Last game of the season?

[Deleted]

Certainly for some, though we still have the play offs to look forward to.
Hampton and Richmond still have their own play off place to play for, while Maidstone need to reset after the Truro debacle in addition to getting thrashed in the away fixture. It is also possible we might face Hampton again in the eliminator - though there are plenty of other possibilities for the final league games too, but it won't hurt to bounce back and put on a really good performance for the home fans.
0-0 then?
Probably!

[Deleted]

Apr 17, 2024 7:29:45 GMT @61666 said:

Certainly for some, though we still have the play offs to look forward to.
Hampton and Richmond still have their own play off place to play for, while Maidstone need to reset after the Truro debacle in addition to getting thrashed in the away fixture. It is also possible we might face Hampton again in the eliminator - though there are plenty of other possibilities for the final league games too, but it won't hurt to bounce back and put on a really good performance for the home fans.
0-0 then?
Probably!

4-0, of course. Although it could be the wrong way round...

But, to be serious, if we can't win this one, or at least put in a decent afternoon's effort, we don't deserve to go any further.

Could all be a bit academic though - playoff-wise. We can't make 2nd (without Chelmsford losing and us scoring a goal every five minutes ..), and I can't see Worthing losing. Our only hope is that Eastbourne put up a decent fight and we get to play Farnborough or Aveley, rather than Bath.

After that, it's in the lap of the gods.

In George, as always, we trust.

[Deleted]

Mind you, aways to Worthing and Chelmsford would be fun.

But, please God, not Braintree again ..

[Deleted]

I don’t think many expected that. What a way to end the season. H&R looked pretty good for most of the first half but we blew them away after the break. Some cracking goals today, Sam Corne’s opener a contender for goal of the season and Bentley’s was arguably even better.

Home to Aveley Wednesday evening and the way we played second half we should be brimming with confidence. Then if we win that an away semi at Chelmsford. Then either Worthing away or Braintree/Bath at home in the final. All of it very winnable, especially if we can’t keep the momentum going. Come on you Stones.

[Deleted]

Really enjoyed that. Sunny, big crowd, played a decent team and out them to the sword. Corne’s goal was class and Bentley, who played well, was almost better.

Notice we didn’t pass it around slowly at the back and pump it in the channels at all today.

[stones1]

Thought we played really well today. Particular shout outs to Corne (as usual), raphe (who’s growing game by game) and Wanjau smith, who makes us such a better team. His movement is excellent as is his link up play.

Some great goals and a big crowd - thought H&R were a really physical side and it was nice to not be bullied by that and blow them away.

Onto Wednesday!

[nigelgm]

Dave I think you will find a win against Aveley would get us Worthing not Chelmsford probably more difficult route

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2024 17:12:20 GMT daveu said:

I don’t think many expected that. What a way to end the season. H&R looked pretty good for most of the first half but we blew them away after the break. Some cracking goals today, Sam Corne’s opener a contender for goal of the season and Bentley’s was arguably even better.

Home to Aveley Wednesday evening and the way we played second half we should be brimming with confidence. Then if we win that an away semi at Chelmsford. Then either Worthing away or Braintree/Bath at home in the final. All of it very winnable, especially if we can’t keep the momentum going. Come on you Stones.

Think you will find will we be away to Worthing not Chelmsford  in the semi 

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2024 17:12:20 GMT daveu said:

I don’t think many expected that. What a way to end the season. H&R looked pretty good for most of the first half but we blew them away after the break. Some cracking goals today, Sam Corne’s opener a contender for goal of the season and Bentley’s was arguably even better.

Home to Aveley Wednesday evening and the way we played second half we should be brimming with confidence. Then if we win that an away semi at Chelmsford. Then either Worthing away or Braintree/Bath at home in the final. All of it very winnable, especially if we can’t keep the momentum going. Come on you Stones.

I'd like this twice if I could!

[Deleted]

Really excellent game. Great to see Kyprianou back - we've really missed his presence on the pitch. Bentley had a cracking game, Corne scored one of the best goals I've seen in ages (again!), and W-S fell over in just the right way! In fact, every player had a good day today. And H&RB weren't a pushover, they needed a result far more than us, and played like it, right to the end. If they hadn't been so 'physical', I'd have felt sorry for them. Even the non-segregation worked OK, and we had a really good crowd.

Our only dodgy moment was their goal. They were allowed far too much space down the right, which forced Covolan to make a hasty 'save', leading to a corner we completely failed to defend. After that, they dominated for a while and I feared the worst, but we gradually brought the game back under our control. And perhaps that was a good lesson - we'll get punished for lapses like that in the play-offs, we need 100% concentration all game.

So, Aveley on Wednesday. I actually would have preferred Bath, as Aveley are in better form, and, after today, will believe the play-offs are theirs. But you can only win the play-offs by winning every game, and, playing like we did today, we can beat anyone. Good as Chelmsford, and Worthing may be, I bet it's us that the other teams are worried about playing the most.

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2024 19:09:30 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

Really excellent game. Great to see Kyprianou back - we've really missed his presence on the pitch. Bentley had a cracking game, Corne scored one of the best goals I've seen in ages (again!), and W-S fell over in just the right way! In fact, every player had a good day today. And H&RB weren't a pushover, they needed a result far more than us, and played like it, right to the end. If they hadn't been so 'physical', I'd have felt sorry for them. Even the non-segregation worked OK, and we had a really good crowd.

Our only dodgy moment was their goal. They were allowed far too much space down the right, which forced Covolan to make a hasty 'save', leading to a corner we completely failed to defend. After that, they dominated for a while and I feared the worst, but we gradually brought the game back under our control. And perhaps that was a good lesson - we'll get punished for lapses like that in the play-offs, we need 100% concentration all game.

So, Aveley on Wednesday. I actually would have preferred Bath, as Aveley are in better form, and, after today, will believe the play-offs are theirs. But you can only win the play-offs by winning every game, and, playing like we did today, we can beat anyone. Good as Chelmsford, and Worthing may be, I bet it's us that the other teams are worried about playing the most.

I thought the player who won the corner was about four yards offside when the ball was played to him.

[Dan]

Looking the business today, plenty of effort and skill in show.
Sam Corne proabably MoM again and other players like Bentley and WS with very good performances too.
Happy that Raphe Brown is playing to his potential at last. I've always liked him but spends so much time on the treatment table.

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2024 20:28:55 GMT daveu said:

Apr 20, 2024 19:09:30 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

Really excellent game. Great to see Kyprianou back - we've really missed his presence on the pitch. Bentley had a cracking game, Corne scored one of the best goals I've seen in ages (again!), and W-S fell over in just the right way! In fact, every player had a good day today. And H&RB weren't a pushover, they needed a result far more than us, and played like it, right to the end. If they hadn't been so 'physical', I'd have felt sorry for them. Even the non-segregation worked OK, and we had a really good crowd.

Our only dodgy moment was their goal. They were allowed far too much space down the right, which forced Covolan to make a hasty 'save', leading to a corner we completely failed to defend. After that, they dominated for a while and I feared the worst, but we gradually brought the game back under our control. And perhaps that was a good lesson - we'll get punished for lapses like that in the play-offs, we need 100% concentration all game.

So, Aveley on Wednesday. I actually would have preferred Bath, as Aveley are in better form, and, after today, will believe the play-offs are theirs. But you can only win the play-offs by winning every game, and, playing like we did today, we can beat anyone. Good as Chelmsford, and Worthing may be, I bet it's us that the other teams are worried about playing the most.

I thought the player who won the corner was about four yards offside when the ball was played to him.

You've got a better view than us, so I couldn't tell, but they still broke down that side too easily.

[Deleted]

The most pleasing aspect of this game was the way we stopped letting them push/pull and bully us. It took a while but I saw Sol and Rushie in quick succession make sure the defender playing the ball out end on the floor because of a clipped ankle. I watched some lovely play acting from Covolan, Tanga and Corne when they got fouled. I watched us suddenly return the shirt pulling and the blocks. When we started doing all of this Hampton's bullying tactics fell apart and they had less to offer. The epitome of that was their big lad up front falling over from a little barge in the back on about 75mins and just hit the deck, look up forlornly before getting slowly up and jogging back without a whimper of a sound. Well done the Stones

[Deleted]

Apr 21, 2024 0:35:20 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

Apr 20, 2024 20:28:55 GMT daveu said:

I thought the player who won the corner was about four yards offside when the ball was played to him.

You've got a better view than us, so I couldn't tell, but they still broke down that side too easily.

I couldn’t be 100% sure, but I’m not the only one who thought it and even the match report mentioned it.