Better start of by saying a very big thank you to Terry who did everything possible today to make my day even more special and also for taking Anna and myself for a look around the dressing rooms, after the club decided to move the sponsor presentations to the Gulls Nest.
Paul Buckle was so very pleased the members on the TFF decided to present him with a magnum of champagne and he said a very big thank you for the thought and kindness and I just thanked him for ensuring we are in league two next season. I would also like to say thank you to Colin Lee for allowing the TFF to make the presentation on the pitch
A bumper crowd at plainmoor with both sets of fans in a party mood and while this was an end of season game with nothing really much to play for, it was a good entertaining game and on the balance of play one we should have won.
All our players worked so hard all over the pitch and Ellis was rightly named as the man of the match, so many times it was his last ditch tackle that prevented a Notts forward getting a shot away, the only player who was not on top of his game was Zebs for some reason, even switching wings during the game had no effect on what was a poor performance by his standards.
I do feel young Mr Benyon should have scored at least two goals today, both times in the box with just the keeper to beat, but you could not fault his work rate and as the game wore on he really made the Notts defenders work hard and kept them on their toes. Rendell had a fine game and I really hope we are able to keep him here, he makes the odd poor pass, but he works so well with Benyon and also brings others into the game so well.
It was nice to see our players enjoy a big team hug before the start of the game, I like seeing players do that as for me it sends out the message we are close and together and are a team and that is how we are going to play in the game.
Early in the game Facey showed what a good player he is when he ran down the left hand wing and sent in a perfect cross that the Notts forward got a good head on and the ball just cleared the cross bar and landed on the roof of the net.
Schmeichel junior showed he had been watching is dad on some old videos and went on a run about that saw him near the corner flag and Benyon went past him and took the ball to the edge of the box and then hit a very poor ball over everyone and it was a golden opportunity to take the lead wasted.
Nico took one of his long throw –ins into the Notts box and Zebs flicked the ball on with his head to Benyon who headed it at the gaol but the header had no real power and was no more then catching practice for Schmeichel.
Stevens was playing well on the left wing and he played a great ball to benyon who was blatantly brought down and the Notts player rightly received a yellow card. From the free kick taken by Nico, benyon got another header at goal, only this time the ball went across the face of the gaol and behind for a goal kick.
Rendell then played a nice neat ball to Mansell who took the ball on and made the space for a shot, but it lacked any power and once again Schmeichel had an easy save to make.
We then went very lose with some our passing from midfield, time after time a good ball from Wroe would have put our forwards away and a chance to get in on goal, but what should have been easy passes to make ended up being very poor ones that not only stopped our attacking movements, but gave procession away very cheaply.
Notts were no really creating any chances for themselves, Ravenhill did find himself just inside our box as our players just stood off him and none moved to close him down and will all the time in the world he hit very rubbish shot .
Our stand in goal keeper may not have played any games for a while, but he did pull of a good save from Facey who hit is volley into the ground and our keeper got across and pushed the ball behind for a corner.
Davies the Notts winger went on a great run down the left hand side of the pitch and just danced with the ball at his feet past and around our players, I thought he was going to end up getting a shot away and scoring, that was until Ellis appeared from nowhere and make yet another important tackle.
So the end of the first half and time to see Kevin Hill in goal in a penalty competition for the Junior Gulls, I can see why he decided not to be a goal keeper, that’s all I will say.
Early in the second half Rendell was fouled and the free kick was taken very quickly and caught the Notts defence asleep, the ball was just passed to benyon who was in on gaol with just Schmeichel to beat, but Schmeichel stood up and made himself big and Benyon fired the ball right at him.
We had one scare when from a free kick Hughes got a header on target, our keeper did not deal with the ball very well and it came off him and he just managed to get down and smother the ball in the nick of time.
Stevens on a good run was clearly held as he was about to go into the Notts box, a great free kick routine ended with a great shot at goal by Nico and it forced a fine save out of Schmeichel.
Right near the death we could and maybe should have got all three points, Benyon once again in on goal with only Schmeichel to beat, but once again it was
Schmeichel who came out on top, you can see why bigger clubs are after him.
A less than really meaningful request came over the speakers not to go onto the pitch when the game was over, the ref blew his whistle and on came both sets of fans. Full praise to the stewards who handled the situation perfectly and the only angry person who lost his cool big time was Hughes. One minute being carried on the shoulders of Notts fans and then just as he was about to leave the pitch something must have been said to him.
He sure has a nasty temper and looked like he would have hit who ever had upset him, even going down the tunnel he still wanted to have a go at someone standing about the tunnel entrance in the stand.
Thanks to all those who came and found me to hand over the money for the magnum of champagne, I will be getting some club pictures of the Paul Buckle presentation and also the sponsors presentation and will put them up when I get them.
For now a few photos to give a feel of today at Plainmoor.
Well judging by the evidence, Carayol must have "disappeared" pretty late then........................I'd say about an hour before kick off?
