Welcome to Seadog in Exile, a groundhopping blog highlighting a Scarborough Athletic fan's adventures around the North West of England as I study towards a PhD over the next three years. Being located in Lancashire, I have rich pickings for new football grounds, and I'm going to get to as many as possible over the next 36 months. On top of this, I should remember to write my thesis...

Total Grounds Visited: 121

Monday 12 November 2012

15: Scarborough Ath 3-3 Brighouse Tn

Scarborough Athletic 3-3 Brighouse Town
NCEL Premier Division
Saturday 10th November, 2012
Att: 451

As I'll frequently be at Boro games, I won't write a usual style report for these matches.


Instead - here are my thoughts posted on the Surfing Seadog forum following the game, and a link to the goals on YouTube:





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Wow - what a match that was!
Brighouse were arguably the best footballing side we’ve come across this season. The next closest was probably Worksop away. The good news is that we’ve scored 7 in those two games. The bad news is that we’ve conceded 7 in those two games!
Seriously though, Boro started the brighter but Brighouse’s goal on 7 minutes knocked the stuffing out of us for a while. Boro got an equaliser after a great Hackworth turn in the six yard box. Brighouse then went and scored again through poor defending (more on which later), and Boro again piled forwards and equalised through a Blott close range header.
Half time: 2-2. Boro probably going into the break on the front foot. Milne also went off with a gash to the head, but returned for the second half.
The second half started with Boro very much in control. In total control. A turning point in the game occurred when Blott (I think) was through on goal, and got taken down abruptly with only the keeper to beat. Yellow card. The fans were furious, the players were furious. How on earth could it have been anything but a red?
Thankfully, Boro later scored through a comedy own goal after a great cross by Hackworth.
The game then turned again when Banks got red carded for a second yellow. No real complaints I’m afraid: he should probably have known better. Looked a decent player from what I saw, however.
Brighouse then got awarded a penalty through a daft challenge, and equalised for 3-3.
In what must have been the 94th minute, the linesman gave a penalty. Again, it was a yard from goal where Blott was bundled to the floor. Last man? Red card? Nope. Apparantly not. Anyway, Blott hit the bar and the game finished 3-3. Great entertainment, but frustrating in the end. A point doesn’t do any real harm, but hasn’t done either side any favours.
Positives:
Attendance: 451. Decent Saturday afternoon home crowd.
Team spirit: Trailing twice at home to a very good side, and went ahead. Unfortunately couldn’t finish them off.
Hackworth: a superlative performance from Hackers today. By a country mile MOTM.
Both teams: for creating one of the best games of football I’ve seen in a while. Matched the Worksop 4-4 in my eyes.
Concerns:
Blotty and Paddy: never like singling out players for criticism, but neither of them seemed confident today and were lacking their usual finesse. Paddy struggled against Brighouse’s fast forwards and Blotty missed a couple of good chances, and of course the penalty. Maybe a confidence thing. I’ll leave it at that. Not a criticism, just a concern. Hope they’re back to normal next week. Knowing their commitment and attitude towards the club, I’m sure this won’t be a problem again next week. Chin up lads!
The referee: yeah. Red cards can change games. Ours was justified, but by the letter of the law, the away side should have finished with 9 men. Also turned down a stonewall penalty.
Overall - a cracking game which we probably deserved to sneak 4-3 based on our second half dominance, but I must offer praise to the excellent Brighouse side who came to play football, and took us apart at times in the first half. Contributed to a very watchable game of football.

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