VENUE #114 LINCOLN CITY Sincil Bank

SINCIL BANK STADIUM

     On one side is the large all seater Co-op Community Stand. This large single tiered covered stand opened in 1995 and has a capacity of 5,700. Opposite is the Selenity Stand, a small old looking covered stand (although in fact, it is comparatively modern being built in 1987). It is seated, but only runs half the length of the pitch, straddling the halfway line and hence there are gaps on either side. One gap has now been partly filled by a tiny covered Family Stand. Both ends are small covered affairs. The Bridge McFarland Stand is all seated and has a row of executive boxes running across the back. This stand has a couple of supporting pillars at the front. The other end is the 'Stacey West' all seated, covered stand, for home supporters. It was named in memory of the two Lincoln supporters who lost their lives in the Bradford City Fire at Valley Parade in 1985. Unfortunately, this stand is normally only open for games where a larger than normal attendance is expected.

     Away fans are located in the Stacey West Stand at one end of the ground, where up to 2,000 fans can be accommodated. This covered, all seated stand, generally has good views of the playing action, although it does have a couple of supporting pillars at the front of the stand that could affect your view, especially if your team has a very large following and you are unable to move seats. On the plus side, the acoustics of this stand is very good, meaning that even relatively few travelling fans can really make some noise.

GROUND LAYOUT

 A   CO-OPERATIVE COMMUNITY STAND

 B   SELENITY STAND

 C   BRIDGE McFARLAND STAND

 D   STACEY WEST STAND (AWAY)

     Lincoln City have got off to a flyer this season topping the league table winning five of their six league games and drawing the other which means they haven't lost yet, let's just hope that the "Venues To Visit" jinx doesn't arise again as it did last week in Elgin.
     The Imps played Mansfield on Tuesday night in the EFL Trophy Northern group H competition.  The Stags won the match 2-1 but went behind after only 6 minutes, Matt Rhead notching his first goal of the season for the Imps although it was very short lived as Mansfield's Calum Butcher equalised two minutes later.
     The winner came with eighteen minutes of normal play left when Stags Tyler Walker came off the bench and the first thing he did was put the ball in the back of Lincoln's net, what a substitution that was although Dan Cowley's priority may be getting Lincoln into league one.

     Crawley Town Lye 16th in the table on seven points winning two games, drawing one and losing three, Town have scored eight times in their six matches but have conceded ten, looks like old frailties are raising their heads again for the Reds this season.
     Crawley also played at home in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night drawing 1-1 with Tottenham's under 21's, the Reds went on to win the match 5-3 on penalties.
     There's only been one match between these two at Sincil bank on the 28th October last year and it finished 0-0, let's hope there are some goals to celebrate in today's fixture.
     The only other game these teams have played against each other was in February this year at the Checkatrade.com stadium which Crawley won 3-1, goals from Jimmy Smith, Josh Payne and Mark Connolly for the Reds with Matt Green equalising for the time (52 minutes) for Lincoln.

LINCOLN CITY ... 0   CRAWLEY TOWN ... 1

     Not a classic by any means this afternoon at Sincil Bank, Lincoln were stifled by a well organised Crawley side who weren't afraid to use strong armed tactics against the Imps who seamed stunned and frustrated at times.

     Filipe Morais and Jimmy Smith were running the show for Crawley on an interim basis with new boss Gabriele Cioffi watching from the stands who must have been impressed as his new side snuffled out the league leaders and earned a hard fought three points.

     Referee Matthew Donohue played his part in the crawley victory although he booked five Crawley players there was a lot that he let go, it was almost a carbon copy of last weeks game in Elgin were the referee seemed bias in favour of Stirling, Mr. Donohue did seem to have a soft spot for Crawley and as a classic example the only goal of the game came after a Lincoln player was fouled but the referee waved play on and while the Imps player was still on the ground Filipe Morais crossed the ball into the Imps 18 yard box and was turned into his own net by Michael Bostwick in first half injury time.

     Things didn't get better in the second half for Lincoln when only nine minutes in frustration got the better of Lincoln's captain Lee Frecklington who went flying into a tackle with Crawley's Mark Connolly who was left flickering around on the floor like the hooked fish in the goal celebration in Chris Kamara's Ladbrokes advert.  The referee seemed to let play go but fighting broke out between opposing players and other officials must have been screaming in his ear-piece from the side lines about the challenge and so he stopped play and eventually sent Frecklington off.

     The sending off did liven up Lincoln a tad but now down to ten men and a goal behind it was always going to be an up hill task to get back in the game and Crawley had done a great job of containing the league leaders thus far had just got to stick to their guns and not do anything rash which they did and saw the game out 1-0 winners.

     Felt sorry for Lincoln somehow with a sell out crowd of eight thousand three hundred and they turn out a lack lustre performance such as today's, make's you wonder if they're strong enough to maintain their challenge at the top and to be honest I didn't see anything to suggest that today but then it might just be an off day.  That's the second they've lost at home now in a week they can't continue in this vein the change must come soon, VERY SOON!!!

MATCH DETAILS 

     

VENUE #113 ELGIN CITY Borough Briggs

BOROUGH BRIGGS STADIUM

     On one side of the ground is a small, covered Main Stand. This all seater stand runs for only about half the length of the pitch and straddles the half way line. There is terracing to one side of this stand. On the other side of the ground is a small covered terrace, which is divided between home and away supporters. This enclosure looks quite old and has a number of supporting pillars. Both ends have newish open terraces that are set back from the pitch. These were opened in the year 2000. An unusual aspect of the ground is the odd looking floodlights running down each side of the pitch, the bases of which, on the enclosure side go down through the roof and onto the terrace, further hindering the spectators view of the playing action. Borough Briggs is the most northerly professional club ground in the UK.

GROUND LAYOUT

 A   MAIN STAND

 B   COVERED TERRACE

 C   WEST TERRACE

 D   EAST TERRACE

     Elgin City should have played Cowdenbeath last Saturday at Borough Briggs but the referee postponed the game a hour before kick off due to an over dry pitch which was deemed to be hazardous in areas, the area hasn't seen any rain in the last nine weeks leading up to the game and leaves this fixture against Stirling in the balance.  Cowdenbeath fans and officials were furious after making a 340 mile round trip to the highlands for nothing a sentiment which I can thoroughly sympathise with having made a 950 mile round trip paid for in advance including flights and digs, I could really do with this game going ahead.  Inverness isn't a good place for me to visit having had to cancel a trip, also paid for in advance, to see ICT at the Caledonian Stadium last season but their progress in the Scottish Challenge cup meant that their league fixture against Falkirk had to be postponed.

     The Black & Whites have made a great start to the season winning 2 out of three of their fixtures and drawing the other leaving them in fourth place with a game in hand on the leaders, they could also do with this game taking place so as to keep up their momentum and mount a serious challenge for the league title or failing that a play off place at least.

     Stirling Albion in contrast to their opponents are lying one place above bottom although it is early doors yet.  Albion are looking for their first win or point of the season losing the first four games in succession which puts them above Albion Rovers on goal difference, Stirling have minus 8 while Rovers are on minus 11 and are still yet to score but saying that Stirling have only notched one so far this season.

     In the last ten matches between these two at Borough Briggs Elgin have a slight advantage winning five, losing four with one draw.  The last game against Stirling here was a convincing win for the Black & Whites, 3-0  with all the goals coming in the first half goals from Nathan Flanagan (7),  Brian Cameron (18) and Shane Sutherland (24). 

My Digs In Elgin 

     Staying in a lovely guest house in Elgin the Old Mills Garden which is very close to the Borough

Briggs ground and the town centre and run by a lovely lady from back home who moved up here twelve years ago to escape the drudge of Birmingham to live the peaceful, tranquil life that Elgin has to offer.

     I have a wonderful ground floor room that overlooks the beautiful garden and have all fasilities you could imagine even a kitchen next door and of course it's on suite with free wifi and life's a dream at this present moment.

     Cost is quite reasonable just £110 for a 2 night stay with a scrumptious full English breakfast provided each morning with a choice of what or how much you want on your plate, I, of course have the works with 2 slices of toast, the pig that I am.

     It is a bit out of the way is Elgin and has cost me a fair bit in taxi's but I have learned since I got here that there is a bus, number 11 that runs from the airport to the town centre that would have saved me a fare penny, the things you learn about too late hey, just goes to show you that you can't do too much research into things. 

view from my window of garden

ELGIN CITY ... 0   STIRLING ALBION ... 3

     The two week rest didn't do Elgin much good as they looked unmatch fit against a Stirling side determined to get out

of their current situation.  The first goal coming after just 15 minutes when Cameron Thomas's left foot shot found the net from the left hand side of the six yard box  after Danny Jardine's effort was blocked,

     Nine minutes down the line and it was 2-0 to Albion, Peter MacDonald's right footed shot adding to Elgin's woes from close

range.  Elgin looked shell shocked after the first goal but seemed  even more at disarray now they were a further goal adrift September;s come far too soon for the Black and whites.

     Things nearly got worse for City in the 29th minute as Dominic Docherty was judged to have been fouled in the penalty

area by Darryl McHardy of Elgin but Peter MacDonald failed to claim his brace from the spot placing a right footed shot to Kyle Gourlay's bottom right hand corner which the keeper saved.

     In the 34th minute though the referee got the Elgin City fans screaming "Where's your red shirt referee" after awarding

Stirling another penalty and quite wrongly,  Blair Fell lived up to his surname going down in the box after a challenge by Jon-Paul McGovern who clearly won the ball but referee David Munro pointed to the spot and this time there was no heroics from keeper Gourley who watched Jordan Allan's spot kick go past him to the right.

     3-0 at half time and Albion took their foot off the gas in the second half knowing that they'd met an Elgin team that wouldn't have scored if they carried on playing till next Saturday and were quite happy with a victory their first points of the season which has helped with their league position and hopefully jumped started their campaign.

     It's a lovely little ground Borough Briggs one of the best I've seen in the Scottish fourth tier with very modern portocabin type toilets on the East side of the Main stand but I'm not impressed with the seats in the main stand which are too close together giving no leg room at all.

MATCH DETAILS

VENUE #112 GILLINGHAM Mems Priestfield Stadium

MEMS PRIESTFIELD STADIUM

    Priestfield Stadium has been virtually re-built since the current Chairman Paul Scally took over in 1995. On one side of the ground is the impressive looking Medway Stand. Opened in 2000, it is two-tiered, with a large lower tier and a small upper tier. In-between these tiers are a row of executive boxes, which also have seating outside. Opposite is the Gordon Road Stand. Opened in 1997, this is a much smaller single tiered stand, which is partly covered (to the rear). It contains a number of supporting pillars running across the back of it, plus it also has an unusual looking TV gantry perched on its roof. The Rainham End was opened in 1999. It is a single tier cantilevered stand, which replaced a former terrace. Opposite is the Brian Moore Stand. This is, in fact, a temporary seated stand that has been situated on top of an existing terrace. When I say temporary (considering that it has been there since 2003) I mean that the stand can be easily dismantled and re-assembled. This is the only open area at the stadium. This stand is named in memory of the legendary commentator and lifelong Gills fan, Brian Moore.

LAYOUT

 A   MEDWAY STAND

 B   GORDON ROAD STAND

 C   THE RAINHAM END

 D   BRIAN MOORE STAND

     Gillingham are hoping to improve on there league position this season after only finishing in 17th place in the last campaign.  The Gills boss Steve Lovell has secured a number of loanees and signings to strengthen the squad for the coming season.
     The Gills season got off to a great start with a visit to newly promoted Accrington Stanley last Saturday, Gillingham ran out 2-0 winners with goals from Brandon Hanlan and Josh Parker spoiling Stanley's return to the third tier of English football after a 50 year absence.

     Burton return to league one after a two season spell in the Championship, Albion narrowly avoided the drop in the first season but succumbed to their fate last season after being predominantly at the bottom end of the table.  It's safe to say that the brewers were punching above their weight in that league and should find it a little more comfortable this season.
     Saying that they hosted Rochdale at the pirelli last Saturday and ended up losing 2-1.  The Dale took a 2-0 lead after only 22 minutes of the first half, a brace from Bradden Inman (10,22) with Liam Boyce getting a consolation goal in the 71st minute.
     Being virtual new-comers to the football league Burton have not played many games at the Priestfield stadium in fact there have been only five occasions that this fixture has taken place, Gillingham winning four and Burton just the one which was the last encounter on the 12th of December 2015 the Brewers with a 3-0 victory goals from Damien McCrory, Lucas Akins and Anthony O'Connor, all were scored in the second half with the last two in the 90th plus minute.     

GILLINGHAM ... 3   BURTON ALBION ... 1

     Substitute Tom Eaves came off the bench after 33 minutes to replace injured Dean Parrett.  The 26 year old Gillingham striker was only on the pitch for 2 minutes before scoring the equalising goal for the Gills timing his run to perfection before slotting the ball past Burton keeper Stephen Bywater.

     Earlier Liam Boyce had given the visitors the lead when Kyle McFadzean's header was poorly dealt with by the Gillingham defence and Boyce picked up pieces to net for the second time this season.  Gills should have took a lead into the second half but Brandon Hanlan's shot after getting clear of the Burton defence rattled off the bar and over.

     Six minutes into the half and Gillingham did have their deserved lead when defender Luke O'Neill's free kick left Bywater with no chance from 25 yards. Burton tried hard to come back into the game especially when Scott Fraser was denied by Gills keeper Tom Holy.

     But the points were bagged when super-sub Eaves completed a brace when he pounced on a loose ball in the Burton penalty area and finished with aplomb putting his side in 4th place behind Barnsley, Doncaster and Peterborough all on the same points winning the first two games of the season.

     Priestfield stadium is a lovely little ground one of the better ones I've come across in it's size category everything just seems to gel and is very pleasing to the eye.  Fans are very pleasant and friendly and stewards are helpful.  The row markings are missing from some seats and steps so can be very confusing but apart from that it's good.

     Fans in the Rainham End could think of a better chant when winning the game than "we are the right side" and "we are the middle", the football wasn't that bad it was quite entertaining in places.

                                MATCH DETAILS  

     

VENUE #111 HAMILTON ACADEMICAL The HopeCBD Stadium

Hamilton Crushed At Home On Opening Day Of The Season              
               NEW DOUGLAS STADIUM

                      (THE HOPECBD STADIUM)        

     

NEW DOUGLAS PARK (HopeCBD Stadium)

     The HopeCBD Stadium was opened in 2001 and is not far from the site of their former Douglas Park ground from which they left in 1994 (the club ground shared in the intervening years). Alas, nothing remains of the old ground to be seen, in fact, the site is now occupied by a Sainsburys supermarket.

The ground is largely comprised of two fair sized stands at one side and at one end of the ground. Both are covered and all seated. They are unusual, in terms of modern stands, in that they are both raised above pitch level, which means that spectators have to climb a set of stairs, to reach the seated area. These have been supplemented by a small covered temporary stand on the East side of the ground. This area has a capacity of 700 seats. There are also four striking floodlight pylons in each corner of the ground. During 2013 the Club installed a 3G artificial playing surface.                                                                                Away fans are normally housed in the North (Spice Of Life) Stand where the view of the action is good. In addition the temporary East Stand can also be made available. The views from this area are not great as there is a row of supporting pillars running across the front of it. There is plenty of legroom in the North Stand, but wrap up well in winter as being as the ground is largely open, the wind blows right through it.                                                                  The ground was known as New Douglas Park, but in 2018 was renamed the HopeCBD Stadium in a corporate sponsorship deal.

GROUND LAYOUT

 A   MAIN STAND

 B   NORTH STAND  (AWAY)

 C   TEMPORARY STAND

    This is like a re-visit for me for I came up here on the 27th of December to see the Accies play Kilmarnock but with all the cold weather we were having at the time the game was called off a hour before kick off through a frozen pitch.  It was a bit of a bummer in more ways than one as it took us 8 hours to get to Hamilton because of the weather and the large amount of people who were travelling to and from Scotland over the Christmas holidays and, of course, Cross Country trains were in the midst of industrial action and cancelling trains right left and centre. 

    HEARTS Have a good record here at HopeCBD out of their last ten visits they have won 5, losing 3 and drawing 2.  Last season they won both league games here 0-3 and 1-2 finishing 4 places above Accies in sixth place 16 points clear of Hamilton in tenth.

    Manager Craig Levein has strengthened his team during closed season adding

2 new goalkeepers, Zdenek Zlamal joins the Jam Tarts from Czech side Fastav Zlin and Republic of Ireland keeper Colin Doyle who was released by Bradford City at the end of last season. Levein has also loaned back Steven Naismith for the 2018/19 season from Norwich City the Hearts head coach says he's thrilled to have the 31 year old attacking midfielder back at Tynecastle.  

HAMILTON ACADEMICAL ... 1   HEARTS ... 4

     A nice warm, sunny afternoon just the thing to bring out some decent football and the game started to that effect with Hamilton looking the most likely and indeed they took a justifiable lead after 17 minutes, Aaron Hughes hesitated in front of his own goal and allowed Mikel Miller to stab home the ball from ten yards.

     But that was as good as it got for the Accies for three minutes later Hearts were level, Christophe Berra head a header turned onto the crossbar by Accies keeper Gary Woods only for the corresponding corner taken by Steven Naismith causing havoc in the Hamilton six yard area and resulting with a looping header from Peter Haring to find the back of the net.

     The team from Edinburgh had responded well to going a goal down and should have taken the lead before the break Callum Morrison and Naismith both coming close but the home side managed to stay with Hearts until half time.

     In the second period though Hamilton's frailties showed in the light of some wonderful attacking play from Hearts and you could see the home side starting to collapse under some intense pressure.  It took only four minutes for the visitors to take the lead and turn things around, Naismith was making headway through the Hamilton defence in the eighteen yard area only for Alex Penny to bring him down from behind with a clumsy challenge.  The Norwich loanee took the spot kick himself leaving Woods no chance after he'd guessed the right way but the ball was struck superbly into the left hand corner of the net.

     Haring added another for his brace in the 58th minute with a beautifully taken side footed shot that left Woods with no chance.  The Hearts fans who filled the North stand and the temporary stand were in raptures while the home support were starting to find the exits.

     Things got worse for Hamilton when in the 62nd minute Steven MacLean hammered the final nail into the Accies coffin with a wonderful curling shot from the left which found the far side roof of the Hamilton net and extending Hearts marvellous record at Hamilton in fine fashion. 

     Accies have to come back quick from this defeat for last season Ross County found themselves bottom of the league from the start and couldn't manage to stop their relegation from the top flight for at the end the season will claim it's victim and from what I've saw today my money's on the team in red and white hoops.       

   

                               MATCH DETAILS