HibeeJibee Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 Hawick's early promise has gone off the boil a bit as shown today as Bathgate continue to pull clear. West Calder have come streaking up - while Pumpherston and Stoneyburn sniffing Harthill. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooseman Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 Wow fauldhoose closer to bottom of league than top 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realmadrid Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Lochgelly with a superb result at the weekend. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 There's mention on the Non League Matters site that the EoS received a couple of enquiries from potential new clubs for next season but they don't meet the League's requirements. Anyone able to add to that? Which clubs etc. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooseman Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Wow just seen on fauldhouse website that they are giving an extension to the manager,nothing like rewarding failure eh? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted February 24 Author Share Posted February 24 "Winter is over" for league. Bathgate and West Calder look likely to duel for the title... all 3 head-to-heads are still awaited. Hawick's form has evaporated since Christmas with a revival needed to chase down Harthill and Pumpherston. Lochgelly have come roaring up table recently. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted March 6 Author Share Posted March 6 (edited) Hawick Royal Albert 2-1 Pumpherston Pumphy took a scenic trip to the Borders of a pleasant evening. Having been in Wooler and Kelso during the day and early evening, the continental 8pm kickoff gave me a chance to make it just in time for the start, and very glad I did... what began as the 'Bore War' ended up an exceptionally entertaining night, culminating in the football equivalent of re-enacting the Siege of Mafeking. On a sticky park the early period was uneventful, though as time wore on more and more dubious offsides were given, mostly against Hawick whose outriders were finding growing success on the counter-attack. Handicapped by being about 4ft 6 and lacking assistants, the stand-in referee was always up against it here... but his increasingly erratic calls might as easily have been ascribed to divining rods or reading tea leaves as far as both teams, benches and supports were concerned. 0-0 at the break. Quality was in short supply but not effort before a modest crowd. Clearly the half-time oranges invigorated both sides and it all kicked off from the restart. Hawick won and dispatched a penalty for a harsh check/obstruction near the by-line, then Pumpherston won a penalty of their own for a harsh handball but cracked it off the bar; before Albert doubled their lead from close range after good build-up, only for the visitors to halve the deficit when duffed clearance was batted straight back at their goal, clean past their AWOL 'keeper, who ended-up fallen prostrate in the mud as if taken out by a sniper. Hawick then shivered the woodwork, tapped in the rebound... only for the ref to chalk it off, for about their dozenth offside of the night. So enraged was the scorer that swearing like a trooper he got himself a straight red for gross dissent. Minutes later another man left the trenches when a crunching tackle won a 2nd yellow - having lost his head when all about him were keeping theirs. Nerves now overtook the homesters and their slender lead. Near me a woman expressed fears of heart failure. Forced to play out a quarter of the game 2 men short the Albert were reduced to desperate defending, often little more than (literally) a thin red line 7 abreast with 1 man screening their front. They were particularly hampered at goal kicks: with their 'keeper apparently unable to launch the ball much more than the length of himself, their centre half had to take the byes, leaving them briefly 3 men short as it landed. Until late-on Hawick surprisingly committed no substitutes to relieve their beleaguered but resolute defenders. Pumphy shelled them relentlessly with high balls, whipped crosses, corners, long range efforts and skirmishing forays from midfield... but just couldn't land a real blow. Time after time shots flew over, screwed wide, came back off the woodwork, or were swatted away by the Albert's stopper. On several occasions it almost defied physics the net didn't bulge. After the referee played an inordinate amount of stoppage time - during which the visitors committed so many to their melee attack Hawick actually managed a couple of breakaways but couldn't finish them - the final whistle finally went. Up went an instant cry of release from the hosts squad and their support, such as may seldom have been heard since the Relief of Ladysmith. I spontaneously applauded their heroic efforts myself. This win reignites Hawick's promotion fight, lifting them to 2pts behind Pumpherston (with 4 games-in-hand) and 6pts of Harthill (with 2 games-in-hand). Edited March 6 by HibeeJibee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted March 9 Author Share Posted March 9 On 06/03/2024 at 17:04, HibeeJibee said: This win reignites Hawick's promotion fight ... which they promptly helped quench today in losing at home to Stoneyburn. Royals may yet get to join top 2 in title race while it looks like Pumpherston, Hawick and Stoneyburn will battle for 4th. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted March 24 Author Share Posted March 24 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordi1977 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Just looking through the league tables after another swathe of postponements and notice that with less than 2 months to go, Stoneyburn have only played 15 games... half their league season. I hadn't realised just how badly affected they had been! What are the chances of them finishing their season on time? Or might the 3rd Division have to go with some kind of extension just to get through the fixture pile up? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamthebam Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 32 minutes ago, Jordi1977 said: Just looking through the league tables after another swathe of postponements and notice that with less than 2 months to go, Stoneyburn have only played 15 games... half their league season. I hadn't realised just how badly affected they had been! What are the chances of them finishing their season on time? Or might the 3rd Division have to go with some kind of extension just to get through the fixture pile up? Midweek matches at handy nearby 3G pitches with lights (Broxburn and Blackburn) maybe? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordi1977 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 8 minutes ago, tamthebam said: Midweek matches at handy nearby 3G pitches with lights (Broxburn and Blackburn) maybe? Genuinely thinking that may have to be the option. This season has kinda become one glorious advertisement for 3G pitches! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamthebam Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 1 minute ago, Jordi1977 said: Genuinely thinking that may have to be the option. This season has kinda become one glorious advertisement for 3G pitches! until the wind blows and keepers can't take by kicks (or pretend they can't) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spyro Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 2 hours ago, tamthebam said: until the wind blows and keepers can't take by kicks (or pretend they can't) Depends how well it has been maintained. The ball will stick on the good 3g park, but the worn ones are like car parks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordi1977 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 8 hours ago, Spyro said: Depends how well it has been maintained. The ball will stick on the good 3g park, but the worn ones are like car parks Tam is an Edinburgh City fan... he's still suffering PTSD from yesterday's 3G match! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamthebam Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 11 hours ago, Spyro said: Depends how well it has been maintained. The ball will stick on the good 3g park, but the worn ones are like car parks or the opposition keeper makes a meal of things to get the match off 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spyro Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Just now, tamthebam said: or the opposition keeper makes a meal of things to get the match off Fair enough, I completely missed the context there until Jordi mentioned it! I'd have probably have tried the same myself tbf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted April 13 Author Share Posted April 13 Hawick's form has badly collapsed since February... unless they or Pumpherston can finish in rampant style, it looks like the top 3 are fairly secure, with West Calder in driving seat for the title. Plenty head-to-heads to shake-up the placings certainly. Stoneyburn have now reached double figures of home postponements (plus 7 more away)... thusfar 44% of their home games have been off. Run-in: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordi1977 Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 10 hours ago, HibeeJibee said: Hawick's form has badly collapsed since February... unless they or Pumpherston can finish in rampant style, it looks like the top 3 are fairly secure, with West Calder in driving seat for the title. Plenty head-to-heads to shake-up the placings certainly. Stoneyburn have now reached double figures of home postponements (plus 7 more away)... thusfar 44% of their home games have been off. Run-in: If Stoneyburn win all their games in hand (and looking at their schedule that is one absolutely massive "if"), then promotion is completely in their own hands... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLad Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 19 hours ago, HibeeJibee said: Hawick's form has badly collapsed since February... unless they or Pumpherston can finish in rampant style, it looks like the top 3 are fairly secure, with West Calder in driving seat for the title. Plenty head-to-heads to shake-up the placings certainly. Stoneyburn have now reached double figures of home postponements (plus 7 more away)... thusfar 44% of their home games have been off. Run-in: With Stoneyburn getting a small 3G training pitch built currently, they should maybe have saved a bit more and get the full pitch done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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