Too L8 To Turn Back Now

Brighton & Hove Albion WFC v Tottenham Hotspurs WFC at the People Pension Stadium in the WSL

The Seagulls take on the Lillywhites at the home of Crawley Town. Both side are missing a lot of players and will field young sides. Might be a close defensive game of few chances. Wasn't how it went! I'll get my coat! It's Rainbow 🌈Laces Day 2022 in support of Stonewall's campaign, "Lace Up and Keep It Up". Seagulls have rainbow names and number which are impossible to read. 🤦‍♂️

The Seagulls kicked of then somehow managed to concede straight away. We missed this and arrived just after Spurs second goal on 19 minutes. Both errors from Megan Walsh who was fantastic against Chelsea last week. At the break it was 4-0. Brighton just couldn't keep hold of the ball, or attack or defend. Send help.

The hosts started the second half better and manage to maintain a little possession of the ball. This allowed then to hold on for 10 minutes before conceding at 5th. The 6th and 7 follower shortly after. The 7th was another lob over Walsh from outside the box. With 15 to go it was 8-0. There was more attacking football from Brighton and a few half chances for a consolation but it wouldn't go in.

Spurs looked good today and Brighton didn't turn up. A young, athletic, and aggressive team against one that seemed to have a huge hangover from last Sunday. One to forget. On to Horsham on Tuesday.

POTM: Weren't a lot of choices but Kullburg was calm and consistent at the back which was much needed as Vicky was all over the pitch at times.

Didn't try the food as we "ate" on the way 😠. Big mistake. HUGE! I'm not lovin it!🍔🍟☕

The officials officiated. The stewards were excellent as ever.

Going now.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Up in the West sand now

View From The East Stand

Divided We Stand, United We Fall

Newhaven FC v Eastboune United AFC in the RUR Cup at the Trafalgar Ground

The Dockers face Sunshine Coast rivals in another cup game at Fort Road. This time it's United. The Dockers had a tough but victorious game against the visitors from the Oval a couple of weeks ago. After a loss in the Vase💐 to Town, it would be good to get going in this. Going to be a tough game with lots of 'gameplay'. A few changes today with Bailie in the 11 and Herbie on the bench. No Alfie. He is here watching so hopefully nothing major.

Newhaven made it very hard for themselves with some very sloppy defending (again) and we're punished on 4 and the 14 minutes by good attacking football. The 3rd on 32 was a pantomime 🤡 goal from a corner that missed everyone. You get it, no you get. Nobody got it and just stood watching it trickle along the goal line to hit the net just inside the far post. Never seen such a slow motion goal. Consolation was that it seemed to fire up the Dockers who played their best football of the game so far until the whistle sent for the break.

They came back out a different side and were quite dominant. Not sure the visitors got another good shot. There was some good defending though and some wayward shooting but Marcin eventually hit the target with a screamer on 51 ⚽. It a was largely one way traffic but bodies were thrown on the line to save or block the ball. Eastbourne had a couple of shots off target and if Newhaven want the balls back they will have to wait until the Fort opens in the morning 📈. There was lots time wasting shenanigans going on. Big tough players suddenly becoming delicate flowers 🥀 at the slightest perceived challenge and the goal keeper taking goal kicks using tips that he found in a book by the king of slow motion, Scotty Davies 📘. It got very exciting when young John ran at goaland fired emphatically into the net in the first minute of injury time ⚽. One more needed to level it and the visitors were clearly rocking. Fair play to the ref (more on him later) who responded to the time wasting by adding a good 10 minutes of injury time. The Dockers came so close to the equaliser when Marcin blasted just wide in almost the last kick. Dumped out of the Cup. Could have gone either way but you can't not turn up till the 35th minute and expect to win.

The ref. How tolerant is too tolerant. This tolerant is too tolerant. Thought he had sin binned their no.5 but he didn't go off. Kept giving them last chances so they will behave just the same next time. And the goal/not goal incident. Did it cross the line and did their player handball it back out of the net. Not sure about the line but a pen would have been a fair result. Just sayin!

POTM: Marcel Powell for some awesome the close ball control. Running into a pack of defenders with no chance of winning the ball and come out the other side flying down the wing with said ball. Shout outs too to Marcin and John for the amazing goals.

Hot chocolate was the great with another 9/10. Didn't help with football though. Might add rum next time 🍸.

See you soon

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Love A Tuesday Night Cup Game

The Reds and The Whites

Teams Are Out

It's A Tough Game

A Harder Rain's a-Gonna Fall

Brighton & Hove Albion WFC face Chelsea WFC at the Peoples Pension Community Stadium in the WSL

The Seagulls hosted the Blues (seen here in magnolia) at home of Crawley Town, the very very wet ⛈ BroadPond 🐟 Stadium. Chelsea are the reigning WSL champions 🏆 and have a host of international stars but played a big game away ✈ against PSG in Paris in the week. Lots of changes including Beth England and Lauren James starting up front. Gulp! The Brighton fixture holds a bit of curse for Chelsea. Long may that continue. It was good to see Kullberg back alongside Vicky. Going to be along night for those 2. The pitch is borderline whether it is playable or not but here goes.

It was a fairly even game at times with the hosts having a few chances down the wings especially the right with Robinson running down the outside . The guests were always going to get plenty of the ball but the conditions weren't conducive to flowing football and the penalty areas seemed to be even wetter that the rest of the pitch. The ball just stopped as it passed the 18 yard line making attacking very difficult. Brighton defence held firm in the first half thanks to a couple of great saves from Megan and the aquatic assistance.

The pitch conditions caused more problems for some than others. Lauren James had 'grip' issues and slipped over a good number of times when trying to turn with the ball. Gutted for her 😂. The deadlock was only broken from a set play. From a Chelsea corner, Naimh Charles header was tipped onto the underside of the crossbar and followed up by Beth England. It was officially credited to Beth but Beth credited it to Naimh. Both sides started to ring the changes. Carter came on for the Seagulls. Chelsea were able to bring on a host of top internationals is the shape of Kerr, Harder, Erikson and Reiten. Thanks for that. Erikson tightened up the left wing and stopped Robinson's runs. Boo. The quality told in the end and Harder made it 2-0 on 86. Assist from super sub Sam Kerr. Brighton gave Chelsea a very tough game and forced them to bring on the big guns when they surely rather have rested them. An equaliser wouldn't come despite the level of effort. The girls should hold their heads high for the hard time they gave a team full of world class players.

POTM: All the Seagulls had a good game but it goes to Robinson for those runs which were the best chance of a goal.

Got to meet Jesse from Box To Box podcast who is a big Chelsea fan.

Scranometer registered 8.5 for the Bombay Potato pie 🥧. Food at the Broadfield keeps getting better 👍. In the home end anyway.

Hope it's a bit drier at Fort Road next week.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Looks A Bit Wet From here

Made It Through The Rain

Met Jesse From Box To Box

Nice View from The Stand

Fellow Security Guard

Hoist The Jolly Rogers

Newhaven FC host Bexhill United FC in the Peter Bentley Challenge Cup 3rd Round at the Trafalgar Ground

The Dockers ⚓ face the Pirates 🏴‍☠️ at Fort Road to decide who gets the booty and who walks the plank. These teams met 3 weeks ago in the league and the Dockers were 3-0 winners in a very tight game. Expecting it to be just as tough tonight. It's a cup game so will go to penalties if it's level at fulltime. Don't wait up. There are some new faces in the team and some old faces returning. Marcel Powell is new, a winger. Also new to us are Billy Barker, right back, Tareq Shihab is back too. And Bailey is back from injury so with Herbie on the bench, the Rogers hattrick could be on. 🙏

It's edgy to begin with and no clear chances until, oops, again. The visitors scored after 12 minutes with their first chance with a header over Jake after a scramble in the box and they get the luck of the bounce with the second ball. The Dockers have a few spells of the attacking football we know they are capable of but don't get a clear cut chance. There are a few half chances from outside the box or at difficult angles but their keeper made some good saves to either gather or clear the ball. Jake on the other hand hasn't had anything to do. The Pirates still in the lead at half time though.

Newhaven apply some consistent pressure at the restart but the bounce of the ball is always just wrong and the visitor are able to do enough to prevent a goal. More chances come and go with Alfie, Ramsis and substitute Ruda all threatening to level the score. Herbie came on as a sub to complete the Rogers trio on the pitch.🥳  Big news is that Jake had to make a save. His first and only save of the half.  So he was awake then. With just 2 minutes left on the clock, Alfie is brought down in the box and the ref points to the spot ⚪👈. Brought down is doing some heavy lifting in that sentence. Of course he sticks it in the net⚽ There are more chances but the clock runs down and we go to a penalty shootout.

It's at the skate park end. The Pirates up first walking the long plank to the penalty spot. Missed ❌. Ha-Ha. Robbo first. No problem ✅. Pirates second beats Jake ✅. Then Alfie ✅. Pirates make it 2-2✅. Don Street's is saved to keep it level at 3 taken each❌. Pirates 4th hits the post❌. Buss buries his after the longest run up ever 🏃‍♂️✅. The Pirates need to score the last of their 5 to stay in it but it lands in the skate park 🛹❌. Newhaven win with a penalty in hand. Quarter finals for the Dockers as they take the booty and the Pirates (seen fiercer Girl Guides) walk the plank of shame. Bye 👋

POTM: Hard to call as a few good performances out there but goes to Demas Ramsis for some amazing runs down the right wing. Joy to watch.

Hot chocolate ☕ is back on form to with an excellent 9 which is the best performance so far this season. 👏

Scranometer registered a steady 7 for the cheesy chips.

Officiating was consistently annoying for everyone and the officials did receive some polite feedback. Most was ok (it's 9th division football after all) but some a bit strange like the throw in to them that made Alfie shout at the ref or the dropped ball when it had gone out of play. All forgiven for the soft pen. Thanks.

See you soon

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Dockers Warming Up Alone

A Few New Names And 3 Rogers

Up In The Stand Now Ready For The Kickoff

Alfie lines up to take the penalty

Missed it at the weekend, back now

All Hastings And No Speed

Newhaven FC Ladies face Hastings FC Women in the London & South East 

Division 1 South

The Dockers ⚓ Ladies host the "U's" Women at Fort Road. The free scoring visitors are 2nd in the league and unbeaten this season with 31 goals in their last 4 league games. The Dockers have lost their last 2 which were cup games but sit mid-table in 7th.

It started badly when the visitors took the lead in the first minute. Oops. By 35 minutes, we were 4-0 down 😮.  Annie in goal did a good job of keeping the score down to 4 and stopping them running riot.  Having not played well to that point and been out competed all over the pitch, there was a sudden urgency about the Dockers and the last 5 minutes were by far their best spell but no clear cut chances.

A couple of changes at the break made a big difference and there was much more pace to the play. There were a few attacks and some better chances but the "U's" were still the better side. The 4-0 score line for the second half isn't really a fair reflection of the balance of play. Annie  in goal having had a great, if busy, 1st half, had a bit of a mare 🐴 in the 2nd and it might have been kept to 2 had she maintained her 1st half form. So an 8-0 loss to a very good side shows the big differences in quality across this division. Some great players in the Hastings side especially no. 19 who was running the show at times.

POTM: Jamie Quinn who came on at the break on the left wing then moving more central later on. She has good pace and made the whole team much more dynamic going forward. Super sub!

No ferry today as the Winter timetable has started and the Seven Sisters is resting up for the Winter. 🚢💤

Hot Chocolate was a lovely 8/10 today. Yum!

See you back here shortly.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Warm Up Time

On The Way Along The River

The Teams Are Out

Watching The Dockers Attack The Surf & Skate End

Reality Czech

The Lionesses face the Czech Republic Women in a friendly at the AMEX Stadium

The Lionesses 🦁 are back in action at the home of the Seagulls with a bit less at stake this time. It's a friendly against the Czech Republic who didn't qualify for the Euros and have also missed out on a place at the World Cup next summer. Will still be a tough test and they can score goals too.

A few of changes tonight with Lauren James in for Beth Mead, Eyelashes in for Georgia and Demi Stokes in for Rachel. The ceremony before the start was excellent again especially the flame throwing wheelie bins.

England playing in their very bright away kit were attacking from the whistle and came close when Lauren James hit the post after 3 minutes. We were camped out in the visitors half for long periods but the defenders got in the way of everything. The changes didn't seem to gel and high pace accurate passing never really got going well enough to break through the wall of defenders 🧱. There were chances though, Chloe and Millie headed just wide and Ella's shot was saved. The Czechs had a good few attacks as well and were a threat on the break but the first half finished goalless.

The second half was much the same with England pushing at a closed door. There was more threat on the right as Beth came on for Chloe but even England Women's Footballer Of The Year 🏆 struggled to break through. There were a couple of good chances, the first looked like it had been bundled over and the second saw Fran's long range blast tipped over the bar. Serina made some more changes on her usual hour mark. Esme Morgan replaced Millie for her first cap. Looked good to, plenty of forward runs. Lauren James was replaced by Ebony Salmon who went up front with Hempo moving back to her usual place on the left. Their defence still held firm. Serena's last change was to swap Demi for Rachel who then surprisingly went up front. The tempo was raised for the last 10 but to no avail and it finished 0-0. Feels like a loss but takes Serena to 24/24 unbeaten.

Lionesses didn't quite roar with their usual ruthless ferocity tonight but the Czech goal was very well defended. Hope that Slajsová who went off on a stretcher is ok. Didn't look like much so was hopefully a precaution. We were sat right behind a camera man who was mostly focussed on the dug outs and we could see him zoomed in to Serena writing her shopping list. Milk, bread, a No. 9…

POTM: Lucy Bronze again, energy, skill and consistency. Her 100th cap today too. Honourable mention for Lauren James on her first start for the Lionesses.

Scranometer maxed out at the perfect 10/10 with the Vegan spiced vegetable pie. So good it required a second to double check.🥮🥮

That's it for watching the Lionesses this year. Hopefully be some more friendlies before the World Cup. Thank you ladies, it's been a great year. Football came home! ⚽️=🏠

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Feel At Home Here Now

Seagulls Are Our Hosts Again

Watching The Camera Man Too

The Wheelie Bins Are On Fire

New Rucksack

The Battle Is Over

Surrey Not Sorry

Tranmere Rovers FC visit Sutton United FC at the VBS Community Stadium in League 2

Rovers are away to the "U"s (not the U-turns, these wear yellow and those wear blue) at Gander Green Lane in Sunny Surrey. We are back here for the second time this year after getting a point during the losing run at the tail end of last season. This time we arrive having won the last three in the league and hoping to carry on that run here. Micky Mellon going for 4 in a row, 4 in a row.   The sun 😎🌞 is shining so here we go for our first Tranmere game of the season.

The Whites, (seem here in the teal 3rd kit) were aggressive from the off. Some good football being played at times. The 'Amber and Chocolates' lost a centre back to injury and the replacement didn't last long either. Bit fragile these, made of chocolate maybe 🍫. Last time we saw Paul Lewis he was playing against us at Northampton but today he was partnered up front with Hemmings. He was fouled in the box and Hemmings ⚽ scored the resulting penalty on 19. Team work makes dream work. Both sides struggled to keep possession with lots of playing the middle 3rd. Lewis ⚽ got the second goal in the last minute of injury time 45+4, and we went into the break in the lead.

There were worries what would come next. Would Micky make defensive changes again? He didn't and the battle continued where it left off. It got more niggly and the ref got more random.  We made a couple of changes that were thankfully like for like. Substitute Elliott Nevitt had a good chance late on but could hit the target and the second half remained goalless.  Our first Tranmere win since January. Great team performance and 4th clean sheet too. A different world to last time we saw them play.

We remember this ref from Newport away earlier in the year. He had a better day today but that's not hard after last time. Still a D+.

POTM: Our new favourite, the man mountain that is Simeu. Simeeeeeuuuuuuuu

Ste-Award gets a 8/10 for being very friendly and taking the micky out of me hiding in the rucksack.

Scranometer registered a 5 for cold cheese 🧀 on cold chips 🍟.

Good to see the new away end finished and all the facilities upgraded. Like the shelf at the back of the stand where I can sit with Pepe.

Back at the AMEX again next Tuesday.  See you there.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

<

Sunny In Surrey Again

Amber Or Yellow

Staying In The Shade

Nice Day For It

Not Seen This Flag before

Soaking Up The Rays With Pepe

Bye Bye Miss American Cry

England Women at home to USA Women in a friendly at Wembley Stadium

The Lionesses host the Stars and Stripes in a 'friendly' battle between the European and World Champions back at Prenton Park South. It's Football vs Soccer for bragging rights until next year's World Cup. A few squad changes with Leah and Alesia out injured, Greenwood is in at CB and Lauren Hemp is playing as the No. 9. It's the 50th Anniversary 🥳 of the first ever Lionesses match so loads of old Lionesses are here and the 1972 squad have been given special commemorative caps. Jill Scott is here too with the Euros Trophy. Cooorrr!. Time to get going. Good luck ladies.

The visitors started well and threatened with a number of attacks. 10 minutes in, some clever passing up our the right wing and a Beth Mead cross for Hempo ⚽ to score. We're in front. Hooray. It was all level on 28 when another quick attack led to a goal from Sophia Smith. VAR 🎥 Incident 1: Lucy Bronze was flattened in an England attack but the ref ignored it and the action was soon down the other end when the VAR called for a check for a red card. Result was a yellow card but also a penalty for the foul on Lucy. Georgia ⚽buried it as ever. 2-1 to the Lionesses. VAR 🎥 Incident 2: USA find the net but it is ruled offside. It was close though and will be a talking point. There were further good chances at both ends but it was still 2-1 at the break.

The second half started to get a bit more physical and bad tempered with chances both ways. Millie got booked for a tactical foul. Ella 'Eyelashes' ◠◠ Toone replaced Fran and Georgia had a couple of good chances. VAR 🎥 Incident 3: USA had a penalty awarded by the ref for a handball by RD3 but it was overruled by VAR. HA HA. Megan Rapino got boo'd even more when she was subbed off. Lauren James came on for Chloe for the last 10. There were no more goals. Aaaand breath.

It wasn't the goal fest of the last outing but a great result against a very good side. We were well tested and rode our luck for the win. First time this generation of players has beaten the women from across the pond. Serena still unbeaten 23/23.

POTM 🏆: Lucy Bronze for the pass sequence for the first goal and outpacing Rapino amongst other things all up and down the pitch.

Ref had a bit of a shocker. Ref 0-3 VAR. Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

Going to start rating stewards with the new Ste-Award. Starting with a 7/10 for being organised, helpful and doing the bag search indoors out of the rain. 👜👀🌧

Scranometer needed to apply for a second mortgage 💰 but eventually registered an 8/10 for the vegan hot dog 🌭. Still too warm hot chocolate.

First time on an escalator  in a football ground as we needed 3 to get up to our seats up in the gods ⛰ . Got to ride on the tube 🚇 as well.

See you tomorrow at Sutton.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Back At Wembley

Wembley Way heading For The Arch

Can See the Pitch From Here

Our Opponents Tonight Are

We Won!

3 Lions

My Aim Is True

Newhaven FC Women v Fulham FC Women in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round at Fort Road

The Dockers ⚓ face the Badgers 🦡 from a higher division on the first step on the Road 🛣 to Wembley 🏟. Only 720 minutes to play until the Semi-finals under the Arch. It's going to be tough as Fulham in various guises have won the FA Cup 3 times 🏆🏆🏆 although not for 2 decades. Oops. And been runners up 3 times. More Oops. Let's hope for a cup upset this afternoon. The rain has stopped so let's get the journey started.

The visitors looked a class above when they walked out with their names on their shirts. Extra Oops. The home team were under pressure from the kick off but thanks to Annie in goal it looked like they might make it to half time without conceding. Hopes were dashed by Ogle on 35 minutes and it was 2-0 at the break thanks to True.

The difficult became the impossible as True and Ogle quickly made it 4. A quick 5th from Heasman left the Dockers looking for a consolation goal. Their tired legs were unable to break through and have the crossbar to thank for saving the possible 6th goal.

The score line didn't reflect the effort and organisation of the Dockers who were simply outclassed by a better team for a brief period either side of the break. Good test against tough opposition and a fair result doesn't make the defeat any easier. Cup action next week but hopefully easier opposition.

POTM: Annie Hills who's heroic efforts kept the score line in single figures.

It would be polite to say the ref has had better days but he is always like that. A couple of dreadful decisions and always in the way 🤦.‍

Scranometer not on duty today. Hot chocolate was also a no show with a coffee all that was available. 😕

The Dockers sign off from the road to Wembley and we are off on the train 🚆 to Wembley to see the Lionesses 🦁 v USA. Excited or what 🥳.

See you Soon

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Back At Fort Road

On The Way Along The River

Lots Of New Names To Learn

Nice New Signs

Dockers Attacking The Surf 'n' Skate End

Down By The River In My New Boots