2013 Prediction League; Game 14 v Morecambe FC (away)

[Div3North]

Morecambe FC

V

Accrington Stanley

2013/14 Prediction League; Game 14 v Morecambe (away)

Never one to let a good thread run out (a bit like the one that goes “anybody who isn’t John Coleman is crap and will get us relegated for sure = fact” ), I thought I might re-visit Tuesday’s “Form Team” list ………….over the last five games, it goes like this:

Torquay (22nd) 1 point; Brizzle (21st), Bury (20th) Wombles (15th) and Snakefield (2nd) 2 points; Plymouth (19th) 3 points; Fleetwood (5th) 4 points); Northampton (23rd) 5 points; Accrington Stanley (24th) 6 points ………… Problem? What problem? Unbeaten in 3 ………..scoring goals for fun (hmm!) ……..Defence like a duck’s nether regions ……….

This week’s three-part starter for 10; 1) what’s the name of Morecambe’s mascot? Answer; Christie the Cat ………… 2) What is he/she/it (might have been neutered for all I know ) famous for? Answer; getting sent off after a “friendly alterCATion” with the Daggers’ former keeper Tony Roberts ………. 3) Christie the Cat; Christie Park; who are they named after? Answer; JB Christie, Club President and Benefactor back in the early part of the 20th Century……. Should earn you as few points in the Pub Quiz Sports Round …………..

They achieved League status in 2007, beating Exeter (managed then, as now, by Paul Tisdale) 2-1 in the Final, having seen off York in the semis; the winner was scored on 82 minutes by Danny Carlton ; anybody know who the team captain was that day? One Jim Bentley ………. So – a local derby between two teams both managed by a former player ………. Their first League game was against Barnet (0-0); they followed that up in the League Cup by winning 2-1 at PNE (the same Jim Bentley getting one of the goals), and then did Wolves 3-1 in Round 2, before losing 5-0 to the Blades (who look like joining us in League Two next season, unless Nigel Clough can turn the ship around ……… )

In the “Cheapest Day Out in League Two” competition they’ve climbed from joint third last season to 2nd now, despite their pie going up to £3.00 ……last season they were behind Burton and Barnet; this season they’re behind ……….US! We are officially the cheapest day out in our League – at £19.50, coming in 30 bob under the Shrimps . Out of interest (if you do the away games), the places to miss are Northampton (£29) , Plymouth (£28.80) and Southend (£28.30) ………………………………Why pay £29 to suffer when you can do it for £19.50?

The aforementioned Danny Carlton (29) – who played 250 games for them in four spells there, scoring 73 times, as well as at Carlisle, Darlington, Bury amd Grimsby - departed the Globe in the summer, wending his way to Hyde Utd; he was joined there by CB Will Haining (30), who also has St Mirren, Oldham and Fleetwood on his P60; given that Hyde are significantly last in the Skrill Conference with 2 points from 16 games (draws at Wrexham, and home to Hereford, but a current losing streak of 12, in 8 of which they haven’t scored and already 10 points adrift ) they probably wish they hadn’t ; other departures to non-League sides were 20 year-old MF Dan Parkinson (Barrow) and CF Chris Holroyd (26) – Chester, Cambridge, Brighton, Rotherham, PNE - to Macclesfield; also out the revolving door went CF Jordan Burrow (20) to Stevenage, CMF Gary McDonald (31) to St Johnstone, and CF Lewis Alessandra (24, and once of Oldham) to the Argyle ………….In came winger Marcus Marshall (23) and 29 year-old CB Mark Hughes (Everton, Northampton, Walsall, North Queensland Fury and 5 games on loan with us last season ) – both from Bury (“sign 20-odd players, then boot your manager” ); Bolton CF Jack Sampson (20); Stockport’s LW Alex Kenyon (21); French born Tony Diagne, a 22 year-old LB from FCM Aubervilliers (French 4th tier) via Macclesfield, and one Padraig Amond – Shamrock Rovers, Sligo, Pacos de Ferreira and 78 games for the Stanley – now 25 - whom we all recall (and no doubt wish well) …………Unless he appeals (and succeeds), Mark Hughes won’t be playing against us though, having been sent off in the defeat at Cheltenham on Tuesday on 47 mins for two yellow cards. 5' 5" Jack Redshaw - who causes far more trouble than anyone of that height should be able to cause - is a long-term injury absentee ..... Last 5' 5" player I remember was ex Hibs and Man City (1955 - 59) inside right Bobby Johnstone - anyone remember him?

They did Wolves (again) in the League Cup, 1-0 at home, before going out – also televised – to Newcastle 2-0; in the PaintCanCup they lost to Carlisle 4-3 on penalties after 90 minutes goalless. Their League form is good at home (W3 D3 L0) but a touch patchier away – W3 D1 L3; overall, P13 W6 D4 L3 F20 A18 Pts 22 for 6th place – 4 points off the top (Rochdale), but only two points (and some goals) off second …………. Their home successes have been over Exeter (2-0), Plymouth (2-1) and that nice Mr Cook’s Snakefield (4-3, having been 3-0 down at half time)………..the home draws were against Torquay 1-1, Wimbledon (1-1) and the Daggers (2-2); I reckon we’re as good as all those sides ………. Leading scorers – they’ve managed 21 in 16 all told – are Kevin Ellison with 5, and Podge with 4

Since they came up to the Football League in 2007 we haven’t – whisper it – lost to them in a League game ; 8 wins, 4 draws – the most recent being on 12th April last, when we beat them 2-0 chez nous (Murphy on 28, when he couldn’t get out of the way of a free kick from Lee Molyneux, which hit him and went in , and Padraig Amond on 58 when the usually-reliable Barry Roche didn't deal with a shot from Rommy) ……………They did dump us out of the Tinpot 2-0 at ours last year, but I don’t think we’re terribly worried about that …………… Doesn’t count anyway …………… So there!

Deadline for entries, as you well know, is scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm on Saturday 26th October; Cheltenham copiously ended Morecambe’s unbeaten run on Tuesday last, Terry Gornell contributing to a 3-0 home win; before that they’d won 6 and drawn 3 of their last 9, their League season having started “L D L” (mind you, so did ours ……….) It could be a close game, but you’d be fairly confident that we’d be fairly confident – if you’ve got the Evil Eye on someone, not much else matters ………….

Good luck to everybody …………..Remember; Passion overcomes logic! ………..Keep the Faith! ……………...and thanks for playing!

[ossy kid]

Got to keep the run going and we NEVER loose to Morcambe so- 1-1 each apiece.

[ossy kid]

or lose????

[Redash]

3-1 to The Stanley, please.

[DaveinGermany]

2 - 1 To the Stanley please D3N.

[cashman]

1-0 to stanley i reckon.

[Chubbyman]

2-1 to Stanley please.

[Tom D]

1-1 please

[Outback Ozzy]

happy with a draw, but I reckon 2-1 again to Stanley please

[sparkie]

2-1 Stanley please

[Revived Red]

Shrimps 1 Stanley 2 please D3N.

And yes, I remember Bobby Johnstone. What about Brian Flynn? Wasn't he about 5' 5"?

[Tommy McQueen]

Morecambe 0 Stanley 1 please

[accybeme]

Morecambe 2 Stanley 0 please

[Div3North]

Originally Posted by Revived Red

Shrimps 1 Stanley 2 please D3N.

And yes, I remember Bobby Johnstone. What about Brian Flynn? Wasn't he about 5' 5"?

When I was a lad I lived in Manchester and used to go to Maine Road, which is why I remember Bobby J. You could be right about Brian Flynn - there's probably others as well, but you remember best the heroes of your youth ........I still remember watching Wolves beat City 6-4 at Maine Rd on my birthday (1959 I think it was) ........ Ken Barnes, Cliff Sear, Bill Leivers, Dave Ewing, Ray Sambrook, Joe Hayes, Paddy Fagan ......and Bert Trautmann!

But I'm impressed that someone actually reads the opening post on the thread ..........Cheers Bernard!

[teach]

1-1 draw for me please. p.s. I always read the opening posts, bet lots of others do too!