Sunken Poole with Rocks on Top

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Saturday 12 August 2017 at The Black Gold Stadium
Result	Poole Town 2 East Thurrock United 3
Competition	National League South (Step 2)
Hopstats	613 on the lifetime list, re-completing National League South and leaving me with AFC Fylde’s new ground to restore the 116 and then Spennymoor Town to restore the 160.
Context
Both teams have started the league season reasonably well with a home draw and an away win.
In one sentence
Two goals from Montel Agyemang swung the game in the visitors’ favour and they defended their lead well for over half an hour.
If only…
... Poole had taken the chance that came their way just after their second goal.  Strong hands by ETU keeper Lukas Lidakevicius kept Shaun Cooper’s shot out.
So what?
Poole and ETU are 11th and 5th respectively in the early league table.
Match Report
The keepers made one decent save each in the first fifteen minutes, with Poole having more possession.  However, the next fifteen belonged to East Thurrock as they forced three chances in quick succession and I noted that they should really have taken the lead.  Poole then opened the scoring.  At the end of a good run from half-way, Abdulai Baggie held the ball up and laid it into the path of Steve Devlin who was steaming in untracked from midfield.  He scored with a great shot to the bottom right corner. The lead lasted ten minutes at most and there was a touch of good fortune about the equaliser.  I suspect that fullback Reece Harris was as surprised as anyone when his curling cross nestled in the far corner of the net.  Agyemang then got his first, cutting in from the right wing and curling a left-footer into that same corner to give East Thurrock the lead at the interval. Agyemang's first goal to give ETU the half-time lead Poole equalised immediately after the restart.  A well-worked move down the right eventually gave Baggie the chance to place the ball wide of Lidakevicius.  Game on, and the “if only” moment (see above) soon followed. The winning goal came as early as the 54th minute, another Agyemang finish from distance, this time with his right foot.  East Thurrock then defended well and Lidakevicius was not too busy.  Some home fans in the hog roast corner entertained us with some top quality moaning, especially when Harris committed two almost identical fouls on the edge of the box, and only got booked for the first.  Home captain Jamie Whisken went from centre back to up front for the last few minutes – he sent a header wide in the closing moments, but that was as close as Poole got.  Not their day, and a good win on the road for the Essex side. Poole Town 2     Devlin 31, Baggie 46 East Thurrock United 3     Harris 40, Agyemang 44, 54
Ground Pix
It’s easy to see why some Poole supporters have been hoping for a ground upgrade or even a new home.  They were denied a place in last season’s divisional playoffs due to ground requirements.  This is a really pleasant and well-kept ground that looks loved and cared-for, but unless something changes then it appears that the club are playing at their highest allowable level.
Match Pix
Pre-Match Entertainment
The original plan to spend a couple of hours in Poole was thwarted by the holiday traffic on the M25 & M3, but there was just enough time for a brief wander along the quay.  I remember Poole's large natural harbour from my 1973 Geography O-level.  This piece of ocean-going kit was one of many on show.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Purple loses to grey (ignoring the orange stripe on the latter) and drops below yellow.  Full table will be published once a month or so.
What Next?
Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!

Fame is the Thirst of Youth, says Byron

Well, I noticed this (one of several) ... not sure whether the home faithful have yet

Newby's first penalty makes the score 1-0 ...

... and his second makes it 3-2 to set up a frantic final few minutes

Hopperational details

Tuesday 28 September 2010, Carshalton Athletic 3  East Thurrock United 2 in an FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round Replay at the War Memorial Sports Ground, Colston Avenue.  I am here because a local pigeon was late for tea, thus depriving Chipstead of my custom this time.  (Here's the proof, which will only make sense if you have read the previous post!  Only eight seconds, I promise!)

This match in one sentence

Byron Harrison’s hat-trick beats Kris Newby’s brace of penalties as the home side make the most of their replay opportunity.

So what?

Carshalton (of Step 3) have been drawn at home to another Essex side, Braintree Town (of Step 2) in the 3rd Qualifying Round on Saturday 9 October.

Who caught the eye on the pitch?

Harrison had three clear chances before he scored his first goal to equalise after the early penalty.  He completed his hat-trick before the golden-booted Newby scored from the spot again.  Both Harrison and Newby were the biggest threats for their respective sides.  However, the home fans were not really anxious about the result until the last few minutes, when visiting keeper Richard Wray joined the attack in great cup-tie style. However, the match might have developed differently if not for Carshalton ‘keeper Craig Ross.  East Thurrock could so easily have had a second goal from dangerous Newby set-pieces before the hosts settled and equalised.  The programme editor admits in his notes that Ross had been man-of-the-match in the first game.  Ross did more than anyone over the two matches to earn the place in the next round. Carshalton 'keeper Craig Ross is happy to be #13

This match had the same effect on my pulse rate as …

… being admonished at a branch of Subway when I asked if I could use two tetrahedral dice to decide from white, offwhite, wholemeal, rye, wholemeal with rye, wholerye with meal, wholebranbreadmeal and Italian fibreloaf for the superstructure of a chicken sandwich.

A snippet from the programme

Carshalton manager Mark Butler’s previous posts are at Ashford Town (Mdx) and Margate.  Seven of the sixteen names listed in the Carshalton squad page have recent connections with one or other of those clubs.  It reminds me of the time when Alan Buckley became West Brom manager and there followed several signings of current or previous Grimsby Town players.  Many of them had difficulty establishing themselves with fans and became fringe players at best.  The same page also states that Byron Harrison “has been looked at by several professional clubs and has a big future in front of him”.  Hmmm … Carshalton is his sixth club already!

What I learned today

Uploading videos takes a long time and I should plan further in advance!