Post by Stewart on Dec 22, 2015 12:40:00 GMT
It is always good to get a neutrals view of the game, and our club.
long overdue return to GGL for...
FA Carlsberg Challenge Trophy, Third Qualifying Round
Concord Rangers 0(0)-(1)2 Sutton United*
*Match played at Sutton United FC
Borough Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton, Surrey/South London
Attendance: 251
Admission: �10 (reduced). Parking at ground �2. Seat in main stand �1. Didn't purchase programme.
Also purchased: Cheesy Chips and Bottle of Water = �4 (ouch)
A costly technicality has cost Concord dear. Having won the original tie, a rematch of the 2013 Ryman Premier playoff final against Lowestoft was on the cards. Until it was discovered a player on loan from Braintree was ineligible, after Concord - with secretary on holiday - only notifying his parent club, and not the FA. So Concord lost home advantage, lost all gate receipts, and tonight lost the replayed tie. A decent match in parts, but quite laborious in others. Overall though Sutton were much the better team, and deserved to progress. At least we were spared a late finish, as the tie was going to be resolved on the night.
A very lively start to the match, with Sutton starting the game at a high tempo, and created numerous openings - some thwarted by McNamara in the Concord goal and some brave defending. The Essex side however looked a threat whenever they did create chances, with the Sutton keeper making several fine saves to keep out long and close range efforts.
Then a moment of controversy which could have been a main talking point, were it not for the final result, as a free kick to the left of the Concord box seemed to be converted at the far post off the underside of the bar. It looked to have crossed the line from my position, but the officials didn't award it.
The game then seemed to take a breather, and apart from a backheader from close range straight at McNamama, Concord seemed to have weathered the storm. However just before the break a thumping strike from outside the box crashed off the underside of the bar. I wasn't sure whether it had crossed the line, but it seems it hadn't this time, although either via a deflection off the floored McNamara or a Sutton player tapping the rebound in, the deadlock was broken.
Not quite the same intensity to the opening stages of the first half as there was to the first. Both sides created at best half chances, but nothing clear cut. The game was more or less settled nearly halfway through the second period though, when a cracking free kick outside the dee was curled home.
Even then it was hard to see Concord coming back in to it, but after a Sutton shot was a layer of paint past the post, Concord went very close when a flying header at the back post from a free kick went just past the opposite post.
At the other end, Sutton about as close as you could get to a penalty, with a foul right on the line of the left side of the box. Most of us thought it was a spot kick, and it took the referee to run over to the linesman to get clarity. That free kick went just past the far post, as Staines controlled most of the remainder of the match, with several more fine saves by McNamara keeping his side in touch.
Some late pressure of sorts from Concord including a few corners, but apart from an effort deflected just off target, and in added time a chip that almost fooled the keeper from outside the box, but landed on the roof of the net, they offered very little threat. And right on full time Sutton blazed over unmarked just inside the box. That would have put the icing on the cake, but it didn't matter in the end, as Sutton won the rematch of the two National League South sides, and will probably fancy beating Lowestoft and Curzon in the forthcoming rounds too.
A few years since I've been to Gander Green Lane, during which time there have been lots of changes. A lot of the old terracing around the grounds has been removed, and everything seems a lot closer. Also a new stand opposite the large unchanged main one. Seems to be an additional food area as well, opposite the main stand.
The big change is the new 3G pitch, which has led to other improvements, such as the overhaul of the old messy mesh infill, now replaced by a solid mesh barrier. The old brick dugouts have also been replaced by transparent plastic ones.
The clubhouse under the stand seems unchanged, although noticed they have a special Sutton United brewed ale on tap.
A shame, even with some event approaching, a reduced ticket price still didn't attract a reasonable crowd.
OK journey back, aside from some delays approaching the Dartford Tunnel, with one of the two shut overnight. Back in the front door by 11:15
www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forum/gforum.cgi?post=703759;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread
long overdue return to GGL for...
FA Carlsberg Challenge Trophy, Third Qualifying Round
Concord Rangers 0(0)-(1)2 Sutton United*
*Match played at Sutton United FC
Borough Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton, Surrey/South London
Attendance: 251
Admission: �10 (reduced). Parking at ground �2. Seat in main stand �1. Didn't purchase programme.
Also purchased: Cheesy Chips and Bottle of Water = �4 (ouch)
A costly technicality has cost Concord dear. Having won the original tie, a rematch of the 2013 Ryman Premier playoff final against Lowestoft was on the cards. Until it was discovered a player on loan from Braintree was ineligible, after Concord - with secretary on holiday - only notifying his parent club, and not the FA. So Concord lost home advantage, lost all gate receipts, and tonight lost the replayed tie. A decent match in parts, but quite laborious in others. Overall though Sutton were much the better team, and deserved to progress. At least we were spared a late finish, as the tie was going to be resolved on the night.
A very lively start to the match, with Sutton starting the game at a high tempo, and created numerous openings - some thwarted by McNamara in the Concord goal and some brave defending. The Essex side however looked a threat whenever they did create chances, with the Sutton keeper making several fine saves to keep out long and close range efforts.
Then a moment of controversy which could have been a main talking point, were it not for the final result, as a free kick to the left of the Concord box seemed to be converted at the far post off the underside of the bar. It looked to have crossed the line from my position, but the officials didn't award it.
The game then seemed to take a breather, and apart from a backheader from close range straight at McNamama, Concord seemed to have weathered the storm. However just before the break a thumping strike from outside the box crashed off the underside of the bar. I wasn't sure whether it had crossed the line, but it seems it hadn't this time, although either via a deflection off the floored McNamara or a Sutton player tapping the rebound in, the deadlock was broken.
Not quite the same intensity to the opening stages of the first half as there was to the first. Both sides created at best half chances, but nothing clear cut. The game was more or less settled nearly halfway through the second period though, when a cracking free kick outside the dee was curled home.
Even then it was hard to see Concord coming back in to it, but after a Sutton shot was a layer of paint past the post, Concord went very close when a flying header at the back post from a free kick went just past the opposite post.
At the other end, Sutton about as close as you could get to a penalty, with a foul right on the line of the left side of the box. Most of us thought it was a spot kick, and it took the referee to run over to the linesman to get clarity. That free kick went just past the far post, as Staines controlled most of the remainder of the match, with several more fine saves by McNamara keeping his side in touch.
Some late pressure of sorts from Concord including a few corners, but apart from an effort deflected just off target, and in added time a chip that almost fooled the keeper from outside the box, but landed on the roof of the net, they offered very little threat. And right on full time Sutton blazed over unmarked just inside the box. That would have put the icing on the cake, but it didn't matter in the end, as Sutton won the rematch of the two National League South sides, and will probably fancy beating Lowestoft and Curzon in the forthcoming rounds too.
A few years since I've been to Gander Green Lane, during which time there have been lots of changes. A lot of the old terracing around the grounds has been removed, and everything seems a lot closer. Also a new stand opposite the large unchanged main one. Seems to be an additional food area as well, opposite the main stand.
The big change is the new 3G pitch, which has led to other improvements, such as the overhaul of the old messy mesh infill, now replaced by a solid mesh barrier. The old brick dugouts have also been replaced by transparent plastic ones.
The clubhouse under the stand seems unchanged, although noticed they have a special Sutton United brewed ale on tap.
A shame, even with some event approaching, a reduced ticket price still didn't attract a reasonable crowd.
OK journey back, aside from some delays approaching the Dartford Tunnel, with one of the two shut overnight. Back in the front door by 11:15
www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forum/gforum.cgi?post=703759;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread