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Post by dayornight on Apr 13, 2013 21:54:48 GMT
Completely agree Heathside no problem with Faversham at all, nothing like the other lot at the slum.
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Post by nws on Apr 13, 2013 23:27:25 GMT
I thought we played some of the best football I have seen all season but were let down by woeful finishing. It did rather underline what I have thought about Phillips in midfield. Good player but not creative enough. Stubbsy looked superb with Brown alongside and our wide players got plenty of ball to get at back players (which they did rather well). If only someone could put the ball in net!
It had to be flippin' Danny Hockton didn't it? Great finish though and fair play to Faversham. Stuck to it as we continually let them off the hook and got their just desserts. On another day we could have caned 'em with that performance. I thought they were a decent side though.
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Post by nws on Apr 14, 2013 9:06:27 GMT
Evening all! Sheff Wednesday fan marooned here in Kent! Took my 7 year old daughter to watch you Stones today and although we stood behind the goal you kicked towards first half, rain and wind driving into her little face, she enjoyed herself! That game should have been wrapped up with the wind behind you first half, not sure why more shots weren't rained in on their keeper as you enjoyed the lion's share of possession. Your front men seemed to me a little "on edge", snatching at some good chances, continually leaning back for their shots. Recipe for disaster 2nd half and kicking into that wind! Thought your wide midfield players also looked good, and a sound defence as well, one centre-back particularly. Really thought that lad "Stubbsy" in the middle was excellent. A solid, creative player and definitely M.o.M. Your keeper, not the biggest 'keeper ever, is fantastic at getting down to the few shots Faverhsam did manage to get away (which were at least on target and were very well struck) and skimming off that wet astro-turf at pace - well to be honest they seemed to be trying that again and again (and it worked for their second). Surprised you Stones don't smack more shots in hard/low off that very fast pitch. Brilliant surface though. Thought that Hockton of Faverhsam had a hell of a shot on him. Genuinely unlucky that the match officials did not see their other striker (number 10) continually shirt pulling, and the way he nearly took your keeper's shirt off for their first goal was nothing short of a disgrace. Very poor and the ref did not even go over to have a word with the lino with 2,000 Stones fans protesting. For sure all the boos around us at the end (we moved to some spare seats in a stand for the second half!) were aimed directly at the ref/lino. The officials bottled it, and that took the wind out of your players with 20/25 or so minutes left for sure. A point was the least that was deserved but there was no stopping their second, was there? No keeper would have got that, hell of a shot struck with pace. We left soaked, freezing cold and witnessing (what I understand) was a rare Stones defeat. "Do you want to go again?" I asked my daughter at the end? "Yes please" was the response. a lot cheaper, much closer and arguably more enjoyable than a trip to Hillsborough. All the best for the last few games and see you around. Make sure you get behind your manager, you've got the best guy in the lower leagues for sure and a great setup down there. KentOwl. Cheers KentOwl. You are more than welcome to come and join us and I am glad you and your daughter enjoyed it (even if the result went against us). We are finding that now we are back in the town we are getting quite a few fans of league clubs that are finding the superior enjoyment of non-league footy (i.e. mixing with oppo fans, changing ends at HT, beer on the terrace etc) to be a pleasurable alternative to over-priced league football where you are often herded like animals before sitting in seats made for ten year olds. I also understand that coming to see us yesterday did at least keep you away from a yorkshire derby loss . We do have one long-standing fan who is a Sheff W supporter. Not sure how much he comes these days but he has been involved with the Stones for many years (right back to County League days). Maybe we could set up an Owls section in the main stand to keep the pigeons away (and Bill Williams happy) ;D
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Post by pwe on Apr 14, 2013 10:33:37 GMT
Aside from not putting away our chances, that for me was the best Stones' performance this season, that midfield combo of Hill, Brown and Stubbs was a revelation, I hope Jay sticks with it, they just created so many openings and half chances, as well as breaking up Favershams' play
Play-offs it is then. For my money, I'd sooner meet Faversham again in the first leg, they didn't look all that yesterday, the result flattered them hugely, followed by Ramsgitt rather than Hive in the grand finale
Superb turnout yesterday, think we're only about 1000 short of 50,000 visitors to watch the Stones at the Gallagher this season now, including the PSFs of course, and with potentially 3 more home fixtures, it could end up being nearer to 60,000, time the fat lady sings
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Post by pinkpanther on Apr 14, 2013 10:38:18 GMT
I'd like to congratulate Dulwich on their almost certain league championship. To be honest, from what I've seen this season they thoroughly deserve it. Dulwich still have a lot of work to do yet. Seven points needed from our last four games, which are away to Leatherhead, away to Herne Bay, home to Gatwick and home to Burgess Hill. Three teams that have fallen away after being play off contenders for most of the season, and one from the lower half of the table. I wouldn't be too worried if we had something like a full squad to pick from, but we had six players out injured yesterday, five of whom have been missing for a few weeks now, and I believe we've got a couple of suspensions due. We're still able to put out a strong XI with no real weak links or anyone playing out of position, but any further absentees could cause us a problem. I can't see Maidstone dropping points against Walton Casuals or Horsham, the two poorest sides I've seen this season. Chipstead away on a Tuesday night at their pokey little ground on a rural hilltop might be more challenging. They always give the Hamlet a close game, but every time they play one of our rivals near the top and I'm optimistic they can do us a favour it never seems to happen.
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Post by favershamshouter on Apr 14, 2013 10:47:07 GMT
Hello. As one of the visiting fans yesterday I thought I could chip in my twopenny'th. Firstly, I ought to record what a great experience it was coming (for my first time) to The Gallagher. As I said to a Stone fan on the way in, it's like going to proper football match. Organised carparks. Fans crossing the road in a stream that holds up the traffic. Queues at the turnstiles. These are not things we at Faversham are used to... And once inside, well... - extremely impressive! I'd have to agree with a lot of the comments in this thread. Yes, you probably should have got a hatful. Early on, every time you got near the penalty area there was a lot of nailbiting amongst us Faversham fans huddling behind the goal. However, one of our key strengths this season has been our keeper Simon. And he performed wonders again when called upon. Although probably too many of the Stones' shots were wide of the mark for your liking. And from our vantage point, with the wind behind us in the second half, we were also perfectly placed to see Faversham's opener. Perhaps best if I just leave it that we've been on the receiving end of some shocking decisions in other games this season, so perhaps we chalk that up as a bit of a balancer.... But, give Luke Harvey his due, he put the ball away as he is supposed to. But the slight delay in our cheers was because everyone, like me, was waiting for a whistle or flag.... And Danny Hockton's winner was a delight. He looked sprightly all game - which isn't bad for someone who earlier in the year was considering a move into coaching - and finished that one beautifully. So, yes. I feel that we were a little fortunate to come away with all three points. We had a game plan - which is never to give up, defend resolutely, be tight in midfield, use Renford's pace up the wing, and to harry around with Luke & Danny's strength up front making it tough for the defence - and we stuck with it. And I'd agree, it was a mark of the man's stature that Aaron Lacey responded to the win in the way he did. If it's all right with you, we'd rather not face you in the play-offs, at least not until the final. You're clearly the team to beat, assuming you don't benefit from a late Dulwich collapse. So thanks for a great afternoon. We felt welcomed. And went home happy, if a little wet. Until next time....!
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Post by ontheup on Apr 14, 2013 10:58:06 GMT
Cheers Pink Panther but even pointing my most optimistic side I can't see you slipping up now so I guess it is time to congratulate you and your fabulous team and hope to meet again next season.
With regard to yesterday we were actually very very good and deserved at least a point and Faversham would have had no complaints if we had. But football is all about putting the ball in the net and we just couldn't do that.
It is the story of our season to be honest and part of me thinks that having 5 top class strikers has worked against us in that we have never really managed to get a settled forward line.
The only game where we have looked clinical was against DH at home.
I still find it incredible that we have only had one penalty since the September and whilst I do think a lot of decisions have gone against recently you only have to go all the way back to the very first game of the season where we somehow lost to Walton and Hersham, conceding 5 in the process.
The game away at Sittingbourne was a farce and then the opening goal yesterday was just ridiculous. Some refs just struggle with the larger than usual crowds. The ref at DH away was brilliant and handled it superbly which consequently made for a great game
However I am quite confident we can get through the play offs.
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Post by trolley59 on Apr 14, 2013 15:18:41 GMT
addy and kingy from the start for me, and prob drop rory to bench to allow shaun to play behind the two strikers. stubbsy and brown made an awsome combination in the middle, just needed strikers to hit the target. mom def stubbsy[/quote we have been playing since early July, and we still don't know what pair we should start up front, poor in my view..
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Post by oxfordinmaid on Apr 14, 2013 15:36:18 GMT
Here here Trolley , its the manager that picks the team!!!! , with the players hes had and used this season 2nd is not good enough !!!!!
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Post by headstone on Apr 14, 2013 21:25:02 GMT
addy and kingy from the start for me, and prob drop rory to bench to allow shaun to play behind the two strikers. stubbsy and brown made an awsome combination in the middle, just needed strikers to hit the target. mom def stubbsy[/quote we have been playing since early July, and we still don't know what pair we should start up front, poor in my view.. You like a lop-sided formation, then, do you Trolley? For once, Rory actually played well on Saturday, after a couple of early cock-ups. I'd keep him in and tell him to play exactly the same again (except score this time instead of heading wide and high).
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Post by jonathan on Apr 15, 2013 10:07:00 GMT
I also understand that coming to see us yesterday did at least keep you away from a yorkshire derby loss . We do have one long-standing fan who is a Sheff W supporter. Not sure how much he comes these days but he has been involved with the Stones for many years (right back to County League days). ;D Not sure how much he comes! All the time - give or take the odd match! You'll get me a reputation if you say things like that!! COYS and 'Hark now hear the Wednesday sing...'
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Post by eclipse on Apr 15, 2013 10:21:16 GMT
I must agree with most of the threads on here by saying the Stones played well on the day without having the killer touch, probably would have won that game easily 9 times out of 10. Anyway better to be playing well going into the playoffs as now looks likely, still fancy them to go up, thought the crowd was excellent on Saturday given the wet weather, beginning to think a ground expansion is now a must have.
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Post by daveu on Apr 15, 2013 11:56:47 GMT
Here here Trolley , its the manager that picks the team!!!! , with the players hes had and used this season 2nd is not good enough !!!!! And of course no other manager in the division has decent players to pick from
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Post by tim on Apr 15, 2013 13:33:22 GMT
I think it's fair to say that Jay has had more toys in his box than most managers in this league It is also the weakest Div 1 South for some time, no Dover, Dartford, Bognor, Whitehawk, Hastings or Cray! The other sides in the playoffs are likely to feature quite a few ex Maidstone players that were considered not good enough for us, plus we bought one of the sides best player for 5K+ So no, I don't consider 2nd place a great achievement, but I'll give them my full support for the remaining matches, and should we not go up, I'll be back again next season!
COYS
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2013 17:52:03 GMT
Said it before the season started and I'll say it again - I couldn't give a flying fig if we go up or not! Being home in Maidstone is what mattered to me this season - result on the pitch don't matter quite so much.
Anyone who seriously thinks finishing 2nd to Dulwich constitutes a crap season, well, I'll refer you to the past five seasons....
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