Due to the unfortunate weather conditions that hit the Country over the weekend, this weeks League One round up will be rather shorter than normal.
The staggering six out of ten ties that were postponed this weekend, were all due to Waterlogged pitches, as the Stadiums across the League succumbed to the disastrous and terrible weather conditions that swept and flooded throughout the United Kingdom. This, however, did not stop all of the matches from being played. There were four that managed to pass referee inspections and were allowed to play on the Saturday afternoon. These were:
Coventry City v Preston North End
Crawley Town v Sheffield United
Walsall v Colchester United
Yeovil v Oldham Athletic
Coventry City 1 - 1 Preston North End
A close contest was always inevitable between the two inform mid-table teams at the Ricoh Arena, and a deserved share of the points was indeed, the final outcome in the Midlands. The "Sky Blues" of Coventry City went ahead after 17 minutes, when midfielder James Bailey, neatly side footed the ball past opposition keeper Thorsten Stuckmann. Preston did press afterwards and continued throughout the majority of the contest to push for an equaliser, and eventually, their pressure came to fruition, and deservedly so on 77 minutes, as left winger Lee Holmes ran clear and slotted the ball past Joe Murphy with a "Cool as you like" tucked finish into the bottom corner, to ensure that a point was taken back up north to Deepdale. The result keeps both teams in and around mid table of League One, with Coventry in 13th place, a point and two places above Preston who are in 15th, thanks to their recent good form of four wins in seven matches.
2) Crawley Town 0 - 2 Sheffield United
A match that was deemed to be another close encounter between two teams that are chasing promotion to the Championship was nothing of the sort. This was the game of Free Kicks, as "Blades" defender Tony McMahon scored two Free Kicks, with the first being on 29 minutes after "Red Devils" defender Joe Walsh had fouled Shaun Miller. The 2nd Free Kick that came on 72 minutes in the 2nd half was a thing of beauty! 30 yards out, and gave the Crawley keeper Paul Jones no chance! Terrific strike! Crawley, who have now won only one match in nine games, are situated in 10th place, four points behind Milton Kenyes Dons in 6th, who now have a game in hand after their match away at Doncaster Rovers was postponed this weekend. Sheffield United however, are the new leaders of NPower League One on 43 points after this away win, a point ahead of 2nd placed Tranmere Rovers at the half way stage of the season.
3) Walsall 1 - 0 Colchester United
Moving lower down to the bottom half of the League, was a contest between a side that hadn't won a match since they defeated AFC Bournemouth 2-1 on the 29th of September, and a team that had not won in four League matches. This game spelt out a drab, tense affair between two that were looking to propel themselves away from the League One relegation zone, and it proved to be the case, as former Manchester United striker Febian Brandy, scored the only goal of the the game on 61 minutes, rounding and slotting past opposition keeper Mark Cousins, to give the "Saddlers" their first win in 17 games, and move them up to 17th in the table on 23 points. Colchester, who did create some chances but were guilty of some poor finishing it must be said, are now five games without a win in the League, and are languishing in 20th position, only two points above Portsmouth in the relegation zone.
4) Yeovil 4 - 1 Oldham Athletic
In a game that didn't exactly pose the advertisement for a high scoring encounter, proved to be complete opposite, as Yeovil scored four past an Oldham side that looked to recover from the previous weekend loss at home to promotion chasing Swindon Town. Jose Baxter, headed the visitors into an early lead on 3 minutes with a firm header, but the home side levelled later on in the first half on 39 minutes, when "Latics" defender Jean Yves Mvoto fouled Ed Upson inside the box and Gavin Williams tapped in the equaliser from the spot. Williams scored again in the first half on 44 minutes to put the home side in front before half time, with a dazzling run from the half way line which culminated in an absolutely fantastic 30 yard strike that gave opposition keeper Dean Bouzanis no chance whatsoever into the top corner. The "Latics" began to unravel in the 2nd half and it showed in more goals for the home side, as James Hayter extended Yeovil's advantage on 77 minutes, with a cooly slotted finish past Bouzanis. The game was well and truly over as a contest after 81 minutes as Oldham were reduced to ten men, when substitute Robbie Simpson got a straight red card after a reckless challenge on Yeovil keeper Marek Stech, which resulted in an early shower for the "Latics" forward. Yeovil, exploiting the man advantage, rubbed more salt to the wounds, as striker Paul Madden, on loan from rival NPower League One side Carlisle, made it 4-1 after capitalising on a Goalkeeping error by Dean Bouzanis to slot the ball home on the edge of the penalty area. Yeovil, took full advantage of the matches being postponed over the weekend, by jumping from 14th to 11th in the table after this impressive home win, whilst Oldham remain 18th, 5 points clear of Portsmouth, who are in the last remaining relegation place in 21st.
Well thats it from me this weekend from League One.. A short one!
Please don't forget to visit my personal blog (www.THewitt44.Blogspot.com)
You can also find me on Twitter (@OriginalT44)
Thanks again & see you all on the 27th of December.. Happy Christmas!!
You Pies!!!
Big T (Thomas Hewitt)
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