font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">In cup ties such as this, where the club from the lower division is playing away from home, it is often important that the minnows start well and score first. However, an error by Wrexham goalkeeper Joslain Mayebi nearly handed Brighton the advantage in the opening exchanges. Lua Lua was unable to make the most of the opportunity though and Wrexham slowly eased their way into the game.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">In an open game, Wrexham were able to create a few opportunities of their own, with Speight in particular causing problems for the Brighton defence. However, having successfully reached half time with the scores level, Wrexham then conceded almost immediately after the break as Forster-Caskey netted from a Lua Lua cross. Despite the setback though, Wrexham fought their way back into the game, securing a replay through Adrian Cieslewicz’s 62nd minute equaliser.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst the Wrexham fans now bask in the glory of their relative success against Brighton, and the possibility of playing an even weaker Albion team next week, Fleetwood will turn their attention to overhauling Wrexham at the summit of the conference. Town play at home to Barrow on Tuesday evening knowing that a win will take them to the summit of the Conference, whilst Wrexham have to wait until Saturday before they play away at Tamworth. With Newcastle potentially waiting for them in Round 4 and an impervious defence that even Championship sides are struggling to break down, Wrexham will be confidence that any ascendency gained by Fleetwood will be short lived.</font></p> <p align="justify"><em><font size="3">How do you think Wrexham will fair against Tamworth on Saturday. Vote for the Welsh teams you think will win on the poll to the left of this post.</font></em></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-81482397946521610912012-01-09T06:02:00.001+02:002012-08-29T15:46:37.370+02:00Veteran Debutant Exacts Bay Revenge<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V4IPZ7WPbVs/TwpmzhU0KUI/AAAAAAAAALY/nqoUkik-YMw/s1600-h/Altrincham%252520Badge%25255B7%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Altrincham Badge" border="0" alt="Altrincham Badge" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5vWkb88EdyA/Twpm0xiEsyI/AAAAAAAAALg/wfxsRj7DGIQ/Altrincham%252520Badge_thumb%25255B5%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="175" height="241"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9KoWFwg6GIc/Twpm2P7EZaI/AAAAAAAAALo/RpQ-IiE4Qnw/s1600-h/Colwyn%252520Bay%252520Badge%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Colwyn Bay Badge" border="0" alt="Colwyn Bay Badge" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BeZcXVuzeLk/Twpm32mas4I/AAAAAAAAALw/Ppu7GNEtVAs/Colwyn%252520Bay%252520Badge_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="161" height="240"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> <strong>Altrincham</strong> <strong>3-4 Colwyn Bay</strong></p> <p> <strong>Saturday, 7</strong><strong> January 2012</strong></p> <p><strong> Moss Lane, Altrincham</strong></p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p align="justify"><br clear="all"><font size="3">Despite a wonderful team performance from Colwyn Bay, it was veteran debutant Frank Sinclair who grabbed all the headlines at Moss Lane on Saturday afternoon after netting an injury time winner that brought to an end a run of three successive league defeats and ensured that Bay remained in a comfortable mid table position. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The former Chelsea, Leicester and Burnley man, who turned 40 last month, might even prove to be one of the best acquisitions Jon Newby makes all season, given that Sinclair was still playing on a regular basis in a Wrexham side that reached the Conference Premier play offs last season. With only 13 goals in a career spanning 20 years and nearly 550 appearances, Newby hardly signed the defender for his goal scoring prowess though. However, with the manager opting for a 4-4-2 formation that was indicative of a more attacking mindset, despite the absences of Lee McEvilly through suspension and Danny Lloyd, who has signed a full time contract with Lincoln City, Sinclair was given the opportunity to venture forward at corners and it was from one of these that he grabbed the 91st minute winner. Mike Lea put the ball into the danger area and, in the goalmouth melee that ensued after the Altrincham keeper had fumbled the ball, Sinclair was on hand to coolly rifle home the winner.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The three points were sweet revenge for Colwyn Bay, who had suffered the ignominy of a 6-1 home reverse to Altrincham back in September that was at least partially to blame for the downturn of form since then. In the opening 9 games of the season prior to that 6-1 defeat, Bay had kept 4 clean sheets and only conceded 7 goals, whereas in the 13 games since then they have conceded 26 goals and only kept 2 clean sheets as a loss of confidence clearly seeped into the team. In terms of the defence, there is still a lot of work for Newby to do, though it is always easier to address issues after a victory. Despite the win, however, Newby will have noted that his side conceded three goals in an away game for the fourth time in eight matches and they have now failed to keep a clean sheet away from Llanelian Road since the 1-0 victory at Gloucester on 17 September. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">With Sinclair suspended for the away trip to Eastwood Town next Saturday, further changes will have to be made to a defensive line up that is already missing Danny Meadowcroft. The captain, who was unavailable for the Altrincham game due to the illness of his newly born daughter, is unlikely to be available for either the Eastwood or Vauxhall Motors games, given that his daughter must still undergo further surgery. It may well therefore be that the player with ‘Conference experience’ that Jon Newby is hoping to bring into the club later this week will be a defender.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The three points came at a critical time for Colwyn Bay, given the recent form of the teams in and around the bottom three. Bishop Stortford’s victory over promotion hopefuls Guiseley, coupled with a 4-0 victory for Hinckley United over Eastwood meant that a Bay defeat would have left the club only three points off the relegation zone. However with the six point buffer still in place, an installation of confidence throughout the team and games against Eastwood and Vauxhall Motors coming up, Colwyn Bay now have the opportunity to more or less secure their Conference North status for another season – at least from a playing perspective.</font></p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="409"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1133" width="31"> <col style="width: 191pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 9325" width="255"> <col style="width: 30pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1462" span="2" width="40"> <col style="width: 33pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1609" width="44"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" height="20" width="30"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong> </strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl70" width="254"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Conference North</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="40" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Pl</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl69" width="40" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>D</strong></font></td> <td style="background-color: #0070c0; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl73" width="44" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt"><strong>Pts</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="21" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">1</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Hyde</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">26</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">33</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">59</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">2</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Stalybridge</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">48</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Guiseley</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">44</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">4</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Nuneaton</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">15</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">42</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 16.5pt; mso-height-source: userset" height="22"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" height="22" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">5</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl80"><font style="font-size: 11pt">FC Halifax</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl79" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">13</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt dashed; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl81" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">42</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Gainsborough</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">7</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">41</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">7</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Worcester</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">38</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">8</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Corby Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">35</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">9</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Droylesden</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">0</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">34</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">10</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Boston United</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">33</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">11</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Altrincham</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">12</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">32</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">12</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Gloucester</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">3</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">32</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #c00000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">13</font></td> <td style="background-color: #c00000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl72"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">Colwyn Bay</font></td> <td style="background-color: #c00000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">23</font></td> <td style="background-color: #c00000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl71" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">-7</font></td> <td style="background-color: #c00000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl74" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#ffffff">31</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">13</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Histon</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-5</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">28</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">14</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Solihull Moors</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-6</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">16</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Workington Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-7</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">27</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">17</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Harrogate Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-15</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">26</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">18</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Vauxhall Motors</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-8</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">25</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt" height="21"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" height="21" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">19</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl76"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Bishop's Stortford</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl75" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-11</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl77" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">25</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">20</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Hinckley United</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-13</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">25</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">21</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Eastwood Town</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">24</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-37</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">14</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" height="20" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">22</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl67"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Blyth Spartans</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">23</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl68" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">-29</font></td> <td style="background-color: #ffc000; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; padding-top: 1px" class="xl78" align="center"><font style="font-size: 11pt">13</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Survival in the Conference North would be a fantastic achievement for a side that has won back-to-back promotions in the last two seasons. However, this is still not guaranteed, even if Colwyn Bay gain the 16 or so points required to ensure that they do not finish in the bottom 3. This is because the Llanelian Road ground requires four rows of seating in order to comply with Conference standards, rather than the three that it currently has. Whilst plans have been drawn up to comply with the requirements, the cost of the project will be approximate £71,000 with building work needing to be started by March 31st. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">This represents a substantial cost for a club playing at this level of football and supporters have recognised that they will need to contribute if the club are to raise the required amount. With this in mind, various events such as the recent Christmas party are being organised to try and raise around £30,000, with the club hopeful that they can secure an interest free loan to cover the remaining amount. All associated with the club will hope that the success that has been achieved on the pitch can be matched by the same success of it.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Prediction: Eastwood Town 0 Colwyn Bay 2</font></p> <p><em>Agree with the prediction? Why not vote yourself in the poll to the left. Which Welsh teams do you think will win this week? Will Colwyn Bay be amongst them?</em></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-16571396953172770682012-01-07T10:31:00.001+02:002012-01-07T10:51:04.102+02:00Opportunity Knocks For Merthyr<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a4oPiBC8qy8/TwgCuZONl7I/AAAAAAAAAKo/uLea0wIZJDc/s1600-h/Merthyr%252520Town%252520Clear%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 11px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Merthyr Town Clear" border="0" alt="Merthyr Town Clear" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6CisLLRUqps/TwgCvQ1ENxI/AAAAAAAAAKw/HXMLPDGDfPM/Merthyr%252520Town%252520Clear_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="177" height="237"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TxFxldFd06Y/TwgCwZ7w0lI/AAAAAAAAAK4/qIlCxwEvYMI/s1600-h/Bishop%252520Sutton%252520Badge%25255B9%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Bishop Sutton Badge" border="0" alt="Bishop Sutton Badge" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T1p8WVN6Xbg/TwgCxq8xb3I/AAAAAAAAALA/EDHmrNDyQsg/Bishop%252520Sutton%252520Badge_thumb%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="154" height="236"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong> Toolstation Premier League</strong></p> <p><strong> 7th January 2012</strong></p> <p><strong> Penydarren Park, Merthyr</strong></p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p align="justify"><br clear="all"><font size="3">Merthyr Town made the perfect start to what will be a critical month as the club bid to muscle their way into the Toolstation Premier Division title race and secure promotion back to the Southern League 1st Division. </font><font size="3">Facing a sequence of five consecutive home games, the first two of which are against teams from the upper echelons of the table, Merthyr came out with such intent and purpose that victory over Bristol Manor Farm was all but secure within 10 minutes.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Lee Hartshorn, a central defender who has recently been converted into a midfielder with great success, netted his fourth in just eight games this season after only three minutes to give the Martyrs a significant breakthrough. Just two minutes later Ryan Newman, one of two players in the Merthyr team that have been loaned from Newport County, added a second with a shot that went in off the post and Ian Traylor added a third with still only 10 minutes on the clock. Ryan Prosser made it four shortly after the half time interval, which was enough to secure a comprehensive win, despite a Fitzpatrick consolation for Bristol Manor Farm.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1HTrtGuV-RY/TwgCy7idWpI/AAAAAAAAALI/ah8K5UskQWM/s1600-h/Merthyr%252520Town%252520Stand%252520%252528v%252520Newport%252529%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 107px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Merthyr Town Stand (v Newport)" border="0" alt="Merthyr Town Stand (v Newport)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HNrlxkPsOso/TwgC0H_iUhI/AAAAAAAAALQ/Gp1QBUd9rKM/Merthyr%252520Town%252520Stand%252520%252528v%252520Newport%252529_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="199"></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><strong>Pre season action against Newport County (courtesy of Sam Shingler), from whom Merthyr brought in Ryan Newman and Troy Greening on loan.</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">There were two further pieces of good news for the Martyrs to complete what was a very happy New Year. The first was the return of Matthew Harris to competitive action for the first time since August when he replaced the other Newport loanee Troy Greening in the 75th minute, and the second was the shock news that Larkhall Athletic had fallen to a 2-1 defeat at relegation threatened Corsham Town.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Given the positive news from November concerning the stadium , when it was confirmed that a £130,000 grant had been awarded to the club, it is clear that the Martyrs are beginning to prepare for life at a higher level. The £130,000 grant was divided into two portions, with £50,000 being directed towards ground improvements and £80,000 towards securing the futures of current staff and employing a new Business Development Manager, whose purpose is to expand and develop the business of the club. At a special meeting of the supporters on 1 December, it was decided that the £50,000 being invested in ground improvements should be directed, amongst other things, towards the installation of new showers, new fencing, improved lighting in the family stand, renovation of the turnstiles and roof improvements in the grandstand. Put simply, the grant enables the club to upgrade the grade in a significant way and is due in no small way to the commitment and efforts of trust secretary John Strand.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">With such good news coming from off the field, which has been further supplemented by excellent attendances at Penydarren Park, and with form once again picking up on the pitch after some poor results which saw the club fail to win in November, Merthyr Town are in the perfect frame of mind for the arrival of fellow title rivals Bishop Sutton.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The Somerset based club were reformed in 1977 after just under £200 of funds were raised at a disco (the original club having been disbanded during the war), and gained promotion to the Western Premier Division in 1997/8 after winning the 1st Division Championship, a level that they have been playing at ever since. However, a measure of the club’s progress can be gained by the fact that their highest ever finish of 4th was accomplished as recently as the 2009-10 season.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Bishop Sutton currently sit in 4th place in the table, having one more point than the Martyrs having played a game more and are one of the form teams in the division, </font><font size="3">having picked up an impressive 21 points away from home this season. The most recent contributions to this haul of points were a 4-0 victory at Longwell Green Sports, who Merthyr failed to beat in either encounter this season, and a 5-0 drubbing of Barnstaple Town. Given that Bishop Sutton also managed to pick up a draw in their home encounter with the Martyrs after a late equaliser, Gary Sheppard knows just how tough it will be to gain the victory that Merthyr Town so desperately need on Saturday afternoon. However, with home advantage and a record of six wins and two draws from eight home games and the returning Matthew Harris, along with the added incentive that leaders Willand Rovers have to travel to Larkhall Athletic this afternoon, the Martyrs will hope that they have enough to gain a crucial victory. However, with three home games coming up against teams from the lower end of the table, a draw may not be a bad result.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Prediction: Merthyr Town 1 Bishop Sutton 1</font></p> <p align="justify"><em><font size="3">Whilst Merthyr Town are playing in the Toolstation Premier Division on Saturday, three Welsh teams will be involved in the FA Cup. Why not predict which teams will get through in the poll on the left of this page.</font></em></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-82839789678110755042012-01-06T21:57:00.001+02:002012-01-06T22:04:58.803+02:00FA Cup Tie Brings Back Thomas Memories<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zeNfLprgq10/TwdSK_dcmgI/AAAAAAAAAKI/mXyoevTk7no/s1600-h/Brighton%252520Badge%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Brighton Badge" border="0" alt="Brighton Badge" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gwG7zaXJ19I/TwdSMmzhgkI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/sKpH_MEUhDk/Brighton%252520Badge_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="202" height="207"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MVPPK2pRWvo/TwdSNkDtV0I/AAAAAAAAAKY/2wGNcV6f_b0/s1600-h/Wrexham%252520Badge%252520Clear%25255B3%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Wrexham Badge Clear" border="0" alt="Wrexham Badge Clear" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-m4pI7FR1hbE/TwdSPXf34WI/AAAAAAAAAKg/ZMR06XiWna0/Wrexham%252520Badge%252520Clear_thumb%25255B1%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="206" height="206"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> <strong><font color="#000000">FA Cup </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000"> 3rd Round</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000"> 7 January 2012</font></strong></p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Over the last few seasons a lot of attention has been given in the media to the diminishing importance of the FA Cup. Attendances at the bigger clubs in the earlier stages of the competition are generally considerably lower than average league gates and many sides, including those from the lower reaches of the Premiership and the summit of the Championship, have succumbed to the temptation to rest key players on what was traditionally the most exciting day of the footballing calendar.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">However, speak to anyone from Wrexham about their FA Cup 3rd Round tie at Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion and the main reaction is one of excitement and anticipation. Indeed for older supporters, the tie has brought back memories of the famous 1992 3rd Round cup tie between Wrexham and Arsenal at the Racecourse, when Mickey Thomas smashed a last minute free kick from the edge of the penalty box into the top left corner of the Arsenal goal to prepare the way for one of the great cup upsets. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Despite the importance of retaining their focus on promotion to the football league, which is still anything but guaranteed despite Wrexham enjoying one of their finest ever seasons. A comprehensive 4-0 victory over AFC Telford on New Year’s Day was their fifth successive win in the league, a feat they have accomplished no less than three times this season, and yet the Dragons have still only got a two point cushion over nearest rivals Fleetwood Town. Fleetwood produced a sensational performance to demolish Southport 6-0 despite playing the entire second half with 10 men after striker Richard Brodie was sent off in the 32nd minute.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">There are two main reasons why Wrexham want to focus their attention on the FA Cup as well as the league. The first, as manager Andy Morrell acknowledges, is that it helps to raise the profile of the club, and with that potentially its income, particularly with the Brighton tie marking the 20th anniversary of the Arsenal win. This has been exemplified by the arrival of the BBC cameras and the recreation of the Mickey Thomas goal on the Colliers Park training ground, along with the traditional media captivation with 3rd Round Goliath and David ties. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The second reason, though, is that there is a genuine feeling in Wrexham that they can cause an upset. Whilst Brighton were on a relatively poor run of form prior to their victory over Championship leaders Southampton on Monday, Wrexham are becoming renowned for an almost invincible defence. The last 14 league matches have seen the Dragons keep 11 clean sheets and concede a miserly 3 goals. Only Darlington and Gateshead (twice) have managed to breach the Wrexham defence during this period, which stretches back to the start of October, and on all three occasions that Wrexham did actually concede, they still won. In addition to this, they also knocked decent York and Cambridge sides out of the FA Cup before producing one of the biggest upsets of this year’s competition with a 1-0 victory at League 1 Brentford.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst Wrexham may currently be plying their trade in the Conference Premier Division, the club have the potential to be playing at a much higher level. The club took almost 2,000 fans to AFC Telford on Boxing Day and then produced a bumper home crowd of almost 6,000 for the return fixture on New Year’s Day. That level of support makes them the second best supported club in the Conference after Luton Town and the magic of the FA Cup means that Wrexham will be taking even more to Brighton than they did to Telford with confirmation on the Wrexham fans website RedPassion that over 2,000 tickets had been sold.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst Brighton should have enough to get through this tie, Wrexham will put up a strong challenge and, if refereeing decisions and luck go their way, the Dragons might just have a chance of reliving the Arsenal upset of 20 years ago.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Wrexham 1</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><em>Do you agree with the prediction? Why not answer the poll on the left hand side of this page and give your view on which Welsh sides will make the 4th Round.</em></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-10410147808642811212012-01-06T19:46:00.001+02:002012-01-06T22:16:03.940+02:00From Amber To Amber As Charles Arrives<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-h5yGkRe8gs0/TwczZRbZtAI/AAAAAAAAAJY/ZxDs4aL4v6E/s1600-h/Danny%252520Potter%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Danny Potter" border="0" alt="Danny Potter" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OBxWBprSwmA/TwczaRlaXaI/AAAAAAAAAJg/ePN_ITtJPa4/Danny%252520Potter_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" height="311"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f2xdvz5qjDE/Twczb-W2W-I/AAAAAAAAAJo/S9WvPNRbnoE/s1600-h/Tom%252520Miller%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Tom Miller" border="0" alt="Tom Miller" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XnXMxxyBHME/TwczczHxBTI/AAAAAAAAAJw/ho3oNJH-Pdg/Tom%252520Miller_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" height="312"></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><strong> Danny Potter Tom Miller</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Newport County have acted swiftly to quell the growing concerns about relegation following the 3-2 defeat to <a href="http://http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2012/01/feel-good-factor-evaporates-at-twerton.html" target="_blank">Bath City</a> on Tuesday evening by announcing the transfer listing of three players and the signing of two others. In an e-news statement that was released to the club’s fans prior to the official media announcement this morning, goalkeeper Danny Potter (above left) and Tom Miller, a former Norwich City Young Players’ Player of the Year (above right) were transfer listed, in addition to misfiring County target man Craig McAllister.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ljKDjzZeFJs/Twcze4EpNBI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/E9sEySdbgzA/s1600-h/Craig%252520McAllister%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Craig McAllister" border="0" alt="Craig McAllister" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PQjvSYzHyLo/TwczgNleo2I/AAAAAAAAAKA/C9RK81e4LQU/Craig%252520McAllister_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="180"></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Craig McAllister in action during home defeat to Ebbsfleet United earlier in the season.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><em>(All photos reproduced by kind permission of Sam Shingler)</em></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Although there were some concerns and misgivings, the news was met with general approval by the fans. Danny Potter has not managed to find his best form this season, having been accused of failing to command the penalty box, whilst Craig McAllister, despite his work rate and contribution to the team, has simply not scored enough goals to justify his position. Tom Miller is an undoubted talent who was only signed during the last January transfer window from Irish side Dundalk. Whilst his ability may mean that he prospers at another club, his contribution to County during the course of the season has been sufficient cause for concern that Justin Edinburgh has felt the need to dispense with his services.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst the transfer listing of three players, two of whom were regular first team players, Justin Edinburgh has sent out a stark warning to the rest of the squad that he is looking for enthusiasm from those who remain and that no player’s position in the side or with the club is safe. These are strong words but with a daunting task ahead of Newport as they travel to Kenilworth Road to meet third placed Luton Town on Saturday, the addition of a couple of new players and an upsurge of enthusiasm are surely required.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst the gap between Luton Town and the two teams above them makes automatic promotion highly unlikely, the Hatters will expect to finish in the top five and gain promotion to the football league via the play offs. They are comfortably the best supported team in the division and they will see the home game against Newport as an opportunity to close the gap on Wrexham and Fleetwood, both of whom are occupied with the FA Cup this weekend.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">If Newport are to restrict the march of Luton back to the football league, they will need to sort out their shaky defence away from home and retain the ball much better than they did against Bath. Despite the concern about a lack of goals, Newport have actually netted 10 times in the last 4 away games but defensive frailties have meant that they still only came away with four points. They will hope that the signing of Andy Sandell from Chippenham Town will help to address this issue. The 28 year old left back, who also has the ability to join in the attack from the left flank, has been a regular for league clubs Bristol Rovers and Aldershot in recent seasons and was a significant squad member for Wycombe Wanderers last season before moving to Chippenham Town. With 33 career goals at an average of around 6 a season, he has a proven ability to find the net, meaning Justin Edinburgh will have some different attacking options in addition to a player that Newport County will be desperately hoping can fill the troubled left back position.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">In addition to Andy Sandell, Newport have also signed Ryan Charles, who is moving from one amber army (Cambridge United) to another, on loan until the end of the season. Like McAllister, Charles is a player who has been struggling to find the net this season. However the striker, who can also play as a winger, started his career at Luton Town and spent 9 seasons in the youth team at Kenilworth Road before signing professionally in 2007. Justin Edinburgh may well be tempted to give Charles his debut against his former club, as the manager seeks to keep Newport out of the bottom four. However, whilst the striker can be expected to create plenty of problems for Conference defences, Charles is not being brought into the club in the expectation that he will provide the 15-20 goals a season that County so desperately need. with a career average of a goal in only every 6.5 games, Charles will be expected to create opportunities for the likes of Jarvis whilst hopefully contributing around 10 goals a season himself.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">With fresh faces on show and more changes to the squad to come, Newport go into this game with little to lose. After the defeat at Bath, few are expecting them to get a result and, with the rearranged home game against Bath y now being confirmed for 17 January, County know that the real test of their survival credentials with come with that home game and the subsequent game with Forest Green Rovers at Spytty four days later.</font></p> <p align="justify"><em>Although County were knocked out of the FA Cup by Shrewsbury Town at the 1st Round stage, why not add your vote to the poll asking which Welsh teams will make the FA Cup 4th Round on the left hand side of this article.</em></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-44373454613651345722012-01-05T12:55:00.001+02:002012-01-05T13:17:39.310+02:00Feel Good Factor Evaporates At Twerton<p align="justify"><font size="3">It took just 90 minutes at Twerton Park on Tuesday evening for the feel good factor that had been established over the New Year to evaporate, as County lost their crucial relegation battle against Bath City 3-2. The defeat was a stark reminder that, in relegation battles, points on the board are often more valuable than games in hand and undid all the good work Chris Blight and his fellow directors had done in establishing hope, unity and expectation for the remainder of the season.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The evening started well enough for Newport, as Nat Jarvis marked his return to the club with a poachers goal, knocking home the rebound after Andrew Hughes’ cross had hit the post. However, County’s inability to hold an away lead, already demonstrated in recent times at both Grimsby Town and Alfreton Town, was once again exposed as Bath scored twice in seven minutes through Connelly and Canham to earn a deserved 2-1 lead at the interval, as Bath played the neater football and created the better chances. Any words of wisdom offered by Justin Edinburgh at half time were then quickly quashed as Bath extended their lead through the impressive Scott Murray, who produced an exquisite dummy to create sufficient space to strike his shot past Danny Potter, the County keeper. Despite pulling a goal back through a Gary Warren header, Newport were unable to find the equaliser they so desperately needed, meaning that only a superior goal difference is keeping them above the relegation zone.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The inquest into what went wrong was already in full swing by half time, as supporters tried to come to terms with the fact that Newport were being outplayed by a team who were bottom of the league with only two league wins all season. However, Bath City are a better side than their position currently indicates and this win was another indicator of improved confidence and form after a recent victory over Telford United and draws with Mansfield, Kettering and Cambridge. The defeat may therefore not be the impending message of doom that many currently think it is.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">There are a number of factors that will potentially determine Newport’s fate over the coming months. The first of these is the pitch at Spytty Park, which is widely acknowledged to be in poor condition. The picture below, taken by Sam Shingler during the home match with Fleetwood in December, gives a clear indication of the mudbath in the goal mouth. Given that the pitch is also cutting up in other areas and is in poor condition around the centre circle as well, it is perhaps not surprising that Newport’s home record is so poor.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uxy2uBc4Whw/TwWBsr_NkzI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Dz6OaVlVrgM/s1600-h/Sam%252520Foley%252520And%252520The%252520Pitch%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Sam Foley And The Pitch" border="0" alt="Sam Foley And The Pitch" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xQMRnCY7Epo/TwWBuNK9EZI/AAAAAAAAAJA/8TiM-xIVhf0/Sam%252520Foley%252520And%252520The%252520Pitch_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="514" height="261"></a><br clear="all"></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><strong>Photo reproduced with kind permission of Sam Shingler</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Captain Gary Warren recently argued that the pitch should be an advantage to Newport because County are used to playing on it, whereas visiting sides are concerned about the conditions and the impact the pitch will have on their passing games. There is a sense in which there should perhaps be truth in this statement, but County’s home record suggests that the opposite is actually the reality as the club have lost five of their last seven games at Spytty. Whilst three of those games were against promotion seeking Southport, Luton and Fleetwood, the other two defeats were to Tamworth and Ebbsfleet, teams which, with respect, County need to beat if they want to be playing in the Conference Premier next season. In contrast, whilst the two recent away defeats against Alfreton and Bath have been a disaster, a record of two wins and three draws from the last eight away games represents excellent form for a team in the lower reaches of the division and suggests that County are actually capable of competing at this level when they play on a decent surface.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The sale of <a href="http://amberarmy.blogspot.com/2011/12/rose-departure-leaves-county-with.html" target="_blank">Danny Rose</a> has undoubtedly left a hole in midfield and his absence at Twerton Park, along with that of Sam Foley, contributed to the lacklustre performance. This leaves Justin Edinburgh with some tough decisions to make during the January transfer window. The manager has been extremely open in acknowledging that some of the players are not demonstrating the work ethic and commitment required to lift the club out of trouble, but the limited resources at Spytty means that it is not really a financially viable option to release players from their contracts. The excellent reputation of the manager, who spent much of his playing career at Tottenham Hotpsur, should help to attract players to the club but the decision has to be made as to whether to recruit seasoned professionals who have proven ability at conference level or young hopefuls who have shown promise in the lower leagues. Purchasing talented youngsters is always a risk in that time may prove them to be insufficiently equipped to cope with football at Conference level, but signing seasoned professionals is just as risky given that they may not have the same level of passion in playing for Newport as a younger player who is trying to progress in the game. The decision to bring back Nat Jarvis from Cardiff for the remainder of the season looks like a shrewd move, with the player netting in his first game since returning at Twerton Park. However, it is the midfield that requires the most attention.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The third factor is the supporters themselves. County are renowned for their vocal and passionate supporters and the very fact that 430 made their way across to Bath for a Tuesday night fixture, given County’s perilous league position, speaks volumes for their commitment and enthusiasm for the club. With the players facing, to use the old cliché, 20 cup finals between now and the end of the season, it is critically important that the fans remain fully committed to the cause, both in terms of the number of supporters attending matches and in terms of providing positive support. Attitude is such an important factor in professional sport and having the encouragement and belief of a vocal support that truly believe the club can survive could potentially make all the difference.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Back in 1990-1 Sheffield United, who were newly promoted to the top flight, had gained just 4 points from their opening 17 encounters before Christmas. The club were marooned at the foot of the table and everybody outside the club had already written the Blades off as relegated. However, the acquisition of Vinny Jones, a footballer of only average ability but immense leadership quality, helped turn the clubs fortunes around to such an extent that they went on a winning streak of 7 matches and finished 13th in the table. The incredible thing about that situation was that the fans of the club still believed they could stay up, even when the performances and the statistics clearly stated otherwise. With that kind of belief and camaraderie at Spytty Park, Newport County too will survive, allowing Justin Edinburgh to build a side in his own mould that will fair much better next season.</font></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Arial">Kaitlyn Corner – The Views of a 5 Year Old</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Arial"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GFv3cgJVKAw/TwWGzKwkCpI/AAAAAAAAAJI/vIqaZrm1rPI/s1600-h/Kaitlyn%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Kaitlyn" border="0" alt="Kaitlyn" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rkBNfhMNWLM/TwWG0f6qdQI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/SfIWBy9goKw/Kaitlyn_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="186" height="246"></a></font></strong></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">“I felt sad when Bath won 3-2 because I love Newport so much. I wish Newport were number 1, at the top.”</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">I guess that mirrors the thoughts of every Newport County fan. Let’s hope they stay up this season and then follow Wrexham (hopefully) into the football league next season.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-65710185862521009582012-01-04T20:17:00.001+02:002012-01-04T20:31:28.756+02:00All Predictions Wrong As Newport Lose<p> </p> <h4><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UUrqtQl_YCk/TwSXnlTsU2I/AAAAAAAAAIk/aUbXWGgG4Z0/s1600-h/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 108px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Newport County Badge 2" border="0" alt="Newport County Badge 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SzYk3zgrDYw/TwSXpK_TdyI/AAAAAAAAAIo/9v3AjlITv0o/Newport%252520County%252520Badge%2525202_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="239"></a></h4> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The pollsters who participated in the first poll conducted by this site on the outcome of the Bath City v Newport County game on Tuesday night (which included the author) proved to be as much as a failure, prediction wise, as County themselves were on the night in losing 3-2. </font></p><font size="3"></font> <p align="justify"><br><font size="3">In total 11 people voted, with 8 (72%) suggesting that Newport would win, either in a close game or quite comfortably. 2 people (18%) opted for draws and only 1 (9%) opted for a Bath win. Without doubt, the majority of traffic on this site (and thus the majority of voters) were Newport fans so the big question is <em>Did we have either a Bath supporter or a neutral voting for Bath to win, or was it the one realistic/pessimistic County fan who voted for the Bath win?</em></font></p><font size="3"><em></em> <p align="justify"><br>Either way, the one voter who opted for a Bath win suggested that they would win comfortably, which was far from the case as Newport desperately sought an equaliser late in the game. Consequently, not one single person guessed the right outcome! A full assessment of the predicament Newport now find themselves will be published tomorrow. Meanwhile, why not have a go at this week's FA Cup poll and see if collectively we can do better this time in predicting the fates of the three remaining Welsh teams in the FA Cup.</p> <p align="justify"></font> </p> <p><strong><font size="5">Results Summary</font></strong></p> <p><font size="2">1 (9%) Bath City To Win Comfortably </font></p> <p><font size="2">0 (0%) Bath City To Sneak A Win </font></p> <p><font size="2">2 (18%) Draw</font></p> <p><font size="2">6 (54%) Newport County To Sneak A Win</font></p> <p><font size="3"><font size="2">2 (18%) Newport County To Win Comfortably</font> </font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-27229099208439263462012-01-03T00:03:00.002+02:002012-01-03T00:36:02.808+02:00Bath City v Newport County Preview<p> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Arial"><strong>3 January 2012 at Twerton Park, Bath</strong></font></p><strong><font size="5"></font></strong> <p align="justify"><br clear="all"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Wj90MkMeaMg/TwIwh_bVq8I/AAAAAAAAAHk/uKXuy_SwQfQ/s1600-h/Mansfield-Town-v-Newport-County6.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mansfield Town v Newport County" border="0" alt="Mansfield Town v Newport County" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EBXtnHq7IP8/TwIwjyzDRsI/AAAAAAAAAHs/LimbPBnWlGI/Mansfield-Town-v-Newport-County_thum.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="329"></a></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">County v Mansfield at Field Mill earlier this season. The author and daughter Kaitlyn are on the front row behind the goal.<strong> </strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><strong>Reproduced with kind permission of Sam Shingler</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">After what initially seemed to have been a torrid Christmas period, Newport County will head to Twerton Park on Tuesday evening in buoyant mood, knowing that a win will take them up to 18th in the league and give much needed breathing space between themselves and the bottom four in the Blue Square Bet Conference Premier Division.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The Christmas period commenced with a Christmas Day announcement that Danny Rose, County’s star midfielder, would be sold to an unnamed club as soon as the transfer window opened on January 1st. The timing of such an announcement, coupled with the confirmation a couple of days later that the player would be moving to Fleetwood Town for an undisclosed fee caused consternation amongst some supporters who considered the timing and lack of transparency of such announcements unhelpful. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">With the announcement of the sale of Rose still fresh in the supporter’s minds, Newport County then lost out on what would probably have been their highest crowd of the season for the local derby with Bath City when the Spytty Park pitch was deemed unplayable. This left County facing the very real prospect of dropping into the bottom four before the away encounter with Bath, given that the majority of the teams around them were playing two matches whilst the Newport players and fans enjoyed an unanticipated extended stay at home eating the remains of the Christmas turkey.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">During this time of idleness, however, two things have happened which has lifted the spirits of all who associate themselves with County. Firstly, only Stockport County of the teams embroiled with Newport in the relegation battle at the foot of the Conference actually managed to move above them, County securing a hard earned 3-2 New Year’s Day win against Barrow after a late Sheridan penalty. Kettering Town lost twice and, given the current financial plight of the club, are in serious trouble, whilst Hayes having lost on Boxing Day to Ebbsfleet, were saved from what was potentially going to be a second defeat when the referee abandoned the return New Year’s Day match with Ebbsfleet leading 1-0. These results have enabled Newport to remain outside the bottom four, whilst giving them potentially crucial games in hand.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The second item of significance was a double statement from chairman Chris Blight concerning the Danny Rose transfer and the desire of the directors to have openness and transparency with the fans. These messages both highlighted the reasons why the Christmas Day announcement was made and confirmed that manager Justin Edinburgh would have opportunity to strengthen the side in the transfer market during January. This was then immediately confirmed when 20 year old Cardiff City striker Nat Jarvis was brought back to the club on loan for the remainder of the season. The response of the supporters to these events has been very positive and a sizeable and vocal amber army is likely to descend upon Twerton Park on Tuesday evening.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Of course, the poor results for many teams near the bottom of the league increases the importance of this game and the pending return fixture at Spytty Park, which is potentially going to be schedule for 10 January. Bath City, who have been marooned at the foot of the table for the majority of the season, will see an opportunity from these two matches to gain six points, which would make a significant impact on their chances of survival. The official Bath City website has published a preview of Tuesday’s match with the rallying cry to supporters that they should take heart given recent improved performances that have included creditable draws with Mansfield and Cambridge, as well as a crucial victory over a Telford United side that are rapidly sliding into trouble. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The preview also claimed that Bath’s draw with Kettering was heartening, but the reality is that in order to survive, the Romans must win the games against the sides just above them in the league table. However, the only defeat Bath have suffered in the last five games was a 4-1 reverse at Kidderminster and, with home games against both Braintree and Alfreton also to come this month, the club are still far from relegated.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Whilst the media in general tend to exaggerate the importance of individual games during the early part of the season, there is no doubt that this encounter at Twerton Park could be hugely significant to both clubs. Given the buoyant mood currently at Newport County, along with their own impressive away record recently, which has included a draw at leaders Wrexham and a 4-1 victory over promotion favourites Fleetwood Town, the Exiles will start as favourites to win. Bath have struggled to score goals and will be looking to Lee Phillips to inspire them to victory by improving upon his current tally of 3 for the season. Indeed, the Romans strikers have had such a tough time this season that their goalscoring threat is most likely to come from midfield, from where Murray, Canham and Watkins have all netted four times this season.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Prediction: Bath City 1 Newport County 2</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><em>Please feel welcome to offer your own prediction by filling in the poll on the left hand side of this article. The poll will remain open until shortly before kick off.</em></font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-50551161475907406782011-12-31T21:46:00.000+02:002012-08-29T15:44:25.795+02:00Merthyr Town v Bristol Manor Farm<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1zSVdgUYOg4/TwF7soBkVJI/AAAAAAAAAHE/bN9XocJktj4/s1600-h/Merthyr%252520Town%252520Badge%25255B19%25255D.jpg"><img title="Merthyr Town Badge" border="0" alt="Merthyr Town Badge" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RQp5XzyaK3k/TwF7tZOjAJI/AAAAAAAAAHM/dYnPGrc8kp0/Merthyr%252520Town%252520Badge_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="109" height="154"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Lns-EyLeIbs/TwF7uZCQ9SI/AAAAAAAAAHU/-akiE_IVeNE/s1600-h/Bristol%252520Manor%252520Farm%252520Badge%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Bristol Manor Farm Badge" border="0" alt="Bristol Manor Farm Badge" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2URLJfmaS6k/TwF7vx6oLnI/AAAAAAAAAHc/Nxr_c6EPVDI/Bristol%252520Manor%252520Farm%252520Badge_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="150" height="150"></a> <blockquote> <p> <p><strong> 2nd January 2012</strong></p></blockquote> <p><strong> Penydarren Park, Merthyr</strong> <p> <p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The next month is hugely significant for Merthyr Town as they seek to gain back to back promotions and secure a place in Division 1 of the Southern League for the first time since the original Merthyr Tydfil club were liquidated two years ago. The home game against Bristol Manor Farm on Monday is the first in a succession of five consecutive league games which the club hope will leave them challenging Larkhall Athletic and Willand Rovers at the top of the Toolstation Premier Division.</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3">After a hugely successful first season in which Merthyr Town were promoted to the Premier Division after running away with the Toolstation Western League 1st Division title, the Martyrs are dreaming of another title. A quick glance at the average attendances in the division provides an indication of the relative stature of the club compared to others in the division, with the Martyrs currently averaging over 400 people per home game, more than double many of the other clubs. The return to Penydarren Park at the start of the season also means that, unlike most in the division, the club have a ground that is suitably equipped for the Southern League. However, on the field itself, the challenge is much greater than it was last season. Current champions Larkhall Athletic also harbour ambitions of promotion after having failed to achieve the required Grade E status for their ground in sufficient time to be promoted last season and so far this season their form has been more consistent than Merthyr’s.</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3">The Martyrs were in imperious form since their return to Penydarren Park, notching up five consecutive wins which included the seven goal thrashings of Odd Down and Barnstaple Town. However, in their last two outings the club were held to disappointing draws by Bridport and Longwell Green Sports, meaning the loss of 4 very valuable points. Merthyr need to try and pick up a minimum of four wins from these next five games if they are to be serious title contenders. The return of former Neath player Matthew Harris, who has missed most of the season with a broken leg, and defender Steve Williams who has just served a three match ban, will provide manager Gary Shephard with options over the coming few weeks. Harris in particular is a useful asset as he is able to play in both midfield and at right back, though the Bristol Manor Farm game has come too soon for him. Merthyr have been trying to organise friendlies to help Harris regain full fitness over the Christmas period, but have been thwarted on two of the three occasions, one of which was last Thursday against Welsh Cup giant killers Merthyr Saints.</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Merthyr' Town’s opponents on Monday are Bristol Manor Farm, who are enjoying another decent season after having finished 7th in the Premier League in 2010-11. Bristol Manor Farm are currently 6th in the table, just one place beneath Merthyr, though they have played 5 more games than the Welsh side. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Having won 3 of the last 4 games in all competitions, the Bristol side are experiencing their own decent run of form and they will therefore believe that they can get a result at Penydarren Park. Much will depend upon striker Luke Clarke, who has returned to The Creek this season after a spell with Bitton. His ability to lead the line has created numerous problems for defenders this season, as Ilfracombe and Sherborne found out to their cost in suffering heavy defeats to Bristol Manor Farm.</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3">Given that Willand Rovers and Larkhall Athletic will expect to win their respective fixtures against Bridport and Corsham Town respectively, Merthyr desperately need to win this match. That desire, coupled with the extra quality in their squad, should see the home in what will be a tightly fought game.</font> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377484919691449436.post-7312414003685786532011-12-31T10:38:00.001+02:002012-02-15T21:37:25.080+02:00Wrexham Target Fifth Straight Win<br />
<img align="left" alt="Wrexham Badge 2" border="0" height="224" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9aLjHGv0Zcs/Tv7KDcf8ayI/AAAAAAAAAEs/X7EKCavGtzQ/Wrexham%252520Badge%2525202%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Wrexham Badge 2" width="155" /><br />
<img align="right" alt="Telford United Badge" border="0" height="221" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MFLaQTa2sCg/Tv7KFdpfc2I/AAAAAAAAAEw/uMdT-UEyvGs/Telford%252520United%252520Badge%25255B21%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Telford United Badge" width="154" /><br />
<strong>New Year’s Day</strong><br />
<strong> v</strong><br />
<strong> Racecourse Ground, Wrexham</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The end of the calendar year is traditionally a time for both reflecting on the past 12 months and for looking forward to the future. As Wrexham and Telford United prepare for their second festive meeting in a week, the clubs may reflect on just how long a period 7 months can be in football and just how dramatically fortunes have changed since the play offs were concluded last May.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Both clubs made the play offs last season; Wrexham made the Conference play offs after having finished 4th, only to have their entire season’s work undone during a disastrous 20 minute spell in their semi final home leg against Luton Town, during which they conceded three goals and effectively lost the tie. In contrast, Telford United finished runners up to Alfreton Town in the Conference North and then safely negotiated the play offs to earn promotion to the Conference in front of an impressive 5,436 crowd at New Bucks Head, Telford. Instrumental to this success was 29 year old midfielder Phil Trainer, who netted crucial injury time goals in both the semi final first leg at Nuneaton and in the final itself. Consequently Telford United, one of the biggest names in non league football, entered the 2011-12 season in buoyant mood, full of the hope and expectation that promotion brings, whilst Wrexham not only had to contend with the disappointment of play off failure but with the very real possibility that they would go out of business due to crippling debts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Fast forward to the end of December and the future of the two clubs looks very different. The Wrexham Supporters Trust successfully completed their acquisition of the club after the Football Conference ratified the takeover on 12 December and the Dragons sit proudly at the top of the Conference having gained an impressive 56 points from their opening 25 games. Much of the credit for this must be given to former manager Dean Saunders, who assembled together a group of talented players who have exceeded all expectations this season. However, since the departure of Saunders to Doncaster Rovers in the middle of September, Wrexham’s form has just continued to improve. Since Andy Morrell took over the managerial position for what seemed to be a tough away trip to Grimsby, Wrexham have won 11 of their 15 league games and are now on a run of 13 without defeat during which time they have only conceded 3 goals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In contrast, as so often happens with newly promoted clubs, Telford United are experiencing an alarming mid season dip in form which has seen them win only 1 of the last 14 games. This poor sequence of results, whilst admittedly against some of the bigger clubs in the league, included a recent 3-1 defeat at basement club Bath City, and has caused Telford to become embroiled in an 8 team relegation battle that is developing at the foot of the table. It also caused manager Andy Sinton to try deflecting some of the pressure off his beleaguered side before last Monday’s encounter with Wrexham by claiming that the pressure is actually on the bigger clubs in the league. However, in front of a bumper Boxing Day crowd of 4500 at New Bucks Head, Wrexham ran out 2-0 winners despite a relatively lacklustre performance. Now, with form and statistics against them, Telford have somehow got to blunt Wrexham’s attack whilst finding a way past what seems to be an almost impenetrable defense. Furthermore, they have to do this without midfield talisman Phil Trainer, who was sent off in the closing stages of the first encounter for a second bookable offence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Despite the challenges facing his own side, Andy Sinton is right in claiming that the pressure is on Wrexham. The club are desperate for a return to the football league but, despite their impressive form, they have still not managed to open up a significant gap between themselves and Fleetwood. However, with the Cod Army having to travel to Southport on Sunday, this represents Wrexham’s best opportunity of establishing some daylight. Given the contrasting fortunes of the clubs at the moment, it is difficult to see anything other than a Wrexham win in this one.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0