Darlo were on Cup duty again this weekend – seeing off a very defensively-minded Salisbury Town 2-1 to reach the semi-finals of the FA Trophy. The semis will be a two-legged affair with the draw made on Monday . . . then the W word could rear its head.
But there were points up for grabs this weekend as the first of the major cup finals was played out – with Birmingham City beating their more illustrious opponents Arsenal, again 2-1. And there were quite a few managers who correctly predicted one of these teams either winning or losing. My hunch is that everyone in the list below had Arsenal as losers? Hands up who had Birmingham as winners? (not me).
Join the Trust
Those “lucky” five-pointers are: Andrew Hodgson, Callum Vallis, Chicken George, Dave Woods, Edward Cundick, Ethan Vallis, Hannah Taylor, Iain Cardwell, John Baskerville, John Gutenberg, Laura Drew 4, Lorraine Arscott, Lyndsey Steel, Lynne Pape, Matthew Ashmore, Mike Wells, Raymond Percival, Russell Jones 1, Stephen Dickson, Tony Waters, Trevor Gretton, Wayne Gibson, Will Caslon, Will Caxton.
Check out the full Come on Darlo Prediction League Tables Here
Lorraine Arscott is now heading a serious challenge for the Come on Darlo Prediction League top spot – now in third place on 92 points, just two behind Garry Mann and Steve Calvert. Could she confound all the Harborne warriors to take the ultimate prize?
It’s as-you-were at t’other end of the table.
Pete
Monday 28 February 2011
Wednesday 23 February 2011
Were YOU waiting for it to happen? I was!!!
I was!!!
“A minimum of five extra minutes” at the end of the game . . . except I was expecting Darlo to score after 12 minutes of those “extra minutes” . . . just to even things up a little maybe. But no, someone announces full time instead. So another 1-1 draw, but this time against in-form Kidderminster Harriers.
Garry “Maverick” Mann is our new Top Gun in the crash and burn of the Come on Darlo Prediction League. His flight path has been upwards for the last couple of games, hitting the score results target dead centre . . . joined on 94 points by Steve Calvert with his first XI back-up crew. The Humph is firmly chocked on the runway with 91 points in third place, whilst Dame Dickson and Lorraine Arscott suffer from nose-bleeds in this heady atmosphere and stay on 87.
Jilted John and Jayne Hathaway have also found their target and now have 80 points each in 11th, followed closely by Lucy Grainge on 78, with David Rice-Oxley and Will Caxton well within strike distance. Last season’s “Ice Man” (and prediction league champion) Andrew Hodgson is playing the good wingman, waiting his chance on 77 points.
Join The Trust
Mark Kirk is next up on 75 points in 23rd spot, Alf Hutchinson’s eight-pointer has brought him up to 70 in 32nd place along with John Shuttleworth and John Sainsbury. Liam Pape is doing really well with his 69 points in joint 40th and Brian Main only a point behind him on 68 along with Randolph Scott (salutes) and Steve Calvert’s second XI. Paul Colman, winner of our recent spot prize, continues his good form and climbs the table to 61st on 65 points. Mike Cleasby, Martyn Cripps first XI and Paul Dickson round off those max-scoring managers who are presently in the right half of the table.
Climbing away from the carrier deck are Scott Morland, Steve Duffy first XI, Lynn Pape, Jane Lucas, Paul Davis, Ian Bonsall, Harry Pape, Steve Curtis, Walter Lucas and lastly, but not leastly, Diana Willsher who has now put ten points between herself and tail-end charlie spot which is still occupied by David Sheppey (the Mk 2 version, without the turbo-thrusters).
Check out the latest Prediction League Table here
Burt Lancaster is only four points ahead of 204th placed David with Lance Ireland and Josh Slack a further point in front of that.
Petea>
“A minimum of five extra minutes” at the end of the game . . . except I was expecting Darlo to score after 12 minutes of those “extra minutes” . . . just to even things up a little maybe. But no, someone announces full time instead. So another 1-1 draw, but this time against in-form Kidderminster Harriers.
Garry “Maverick” Mann is our new Top Gun in the crash and burn of the Come on Darlo Prediction League. His flight path has been upwards for the last couple of games, hitting the score results target dead centre . . . joined on 94 points by Steve Calvert with his first XI back-up crew. The Humph is firmly chocked on the runway with 91 points in third place, whilst Dame Dickson and Lorraine Arscott suffer from nose-bleeds in this heady atmosphere and stay on 87.
Jilted John and Jayne Hathaway have also found their target and now have 80 points each in 11th, followed closely by Lucy Grainge on 78, with David Rice-Oxley and Will Caxton well within strike distance. Last season’s “Ice Man” (and prediction league champion) Andrew Hodgson is playing the good wingman, waiting his chance on 77 points.
Join The Trust
Mark Kirk is next up on 75 points in 23rd spot, Alf Hutchinson’s eight-pointer has brought him up to 70 in 32nd place along with John Shuttleworth and John Sainsbury. Liam Pape is doing really well with his 69 points in joint 40th and Brian Main only a point behind him on 68 along with Randolph Scott (salutes) and Steve Calvert’s second XI. Paul Colman, winner of our recent spot prize, continues his good form and climbs the table to 61st on 65 points. Mike Cleasby, Martyn Cripps first XI and Paul Dickson round off those max-scoring managers who are presently in the right half of the table.
Climbing away from the carrier deck are Scott Morland, Steve Duffy first XI, Lynn Pape, Jane Lucas, Paul Davis, Ian Bonsall, Harry Pape, Steve Curtis, Walter Lucas and lastly, but not leastly, Diana Willsher who has now put ten points between herself and tail-end charlie spot which is still occupied by David Sheppey (the Mk 2 version, without the turbo-thrusters).
Check out the latest Prediction League Table here
Burt Lancaster is only four points ahead of 204th placed David with Lance Ireland and Josh Slack a further point in front of that.
Petea>
Sunday 20 February 2011
No! . . . No!! . . . Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
It’s the curse of the 95th minute equaliser again!!!
Come on all you stattos, calculate just how many points we’ve thrown away in “time added on to the time added on” or within five minutes of the end of a game. We’d be already promoted wouldn’t we? Seems like that anyway. Darlo were heading towards a third consecutive league win when ex-player Steve Guinan put the ball over the line to leave the game all square at 1-1 – of course, on the teleprinter we see the goal scored followed almost immediately by the final result. Anyone hear the expletives?
It’s had a big effect on the league (apart from our top two who can’t, at the moment, score for toffee) - Dame Dickson and Lorraine Arscott’s eight-pointers have brought them within four points of top spot. Lorraine will, no doubt, be having a quiet word with Lance . . . they’re both on 87 with Humphrey and Steve Calvert still out in front on 91. It’s taking a while for our “dear leaders” to limp over that 100-point mark.
Join the Trust Online by Clicking Here
Garry Mann and Mick Moriarty also benefited, shooting to equal fifth on 86, with Christian Fox on 85 and Martin Cass on 83. Others managers who are the “jammiest” this weekend (not bitter about late goals, me) are: Adrian Lynch, Alistair Cripps, Anthony Leigh, Avril Dent, Dan Duryea, David Rice-Oxley, David Sheppey 3, James Cagney, James Houghton, Jean and Dan, Laura Drew 3, Lee Dyas, Paul Colman, Paul Johnson 2, Richard Collin 2, Steve Duffy 2, Steve Mann, Tim Hewitson, Will Caxton.
And it was Paul Colman’s eight points which have brought him a £10 spot prize (on the way!!!) after finishing in 100th place after Game 30 of the league . . . congratulations!!! Paul’s name came out of the hat after nine managers finished on the same points.
Check out the latest Prediction League standings here
No such luck going David Sheppey’s way as his second team still languish at the base of the table on 22 points, with Diana Willsher and Burt Lancaster not faring much better
Pete
Come on all you stattos, calculate just how many points we’ve thrown away in “time added on to the time added on” or within five minutes of the end of a game. We’d be already promoted wouldn’t we? Seems like that anyway. Darlo were heading towards a third consecutive league win when ex-player Steve Guinan put the ball over the line to leave the game all square at 1-1 – of course, on the teleprinter we see the goal scored followed almost immediately by the final result. Anyone hear the expletives?
It’s had a big effect on the league (apart from our top two who can’t, at the moment, score for toffee) - Dame Dickson and Lorraine Arscott’s eight-pointers have brought them within four points of top spot. Lorraine will, no doubt, be having a quiet word with Lance . . . they’re both on 87 with Humphrey and Steve Calvert still out in front on 91. It’s taking a while for our “dear leaders” to limp over that 100-point mark.
Join the Trust Online by Clicking Here
Garry Mann and Mick Moriarty also benefited, shooting to equal fifth on 86, with Christian Fox on 85 and Martin Cass on 83. Others managers who are the “jammiest” this weekend (not bitter about late goals, me) are: Adrian Lynch, Alistair Cripps, Anthony Leigh, Avril Dent, Dan Duryea, David Rice-Oxley, David Sheppey 3, James Cagney, James Houghton, Jean and Dan, Laura Drew 3, Lee Dyas, Paul Colman, Paul Johnson 2, Richard Collin 2, Steve Duffy 2, Steve Mann, Tim Hewitson, Will Caxton.
And it was Paul Colman’s eight points which have brought him a £10 spot prize (on the way!!!) after finishing in 100th place after Game 30 of the league . . . congratulations!!! Paul’s name came out of the hat after nine managers finished on the same points.
Check out the latest Prediction League standings here
No such luck going David Sheppey’s way as his second team still languish at the base of the table on 22 points, with Diana Willsher and Burt Lancaster not faring much better
Pete
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Was that a light at the end of the tunnel - or an oncoming train???
Darlo’s great away win at Cambridge United – 1-0 – is secondary compared to the breaking news that the holding company which owns the football stadium and surrounding land has gone into receivership after a loan made to this company was called in. Details of what this will mean for the football club are patchy at present, but the Northern Echo is due to run a big story in tomorrow’s newspaper . . . hopefully, the future of the club will become clearer then.
A Sam Russell penalty save and a Gary Smith header gave The Quakers all three points in what was looking to be an exciting part of the season for the club, following their 6-1 demolition of Eastbourne on Saturday.
Those scoring eight points: Alistair Cripps, Callum Vallis, Chicken George, Darren Darvill, Don Juan, Ethan Vallis, Howling Wolf, Lemsip Opek, Lucy Grainge, Mike Cass, Miss Ing Fanz, Neil Danby, Paul Hodgson, Richard Desmond, Robert Mitchum, Russell Jones 1, Steve Calvert 3, Troy Lacend, Vicky Richardson
Top 11 managers didn’t manage a point between them so it’s allowed Steve Calvert’s third XI to join Mark Hathway on 76 points in 12th, while Paul Hodgson has motored up to 14th along with Lyndsey Steel, with Arthur Brennan and David Walton chasing them down in 16th on 74 points.
Check out the full prediction league tables here
David Sheppey’s second team has closed the gap at the bottom to two points, now on 22 and not far off Dan Duryea and Diane Willsher on 24. Toby Corum’s second XI is just ahead on 25 with Burt Lancaster a further one point.
I’d like to say “onwards and upwards” - but we’ll have to wait to see what tomorrow brings
Pete
A Sam Russell penalty save and a Gary Smith header gave The Quakers all three points in what was looking to be an exciting part of the season for the club, following their 6-1 demolition of Eastbourne on Saturday.
Those scoring eight points: Alistair Cripps, Callum Vallis, Chicken George, Darren Darvill, Don Juan, Ethan Vallis, Howling Wolf, Lemsip Opek, Lucy Grainge, Mike Cass, Miss Ing Fanz, Neil Danby, Paul Hodgson, Richard Desmond, Robert Mitchum, Russell Jones 1, Steve Calvert 3, Troy Lacend, Vicky Richardson
Top 11 managers didn’t manage a point between them so it’s allowed Steve Calvert’s third XI to join Mark Hathway on 76 points in 12th, while Paul Hodgson has motored up to 14th along with Lyndsey Steel, with Arthur Brennan and David Walton chasing them down in 16th on 74 points.
Check out the full prediction league tables here
David Sheppey’s second team has closed the gap at the bottom to two points, now on 22 and not far off Dan Duryea and Diane Willsher on 24. Toby Corum’s second XI is just ahead on 25 with Burt Lancaster a further one point.
I’d like to say “onwards and upwards” - but we’ll have to wait to see what tomorrow brings
Pete
Monday 14 February 2011
Whooo Hooo . . . Whooo Hooo . . . Whooo Hooo!!!
The Darlo Express is back on track, we’re out of the sidings and we’ve cleared away the wrong type of leaves.
A crushing 6-1 win over bottom club Eastbourne Borough brought a first-half hat-trick for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson . . . “give us an M, give us an A, give us an R . . . “ Ok, probably best forget that one . . . oh, and I wouldn’t bother getting your replica shirt printed with his name either, unless you’ve got the equivalent of the national debt in your bank account.
Of course, you’ve already realised that there were no correct predictions for that scoreline. There have been some predictions of that order for other games – but sadly missed out here. There were, of course, a billion managers (give or take a few) who correctly predicted the home win and about 38 who didn’t. No name and shame this time.
But the glut of 3-pointers has predictably led to a deja vu situation, with little movement top or bottom of the table. So, for the record:
Equal top are still “Humph” and Steve Calvert on 91 points, third is Christian Fox on 85 with Martin Cass on 83 and Stephen Atkinson on 81 right up there. Dame Dickson and Lorraine Arscott are slugging it out in sixth place on 79, with Garry Mann, Paul Robinson, Richard Collin and Mick Moriarty just behind on 78.
David Sheppey’s second XI are still in pole position . . . the bottom of the greasy pole . . . in 204th spot on 19, but the group ahead on 24 points are now bunching up – Dan Duryea, Diane Willsher and Josh Slack.
Check out the latest Prediction League Standings by Clicking Here
Can Darlo start the march up the league with all those games in hand . . . or will the fixture congestion plus the continuing cup run catch up with them?
Keep an eye out for our new fundraiser, the 49er, based on the national lottery. This will help us to continue our work with Football in the Community and Youth Development. Details coming shortly.
Pete
A crushing 6-1 win over bottom club Eastbourne Borough brought a first-half hat-trick for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson . . . “give us an M, give us an A, give us an R . . . “ Ok, probably best forget that one . . . oh, and I wouldn’t bother getting your replica shirt printed with his name either, unless you’ve got the equivalent of the national debt in your bank account.
Of course, you’ve already realised that there were no correct predictions for that scoreline. There have been some predictions of that order for other games – but sadly missed out here. There were, of course, a billion managers (give or take a few) who correctly predicted the home win and about 38 who didn’t. No name and shame this time.
But the glut of 3-pointers has predictably led to a deja vu situation, with little movement top or bottom of the table. So, for the record:
Equal top are still “Humph” and Steve Calvert on 91 points, third is Christian Fox on 85 with Martin Cass on 83 and Stephen Atkinson on 81 right up there. Dame Dickson and Lorraine Arscott are slugging it out in sixth place on 79, with Garry Mann, Paul Robinson, Richard Collin and Mick Moriarty just behind on 78.
David Sheppey’s second XI are still in pole position . . . the bottom of the greasy pole . . . in 204th spot on 19, but the group ahead on 24 points are now bunching up – Dan Duryea, Diane Willsher and Josh Slack.
Check out the latest Prediction League Standings by Clicking Here
Can Darlo start the march up the league with all those games in hand . . . or will the fixture congestion plus the continuing cup run catch up with them?
Keep an eye out for our new fundraiser, the 49er, based on the national lottery. This will help us to continue our work with Football in the Community and Youth Development. Details coming shortly.
Pete
Wednesday 2 February 2011
Owwwwww-ch!!!!!! That was painful!!!
A 20-minute 4-0 drubbing at the end of the game brought The Quakers’ recent unbeaten run to an end against high-flying Luton Town. But is that the end of our play-off hopes? Well we’ve umpteen games in hand on some teams, but you’ve got to win those, of course.
And that scoreline prediction was as rare as rocking horse poop – with only Terry Simpson and Toby Corum’s third XI picking that one out with the proverbial pin. Terry moves into a very respectable 66th place on 58 points, whilst Toby’s eight points propels him away from the foot of the table.
But while there were only two correct scoreline predictions, every man / woman and their respective dogs just about managed three points for assuming a home win of some sort. Mind, might have been one or two using heart-ruling-their-heads syndrome when predicting the score.
It’s meant we now have joint leaders of Humphrey Bogart and Steve Calvert on 88 points, Christian Fox is third on 82 with Martin Cass in fourth on 80. Stephen Atkinson is leading the pack . . . and it really is hot on the tails of these leaders . . . on 78 points. Can’t be too long before that 100-point barrier is broken.
And with Toby moving from bottom spot, he is replaced by David Sheppey’s second XI on 19 points. And as at the top of the league, it’s anybody’s wooden spoon if only one manager would firmly refuse to score more points. Diana Willsher and Josh Slack are only two points ahead on 21, followed by many a manager within spitting distance. Perhaps leading AND spoon places will go right to the wire.
And on to another of our mini-leagues, which really is a contradiction – The Hayssen Sandiacre mini-league has 29 members, a total which might out-do completely some other local prediction competitions in their own right. And for the Hayssen lads and lasses, this is serious stuff – so it’s Mick Moriarty in joint 8th place on 75 points who has bragging rights at the moment . . . but is he looking ahead to winning the whole competition or looking over his shoulder at colleagues trying to steal his local thunder? Don’t take your eye off the ball Mick!!!
It seems Dave Welton on 68 points is closest challenger in 17th with Elaine Battison and Nick Groves handily placed in 29th on 65 points. Trevor Gretton is in sight of top spot on 64 points in 36th, Martin Raison has 62 points and Mark Kirk one behind with 61. John Shuttleworth is in 76th on 56 points, Carl Hankin and Patrick Hernandez both in 86th on 54 points, Jamie Molnar in 93rd on 53.
Half-way Joes are Kev Kidger and Sue Oldham on 51 points in 96th, Lee Dyas in 126th on 46. Heading towards the dregs are: John Mosby in 133rd on 45; Graham Wakeling in 148th on 42 with Anthony Leigh and Ashley Verney in 151st on 41; Mark O’Neill and Richard Tilley in 155th on 40, Ian Bonsall and Mick Spencer in 163rd on 38; Wayne King and Will Ellis in 178th on 35, Neil Danby in 184th on 33, Gary Robertson in 185th on 32.
Click here to view the latest Prediction League tables - helping the Trust raise money for Youth Development
And down among the dead men are: Steve Curtis and Mark Lear on 31 and 30 points in 190th and 192nd, respectively. But it’s Josh Slack trying to achieve the double of Hayssen and overall Spoon Winner, who is 203rd with a paltry 21 points . . . over to you Josh!!!
Pete
And that scoreline prediction was as rare as rocking horse poop – with only Terry Simpson and Toby Corum’s third XI picking that one out with the proverbial pin. Terry moves into a very respectable 66th place on 58 points, whilst Toby’s eight points propels him away from the foot of the table.
But while there were only two correct scoreline predictions, every man / woman and their respective dogs just about managed three points for assuming a home win of some sort. Mind, might have been one or two using heart-ruling-their-heads syndrome when predicting the score.
It’s meant we now have joint leaders of Humphrey Bogart and Steve Calvert on 88 points, Christian Fox is third on 82 with Martin Cass in fourth on 80. Stephen Atkinson is leading the pack . . . and it really is hot on the tails of these leaders . . . on 78 points. Can’t be too long before that 100-point barrier is broken.
And with Toby moving from bottom spot, he is replaced by David Sheppey’s second XI on 19 points. And as at the top of the league, it’s anybody’s wooden spoon if only one manager would firmly refuse to score more points. Diana Willsher and Josh Slack are only two points ahead on 21, followed by many a manager within spitting distance. Perhaps leading AND spoon places will go right to the wire.
And on to another of our mini-leagues, which really is a contradiction – The Hayssen Sandiacre mini-league has 29 members, a total which might out-do completely some other local prediction competitions in their own right. And for the Hayssen lads and lasses, this is serious stuff – so it’s Mick Moriarty in joint 8th place on 75 points who has bragging rights at the moment . . . but is he looking ahead to winning the whole competition or looking over his shoulder at colleagues trying to steal his local thunder? Don’t take your eye off the ball Mick!!!
It seems Dave Welton on 68 points is closest challenger in 17th with Elaine Battison and Nick Groves handily placed in 29th on 65 points. Trevor Gretton is in sight of top spot on 64 points in 36th, Martin Raison has 62 points and Mark Kirk one behind with 61. John Shuttleworth is in 76th on 56 points, Carl Hankin and Patrick Hernandez both in 86th on 54 points, Jamie Molnar in 93rd on 53.
Half-way Joes are Kev Kidger and Sue Oldham on 51 points in 96th, Lee Dyas in 126th on 46. Heading towards the dregs are: John Mosby in 133rd on 45; Graham Wakeling in 148th on 42 with Anthony Leigh and Ashley Verney in 151st on 41; Mark O’Neill and Richard Tilley in 155th on 40, Ian Bonsall and Mick Spencer in 163rd on 38; Wayne King and Will Ellis in 178th on 35, Neil Danby in 184th on 33, Gary Robertson in 185th on 32.
Click here to view the latest Prediction League tables - helping the Trust raise money for Youth Development
And down among the dead men are: Steve Curtis and Mark Lear on 31 and 30 points in 190th and 192nd, respectively. But it’s Josh Slack trying to achieve the double of Hayssen and overall Spoon Winner, who is 203rd with a paltry 21 points . . . over to you Josh!!!
Pete
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)