The 72 football teams in next season's four divisions now all know what league they will be playing in after the play-offs have now been completed. Yesterday saw Huddersfield take on Sheffield United in the battle for Championship football.
The game was very edgy throughout with the likes of Jordan Rhodes and Ryan Flynn put their mark onto it. With Sepp Blatter looking for a way to declare a winner without penalties, it was perhaps fitting to see one of the play-offs go all the way to the dreaded lottery.
In all fairness, it may be a penalty shoot-out to be forgotten as only two of the first eight penalties were scored. Neill Collins scored for United at the second time of asking before Peter Clarke equalised for Huddersfield in round four. Andy Taylor then hit the post which took the game into sudden death. The attempts gradually got better and we got down to the keepers. Alex Smithies blasted his penalty past Steve Simonsen before the former Everton stopper fired his effort high over the bar. Huddersfield win 8-7 on penalties and the Galpharm Stadium will witness Championship football next season.
Crewe met Cheltenham in the League Two play-off and had arguable more action than Saturday's match. The deadlock was broken after 14 minutes when highly rated 18 year-old, Nick Powell, scored a wonderful goal on the turn. Cheltenham looked to respond straight after and hit the crossbar just two minutes after going behind. They also led a late charge in first half injury time in which the ball was cleared off the line twice.
The second half saw both keepers produce good saves to keep the score at 1-0. But the games was all but over eight minutes from time when another Crewe graduate, Byron Moore, curled the ball into the bottom corner following a great team move. Alexandra will be playing their football in League One next season.
Showing posts with label Playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Playoffs. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Saturday, 19 May 2012
RVT Promotes WHU
At first he was unnoticed at Bolton, then he became a hit at Barnsley which earned him his January transfer to West Ham, now Ricardo Vaz Te has scored the winning goal that sees the Hammers promoted back into the Barclay's Premier League. His goal came three minutes from time when the game looked destined to be heading into extra time.
The game started better for Blackpool and Matt Phillips could have had a hat-trick within the first 15 minutes. His first effort was saved onto the pot by Rob Green, his second was straight at the keeper when put through one-on-one and his third effort was curled outside the post.
But West Ham grew into the game and it soon became a question of when they would score, not if, as the started firing shots at Matt Gilks. The deadlock was finally broken ten minutes before half-time when a ball was played over the defence and into the running Carlton Cole's path. The striker then blasted his shot past the Blackpool keeper.
But the Seasiders came out all guns blazing in the second half and caught West Ham cold. In a carbon copy of the opener, a ball was lofted over the defence and into Tom Ince's path. He poked the ball around Green to equalise within three minutes of re-emerging from the tunnel.
Both teams had chances to win the game during the second half but it was looking like it would ultimately be settle by extra time or even penalties. But sloppy defending caused a scramble in which the ball would eventually fall to Vaz Te who was more than happy to smash the ball into the roof of the net to send West Ham back into the Premier League.
The game started better for Blackpool and Matt Phillips could have had a hat-trick within the first 15 minutes. His first effort was saved onto the pot by Rob Green, his second was straight at the keeper when put through one-on-one and his third effort was curled outside the post.
But West Ham grew into the game and it soon became a question of when they would score, not if, as the started firing shots at Matt Gilks. The deadlock was finally broken ten minutes before half-time when a ball was played over the defence and into the running Carlton Cole's path. The striker then blasted his shot past the Blackpool keeper.
But the Seasiders came out all guns blazing in the second half and caught West Ham cold. In a carbon copy of the opener, a ball was lofted over the defence and into Tom Ince's path. He poked the ball around Green to equalise within three minutes of re-emerging from the tunnel.
Both teams had chances to win the game during the second half but it was looking like it would ultimately be settle by extra time or even penalties. But sloppy defending caused a scramble in which the ball would eventually fall to Vaz Te who was more than happy to smash the ball into the roof of the net to send West Ham back into the Premier League.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)