|
|
Post by Rijs on Mar 11, 2012 18:13:17 GMT
 Very good result for us though a slightly flattering scoreline in the end when it looked as if Chesham might get an injury time equaliser against us for the second time this season. City enjoyed their best spell in the second quarter, with the goal, Liam's postal strike and several good moves, but then dropped back after half time and began defending again, with the gap between midfield and front two getting wider as the half progressed We got away with it this time thanks to solid defending by Clarke, Willmott and Blossom, and Mooney's good block and safe hands on the crosses (of which there were plenty into our box). Liam and Bash put in good shifts again and the final goal sent us all home happy. Though this was not City at their best, the lads worked hard for each other and got those valuable points, and we are nicely placed for the run-in with home ties to come against Cambridge and Brackley--but some tough fixtures before that, like the one at Stourbridge next week, have the potential to derail us still. Mike Ford deserves a lot of credit. He has built as good a squad as we've seen at City for over a decade, with a nice blend of youth and experience, players who have some loyalty to the club (quite a few have been with us a while now) and a fair bit of skill. I didn't think we'd be in this position now when the season was in its early stages. We still have a lot to do to make the play-offs--we all know what a rollercoaster a football season can be-- but Mike is talking a lot of sense, and it should be an enjoyable ride.
|
|
|
|
Post by exile on Mar 11, 2012 19:41:06 GMT
I think that the press could give us a lot more coverage and support, seeing that we have consistently been in the upper reaches of the league most of the season. The Oxford Mail website, for example, gives us no more space than clubs like North Leigh. Considering that we are currently performing at a higher level than at any time since the late 60s, we need and deserve a higher level of support in general, and the local press could play a part in this.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ash on Mar 12, 2012 22:36:36 GMT
local press could play a part in this. We're not Oxford United, that's why we don't get anything more. I suppose the paper is called The Oxford United Mail, sorry The Oxford Mail, that's what I meant. |
|
|
|
Post by Rijs on Mar 13, 2012 12:07:07 GMT
The press follow the crowd. They give a lot more coverage to United because a lot more people go to their matches. If City had 500 at home matches, I expect the Mail would similarly increase its coverage, but with only 200 they get the feeling that City isn't very important to their readership.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisB on Mar 13, 2012 19:43:47 GMT
I can understand the press giving most coverage to United, but it is so much more than it ever used to be.
Now I'm only going by the Oxford Times (as I don't bother with the O.M.) but that often seems to provide just as much coverage of Oxford's Rugby and Hockey teams as it does of non-league football. And, much as I think all local sport has to get a fair crack of the whip, those sports attract fewer supporters than the local (Step 3 and below) football.
The Hellenic League, for instance, now hardly gets any mention at all - certainly no match reports - where 25/30 years ago almost every Hellenic Premier match would have had some sort of a report - and that with United much further up the footballing hierarchy than they are now.
I wonder if the reporting would expand if City did get promoted, or would we still have more column inches on the Kassam's new white-lining machine, or Mr Wilder's thoughts on the vexing question of kippers or kedgeree for the pre-match breakfast?
Perhaps, as someone 'of a certain age', I'm totally missing the point of newspapers in the 21st Century, and it really is only about what will sell, but anyone looking in the Ox. Times for information (what newspapers used to be excellent at providing) about local football at all levels would probably think that there is very little going on in the county outside of the Fourth Division.
Oh well, rant over, but it would be nice to see the achievements of teams (in all sports) further down the pecking order more regularly get some sort of recognition in the local press.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ash on Mar 13, 2012 21:14:53 GMT
One part of the Oxford Mail I find annoying is the coverage of girls football.
There's the Oxford Mail Girls League and the Oxford Mail Boys League. The girls are lucky to receive quarter of a page for the 7/8 age groups whereas the boys receive 3 or 4 pages sometimes... As a manager of a girls team I find that extremely frustrating.
Whether that's down to the Oxford Mail or the league is another question but I'd like to see more for the girls.
|
|
Very good result for us though a slightly flattering scoreline in the end when it looked as if Chesham might get an injury time equaliser against us for the second time this season. City enjoyed their best spell in the second quarter, with the goal, Liam's postal strike and several good moves, but then dropped back after half time and began defending again, with the gap between midfield and front two getting wider as the half progressed We got away with it this time thanks to solid defending by Clarke, Willmott and Blossom, and Mooney's good block and safe hands on the crosses (of which there were plenty into our box).
