As I had a few minutes to spare, I thought I'd type up and post some quotes from Stuart Fleetwood the Hereford striker who scored a brace on Saturday.
"We had a game plan. It wasn't pretty and sometimes we hooked a lot of balls forward, but we defended fantastically today. We knew what they were about and so stuck to our game plan and caught them on the break twice. Luckily I was in the right position.
It's probably more difficult when you go out with a game plan because you have to be more disciplined. We got a bit lucky with the one that hit the crossbar and Brats (keeper Adam Bartlett) made a few saves. We needed a bit of luck, but we were fantastically disciplined today and that was the important thing.
Once we got the early goal we just defended for our lives. There were some big tackles going in and I'm not sure where the five added minutes came from, but it felt like half an hour at the end. We weathered the storm and then caught them on the break.
We must be up there with some of the top contenders in the league on away form. We just need to sort out our home form and turn some draws into a few wins and then we can climb further up the table. It makes us think that if we'd started off like this, where would we be?
I set myself a target before the season started of fifteen (goals). When I didn't score for the first twelve or thirteen games I thought I'd struggle to get to five. I was getting a bit nervous and I played on the wing for a few games, but then once I scored the confidence came back. It's confidence with strikers and the goals have come and I got two today off either shin pad so I'll take that.
It doesn't matter what other teams do. We'll look out for the results as everyone does, but as long as we put in good performances - and I think we've only lost one game in eleven - as long as we keep picking up points here and there.
Our away form is fantastic at the moment. As long as we keep going we'll keep looking upwards.
We're playing for Jamie as much as ourselves and the fans. With such a bad start we have to look at our reputation as footballers. We all love the club and want to put in our all and show we want to be in the team.
I get passionate and want to win. If you can show some controlled aggression that's great. Sometimes I do let it spill over a little bit - that's probably why I've got about seven yellow cards."
I've set up this blog (Monday-Friday) to give extra coverage to teams I cover for the national press. Any views and opinions are all my own. Best wishes, Jeff. Follow me on Twitter and I'll update you each time I blog. http://twitter.com/JeffTaplin P.S. During the summer break I reserve the right to ramble on about anything and everything!
Showing posts with label Stuart Fleetwood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stuart Fleetwood. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Monday, 28 February 2011
Oxford United 0 Hereford United 2 - Moo!
I’ve been to a few games this season and come away wondering how on earth one or other side managed to win – this was another example.
But credit to Hereford, they game with a game plan and executed it perfectly to secure three more points and edge themselves closer to League Two safety.
Oxford fans appeared frustrated at the end of the game - and there was certainly a lot of message board chat beforehand about how big the score would be – but sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and give the opposition credit where it is due.
Bull’s keeper Adam Bartlett was gushing in praise of the whole experience after the match describing the hosts as the “best side we have played all season”. Bartlett also praised the set up at the Kassam and also the fans.
“There was a bit of banter going on,” he said. “Especially when I was playing for time towards the end and I knew it was only a matter of time before the referee listened to them and booked me, but they have a good vocal support here.”
That’s one of the oddities of football isn’t it? If the opposition keeper is taking his time over goal kicks to run down the clock he’s a cheating so-an-so. If ‘your’ keeper rushes to take a goal kick when you’re one-nil up with minutes to play, he’s a complete pillock.
Goal scorer Stuart Fleetwood admitted they had come to “do a job and needed to be disciplined” and Oxford boss Chris Wilder was left bemused after watching a “decent performance” from his team.
Wilder also said:
“I’m not going to compromise the way we play and get in two bean pole strikers and throw it forward to them. Sometimes you have to play the long balls, but in general that’s not the way I want us to play.
I can't batter my team in the dressing room. It was a decent performance. From tee to green we've done really well, but as always it's about the two main parts of the pitch - in both boxes. We switched off and they scored, and we didn't take our chances."
Bull’s manager Jamie Pitman was honest enough to admit that “we rode our luck at times”, but they came to do a job against a side that – on paper – were possibly better.
And do a job they did.
This was a classic away performance. Fleetwood and Bartlett both described it as smash and grab, although I think they were being a little modest as they and their team mates were very well organised throughout.
Fleetwood, 24, now has 15 goals to his name this season and admitted:
“I got one goal off each shin pad. I didn’t know too much about the second one as it came through the defender’s legs at speed, but that’s what happens when your confidence is high.
That was my target at the start of the season, but I hadn’t scored after the first twelve or thirteen games and I must admit I didn’t think I’d get to five.
I was even played out on the wing for a few games, but once I got that first goal the confidence returned.”
I also had a chat to Stuart about his temperament as I’ve noticed that – in every game – he becomes a little over-exuberant top put it mildly. But having spoken to him on Saturday I found that he’s one of those typical manic players on e the pitch and mild mannered and very pleasant off it. He does recognise that it’s an area of his game that needs work and admitted:
“I do wear my heart on my sleeve and know I need to channel my emotions in the right way. I guess that’s why I’m on seven bookings, but just like the fans, I love the club and just want to see us do well.”
I suspect that Hereford fans will forgive him his excesses if he keeps on scoring important goals like the brace against Oxford.
One lad who was lucky to get away with a little over-enthusiasm of his own was Joe Colbeck. The winger set up Fleetwood’s 8th minute opener and worked his socks off defensively, but one touch line challenge on Tom Craddock could have ended the Oxford player’s career. It wasn’t so much a two-footed lunge as an assassination attempt. Fortunately Craddock had time to see it coming and managed to avoid any serious injury.
But that incident was the only real unsavoury moment of the game.
Oxford meanwhile must dust themselves down and focus on the next game. This wasn’t a performance that signalled the end of their season and the table is so tight that promotion is still on.
Whether they can make the automatic places is up for debate, but a play-off spot is well within the grasp of this bunch.
Despite Wilder’s public protestations, I suspect that at half time he had a few harsh words to say to some of his players as they were a little too sloppy at times. They didn’t appear to have the cutting edge up front on Saturday either. A bad day at the office for the strikers? Maybe. Oxford fans will know better than me as to whether there are more deep-rooted problems, but from what I have seen of them this season, they do look as if they are more than capable of finding the net in this division.
From a neutral’s point of view, this was more of an intriguing game than an exciting one. Hereford look like a side that will survive in League Two to fight again next season and Oxford fans look like they might be singing in the beer garden of the Green Man in Wembley again in May*.
As promised this morning, my clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun ... not really woorth waiting for was it?* I've just been reminded that the play-off final is at Old Trafford this May, but you get my drift. Oh, and the beer's cheaper up there!
But credit to Hereford, they game with a game plan and executed it perfectly to secure three more points and edge themselves closer to League Two safety.
Oxford fans appeared frustrated at the end of the game - and there was certainly a lot of message board chat beforehand about how big the score would be – but sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and give the opposition credit where it is due.
Bull’s keeper Adam Bartlett was gushing in praise of the whole experience after the match describing the hosts as the “best side we have played all season”. Bartlett also praised the set up at the Kassam and also the fans.
“There was a bit of banter going on,” he said. “Especially when I was playing for time towards the end and I knew it was only a matter of time before the referee listened to them and booked me, but they have a good vocal support here.”
That’s one of the oddities of football isn’t it? If the opposition keeper is taking his time over goal kicks to run down the clock he’s a cheating so-an-so. If ‘your’ keeper rushes to take a goal kick when you’re one-nil up with minutes to play, he’s a complete pillock.
Goal scorer Stuart Fleetwood admitted they had come to “do a job and needed to be disciplined” and Oxford boss Chris Wilder was left bemused after watching a “decent performance” from his team.
Wilder also said:
“I’m not going to compromise the way we play and get in two bean pole strikers and throw it forward to them. Sometimes you have to play the long balls, but in general that’s not the way I want us to play.
I can't batter my team in the dressing room. It was a decent performance. From tee to green we've done really well, but as always it's about the two main parts of the pitch - in both boxes. We switched off and they scored, and we didn't take our chances."
Bull’s manager Jamie Pitman was honest enough to admit that “we rode our luck at times”, but they came to do a job against a side that – on paper – were possibly better.
And do a job they did.
This was a classic away performance. Fleetwood and Bartlett both described it as smash and grab, although I think they were being a little modest as they and their team mates were very well organised throughout.
Fleetwood, 24, now has 15 goals to his name this season and admitted:
“I got one goal off each shin pad. I didn’t know too much about the second one as it came through the defender’s legs at speed, but that’s what happens when your confidence is high.
That was my target at the start of the season, but I hadn’t scored after the first twelve or thirteen games and I must admit I didn’t think I’d get to five.
I was even played out on the wing for a few games, but once I got that first goal the confidence returned.”
I also had a chat to Stuart about his temperament as I’ve noticed that – in every game – he becomes a little over-exuberant top put it mildly. But having spoken to him on Saturday I found that he’s one of those typical manic players on e the pitch and mild mannered and very pleasant off it. He does recognise that it’s an area of his game that needs work and admitted:
“I do wear my heart on my sleeve and know I need to channel my emotions in the right way. I guess that’s why I’m on seven bookings, but just like the fans, I love the club and just want to see us do well.”
I suspect that Hereford fans will forgive him his excesses if he keeps on scoring important goals like the brace against Oxford.
One lad who was lucky to get away with a little over-enthusiasm of his own was Joe Colbeck. The winger set up Fleetwood’s 8th minute opener and worked his socks off defensively, but one touch line challenge on Tom Craddock could have ended the Oxford player’s career. It wasn’t so much a two-footed lunge as an assassination attempt. Fortunately Craddock had time to see it coming and managed to avoid any serious injury.
But that incident was the only real unsavoury moment of the game.
Oxford meanwhile must dust themselves down and focus on the next game. This wasn’t a performance that signalled the end of their season and the table is so tight that promotion is still on.
Whether they can make the automatic places is up for debate, but a play-off spot is well within the grasp of this bunch.
Despite Wilder’s public protestations, I suspect that at half time he had a few harsh words to say to some of his players as they were a little too sloppy at times. They didn’t appear to have the cutting edge up front on Saturday either. A bad day at the office for the strikers? Maybe. Oxford fans will know better than me as to whether there are more deep-rooted problems, but from what I have seen of them this season, they do look as if they are more than capable of finding the net in this division.
From a neutral’s point of view, this was more of an intriguing game than an exciting one. Hereford look like a side that will survive in League Two to fight again next season and Oxford fans look like they might be singing in the beer garden of the Green Man in Wembley again in May*.
As promised this morning, my clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun ... not really woorth waiting for was it?
Monday, 29 November 2010
Hereford United 2 Lincoln City 2 - Homework
Apologies for the late posting today, but the feeling has just returned to my fingers following frostbite suffered during Saturday’s game.
Enough of my moaning though.
Lincoln looked as though they were going to ease their way into the 3rd round hat after a first half performance that saw them leave for the cozy, warm dressing room having scored two goals and saved a penalty.
A superb dinked ball over the Hereford defence in the 19th minute from skipper Scott Kerr found Ashley Grimes - who had left the Bulls defenders flat-footed - and the striker lobbed the ball over stranded Adam Bartlett and into the net.
Grimes is on loan from Millwall and this was his second goal in two games for the Imps. Boss Steve Tilson said later:
“If that goal had been scored in the Premier League people would Have been drooling over it.” Well the away fans and the neutrals like myself were impressed Steve, believe me. A great finish.
Hereford struck back within four minutes though, desperate for a big money 3rd round draw. If they had known then that the prize was to be Wycombe at Adams Park they might not have bothered!
In a case of “anything you can do …” winger Rob Purdie – on loan from Oldham - ran on to a poor pass from Gavin Hoyte and, as keeper Joe Anyon was left stranded, placed the ball into the back of the net for his fourth goal in six games.
Just as Lincoln contributed their own downfall for the equaliser, Hereford managed to shoot themselves in the foot and let the away side restore their lead in the 27th minute.
Skipper Michael Townsend was shepherding the ball back towards Bartlett with Grimes at his back hassling him, but by the time Townsend released the ball for his keeper, Bartlett seemed to be caught in two minds and planted a scuffed clearance right at the feet of Mustapha Carayol. The Gambia-born winger was impressive all afternoon and deserved his goal, although was probably surprised at how easy the home side made it for him.
In the 43rd minute it looked as though the Bulls were once again back in the game. Midfielder Kenny Lunt sent a shot into the crowded box and it hot central defender Adam Watts on the arm.
Stuart Fleetwood stepped up to take the spot kick unaware that Anyon had done his homework studied the striker’s technique. The former Blackburn keeper threw himself to his right and didn’t just stop the ball, but claimed it mid air. It was at a nice height for him, but there was no photo-opportunity palming away from Anyon. The ball stuck in his hands and, as he said to me later, “Hey, if it’s there to be caught, you catch it.”
In the second half Hereford looked the better side, but it wasn’t until the 86th minute that they managed to force a replay.
Once again Watts gave away a penalty after tripping Fleetwood in the box and Frenchman Mathieu Manset - who had surprisingly started on the bench – blasted the ball in for his 7th goal in nine games. Frankly it didn’t matter whether Anyon had studied Manset, nothing was going to stop this fiercely hit spot kick.
Watts was honest enough to hold his hands up (again) after the game and said: “They were both down to me and I take full responsibility. I didn’t know too much about the first one, but it hit my arm and I dived in too early for the second one. There’s no point in looking back though and at least we’re still in the Cup.
The replay takes place on Tuesday 7th December at Sincil Bank and I think it’s too close to call. If Pitman starts with Manset it could make all the difference as the Lincoln defence looked scared witless of him on Saturday.
Then again, he started against Lincoln two weekends ago in the League and the Imps had no problems with him that day and won 3-1.
It should be an interesting encounter, but with a game against Wycombe on offer, I wonder if both teams will be as motivated as they might have been given their respective league positions.
My clippings from this morning's copy of The Sun
The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football
Jamie Pitman sauntered out to the dugouts eventually to give his press briefing and said - with a grin - that as he’d been kept waiting by the media after the Shrewsbury game, it was now our turn. If a very important part of my anatomy had not just succumbed to frost bite it would have been funny Jamie. Then again, I hardly ever use it these days.Enough of my moaning though.
Lincoln looked as though they were going to ease their way into the 3rd round hat after a first half performance that saw them leave for the cozy, warm dressing room having scored two goals and saved a penalty.
A superb dinked ball over the Hereford defence in the 19th minute from skipper Scott Kerr found Ashley Grimes - who had left the Bulls defenders flat-footed - and the striker lobbed the ball over stranded Adam Bartlett and into the net.
Grimes is on loan from Millwall and this was his second goal in two games for the Imps. Boss Steve Tilson said later:
“If that goal had been scored in the Premier League people would Have been drooling over it.” Well the away fans and the neutrals like myself were impressed Steve, believe me. A great finish.
Hereford struck back within four minutes though, desperate for a big money 3rd round draw. If they had known then that the prize was to be Wycombe at Adams Park they might not have bothered!
In a case of “anything you can do …” winger Rob Purdie – on loan from Oldham - ran on to a poor pass from Gavin Hoyte and, as keeper Joe Anyon was left stranded, placed the ball into the back of the net for his fourth goal in six games.
Just as Lincoln contributed their own downfall for the equaliser, Hereford managed to shoot themselves in the foot and let the away side restore their lead in the 27th minute.
Skipper Michael Townsend was shepherding the ball back towards Bartlett with Grimes at his back hassling him, but by the time Townsend released the ball for his keeper, Bartlett seemed to be caught in two minds and planted a scuffed clearance right at the feet of Mustapha Carayol. The Gambia-born winger was impressive all afternoon and deserved his goal, although was probably surprised at how easy the home side made it for him.
In the 43rd minute it looked as though the Bulls were once again back in the game. Midfielder Kenny Lunt sent a shot into the crowded box and it hot central defender Adam Watts on the arm.
Stuart Fleetwood stepped up to take the spot kick unaware that Anyon had done his homework studied the striker’s technique. The former Blackburn keeper threw himself to his right and didn’t just stop the ball, but claimed it mid air. It was at a nice height for him, but there was no photo-opportunity palming away from Anyon. The ball stuck in his hands and, as he said to me later, “Hey, if it’s there to be caught, you catch it.”
In the second half Hereford looked the better side, but it wasn’t until the 86th minute that they managed to force a replay.
Once again Watts gave away a penalty after tripping Fleetwood in the box and Frenchman Mathieu Manset - who had surprisingly started on the bench – blasted the ball in for his 7th goal in nine games. Frankly it didn’t matter whether Anyon had studied Manset, nothing was going to stop this fiercely hit spot kick.
Watts was honest enough to hold his hands up (again) after the game and said: “They were both down to me and I take full responsibility. I didn’t know too much about the first one, but it hit my arm and I dived in too early for the second one. There’s no point in looking back though and at least we’re still in the Cup.
The replay takes place on Tuesday 7th December at Sincil Bank and I think it’s too close to call. If Pitman starts with Manset it could make all the difference as the Lincoln defence looked scared witless of him on Saturday.
Then again, he started against Lincoln two weekends ago in the League and the Imps had no problems with him that day and won 3-1.
It should be an interesting encounter, but with a game against Wycombe on offer, I wonder if both teams will be as motivated as they might have been given their respective league positions.
Monday, 8 November 2010
Hereford United 5 Hythe Town 1 - R.E.S.P.E.C.T
As a professional footballer you need no greater motivation than to read that the opposition manager thinks you’re “nothing special”.
Hythe Town were the smallest team left in the FA Cup on Saturday and were duly dumped out of it in emphatic style by the Bulls and it could have been a lot worse if it hadn’t been for some sloppy finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Kieron Mann.
Hereford manager Jamie Pitman told me after the game:
“I didn’t need to say anything to the players before the game as they had done my job for me by showing a total lack of respect.”
Any chance of an upset died in the 8th minute when midfielder Richard Rose burst through the Hythe defence and planted a shot in the bottom left corner.
In the 21st minute Rob Purdie buried a shot from the edge of the box in the same place.
Hythe pulled one back in the 26th minute when Council Planning Officer Gary Mickelborough ran into the box and rifled another into the bottom left corner, but that proved to be the Kent side’s only high point.
Gallic flare then took over in the form of a Mathieu Manset brace before half time.
French striker Manset, 21, scored with an acrobatic overhead kick in the 39th minute before bundling home a header five minutes later.
Afterwards Manset said:
“As a child I dreamed of playing in English football and in the FA Cup, but last season I was sent off when we beat Sutton and so I was very unhappy. Today was better.
My hero back home in France was Jean-Pierre Papin who was known for his overhead goals and so I used to practice them and still do in training. To score one just like him was a great feeling.”
In the second half I fully expected Hereford to reach double figures such was their dominance, but they struggled to find a way past the vertically challenged, pink-shirted Mann who made several excellent stops – three in particular from winger Stuart Fleetwood.
But Fleetwood had the last laugh.
In the 93rd minute Fleetwood’s shot hit the post and rolled along and over the line and while substitute Sean Canham appeared to make sure by belting the ball into the back of the net, the winger wheeled away in delight at finally overcoming the amateur stopper.
Hythe Town were the smallest team left in the FA Cup on Saturday and were duly dumped out of it in emphatic style by the Bulls and it could have been a lot worse if it hadn’t been for some sloppy finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Kieron Mann.
My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun
The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football
“I didn’t need to say anything to the players before the game as they had done my job for me by showing a total lack of respect.”
Any chance of an upset died in the 8th minute when midfielder Richard Rose burst through the Hythe defence and planted a shot in the bottom left corner.
In the 21st minute Rob Purdie buried a shot from the edge of the box in the same place.
Hythe pulled one back in the 26th minute when Council Planning Officer Gary Mickelborough ran into the box and rifled another into the bottom left corner, but that proved to be the Kent side’s only high point.
Gallic flare then took over in the form of a Mathieu Manset brace before half time.
French striker Manset, 21, scored with an acrobatic overhead kick in the 39th minute before bundling home a header five minutes later.
Afterwards Manset said:
“As a child I dreamed of playing in English football and in the FA Cup, but last season I was sent off when we beat Sutton and so I was very unhappy. Today was better.
My hero back home in France was Jean-Pierre Papin who was known for his overhead goals and so I used to practice them and still do in training. To score one just like him was a great feeling.”
In the second half I fully expected Hereford to reach double figures such was their dominance, but they struggled to find a way past the vertically challenged, pink-shirted Mann who made several excellent stops – three in particular from winger Stuart Fleetwood.
But Fleetwood had the last laugh.
In the 93rd minute Fleetwood’s shot hit the post and rolled along and over the line and while substitute Sean Canham appeared to make sure by belting the ball into the back of the net, the winger wheeled away in delight at finally overcoming the amateur stopper.
More quotes from this game tomorrow.
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