Worthing v Torquay

Torquay Bout a Rebeloution! Worthing FC host Torquay United in the National league South at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium

Where are we and what’s going on?

We are in Sunny Worthing where the Rebels host the Gulls at Woodside Road in the NLS. We don’t see much (or any) of the NLS but this is a big game at the top end of the table. Dorking are a few points clear at the top but it’s close behind them and the winner tonight could end up 2nd.

Woodside Road has had a big upgrade since we were last here. There is a very large new stand all down the north side. It’s all standing and has segregation for the away fans. We’re in the main stand sitting in the front row. Nice view 👀.

We don’t know any of the players on either side. We do know the Rebels manager who is a bit of a Brighton and Worthing legend, Adam Hinshelwood. We thought Uncle Chris may have joined us tonight but golf is more important apparently. Hope he’s not playing with Dougie (slice it like) Tuck. Both teams have names on their shirts and squad numbers. Always a sign that they mean business.

It’s warm night in February. The all weather pitch is looking OK. It’s a big 6 pointer. Let’s see how it goes. Come on you Mackerel Men.

Off we go..

The sides are feeling each other out. Torquay look very good. They are organised, passing the ball about and giving the Rebels a bit of a run around. The Yellow army are getting behind them. The Rebels support is vocal too. It’s been a long time since we’ve heard 🎵I’d rather be a Rebel than a Rock🎵. Love it.

The Rebels are on the attack, as it breaks down George Cox decides to fall over his own feet to try to get a penalty. It’s a dreadful attempt at dive (did someone shout timber) and the ref sees it for what it is and ignores it.

We think it’s an early goal for the Rebels but Dolaghan’s strike is ruled offside. We have a rubbish view of the line so aren't going to complain about it. Although others are grumbling.

Torquay are knocking the ball about well. They are dominating the midfield but just can’t create a decent chance.

Razaq (Raz) Coleman De-Graf (feel for the kit man) goes on a run. He gets suppounded by defenders who all take a turn to pull at him. Ref eventually gives a foul. Against Raz! Don’t know what he was looking at. Numpty.

There is a delay as the Gull’s captain, Sam Drayer is injured requiring treatment. He comes back on but doesn't look great. The Torquay keeper makes a howler of a pass out, straight to Rebels striker, Brad Dolaghan. He’s too polite not to take the opportunity and puts the Rebels in the lead on 33 ⚽. 1-0. An opportunistic lead, gratefully accepted.

The Mackerel Men try to return the favour by gifting them a goal back but the Gulls make a mess of it. Very ungracious of them.

There are 2 added minutes but the half ends with a single goal advantage to the hosts.

Not long after the restart and Sam Draayer is down injured again. He can’t continue and is replaced in midfield by Dan Hayfield.

The Gull’s keeper is looking a bit rattled. The Rebels need to get at him before he recovers. They are playing much better this half. Applying pressure to the goal in front of us. We’re watching from pitchside now. We get a good view of the Rebels breaking down the left. Raz stays onside to receive the pass from Remiero Moulton and makes sure of his finish no 56 ⚽. 2-0.

Torquay make some changes on 65. Louis Dennis and Dylan Morgan make way for Cody Cooke and Matt Jay.

It’s stop/start for a while as both teams compete to see who can be hit hardest in the face with the ball. Rebels defender Harry Ransom wins. Just.

The ball is down the other end for the moment of the night. 4 or 5 balls come flying over the netting behind Gulls goal. Play has to stop to clear them. Just the neighbours wreaking their revenge. ⚽⚽⚽⚽🤣. Please can we have our ball back Mister. Not now.

The Gulls make another change on 78 as Kieron Wilson makes way for Sonny Fish. Wonder if he is related to Rebels mascot Mackie the Mackerel.

Torquay counter-attack but Remiero Moulton nicks the ball in his own half. There is no stopping him as he charges forward and makes it 3-0.⚽

It’s the hosts turn to make a change on 81. Jack Spong is replaced by Odei Martin.

The hosts' hopes of a clean sheet are over on 85 as Matt Worthington blasts home from inside the box. 3-1.

There are 3 more changes for the Rebels before the restart after the goal. Fresh legs to stop the lead slipping away. Remiero Moulton, George Cox and Teddy Jenks go off. Coming on are Toby Byron, Shiloh Remy and Ollie Godzirmski.

There are 8 minutes of added time. What? Where did they find that from? We were expecting between 3 and 5. Bonkers ref.

2 minutes into the 8 and Adam Hinshelwood is booked for something. Not sure what he did or said but it wasn’t appreciated but we do love a passionate manager. 

Then Remy is booked for a late foul. It escalates into full scale handbags on the far side.

It finally comes to an end. 3-1 to the Rebels. It was nice to be back but it’s a school night and time to go now.

We think it’s all over

That was a good game with plenty of chances both ways. It could easily have gone either way but ended up with a good result. And Torquay supporter Cousin David wouldn't be pleased to see it 😁. Must remember to send him a selfie of the scoreboard.

Hope the Yellow Army have a safe, if long, journey back to Devon. That’s some dedication on a school night.

There were some good skills on display. Not sure that we would want to watch the current Tranmere squad take on either of these. Could be a complete car crash. The worst case scenario is that Tranmere face them both in the National League next season. Gulp!

We like the big upgrade to Woodside Road. We haven’t found our favourite spot to watch from yet. Maybe we’ll try the noisy North stand next week.

It’s still tight at the top of the league with Worthing leap frogging over Torquay to tuck into 2nd behind Dorking.

Same time, same place next week for Chesham.

The Other Bits

POTM: goes to Remiero Moulton, the number 25 for a fantastic individual goal against the run of play to kill the game off. The ever important 3rd goal. Special mention to manager Adam Hinshelwood who showed his true colours, getting booked in the 92nd minute. Love a manager that is still that passionate even though the game is done and dusted.

Officially opinionated: The ref was a bit whistle happy. Or maybe more than a bit. Whether he favoured the Gulls, the Gulls just fell over easily or the Rebels fouled more; our legal team have advised us not to comment. So when asked about the useless, biased ref, that’s an official “No Comment” from us 😶.

The Scran’O’meter would rather be a Rebel than a Rock. The hot chocolate scoring a historic 10/10 beating the previous record holder and one of our favourites, Bognor. Thanks. See you next week. Yum.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Woodside Road

Winners

Mackeral

Tranmere v Gillingham

Why Does It Always Rainham On Me? Tranmere Rovers away to Gillingham FC In EFL 2 at the Priestfield

Where are we and what’s going on?

The Rovers visit the Gills on a very wet February afternoon. We were worried it was going to be postponed as most of the lower league games have been. There was no early inspection as you might expect. They were either confident or reckless. The ref was worried when he arrived but it seems ok now that the rain has slowed up.

Is there any team news? Just a bit. Where to start? Out-going is Josh Davidson on loan to Cheltenham and Richie Smallwood to Bristol Rovers. Sad news is that Connor has joined the ACL club so will be out for at least 9 0r 10 months. He has a contract extension so hopefully we’ll see him playing again around Christmas. Get well soon Connor ❤. The 2 injured loanees have returned to their home clubs. Soz. We’re sad to see Will Tamen and Dylan Jones go as they both looked like great additions. There are replacements and some! New in at the heart of midfield is a face we’ve seen before when he was on loan from Everton. It’s Lewis Warrington who has signed for 2 and 1/2 years from Walsall. Also in is versatile player James Plant who has signed from Port Vale for 18 months. There are 3 new loanees to replace the 2 we broke. Midfielder Zech Odiero joins from Leytond Orient. Defender Stephen Negru joins from Oxford United. Both of those are in the starting 11. On the bench is Xax Dickov who joins from Mansfield. He is the son of Scotland Legend, Paul Dickov. There is even news on the goal keeper front as Marko Marosi joins for a 1 week emergency loan from Port Vale. He starts behind a back 3 (again, FFS) of Nathan Smith, Patrick Brough and Stephen Negru. Out wide are James Plant and Omari Patrick. In the middle are Lewis Warrington and Sam Finley. It looks like Zech Obiero is playing just behind a front 2 of Joe Ironside and Charlie Whitaker.

There is just one name we know in the Gill line up. It’s Cameron Antwi from Newport.

We’re in the covered seating looking out over the away end. The temporary stand has been there over 25 years and is allegedly the most photographed scaffold in football. We can believe that having sat in it in March 2001. We are just glad we don’t have to sit in it today. There rain has eased and there are 284 SWA here, getting behind the boys. The new keeper is right in front of us. We hope he has a quiet one. Let’s see. Come on you Whites 🙏.

Off We Go…

Tranmere face an onslaught straight from the whistle. Marko is called into action early in his debut. He makes good saves on 9 and 10. The Gills are struggling to stay on-side but the assistant on the far side is struggling to get them right. Looks like he is only able to get the marginal ones right. He misses a couple of clear off-sides calls right opposite the very vocal SWA. Hope he takes the feedback on-board. Sam Vokes is a threat but can’t find the target fortunately.

Rovers get a chance from a corner. Negru gets his head on it but it’s saved.

Down the other end and the Gills get a spate of corners. One is eventually put in the net but it’s clearly offside. 1-0. The assistant ref decides to ignore that fact and keeps his flag down. It’s given on 25. He clearly didn’t hear the earlier feedback so more is provided.

Tranmere start a good spell. They get a couple of corners. Zech blasts wide from outside the box. Finley comes close with his shot.

The SWA feedback seems have finally worked as the Gills are caught offside. Their keeper goes down in protest or he is injured. Not sure which. Or he is just stopping play for a team talk as Rovers were having a good spell.

Whatever his plan, it doesn’t work as the Rovers are still on top. Whitaker misses his chance. Ironside does the same. Need to be a lot more clinical than that. We are not sure what Xg is but Tranmere’s would probably be minus at the moment. There are 2 minutes of added time and we’re still a goal behind at the break.

The Whites are now attacking the goal in front of the SWA. Let’s hope we get to see plenty of action. We’re not disappointed. Zech forces a save on 48 from a good Whitaker assist. Another Rovers corner and is Negru misses again with assistance from Omari. Brough also misses with an assist from Whitaker. The chances are coming but not being taken.

There is a miss from the Gills before Tranmere are on the offensive again. Zwech and Smith both miss the target. We hold our breath as Omari lines up one of his special curling efforts from wide left. We all groan as it goes miles over. It’s just over an hour gone as Whitaker gets in a shot on target only to see it saved.

The Gills make 3 changes. There is a brief response to the changes and they get a couple of corners. The 2nd is crossed in and is headed in by Hale for his 2nd of the match. Rovers have been in total charge and have conceded against the run of play again.

Tranmere dominate again as the Gills keeper fancies another nap. This is getting worse than Arsenal Women!

Andy Crosby makes his first changes on 71 as Plant, Obiera and Ironside are replaced by Norman, Dickov and Dennis. Hope the fresh players remembered their shooting boots. There is an immediate impact as Dickov’s set piece provides for Whitaker who scores on 78 ⚽. 2-1. A fightback?

There is another Tranmere change on 81 as Negru makes way for Lowe. Into the last 5 minutes and the Whites are still getting the most chances. Finley sees his shot go wide. Norman forces a block. Tranmere get a corner and Norman forces a save this time. It won’t go in for Tranmere.

There are 6 minutes added on. Plenty of time for an equaliser. The chances come as Omari forces a block and then a save. We’re urging them on as they get corner after corner. It is not going to go in. It doesn’t go in and it’s a 2-1 loss on the road. There is mixed feedback from the SWA. A quick round of applause as Andy and the boys come over. It’s time to hit the road and get lost in Kent again.

We think it’s all over…

At least the rain stopped. It was a good watch with lots of attacking football. The Rovers had the best of the ball but struggled to find enough power or precision with the final shot. It was so much better than the game at Cambridge. The additions to the team bringing with them both energy and quality. We look forward to it getting better between here and the end of the season.

The SWA were quite quiet but not as quiet as the home crowd. 244 out singing over 5000. The Connor Jennings song was nice to hear. He may be out injured but Mr Tranmere is not forgotten.

It was nice to see things improve with the subs. That’s when it usually falls apart because the squad is so thin. And Gillingham got worse. Big name managers don’t always get it right. And get your haircut 💇.

There is lots of talk about goalkeeper timeouts and we had 2 today. Didn’t help the Gills though did it as the momentum didn’t change. Though they did win thanks to Tranmere’s appalling performance in front of goal.

The takeover could come at any time and everything will change then. But till then, things are potentially looking up a bit if these youngsters can stay fit.

The Other Bits:

POTM: It goes to newly arrived Lewis Warrington. He was always involved in the middle and looking to move it forward. But shout out to all the arrivals who have given us something to look forward to.

The ref did OK. We like the new head injury rule where the player has to go off the pitch if they feign a head injury to stop play. 👍 Even if the physio doesn’t come on. But the assistant on the far side might as well not have been there. Three big offsides missed early on including the first goal. 👎 Useless. 🤷

The Scran’O’meter loved the breakfast at Bill’s in Bluewater, Thanks Bill. There was regret later on due to the state of the dishwater coffee 3/10 at Priestfield. Bottle sold with bottle tops on was a good improvement.

If there was a programme, we didn’t see one or anyone reading one. It’s normally for sale in the away end as far as we can remember. Their loss.

See you somewhere soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

In the Priestfield

Brighton v London City

Winner City Life Brighton & Hove Albion v London City Lionesses in the WSL at The Peoples Pension Stadium

Where are we and What's going on?

The Seagulls host London City at the Broadfield on a very wet Sunday. It’s been raining since we were last here a couple of weeks ago. The big spending Kang Gang are having a great first season in the WSL. They are sitting just 1 point below Brighton in 7th. That makes this a big midtable 6 pointer. Albion won the away game in Bromley by a single goal scored by Madie on 6 minutes. Let’s hope they get it done today but that it’s less nerve-wracking. A single goal lead for 84 minutes wouldn’t be good for our nerves or our nails.

We were worried that it might be too wet but the ground has clearly had improvement work done since THAT Chelsea game. That was almost water polo 🤽.

There was some sad news in the week as we heard about the passing of Rado Vidosic. He was the father of Dario and Head of Women’s Coaching. It will be a tough one for the girls out there today.❤ Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Chris Roberts takes over management duties for the moment.

There is still no sign of Fran, either staying or we now assume going. Chia is in goal with Baggers back on the bench. We have a settled back 4 of Marisa, Moeka, Manuala and Charlie. The midfield is made up of Miasie, Jelena and Nadine. It’s the usual front 3 of Rosa, Kiko and Madie. On the bench is new signing, Norwegian midfielder, Oleug Tvedten.

The big shock with City is that they have signed Delphine Cascerino. She’s not here today but what an addition. It’s nice that Nikita (bench) and Poppy (starting) get a good welcome back to the Broadfield. That goodwill will last until kick off then the gloves are off. Kosovo Asllani starts with Freya Godfrey and extremely tall goal scoring talent, Izzy Goodwin.

There is a round of applause for Rado. It’s a difficult one to predict but it’s a big game for the Seagulls so we expect a big performance. It’s not a huge crow, just 1990. We’re more disappointed that Scooter hasn’t joined us today. It’s a small away following with only about 50 in the away end. Possibly the smallest we’ve seen. We hope those 50 are very disappointed in 90 minutes. Time to find out. Lets go Brighton, lets go!

Off we go..

It’s a lively start for the Seagulls. They dominate but Rosa can’t beat the offside trap and gets caught twice. She finally gets through but shoots over on 7. The Albion should be in a clear lead but it’s just not happening.

The Albion go off the boil after 10 lively minutes. It’s dull for a while but until Roasa gets in another shot. This time it’s blocked. It comes to life on 23 as Madie plays in Kiko on the right. She does what she does best and blasts it home. 1-0.⚽

Rosa is inspired and back on the attack. Her first shot is saved. The next one blocked. Then she is caught offside again. She needs to be more clinical with these chances.

It’s half an hour gone when City break but are caught offside. They don’t wait long to try again. The cross in from the right is met by Moeka whose attempted clearance ends up in the back of Chia’s net. The visitors have equalised without a shot on target yet. 1-1.

The Seagulls keep their heads up. Madie gets a shot in but hits the right post. Into 2 added minutes and Nadine takes her turn but hits the left post. Anywhere but in the net!

The visitors get one last attack and Freya Godfrey is given too much space. She hits a great shot from the edge of the box. Their first shot on target and Chia is picking it out of the net again. Albion are behind at the break. 1-2.

Not long into the second half and City get their first corner. They haven’t had much possession at Seagulls end until now. There may have been cheering 📣 when Poppy puts it straight into the side netting.

It’s a bit end to end now. Kiko misses to the right. Back down the other end and Jana Fernandez does the same.

We are shocked, shocked I say, that we get as far as the 64th minute before Poppy is penalised for a foul.

It’s scrappy for a while but Rosa manages to miss again.

The Albion make their first 2 changes on 71. Charlie Rule makes way for Rachel McLauchlan. Rosa is replaced by new signing Olaug Tvedten. Not going to try to pronounce that. Can’t wait until she gets a nickname.

Madie is injured on 72 and needs treatment. She is soon fixed and back in the action. It’s end to end again. Izzy Goodin sees her shot blocked. Nadine with assistance from Kiko has her shot blocked. Madie assists her next chance but that’s also blocked. The Seagulls are throwing everything at the defence in the City penalty area.

Nadine makes way for Carla on 86. A bit late for fresh legs up front. We hope she has enough time to make a difference.

Brighton are piling on the pressure now. Marisa and Oleug both have shots blocked. The Seagulls get a corner. Maisie misses a sitter from the middle of the goal. Madie’s shot is blocked and it’s another corner. And another. Just score a goal please.

There are 4 minutes of injury time to play. Plenty of time for an equaliser. Another Albion corner. It leads to a shot from Oleug that goes just wide. There is another corner. Jelena gets the first Seagulls booking on 93. Three more minutes without another corner and it’s all over on 90+6. 1-2. How did we lose that?!?

We think it’s all over

That’s not how we hoped it would go. It had it’s moments but there were large chunks that weren’t great. The aggression of the first 10 minutes dried up quickly and didn’t re-appear until after the subs made an appearance near the end. To lose 2-1 to a team that only managed 1 shot on target must be absolutely gutting. That’s efficient for you. Chia has had to pick the ball out of the net twice without the chance to make a save.The Seagulls need to learn that lesson. Sooo many misses or tame shots. It could and should have been out of sight in 5 minutes. But it has been a difficult week for the team with the loss of Rado so maybe the performance means more than the result in the circumstances.

There was no change in the league table because Villa lost as well. The “best of the rest” title is looking like a big stretch at the moment. Elsewhere in the league. Chelsea dropped to 3rd after a thrashing by Man City. Arsenal were busy winning the Club Cup Final. We planned to go but that didn’t work out. Congrats to the Gunners who won 3-2 with a Foord winner against Brazil’s Corinthians in extra time. 👏

Up next, we will be travelling to Kent for Tranmere’s outing at the Priestfield. Lord help us🙏.

The Other Bits:

POTM: goes to Rosa 🏅 who had her best game in terms of chances. Her conversion rate could do with improving but hopefully that will come as her confidence improves. Can’t fault her effort today though, well done Rosa.

Officially Opinionated: The ref missed 2 good penalty shouts and the lino had a great view of both but bottled it 🐔. Either or both might have been outside the box but both were certainly fouls yet waved away. Not wanting make waves by halting the rise of Michelle Kang’s Vanity Project 😃.

The Scran’O’meter changed the usual pizza and latte routine today and went for some chips with curry sauce and a hot chocolate. Both excellent. 9.5/10 and 9/10. Thanks.

Programme perusal: The programme is digital which we don’t do so it may well have been fantastic but if it’s not made of paper, we don’t want it. 0/10 again.

See you in Kent.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Our Chia warming up

Floodlights at midday 👀