Goosed! That’s a word I’ve haven’t used before....but probably an apt word to describe how Darlington’s is well and truly...cooked :)
Despite taking the lead in the first half, The Quakers couldn’t hold on to it until the final whistle after two second-half goals in the space of 12 minutes sealed their fate.
But this result seems to have been one expected prior to the season’s start, with a good number getting the right score. And, more to the point, some of the leading managers have got on the scoresheet with this. Andrew Hodgson returns to top spot with his max score, leading by just one point from Carl Hankin in second who is on 71. Adrian Pape just slightly off the pace in third on 65. And just one of the many guises of Lance has “broken” into fourth place on 64.
James Longstreet’s eight-pointer sees him join Stephen Nicholson on 63 in joint fifth place. Mike Wells is giving a good account of himself on 59 in joint 10th. A couple of past masters (winners of the COD Prediction League) are beginning to put a run together and are now in the top quarter of the table – Martyn Cripps on 55 and Toby Corum on 48. Simon Cowing is really hitting the big time with his second consecutive max score and now has 53 points.
After the last league update, Margaret White has pulled her socks up with a very welcome eight points and moves out of the relegation zone – not too far, mind! Margaret now has 20 points. Stephen Curtis is another manager welcoming the move away from the basement, sitting on 23 points.
Remaining top scorers are: Chris Mackenzie, Dan Colton, David Munns, Garry Mann, Humphrey Bogart, Ian Butler, Jeff Maughan, Lance Wales, Mark Hathaway, Stephen James, Trevor Gretton and Will Ellis.
John Berry now “commands” bottom spot with his 12 points, but black-belt grand master Alan Mooney is poised to sail past him into Spoon Spot – only one point ahead on 13. But we mustn’t forget Richard Collin and Dave Brown who are very close by . . . but do they have the experience to grasp the spoon? Malcolm Cundick is taking the “No ‘I’ In Team” saying very literally . . . having two of his three sides near the bottom.
Pete
Thursday 28 January 2010
Sunday 24 January 2010
Prediction League Match 23
What was that? Did you hear it? The sound of another forlorn hope coming crashing down around us!
They pick you up - they knock you down again, as Darlington’s one-game unbeaten run effectively came to an end in the first half of a 3-0 away defeat to Crewe. So much hope dashed after that good away win at Rotherham (Sheffield, really)
And now we’re at the half-way stage of the season, our destiny seems to be even more firmly in the direction of the Blue Square Premier...and whatever future that holds for the club. And the destiny for the Come On Darlo Prediction League? Well, quite honestly pick any manager from the top 178, as only 52 points separates first from last!
Darlo’s 3-0 defeat did bring the usual smattering of maximum scores but, in addition, took the predictions for a home win to over 100...so plenty of points kicking around. But who has benefited most?
Stephen Nicholson has put himself right in the mix in fourth place on 63 points, only five behind the leader Carl Hankin whilst Adrian Pape is second on 65 and Andrew Hodgson third on 64. Jonny Simpson and Dave Taylor are making real moves to challenge and are now 57, with Tony Taylor keeping it in the family just behind on 55. Mike Wells and Barbara Woodshed only a few points back on 51.
Simon Cowing has got that X-Factor (sorry Simon, you’ve heard it before I know) and shot up the table to 42nd place with 45 points, with Mick Spencer and Scott Morland breaking into the top half with their 39 points. James Houghton on 34 and Steve Mann on 33 have hauled themselves away from the relegation zone and the wooden spoon (for now).
And just as it’s tight at the top, so it is in the basement where John Berry and Margaret White now share the “honour” of Spoon Spot, though there is a dark cloud on the horizon for their ambitions . . . namely Alan Mooney only point above them. Alan is a past master at Wooden Spooning in other prediction leagues (I’ve lost count, honestly) and so shouldn’t be taken lightly in this competition . . . more rainforests lost because of him :)
Pete
They pick you up - they knock you down again, as Darlington’s one-game unbeaten run effectively came to an end in the first half of a 3-0 away defeat to Crewe. So much hope dashed after that good away win at Rotherham (Sheffield, really)
And now we’re at the half-way stage of the season, our destiny seems to be even more firmly in the direction of the Blue Square Premier...and whatever future that holds for the club. And the destiny for the Come On Darlo Prediction League? Well, quite honestly pick any manager from the top 178, as only 52 points separates first from last!
Darlo’s 3-0 defeat did bring the usual smattering of maximum scores but, in addition, took the predictions for a home win to over 100...so plenty of points kicking around. But who has benefited most?
Stephen Nicholson has put himself right in the mix in fourth place on 63 points, only five behind the leader Carl Hankin whilst Adrian Pape is second on 65 and Andrew Hodgson third on 64. Jonny Simpson and Dave Taylor are making real moves to challenge and are now 57, with Tony Taylor keeping it in the family just behind on 55. Mike Wells and Barbara Woodshed only a few points back on 51.
Simon Cowing has got that X-Factor (sorry Simon, you’ve heard it before I know) and shot up the table to 42nd place with 45 points, with Mick Spencer and Scott Morland breaking into the top half with their 39 points. James Houghton on 34 and Steve Mann on 33 have hauled themselves away from the relegation zone and the wooden spoon (for now).
And just as it’s tight at the top, so it is in the basement where John Berry and Margaret White now share the “honour” of Spoon Spot, though there is a dark cloud on the horizon for their ambitions . . . namely Alan Mooney only point above them. Alan is a past master at Wooden Spooning in other prediction leagues (I’ve lost count, honestly) and so shouldn’t be taken lightly in this competition . . . more rainforests lost because of him :)
Pete
Thursday 21 January 2010
Prediction League Match 22
Hello! Anyone out there? Well, assuming there are one or two managers still kicking about, can I just say: Weyhey!
Perhaps we should have another six postponed games to keep this unbeaten run going. A rare win for Darlo, 2-1 away at high-flying Rotherham, has given the fans, team and club a much-needed boost after so many recent problems. Can they take this forward to the next few games?
Remember all those weeks ago how I lamented the lack of points for managers even when Darlo did play? Well, not many predicted the correct scoreline and even fewer an actual away win. But games are going to come thick and fast from now till the end of the season – unless there are more postponements.
At the top of the table, Robert Mitchum benefited most from his eight points by moving into second place on 62 where he joins Adrian Pape – both just behind long-time leader Carl Hankin on 65 points. Malcolm Brett’s max score sees him handily placed in fifth with 56 points, with another max scorer in Ryan Longmate only one point further back on 55.
Princess Beth Taylor now has 40 points with her eight-pointer, just ahead of Kev Leatherbarrow and Dan Colton on 39 with their correct predictions. Lisa Fletcher and Andy Pickersgill are in the top half of the league on 37, with the remaining max scorers Jean Pepper on 35 and Karen Cardwell on 25 – which drags Karen away from that dreaded relegation zone.
Andrew Hodgson is in fourth place on 61; Stephen Nicholson, Lance England and Steve Austin are in real contention for top honours on 55 points. But it’s a different story for John Berry’s second XI, struggling at the foot of the table on 9 points – but within easy reach of many managers just above.
Let’s hope for more points from Darlo this weekend.
As the saying goes...Come On Darlo!
Pete
Perhaps we should have another six postponed games to keep this unbeaten run going. A rare win for Darlo, 2-1 away at high-flying Rotherham, has given the fans, team and club a much-needed boost after so many recent problems. Can they take this forward to the next few games?
Remember all those weeks ago how I lamented the lack of points for managers even when Darlo did play? Well, not many predicted the correct scoreline and even fewer an actual away win. But games are going to come thick and fast from now till the end of the season – unless there are more postponements.
At the top of the table, Robert Mitchum benefited most from his eight points by moving into second place on 62 where he joins Adrian Pape – both just behind long-time leader Carl Hankin on 65 points. Malcolm Brett’s max score sees him handily placed in fifth with 56 points, with another max scorer in Ryan Longmate only one point further back on 55.
Princess Beth Taylor now has 40 points with her eight-pointer, just ahead of Kev Leatherbarrow and Dan Colton on 39 with their correct predictions. Lisa Fletcher and Andy Pickersgill are in the top half of the league on 37, with the remaining max scorers Jean Pepper on 35 and Karen Cardwell on 25 – which drags Karen away from that dreaded relegation zone.
Andrew Hodgson is in fourth place on 61; Stephen Nicholson, Lance England and Steve Austin are in real contention for top honours on 55 points. But it’s a different story for John Berry’s second XI, struggling at the foot of the table on 9 points – but within easy reach of many managers just above.
Let’s hope for more points from Darlo this weekend.
As the saying goes...Come On Darlo!
Pete
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