Arcticterntalk.org

The blog of a travelling psychiatrist and football lover. Who happens to be a halfway decent photographer. Takes a cynical view of the world

Archive for the tag “dire football”

02 Apr 2013

Walton Casuals 2 Walton and Hersham 2. A Photo Fest

This game to almost both teams surprise was a relegation 6-pointer with the prize for the loser being an ever increasing chance of relegation to the Combined Counties League. The reality was the game was dire, without much atmosphere,passion and devoid of skill, and both teams frankly look awful enough to deserve relegation. A summary of the game would be two scrappy goals for Walton and Hersham in the first half and two equally scrappy goals ( if one can count a penalty that ought not to have been given, as almost the last kick of the game) for Walton Casuals in the second half. For mitigating factors one can count the wind which was brisk and arctic, but such a devoid absence of skill I have not seen at any level for some time now. I will also confess to supporting both these teams, and in fact have been watching Walton and Hersham for almost 50 years. When one also looks at the crowd that this local derby generated, about 150, it is clear that a small town like Walton cannot host two teams at this level, and the return fixture a month ago drew only 115 souls.

Enough of the moaning. Some halfway decent action shots.

Good ball control

The ball did cross the line. The first Walton goal

Keeper punching seemingly into his own goal

More keeper action

Scrappy Walton Casuals first goal

Penalty

16 Sep 2012

Sutton 1 Havant and Waterlooville 1

I do try and be positive about football particularly as it costs good money to get in, in fact this game cost 12£ to get in ( only 2£ for children), 2.50£ for a programme ( not really worth it, full of adverts and little real information or news) and 3£ for a burger. But this really was one of the worst football games that I have seen for some while. Let me try and itemise my grief:

Many/most of the players did not look fully fit. Some looked considerably unfit and overweight.
The style of both teams was kick and run, followed by kick and dont bother to run. There were significant areas of the pitch that were unused all game
Both goals were of a shabby kind. The own goal scored by Sutton was patently ridiculous. The keeper could and should ( and maybe did) call for the ball, instead the centre half seemingly made a decent finish in his own net. The sutton goal was kind of ridiculous. The ball ricocheted around in the box, hitting random players and the posts and eventually somehow went in.
Neither team tried to play football as I know it

In fact this game was one of the most dire games I have seen for many years. Even at this early stage of the season I can confidently predict that both these teams will be at the wrong end of the table.

On the positive side though, this is a great little ground to watch football in but it does help if you a Sat Nav to help you meander your way to the toilets. They are complex to find. Worth a visit, but maybe on a different day. I will come back later this season and see whats changed.