Mangle

Penzance (0) 1 -v- 3 (1) Newlyn Non Athletico I missed the start. I missed the end. But I was there for the goals. Penzance started brightly, forcing Newlyn to be on the back foot. But, the visitors remained composed, and grew into the half. An offside flag here and there broke threatening play down. Then Newlyn break the deadlock. Haaland (Liddicoat) putting the Crabs in front, a lead they comfortably held until halftime. 0-1. Second half, Pz again brightly dinking the ball around the pitch. Bit of a midfield battle ensued, tasty without handbags (that came later). Pz operating around the edge of the area, tackle, contact, Pz player down, penalty! Anyone ever see that advert about being as “soft as Silky the silkworms silk pyjamas”? Anyway, pen despatched via goalkeepers hand. Firmly struck. Needed to be. 1-1. I thought Pz had the momentum, could see them pushing on, but again, Newlyn looked composed. Not flustered. Newlyn break, force a corner, a great save, another corner, and this time Louis V fires the ball into the net. Bullet header. Bang! 1-2. Pz roll up their sleeves. Midfield heating up. Newlyn, edge of box, Lids beats defender, but not his outstretched leg. Penalty. Moaning. But it is a penalty. Despatched by Liddicoat for his second and Newlyn’s third. 1-3. It completed the scoring, but time for some pitch side antics in front the dugouts, which allowed the involvement of a number of subs and so on. A couple of throat grabs, pushing shoving, you know, the football we love. Yellow cards, and time for me to depart. Well done to the ref. A young lad, doing his best. Maybe he made a mistake here and there. He did not influence the result of this game. The players did. Whether they were playing marvellous football, or throwing their arms around moaning, the game was in their hands.

Every footballer makes mistakes. Goalkeepers are merely highlighted due to theirs being so evidently costly. Nice to hear at least one Man U supporter is on his side 😀

Being an Arsenal fan, seeing Man U lose at West Ham was entertaining. However, the utter contempt being handed out to David de Gea for his blunder is totally over the top in my opinion. It appears, from what I am reading this morning, that pundits (non goalkeepers by the way) and Man U supporters alike are united (no pun intended) that his time is up. Rubbish. He is a world class keeper that has probably earned more points for his team than most of his teammates. It makes me smile to read that de Gea (from BBC Sport): “The 32-year-old has now made four errors leading to a goal in all competitions this season, the joint most of any Premier League player, along with Hugo Lloris”. They are goalkeepers! Do we expect that Marcus Rashford will make a mistake that will lead to a goal? It’s a joke really. If Man U do replace him, it will be out of the frying pan into the fire in my opinion. In life, you often don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, and in the case of de Gea, I think they will find that out if they do decide to replace him.

Hmm, quick reply: - Tom Trust: Complete mis-match, no. Not in my opinion. I think NITs will know they were in a game yesterday. About the rumour, yes, some 4 starters from the semi-final were not available for the final, but not a weakened team. That takes away what was a fantastic performance by NITs. The team that NNA fielded was a strong team, no excuses from our side. - The Final. First half, quite even, barring the goals. Good finishes from NITs. Poor finishing from NNA. The leagues top scorer, Jack Liddicoat, for NNA, was on show yesterday. A 57 goal season. His chances were limited yesterday, and uncharacteristically, those he got, did not find the target. Rare. Second half, NITs were good from the off. NNA had a great chance to make it 2-1, great save, cross, another shot, shouts for a penalty (and looking perhaps like a sending off for a save on the line by handball), but confusion, and goal kick given? Shortly after, NNA softly gave up possession and NITs punished. Clinically. From THAT moment, the game swung massively. NITS had a swagger, and scored a couple of superb goals. One touch football, precision passing. NNA tried, but lost the individual battles. 8 goals seemed to flatter NITs as a final score. Not witnessing the last 20 minutes, they deserved it, but the game as a whole was hard on NNA. - New Inn Titans. Barring the Junior Cup, I think they have only lost 2 games in 2 seasons, this season a 100% record in the league. People have their opinions, and I would love to stuff them 8 nil the next time we meet. But apart from being a physical team, they play football with an enthusiasm matched by few others. They have fire in their belly. They also have great ability. You do not do what they do my luck. Well done on what has been a fantastic season. Jealous! - Newlyn Non Athletico. We will be back.

League Cup: Semi Final: Penzance Leisure Centre Newlyn Non Athletico 7 -vs- 6 Falmouth United (AET) Not sure where to begin. Perhaps praise for both teams, this was a see-saw match that had a lot going on. As usually, Newlyn arrived in dribs and drabs not long before kick-off as Falmouth warmed up with cones and bids, running, passing, shouting and so on. Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, we were trying to figure out how Giles had kicked one of the match balls a good 20m up into the pine tree behind the goal. Stuck. "We need the wind to pick up". Not today. And we need to be here when the wind does pick up. Otherwise.....Anyway, there it stayed, and somehow was not joined by another ball that someone thought would be a good idea to kick up at it to nudge it free. 🫠 So, less than 30 seconds into the game, Falmouth perhaps showed why it is wise to warm up and go through some drills before kick off as they were presented with a one-on-one, only to find Kian in great form to save for a corner. Phew, what a start. I was on ball hunting duty on the far side wing, so did not witness all the action as retrieving balls in heavy rain in lush bunches of nettles and brambles takes a bit of doing, but I did witness the Falmouth opener. 0-1, but plenty of time to get back. They pressed for another, corner, cleared, towards halfway, Falmouth wins the balls thrusts forward under pressure form Newlyn, unleashes a pile-driver from 2 miles, top corner. Admiration. Applause. I clapped too. That was a fine goal. 0-2. Newlyns turn. Free kick, 22 yards out, Jack Lidds fires home far corner, 1-2. Crickey, game on. Only 20 minutes played, rain pouring down, challenges flying in. Falmouth back on it, free kick of their own, smashes through the wall, and Kian this time unable to stop it falling over the line. 1-3, and Kian's foot is too painful to continue. Keeper change, Tetley takes the gloves. Newlyn hunt and press for another. Free kick. Lidds up again, hits wall, strikes it again, shanks it high, Palmer gets the bouncing rebound, shields, turns and hits volley into top corner. Blimey, more applause. This is outstanding stuff. 2-3. Gets a bit hazy then, on the goals. I know that Newlyn got it back to 3-3, I might have been hunting for balls at the time, and I think that is the half time score. Anyway, Newlyn build momentum, and two more strikes, one from Lidds on the end of a Palmer through-ball (luckily Jack hadn't cut his toe-nails last night as otherwise that initial fine bit of control would not have been possible), and I missed another from the depths of the undergrowth the home side go 5-3 up. Tetley is doing a fine job in goal, whilst popping up at centre back now and again too. Time running out for Falmouth. Still time for an umbrella incident in the spectators, as players and spectators jostle on the touchline. Not sure about that. A couple of bookings handed out. Then, Falmouth score a header 5 mins from time to give them hope, 5-4, and a strike seconds from time makes it 5-5 and extra time calls. Newlyn were down, momentum with Falmouth for the late comeback, and the away side go 5-6 up in the first period of ET. Oh no. Time really is rocking on now. Second period, Newlyn are pressing, and force a late corner. Can they force penalties? Corner is swung into the mixer, where a leaping Seth smashes his header into the net. No stopping that. Now stay switched on. Its 6-6, and I think we all believe that is that. However, Newlyn press, Falmouth look nervous, the ball is in the area, and breaks for a shot at goal. The keeper actually makes a tremendous save but it bobbles, its loose, its touched, it rebounds, and Penney (Penneldo?) strokes the ball into the net. Ecstasy. Joy. Grief. Agony. Pitch invasion. Pile on. Tetley joins the celebrations. 7-6. Yellow cards. Kick off, pass, pass, run, challenge, free kick to Falmouth. Central. 25 yards out. Over the bar. Full time whistle. I've missed loads. There were bookings, lectures, oddities. But an entertaining game of football. Well done all involved. Phew!!

Thanks. However, I believe the decision was incorrect, and it was offside. The ball went “parallel”. The player was not parallel, he was 2 yards offside. He had to retreat to get to the ball. The decision on the day was influenced by the direction of the ball, which I now find to be irrelevant. It is the players position that define on or offside. The “flash lag effect” sounds interesting. Might read up about that. I’ve done a lot of running the line over years, sometimes a virtually impossible and thankless task!!

Newlyn Non-Athletico 3 v 11 West Cornwall WC totally dominated the early stages, and deservedly built a decent lead by half time (7 or 8 up). NNA composed themselves at half time, and although WC probably dropped off the pace a bit, a more even second half where the home team restored a bit of pride. Learnt something. One of the first half goals should have been disallowed. I was running the line. Ball is out wide right, attacker beats defender and plays ball across the area. Attacker receiving the ball was in an offside position, has to retreat slightly to get to the cross, controls it and fires home. I raise the flag for offside. Lots of shouting (as usual), but “ball went backwards, can’t be offside” was being said. Ref comes over. I told him the scorer was clearly offside when ball was played. But (potentially influenced by the shouting), he asked if the ball went backwards. In my opinion, from running at full pelt and keeping an eye on every eventuality - throw in, offside, corner - I said at best it was parallel, or forward, I do not believe it went backwards. He says the if the ball went backwards or parallel, it can’t be offside. New one on me. So I said go with parallel and he gives the goal. I’ve done a bit of research, and it matters not what direction the ball travels, if the players is offside when the ball is played, he is offside. So goal should not have stood. Unless I am missing something (recent change to the laws etc).

Newlyn Non Athletico (1) 2 -vs- 0 (0) Goonhavern Athletic - Percy Stevens Cup I take it that GA have been playing under a disguise this season? Languishing at the foot of Division 2, with 1 win to their name, and facing relegation in the face, against NNA, looking odds-on to regain promotion to the Premier Division after one season. On paper, a home win. Football isn't played on paper. Maybe GA have been targeting the Percy Stevens Cup all along, and made their arrival into this completion by unleashing their true selves? "Surprise - we are actually very good". Looking back, upon arrival at the pitch, at about five past 2, we should have thought they might up for the game, with plastic cones strewn across the pitch, and some fancy running and things going on by the fully kitted up visitors. I thought those pre-match rituals were reserved for the teams that really did think they were really good, even though they are still only playing grass roots football. Anyway, the game got underway, and a rather tight, well matched contest ensued. A mention to the referee, who let's say, was very efficacious with his laws of the game interjections. And might I say, is a good tackler, managing to thwart 2 or 3 attacks by Newlyn with well-timed challenges in midfield. Back to the action, and the first half was close. Chances at both ends. The bobbly pitch did not lend itself well to great football, but to be fair, that is what both teams set out to do. Passing and moving, rarely trying the "long pass" over the top. It was left to a moment reminiscent of the 1970 World Cup Final to break the deadlock. Sadly, the 20-odd passes leading up to the goal were not there, but Newlyn were pressing down the left, edge of the area, and Charlier Penney taking the role of Pele, noticed the run of Mike Eddy, playing the role of Carlos Alberto, and rolled the ball towards the other side of the area, where Eddy, not breaking stride, smashed the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net. Nice. And probably deserved on balance. Second half was a slight different story, where Newlyn took more control. A word for Tetley in the centre of defence for Newlyn, not allowing GA to conjure up anything in the final third. Try they did, but Tetley was there, constantly denying them an opportunity. And at the other end, Jack Liddicoat, trying to smash his way to 500 goals in one season, kept hitting everything apart from the back on the net. It was left to his striking partner, Adam Stronger, who did a one-man press after a short goal kick, making a tackle, the ball breaking nicely, and hitting it firmly past the keeper. Two nil. It looked like game over, but the last 10 minutes was made marginally more interesting when Andrew Palmer thought he might know the Laws of the Game more thoroughly than todays referee. Not so Mr Palmer. Here is a yellow card, now leave the pitch to read this section of the Laws concerning the off-side rule. It was his pitch, his game. GA did force a save and a couple of corners, but NNA stood firm. A deserved victory. Good luck to Goonhavern for the rest of this season. I would expect them to win a few more matches to be honest.

Div1. Buryan-Newlyn off

Newlyn Non Athletico (0) 0 -vs- 4 (0) Falmouth United Well, I am not one for footballing cliche's, but this was a game of two halves. A true top-of-the-table clash between two of the Big 3 teams in the league, losing this one would be a psychological blow to either side. Newlyn had a full squad available for this one, giving the manager a headache over selection. A nice headache to have! From kick-off, the game flowed end-to-end. Big tackles, good movement from both sides, resulted in a few chances. Newlyn were creating the clearer openings, and won a penalty midway through the half. I didn't see the incident, but I understand it was a stonewall penalty. Up steps Newlyn top scorer, Jack Lidds, who I was putting my mortgage on to now open the scoring. Keeper guessed right, bang, corner. At the other end, a quick Falmouth break resulted in a chase to the ball by the attacker and onrushing keeper, 6 yards outside the penalty area. Attacker nips the ball first, jumps over keeper, but there is contact, and the refs whistle blows. Yellow. Covering defender, right decision. Free kick defended well. Then the Newlyn midfield maestro Steadfast Seth hits the deck. He's not that type of player to go down for nothing. Twisted ankle. Helped off. He'd already put a shift in. Still chances were created by Newlyn. Mike Eddy swung over a cross asking for Lidds to stick it in the onion bag. Skimmed the crossbar. 0-0 at half time, the oranges tasted sweet, the football good. Well, it seemed Newlyn were one or two players short in the second half. Falmouth were still giving 110%, and not letting Newlyn any time on the ball. They showed great mental strength to battle on and force openings. The first goal was rather a surprise. An innocuous challenge out of the touchline resulting in a free kick. Swung over, I think it bounced twice before entering the net, not touching anyone in the packed penalty as it made its way there. There are no easy games at this level, and Newlyn were now on the back foot after a great first half with nothing to show for it. Both teams battled, 20 mins to go, still up for grabs. But Newlyn lost possession, a quick break down the Falmouth right resulted in goal number two. Was there any way back for Newlyn? They forced another chance, and chipped wide a near open-goal opportunity. Falmouth replied with a top drawer strike from their No. 9 from 25 yards. No keeper in the world would have saved that. Time for a last 3 against 2 as Newlyn pressed for a consolation goal, and Falmouth broke to chalk up their fourth. Worthy winners I guess. But I am not sure the 0-4 reflected on Newlyn's overall performance. A couple of home goals in the first half would have made a different game of it. Anyway, the guys put a shift in, gave a really good account of themselves, every game a cup final now, but we will take it one game at a time. Sick as a parrot.

Newlyn Non Athletico (2) 6 -vs- 1 (0) St Buryan [Div.1} Todays victims, I mean opponents, at the St Clare Aquarium were St Buryan, those from up the road to Porthcurno, of old Straw Dogs fame. The Aquarium was potentially aptly named today, as I looked out the window at about 1pm, all I saw was water. The torrential downpour, all be it the first real rainfall we have seen in a while, I imagined to be turning the playing surface into a lake. Thankfully, by kick-off time, the rain had basically stopped, leaving a nice sheen to the playing surface. Newlyn appeared to have all 83 signed-on players available today, so getting into the starting 11 was tough. I grabbed the flag off the ref, and put some pegs into the nets whilst the team was sorted out. Newlyn started well, seemed up for the game, and within a few minutes, had set top scorer Jack Liddicoat up to fire past the ex-Newlyn player now between the sticks for Buryan. One nil, hmmm, could be a long day for the visitors. However, I'm not sure if we thought that was it, but the foot was taken well and truly off the gas by Newlyn. Buryan grew into the game. Sadly, in a bit of a one-off for me in all the games I have been involved in, both keepers were forced off in the first half through injuries whilst contesting the ball with on-rushing attackers. First, the Buyan keeper departed, followed just before half time by the Newlyn keeper. In the meantime, Newlyn had added a second goal with Andrew Palmer striking a looping (deflected?) effort over the keeper. Second half was much better from Newlyn, who were moving the ball much quicker, and creating a lot more chances. JL added 2 more for his 256th hat trick for the club, and AP grabbed his second of the game. We just needed that elusive clean sheet, and Denzil the stand-in keeper almost achieved it, but came off second best when Newlyn over-played at the back, and St B grabbed a one-on-one and managed to tuck the ball into the corner. At 5-1, there was just time for Sam Smith to link a couple of passes together on a break down the line, and neatly chip an advancing keeper for Newlyn's sixth of the game. I made my mens football debut against St Buryan in 1983, playing for St Levan, and scored in a big win (11 -1 or something like that). One of my St Levan team mates on that day, Ian Hall, was running the line for Buryan today! And did a great job too 😀

So, if a ref makes a mistake, which is very likely in every game, up and down the land, how should it be “picked up”? And when a player makes a mistake, should that be picked up too? I think I know what you’re saying, but mistakes are going to happen all the time, frequently in fact, by all of us. So perhaps we have to learn to bite our tongues a bit more for legitimate mistakes. Respect for referees. There is a big thing in football about that. You may have noticed the logos on the tele? Our game must be the worst game of all for showing respect to referees. And this thread is doing little to counter that argument.

Football is back. How great. And yet, how sad.

Not a chance. You are dealing with footballers. A whingeing, moaning, cheating, unhappy, groaning, complaining bunch of hard-done-by saints. I am one. I know. Go easy on the new guy. Ha. I have reffed a few games, voluntarily, tried my best to explain at the outset that I will make mistakes, as everyone will, but will do my best, and so on and so forth. Good luck to anyone willing to take up the whistle. It is a thankless task in the main. Few appreciate the efforts of the ref to give what he sees in the face of criticism from all sides. It's like saying to both teams before kick-off, "now if the ball comes off you and goes out of play, please let me know if I do not spot that and give the throw or corner the wrong way". Not. A. CHANCE. As you say, same old story. I have been saying for years that new teams should be stopped from joining for 3 or 4 years. Not enough to go around already. Crazy.

Hope not. Let’s hope not! Update 1: looks like the game finished 3-0 to TMS. Update 2: Oh, TMS reserves. I’ll get my coat