3rd Qualifying Round

[juanillo]

It's the Dabbers.

Marine 2 Nantwich 3.

[HalesowenHarry]

Really difficult game, their (Nantwich's) pitch helped us massively back in August when we won. Totally different on the Grove, with the pitch in such a bad state (call that a criticism, but it's fact). We certainly won't be able to play like we did there on the break as the ball doesn't exactly roll in the direction a player touches it.
Still we've reached the 3rd Qual for the 6th time since our last 1st Round proper appearance (which includes 2 seasons of no entry to the FA Cup), so hopefully this is 7th time lucky for reaching the 4th Qual............

[lutleyyeltz]

Your erudite comment re: the p*t*ch should be taken on board by (a) the powers that be and (b) by those who criticise our style of play at home.
The players, and coaching staff, know that playing the ball on the ground just isn't totally feasible!

[yeltz85]

Two previous home games vs Nantwich, 2 draws.

http://yeltzarchives.com/index.php?opti ... d&catid=36

The pitch is better than it has been as it looks like it is now being cut longer but still not what we know it could be/has been in the past.

[Yeltz27]

Your erudite comment re: the p*t*ch should be taken on board by (a) the powers that be and (b) by those who criticise our style of play at home.
The players, and coaching staff, know that playing the ball on the ground just isn't totally feasible!

They didn't think it feasible to play the ball on the ground when the pitch was in a better state either. So I don't think point B is particularly valid. It's the usual blaming the pitch, blaming the referees etc

I went to see Fort William play Fraserburgh recently.
If you think the Grove pitch is bad, try going to Claggan Park. Fraserburgh had no problem playing the ball on the ground and won comfortably against a team that hoofed the ball

[andy]

The p*t*h is better than it has been as it looks like it is now being cut longer but still not what we know it could be/has been in the past.

All cutting it longer does is mask the problems at soil level, plus grass may be stronger but so are the multitude of weeds. It needs doing properly.

[yeltz85]

A quick Google tells me Fort William are bottom with three points after 10 matches. Conceeding 37 goals.

Possibly not the best comparison to make.

[yeltz85]

The p*t*h is better than it has been as it looks like it is now being cut longer but still not what we know it could be/has been in the past.

All cutting it longer does is mask the problems at soil level, plus grass may be stronger but so are the multitude of weeds. It needs doing properly.

Don't disagree with you at all.

[Yeltz27]

A quick Google tells me Fort William are bottom with three points after 10 matches. Conceeding 37 goals.

Possibly not the best comparison to make.

Yes ok, but it's hardly as though this team have played the ball along the floor when they have played on better pitches away from home. So yes while the pitch needs sorting, I don't think it would affect the style of play under this management in the slightest

[RaidenYeltz]

The pitch is a disgrace (no offence to Ant who works his knackers off and does the best he can with limited tools and resources).

I recall when a number of posters criticised the pitch (including myself) at the end of 2014 season. I also remember being told not to be judgemental and to wait and see what lessons are learned.

Well it's quite some time down the line and it appears nothing has been learned and nothing is being done, sadly.

However that being said, the state of the pitch doesn't and shouldn't legislate for long ball, hit and hope football.

Take pre-season as an example, Bromsgrove played some excellent football on our pitch. So it is achievable.

We've also ourselves, on the odd occasion this season, shown we can play some very good football on there. See Workington at home, probably our best game this year.

So the pitch shouldn't be used to justify poor football... (which to my knowledge no-one from the club officially has?).