Wherever I lay my hat-trick

Chelsea host Paris FC in the UWCL Group Stage at Stamford Bridge

We are back at the Bridge to watch The Chels hosting The Parisians in match day 2 the Group Stage of the UWCL. The Blues are smarting from the daylight (floodlit?) robbery that denied them 3 points away to Real Madrid where the officials had to step in to save the blushes of the home side and help them get a very undeserved point. Paris FC are the team that caused the upsets when they knocked the Gunners and Wolfsburg out in the qualification stages. The Blues might not be bothered about that but we are as we were looking forward to some more European nights at the Emirates. We'll just have to settle for trips to the Bridge this year and it starts here. Paris FC are an up and coming side so it will be a tough test of the Blues tonight. Exactly a year ago tonight , the Blues beat real Madrid on our first visit to the Kingsmeadow. We still don't know if Erin's goal was a cross or a shot. It is always good to meet Basil but where does he get all that energy. Some team news as Millie is out injured. AKB is in goal with a back 4 of Jess and Kadeisha with Ashley Lawrence and Niamh out wide. Nusken, Fleming and Cuthbert are in the middle. Lauren is out on the left ,Kaneryd on the right and Captain Sam up front. Don't recognise any of Paris except the keeper who played for Nigeria in the World Cup🌍. They do look like a well-built physical side. Hope Emma has been feeding the girls well this week.

The Parisians kick off and are energetic from the start. The first chance goes to the Blues though, as LJ gets clear in the box and tries for top corner from about 8 yards out. It's not the time for worldie practice, just smash it and let them pick it out of the net. Hope they don't come to regret that miss. It's LJ quality that assists the breakthrough as Sam gets her foot to a beautifully curled pass to beat the keeper on 30 ⚽. They are still far from being dominant and the opposition are pressing and tackling and winning the ball back. Meanwhile it just won't click for the Blues as they are getting hustled off the ball and can't find each other with the passes. Paris are fast on the break and causing the Chels back line problems as they are pushing so high up. Erin's work rate and determination are incredible breaking up so much of the Paris threat. Flying into tackles everywhere. What gets her past is getting mopped up by Jess and Kadeisha The pressure eventually earns them a corner and they equalise from a corner on 38. It's been well earned and it's all level at the break.

Emma makes just one change at the break and it's Fran for on for Jessie Flemming. Fran brings some more creativity with her. We don't have to wait long for a goal as Sam get her 2nd on 48 ⚽ with Kaneryd curling pass for the assist this time. AKB assists the third with a long clearance and she runs on to it before chipping it miles into the air. It looped so hi that it looks way over the bar from where we were. We had jumped up with excitement and sat down again in disappointment before it tucks just under the post and into the net on 55 ⚽. Captain fantastic hits a hattrick. Backflippin' heck. She gets a chance for a 4th but scuffs it well wide. Paris come close AKB tips over the bar. Sophie Ingle, who took the captains arm band from Sam, scores from a Perisset corner dead on the 90⚽. It all over and a good win for the Blue against a tough physical side.

Great performance today. Paris FC are the surprise of the group and to put them to the Sam Kerr shaped sword is good. AKB is the shed end for the 2nd half. Good things can happen when she is there. What we didn't expect is that she would get an assist. We got a Sam Kerr hattrick but the black-flip has been retired with the last one being the FA Cup final. A well justified 3 points for the Chels today after the daylight robbery away against Real Madrid. It's nice to be back at the Bridge but the not a fan of the East Stand. Not a great view. Hope to be back for the Real Madrid home leg in January.

POTM: Easy peasy today to pick the hattrick hero⚽⚽⚽, Captain Fantastic, the former back-flipper herself 🤸‍♀️, Sam Kerr. Utterly ruthless today 🎯.

The Scranometer had a brief outing and the vegan nuggets were ok but nothing special and there was a very limited choice. Hope we are in a different stand next time.

Basil Watch: Met him behind the shed and heard him plenty in the East stand.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

In the East Stand

Met Basil behind the Shed

Taxi for one

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

Brighton & Hove Albion Women face West Ham Women in the League Cup Group Stage at the Peoples Pension Stadium

It's Conti Cup time as the Seagulls face the Hammers in a repeat of last year's fixture. That game was a draw in 90 then the Seagulls won the penalty shoot-out in some style. It wasn't enough on the night and the Hammers won the group. This year they are in a better position having won away at Birmingham City and are on top of the group above tonight's opponents on goal difference. All to play for then. It's almost an all new line up from last year. Nikki Everard is between the posts. Poppy gets a start as almost a wingback with a back 3 of Thorisdottir, Bergsvand and Kullberg. Charlize Rule is on the opposite wing with Sarri in front of her. Hard to tell who will be where but Tatiana Pinto gets a start as does Lee. In goal for the Hammers is Albion's penalty shoot-out hero from last year, Megan Walsh. Hope it doesn't get to pens tonight. No Lucy parker tonight as she move to Villa in the summer. Also in the line up their no. 20 Asseyi who seems to go down screaming every time she gets tackled. Could be fun to watch👀.

Brighton are aggressive from the start. They are dominating possession and pressing and winning the ball when they don't have it. Passing is good especially in the mid field with Lee doing a lot of linking up. Emma replacing Jorelyn Carabali is a good move as her calmness is better suited to challenge posed by the opponents becoming increasingly frustrated at their inability to get and keep the ball. The did make a foul of 3. Asseyi gets booked early on. Not helping herself being lippy to the ref. It did stop the rolling around and screaming though😶. Two other Hammers get booked in the first half. Megan Walsh makes some good saves as Albion press but the first goal comes from a corner as Bergsvand heads home at the near post just into injury time⚽. Just rewards at the end of the half.

The Hammers make a couple of changes at the break. Asseyi is gone. Taken off before she got sent off. Cissoko is on. The Seagulls are playing well. Massie Symond presses Megan Walsh as she come to clear the ball from outside the box. It rebounds of her and she gets clear in the box before being chopped down. Lossada makes no mistake with the penalty on 52⚽. Tatiana Pinto gets on the end of a neat chip from Vicky but is fouled from behind as she runs into the box. It's another penalty and this time Sarri makes sure of it on 61. Mellisa makes some changes an d lee and Sarri go off for Terland and Hayley. Vicky goes off for Ziggioti. We get to 70 minutes before Nikki has to make a save. Brighton seem to have lost some of their fluidity with the changes and aren’t getting it all their own way. Robbo torments them for a while but we can't get a 4th. When the next goal comes it goes to the visitors as Cissoko reacts quickest after her own header is blocked. She makes no mistakes and her neat chip beats Nikki. It's a only a consolation and it finishes 3-1.

The Seagulls top the group with just a away visit to Charlton to go. The team is looking much better now. Lee has her confidence back and making great passed for runners. You can tell the whole team is now confident in the way they are playing. They're making little back-heeled passes and enjoying their passing football. Couldn't be more different to this fixture last year. Megan Walsh was POTM last year and may have got that today if she was still with the Seagulls. She made some great saves and did well to keep the score down. Glad she didn't save any penalities today having saved 3 and won us the shoot-out last year.

POTM: goes to Charlize 🏅for great energy, good passing and running up and down the wing.

Ref was letting a lot go initially but she did start to clamp down when she got fed up with the levels of fouling. West Ham got the worst of it as they were getting stroppy about Brighton playing some decent football around them. It earned them 4 yellows in the first half. She got the calls right for the penalties too. Although she missed what might have been a third late on when Terland got grabbed by the shoulder in the box. Well, you aren't going to get them all.

The Scranometer loved the halloumi burger with chilli jam 8.5/10 and the hot chocolate with marshmallows from the Fan Park 9/10.

See you tomorrow at the Bridge.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

It's about to kick off

Never Gooner Give You Up

Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal in the WSL at The Peoples Pension Stadium

The Seagulls face the Gooners at the Broadfield Stadium and come into this as a side that are improving having just gone, loss, draw and win against the other 3 of the top 4. Looking forward to seeing how they do in this very tough fixture. Whatever happens they will attack it with their new positive mindset. Brighton have 3 at the back with Thorrisdotir, Bergsvand and Carabali making up the back line. Li and Kullberg are wingbacks with Katie and Bremer in front of them. In the middle are Zigiotti and Losada. Up front on her own is Terland. The Gooners bring all international stars, both on the pitch and the bench. Stina is up front with Russo in the 10. Not scared yet, Mead 😲 and Foord 🤯 are out wide. It's Beth Mead's first start since her ACL injury last October. Pelova and new arrival and World Cup stand-out Cooney Cross are in the middle. The back four comprises Maritz, Lotta, World Cup hattrick scoring defender Amanda Ilestedt and not forgetting Katie (she only scores bangers) McCabe. Oh, an Zinsberger is in goal. Don't want to think about the bench 🧏‍♂️. The match is sold out and there are Gooners in all the stands. Jonus EiderDown is in his big coat watching the Seagulls warm up while Melisa watches the Gunners.

Brighton are on the attack for most of the first half but chances are limited. The only goal of the half goes to Stina Blackstinius on 11. When the ball drops to her in the box, she swings at it but it's air shot. Expecting the shot, the defence have backed off allowing her time to spin and try again. She doesn't miss this time and she chips it past Sophie into the top corner. Brighton's positivity is undimmed and they carry on attacking and defending with everything they have. Good to see the Albion getting a bit physical and showing no respect to opposition. They needed to be more clinical with the chances that they did get although Zinsburger did need to make a couple of good saves. Just a goal down at the break. Need a good second half.

The Seagulls continue to play well. Katie Lobinson got one chance to lob the keeper but was too close in after the ball was recycled after a corner. She got another great chance when the ball is played into the 6 yard box when she was tackled by, of all players Alesia Russo, who has been very quiet all game. Beth Mead has a good chance but hits it over. The scoreline doesn't change until 80 minutes when Caitlin Foord hits home from rthe edge of the box. The Gunners finish the game off in style with a great team move as Russo breaks free down the wing, crosses to LeCasse who sets up a shot for Frida who places it in the corner five minutes into injury time. It finishes at 3-0 to the away team, which is one less than last year.

It was good to hear the big cheer as Lee came on as a substitute after her heroic late winner at Man City last week. The atmosphere, both on and off the pitch is much more positive than last season. Some great performances out there today. Bremer played well, Ziggioti was everywhere, Thoririsdotir and Bergsvand had good game. Carabali aspirant 90 minutes doing wrestling practice. The defence kept the world class front line of Arsenal fairly quiet. Vicky Lossada is starting to find her feet and will be a big part of this squad for the rest of the season. It was the depth of squads that was telling in the end. Arsenal geared up for a Champions League campaign, that fell at the first hurdle, compared to the Seagulls who have a much stronger starting 11 but not so many options. Being able to bring Frida Leonardson-Marnum, Leah Walti and Steph Catley off the bench must be horrible for the tired opposition players. The Seagulls should look back at their last 4 games with massive pride having taken 4 points off the top 4 teams. The Gunners aren't new to setting record attendances and have done so today with a new WSL record attendance at the Broadfield of 4921. And one Meerkat.

The Officials officiated well except a couple of times the ref played advantage after a foul on an Albion player when there was clearly no advantage to Brighton and a free kick would have been good. How is being pressured to run back towards your own goal an advantage 🤷‍♂️.

The Scranometer is back in its favourite place with @Doughshack for a Margarita pizza🍕. Lovely chips 🍟 and a mega hot chocolate ☕ with cream and marshmallows 😍.

Wherever you are in the world, Salam, Shalom, Mir.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Here for the Seagulls

Day Apter Day

Tranmere Rovers away to Sutton United at the VBS Community Stadium in EFL 2

The Rovers visit Gander Green Lane to face relegation rivals the U's just a week after Tranmere beat relegation rivals Forest Green. That win elevated Tranmere out of the relegation zone and dropped put Forest Green into it 😁. Sorry Dale 🤣. The Green have joined the U's on the trapdoor at the bottom of the Football League while Tranmere now sit smugly in the lofty position of 22nd in League 2. Despite the gap, it's still a six pointer today against the struggling U's. Would be a shame to lose Sutton out of the league (or to drop out ourselves for that matter) but let's hope their turn around doesn't start today. It's finally stopped raining but the pitch will be soft. Needs a positive start from the boys to build some confidence and get the Super White Army warmed up. The right footed Wood is at left back again, with midfield demon Lee O'Connor at right back. Davies and Turnbull are in the middle with Hendry and Walker and Connor in the middle. Kieron is on the left with Robbie Apter on the right. The Whites are without Luke Norris for a while so Dennis is up front on his own.

It starts with both sides looking to score and both keepers being called into action early. It doesn't stay like that. Tranmere's next, and second to last, shot on target comes on 17 when Robbie Apter runs into the box on a diagonal and beats the keeper⚽. It is officially awarded as an own goal but we are happy for Robbie to claim it. It does look like it the only way Sutton are going to hit the back of the net today. Sutton get some luck and do actually come close to netting at the other end after some (understatement alert) confusion between Luke McGee and the defence. The U's striker cuts clean though and Luke has to come way out his box to make the tackle. Their striker picks up the deflected ball and takes a shot at an empty net but hits the post🤡. It would have been disallowed anyway as it was flagged for offside. Tranmere desperately trying let the visitors back in back into the game but can't even get that right. The crowd are in good voice and there are a few verses of Tequila ringing out as we are filled with hope, and beer in a few cases. Our hope is misplaced as the Whites seem toothless without Norris. We don't care as "We're winning away" and still a goal up when the ref blows for half time.

The second half was much of the same and we can't get a second goal. Harvey Saunders comes on for Dennis and generates a bit of excitement but here is zero quality up front. The U's keeper is in front of the SWA and the standing area of the away end is generating some noise. There is a solitary bloke in our standing singing all sorts of nonsense. "I'll sing on me own", you're not wrong there mate. The U's were pressing as the clock wound down and levelled from a corner on 88. Inevitable springs to mind with disappointment coming late on again. The Whites are heading back to the Wirral with just a point.

A point on the road and the first away point of the season softens the blow a little but it still feels like 2 points lost. The result was disappointing after going ahead but after the home win last week it's the start of building something 🙏. The performance wasn't great, there was lots of poor passing and head ping pong like two sides that are rubbish at playing football. Tranmere may have been worthy of the win but it would have been a split decision based on the fact that the Whites are slightly less rubbish than the Amber & Chocolate. Conclusion for the day is that we are not very good at all.

POTM: Has to go to Robbie Apter 🏆for getting us excited every time he gets the ball in a dangerous area and his goal even though it was awarded as an own goal.

The officials haven't had a mention so far so must have done ok.

The Scranometer was back and rated the breakfast at Tim's Café in the High Street at 9/10. Service was 10/10. Hope to be back here with both teams still in the league 2 next season.

Back to WSL action tomorrow.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

It's 3pm and the lights are on

It's Joe

Safe standing!

We're winning away

Rise like a FENIX

Lewes FC host FC Oslo in the FENIX Trophey at the Dripping Pan

European football comes to the Pan Sero 🏟 in the shape of the FENIX Trophy. The Rooks have been invited join this annual tournament and face Group D opponents Gamle Oslo Fotballklubb of the Finnish 4th Division. The Rooks are currently 9th in the Isthmian Premier League and haven't lost at home (or drawn) since the beginning of September. We haven't been here for while so don't know any of the squad. The home team are in their usual red tonight and the visitors are in their 3rd kit which can only be described a fluorescent yellow. Bright doesn't do it justice. It's a league game tonight with the team that finishes top going to Italy for the Semi-Finals and Final.

The visitors start brightly and are breaking with pace but the hosts soon settled into thier stride and were knocking the ball about and frustrating their opponents. The Rooks are getting some good crosses in but they can't get on the end of them until one fizzed in from the right, is met at the left post by Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala on 15⚽. They are fairly comfortable now playing some good football.  The Reds are very athletic side covering a lot of ground and they have some pace too. The visiting keeper is playing well and doe's well to keep the deficit to one goal at the break.

Oslo seem to have found something extra as they are a much tougher opponent now, fighting hard for the ball and getting quite feisty.  They can't get a decent chance to test the Rooks keeper but are defending better. It starts to get a bit too aggressive as the clock winds down. A couple of nasty tackles on Lewes players before Archie is brought down after wriggling free just in front of us. It doesn't look that bad but he doesn't get up and isn't moving. He is stretched off and a sub comes on. It calms down a bit and it's no time before the final whistle goes. The Rooks first European game and a first European win. Brighton aren't the only team mixing it up with continental opposition this season. One step on the road to Italy.

A good game in the first half with the Rooks being quite dominant. The visitors were much better in the second half but didn't get any good chances. They also got a bit too physical as they struggled to get any kind of grip on the game and were lucky to keep 11 on the pitch. A couple of nasty injuries late on was the result. The ref was lenient and could and should have stamped it out earlier. Glad to hear that Archie is OK after being stretchered off with whiplash. It's difficult to judge the levels of teams in other leagues at the same step in the UK but whoever matched these two up did well. The away leg will be after the Norwegian season starts in March. The other team in the group is KSK Beveren from Belgium and we'll keep an eye out for the home game. I was great to visit the Dripping Pan again and hope to bring the Scranometer next time.

POTM: goes to goal scorer no.19 Kalvin who was exactly where the opposite winger should be when a cross comes in and hit the target. Was devastating with his charging up the left wing all night.

Hope to be back here soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Back at the Pan

Close to the action

Equality FC

This Ain't The One

Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United in the WSL at The Peoples Pension Stadium

The Seagulls host the Red Devils 👿 at the Broadfield Stadium which is the the home of the errr Red Devils. There are some changes to the side we saw at Chelsea with Jorelyn Carabali alongside Marie Thorisdottir with Emma Kullberg and our own Guru Bergsvand who is captain today. Katie Robbo, Zigiotti and Maisie Symonds make up the middle and Elizabeth "Teri" Terland , Pauline Bremner and Madison Haley. Looks a very positive lineup and that Brighton are going on the attack. Some new arrivals for the Red Devils including big international stars in the shape of Malard and Geyse. Queen Mary is between the posts for the visitors. The Devils visited the Broadfield back in April and took 3 points for the 4-0 win. We are hoping that scoreline is not repeated and that they don't get to run riot in our half again.

It looked like it was going to be a long night when the Devils attack straight from the start. New signings Miyazawa and Malard combining to test Sophie Baggely but she was up to the challenge. The Seagulls hadn't set out to sit and soak up the pressure and were soon on the attack themselves. Bremer's shot/cross had Mary stretching to tip it onto the bar. The Albion are pressing high. A turnover and some good teamwork finds Terland free in front of the goal and she makes it count on 30⚽. The Reds get chances too as Geyse hits the post and Sophie makes a great double save from close range to keep the ball out of the net. Leading at the break.

The Seagulls retain the lead until Carabali is disposed by Galton (fouled more like) at it ends up at the feet of Toone outside the box.  She hits a great shot to level the score on 78. Down the other end on the break and a cross from Lee is met by Bremer but she heads just wide. It's close again when the ball after a corner comes back to Ziggioti way outside the box.  She lobs over the head of everyone but Mary stretches to just tip it onto the crossbar. Another break and Lee passes to Sarri out wide and Mary makes a big save in the top corner. Captain Bergsvand gets her first Seagulls goal as she heads in from corner with a just minute left of the 90 on the clock ⚽. Back in the lead. As the match goes into injury time and out the other end into Fergie time.  Man U get a corner. It drops to an unmarked Rachel Williams at the far post and it's all even again. The whistle goes and we have got a draw with Man Utd yet still feel deflated.

We would have been happy to take a point at the start and especially after the first minute attack but a draw felt like a loss today. The Seagulls played really well and must be gutted not to have won it. It's nice to see that Lee has found her mojo again and nearly got a couple of assists. Zigiotti's lob shows their confidence under the new management.  Things are really looking up for the Seagulls as they improve little by little each game.  Looking forward to the rest of the season now.

POTM: A tough one as it was such a good team performance but it goes to old favourite Lee Geum-min as it's so good to see her back to her old self.

Scanometer is sulking a the pizza 🍕 van 🚛 had to cancel due to the change in fixture time so it could be on the telly. Thanks Sky😥.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Bring on the Devils

Chilly here

Poppy day game

Time Apter Time

Tranmere away to Stevenage FC in the FA Cup 1st Round at the Lamex Stadium

The Rovers have been drawn away to 1st division Stevenage in the 1st round of the FA Cup. We didn't expect to be back here in Hertfordshire so soon as they got promoted last time we were here.  In that game the Boro fans seemed obsessed with cheering our goal kicks. Wonder if they have grown up yet?  This is the first time we've seen Norris. Hope he is as good as expected.  There's a start for Robbie Apter. Pike is on left 🤷‍♂️ and O'Conner right. "He's one of our own" sing the Boro fans about Luke Norris, who left Stevenage in the summer, swapping places with Kane Hemmings who is on the bench for Boro. Hope that he is as uninspired and uninspiring at Stevenage as he was at Tranmere 🤐.

Our defence has been so leaky💧 lately that no self-respecting plumber would touch it. To prove the point, we went behind after just three minutes. We didn't collapse though, and stayed in it although neither side created any real chances. Tranmere won a penalty and Luke Norris smashed it home on 28⚽. The Tranmere fans making a good noise but Boro quiet even for goal our kicks. The Rovers keep a better side from going ahead again and it's still level at the break.

Rover take the lead for the first time as Robbie Apter breaks though and shows great strength and control to hit the target on 55⚽. We got to sing "We're winning away" very briefly before Boro got a penalty and equalised from the spot on 58. They went ahead again when Kane Hemmings found the net on 81. It was all level again when Kieron Morris blasted through the pack on 90+1 ⚽. It looks like we are going to have a replay back at Prenton Park and we make some very late changes. The 9 minutes of injury time run out but the ref plays on. Tranmere hearts are broken by a winning goal from a corner on 90 + 10. It doesn't go down we'll in the Tranmere camp and I don't know what he said 🤬 but Joe is sent off from the bench on 90+12. Go Joe 👏. Love him 🥰.

So we are back to concentrating on the league which is a good job really as we're in the relegation zone. Saying that, it was the best performance for a while and could easily have been a draw had the ref not let it run on until they scored. Robbie Apter had a good game, as did the ever reliable Connor Jennings. Norris looked threatening at times and got his goal from the spot. Looks like Kane Hemmings has found some motivation, shame we didn't see any of that when we needed him to step up at Tranmere. We'll next see the Whites at Sutton which will be a massive 6 pointer.  Nervous already.

POTM: As much as we would like to give it to Joe for his passionate performance, goes to Robbie Apter 🥇 for a great goal and giving the Boro defence plenty to think about.

Off to bed now as we have the Brighton game tomorrow 💤.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

We're only here for the Tranmere

Nice cuddle

Love the new murals

Can't wait for the kick off

Boys played well