NPower League One Round Up (29/12/12)

On the last weekend of Football in 2012 for NPower League One, there were 12 matches that were to be played throughout the Country. However, two of the fixtures were postponed due to Waterlogged pitches. These games are the following:

Colchester v Swindon
Stevenage v Notts County

NOTE: In this NPower League One Round Up, I shall be focusing on the teams and their fixtures that pose a strong threat to my own team, Notts County, that are situated around the top ten of League One.

Bournemouth 3-0 Crawley Town
In a contest between two play off chasing rivals in the League, it was Bournemouth who managed to get the better of the "Red Devils" and come out on top with the 3 points, as they continued their remarkable run of form under Manager Eddie Howe, to stretch their impressive run of form to 15 matches with a comprehensive home win at Dean Court. "The Cherries" took the lead after 16 minutes when Crawley defender and Captain Gary Alexander headed the ball into his own net, after a good cross by midfielder Steve Cook. Bournemouth then doubled their advantage on 40 minutes when a quick free was taken and striker Brett Pitman, cooly rolled the ball home. Crawley did have their chances to get back into the game, when substitute Billy Clarke tested veteran keeper David James, who did well to pull off the save, but it was not to be, as "Cherries" midfielder Eunan' O'Kane made sure of the points on 84 minutes with a low shot from close range that beat opposition keeper Paul Jones. Bournemouth, are now situated in 5th position on 41 points, whilst Crawley, despite this defeat, are 8th and only a point behind 6th placed Swindon Town, in what is proving to be, the toughest and tightest League One we've seen in years, as we arrive at the half way stage of the 2012.2013 Season.

Milton Keynes Dons 2-3 Coventry City
In a match that was played between two exciting and attacking teams that like to play passing Football, it was Coventry City who came from behind to claim all 3 points in a pulsating clash with fellow promotion rivals MK Dons at the National Hockey Stadium. The "Dons" took the lead in the first half on 15 minutes when midfielder Daniel Powell went on a dazzling run and finished it off with a fine strike to give the home side the lead, but "Sky Blues" midfielder Franck Moussa levelled matters on 27 minutes, with another scintillating run from the half way line and producing a piledriver which gave the home keeper David Martin no chance. The "Dons" however, re-took the lead on 38 minutes, when in form striker Ryan Lowe scored his fifth goal in as many games with a neat finish after getting himself into a good goal scoring position. Coventry City, however, would hit back and score two quickfire goals, on 49 and 51 minutes respectively, when Stephen Eilliot, who was replacing the prolific David McGoldrick after his loan spell from NPower Championship outfit Nottingham Forest ended, scored with a close ranger header on 49 minutes and then with a good finish on 51, to extend Mark Robins's Coventry unbeaten run to 10 games, and continue their rise up the League to 10th Position. MK Dons, however, suffered their third defeat in four League matches and remain in 7th position, but only behind 6th placed Swindon Town on an inferior goal difference.

Preston North End 0-3 Doncaster Rovers
Another close contest was anticipated in Lancashire between two former Championship teams, with the most recent being Doncaster Rovers, who were relegated to the NPower League One last season. However, this was not to be the case, as the "Rovers" swept aside Preston to continue their impressive rise up the League under manager Dean Saunders, and cosign the "Lilywhites" to a dismal and disappointing home defeat and leave them with six games without a win. Doncaster got off to the perfect start when they took the lead in under a minute. Left winger David Syers' shot cannoned off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net after a great low corner from midfielder David Cotterill. "Rovers" then doubled their advantage on 30 minutes when Cotterill turned from provider to goalscorer when he curled in a beautiful free kick into the top right hand corner of the goal from out wide on the left. The points were then made safe on 76 minutes, when "Lilywhites" forward Will Hayhurst brought down "Donny" striker Kyle Bennett in the Penalty area, and fellow forward Billy Paynter made no mistake from the spot; sending opposing German keeper Thorsten Stuckmann the wrong way. Doncaster, after this away win, now lie in 3rd Position in the League on 46 points, but they are only 3rd on an inferior goal difference to 2nd placed Sheffield United. The side from South Yorkshire do have a game in hand on their automatic promotion rivals, so there are still many precious and vital points to play for in this stage of the season. Preston, after this defeat, drop down to 15th position in the table, and are, as mentioned earlier, now six games without a win in all competitions.

Sheffield United 2-3 Hartlepool
This match, in many peoples eyes, was deemed to be a straight formality for Title contenders Sheffield United, who were top of the League prior to this contest, and were facing a side that were rooted to the bottom of the table, and looked destined for relegation to League Two after only picking up a dismal 9 points from 23 games, so it was a major surprise to see Hartlepool pull off only their second win of the season against the "Blades" who have made Bramall Lane such a fortress so far in this stage of the season. Veteran striker Steve Howard, gave the visitors a shock lead on 7 minutes when he headed home midfielder Evan Horwood's cross. Sheffield United did however equalise on 30 minutes when Steve Flinders allowed a Michael Doyle shot to slip through him and into the back of the net. The away side again showed resilience and eventually re-took the lead in the second half on 54 minutes when Evan Horwood again produced a delightful cross into the box, and Ritchie Humphreys converted to put Hartlepool back in front to give the away side hope of pulling off a shock win, and it was made certain on 72 minutes when Steven Howard scored his 2nd goal of the game with another header from a cross, this time from a ball by James Poole. "Blades" forward Harry Maguire did score a late consolation on the 90th minute with a good finish into the top left hand corner, but Hartlepool were not to be denied only their 2nd win of the season, although they remain rooted to the bottom of League One on 12 points, and 11 points behind Colchester who are situated in 20th position in the table. This shocking defeat for Sheffield United knocks them off the top of the table and into 2nd place. The "Blades" have been replaced at the top by Tranmere Rovers, who defeated Scunthorpe at the weekend (See Last Result)

Shrewsbury Town 0-0 Brentford
Shrewsbury, after an impressive draw with Notts County in their last encounter on Boxing Day, managed to hold and end the four match winning run of Uwe Rosler's Brentford. Both sides had their chances to claim all 3 points, with "Shrews" midfielder Jon Taylor having a shot cleared off the line by "Bees" defender Harlee Dean, whilst Marcello Trotta and Adam Forshaw forced some good saves from former Leicester City and now Shrewsbury goalkeeper Chris Weale. Overall, in a tightly fought contest with not many chances created by both sides, a draw and a point a piece, was the fair result. Brentford, even though their four match winning streak was ended after this draw, are now five matches unbeaten in the League, and are situated in 4th position on 46 points, and only a point behind 2nd placed Sheffield United. Shrewsbury, are now also five matches unbeaten, with three of those games ending in 2-2 draws. They are currently 19th in the League, and 4 points above Portsmouth, who are occupying the last remaining relegation place in 21st position.

Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Scunthorpe United
Im another match that was between two teams in contrasting positions in the table, with Tranmere 2nd in the League and Scunthorpe occupying 23rd and a relegation spot, The "Superwhites" were able to defeat their opponents from North Lincolnshire and regain top spot in the League, thanks to a solitary goal from second half substitute Cole Stockton on 59 minutes after the forward reacted quickest to a rebound from a header by Ash Taylor, which was well saved by opposition keeper Steve Mildenhall. The "Irons' did have their chances to steal a point from their hosts during the game, but midfielder Andy Barcham wasted the away sides' best opportunity when he failed to capitalise on an Owain Fon Williams goalkeeping error. The result sends Tranmere Rovers back to the top of League One on 47 points, a point ahead of Sheffield United, who dropped to 2nd after a shock 3-2 loss at home versus Hartlepool (See Above). Scunthorpe, after this 3rd straight defeat, are still in deep trouble at the half way stage of the season; They are situated in 23rd position in the table and are 3 points behind 20th placed Colchester United who are just outside of the relegation zone.

Thats it from yours truly this week! Please feel free to view my own personal blog:
www.THewitt44.blogspot.com

Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter - @OriginalT44

Thanks again for taking to read this, and I will be back for a match report on the Notts County v Milton Keynes Dons match on New Years Day

I wish you all a safe and prosperous Happy New Year for 2013!

Come On You Pies!!

Big T - (Thomas Hewitt)