All entries for November 2004

Reaction to Match 5

"Now do it with your pants!"- Katie Moreton gets overexcited after Stephen Pond throws off his hat in celebration.
"FUCKIN' YEAH!"- Debbie Simcock at full time.
"It was a great team effort, and I would like to accept this on behalf of the lads" – Owen Bellamy on his man of the match award.
"To put it in gentleman's term; a win is a bird. Today's wasn't the best looking, but we took her home anyway." – A clear and concise explaination of the result from Daniel Baker.
"They were a steaming pile of hotspur" – David Pickles refering to the opponents ability, or lack thereof.
"I make my Stallions debut and we record our first win" – Daniel O'Flynn's judgement of his contribution, to which Nathaniel Christopher quipped "Pipe down".

: 30 Nov 2004 15:14 |  Tags: Match Reports |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Tardan Stallions Match 5: Stats and Facts

Tardan Stallions vs Captain Courageous
Played 12pm Tuesday 30th November 2004
Venue: Westwood Old Astro 1

A fortuitously timed challenge meant the Stallions were almost at full strength, with just Daniel Baker being missed through injury and Daryl Jackson missing through lectures. Nathaniel Christopher stood in for Daniel in goals. After a slightly lacklustre start, the Stallions quickly realised the opposition were as bad as they were, but failed to capitalise on this in the opening period. Both keepers were untroubled for long spells, until an untidy bit of passing from the Stallions lost possession. This, combined with some basic defensive problems and an elementary mistake from the keeper, gifted an easy chance, and the opposition were able to put the ball in the net. However, the home support never wavered, and they got behind the team. This made a marked improvement to their game, and they started to pass and tackle with a fervour seldom seen before. Midway through the first half, despite his seeming inability to stand, David Pickles managed to dispossess the opposition with the ball breaking the Mark Hadris who launched the Stallions into a counter attack. His ball forward to Stephen Pond saw him play a delightful one two with Owen Bellamy that left him 1 on 1 with the keeper, and he calmly slotted it through the keepers legs into the back of the net. It was his fifth goal in as many games. The game really started to swing in the Stallions favour, and the opposition never looked likely to score for the rest of the half. A hospital roll out by the oppositions' keeper gave Stephen a chance to increase his tally, but the keeper scrambled it round the post. The last ten minutes of the half saw the Stallions entrenched in the oppositions' penalty area, winning corner after corner, or kick ins. Sadly, they weren't able to profit from this intense pressure, with the corners sailing inches past outstretched feet and inches over ducked heads, and they came in at the break with the score at 1–1.

After a rousing half time talk, the Stallions took to the pitch for the second half. Some changes had been made by the manager Daniel Baker. As David Pickles was having some trouble with his footwear, it was decided he should swap for Nathaniel Christopher in goals. Mark Hadris had pulled up with a muscle strain, so Daniel O'Flynn came on, making his debut. Right from the kick off, the Stallions were creating chances with Stephen Pond and Nathaniel Christopher linking up nicely for an attack almost from the kick off. Nathaniel then recalled he should have been in defence, where he was shortly needed to be fully alert to overt several Captain Courageous attacks, a team playing with renewed vigour. A Daniel O’Flynn burst down the wing saw him play a cheeky one two with Stephen Pond putting him through on the keeper. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, a desperate last ditch tackle narrowly prevented him getting his shot off. Despite Owen Bellamy marshalling the defence excellently, a few fine saves where needed from David Pickles who was looking very calm and collected in goals to prevent the Stallions from going behind for the second time in the match. This spell of play was clearly concerning for the Stallions manager who was pacing up the touchline barking out orders to his team. It soon became apparent that changes would be needed, with Daniel Baker opting to rest Stephen Pond and bring Mark Hadris back on to shore up the midfield area. The change immediately paid dividends after a Nathaniel Christopher hoof up the line was won by Mark Hadris, who beat his man, and then with a cheeky little flick up volleyed his shot expertly into the bottom left of the goal, sneaking the ball between the goalkeeper and the near post. The terraces erupted, but the Stallions knew the game wasn't won yet. However, as the opposition began to tire, their passes became sloppy, they stayed on the ball too long, and they started to feel the backlash. With a long ball tactic increasingly being adopted by both sides the game became stretched and Daniel O’Flynn, still short of match fitness from his twisted ligament injury, was pulled off by Daniel Baker for a rejuvenated Stephen Pond. The taste of victory hung heavy in the air, and the Stallions went up a gear. Some pressure on the defence by Nathaniel Christopher paid off, with Stephen Pond being able to pick up the ball in a very dangerous position. An absolute bullet from him megged the keeper, and it was 3–1. From thereon in, it was just a matter of containing the opposition, who opted to go gung-ho. They got nothing for their troubles, and the match ended 3–1. At this point, some people report seeing Elvis and Lord Lucan ride by on Shergar. But the even more incredible had happen: the Stallions had won!

Starting Line Up:
Nathaniel Christopher
David Pickles
Owen Bellamy
Mark Hadris [c]
Stephen Pond

Substitutes:
Daniel O'Flynn

Goal Scorers:
Stephen Pond (2)
Mark Hadris (1)

Man of the Match:
Owen Bellamy – A rock in the middle of defence, upon which their attacking ship foundered, to use a sailing analogy

Attendance 2:
Debbie Simcock
Katie Moreton

In the Dugout:
Daniel Baker

: 30 Nov 2004 15:07 |  Tags: Match Reports |  Comments (13) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Team News

We've been challenged by Captain Courageous to a match at 12pm Tuesday 30th of November 2004
Venue: Westwood Old Astro 1

The Stallions are currently sitting 16th in the table, with the challengers in 19th.

Team News as follows:

Missing through injury:
Daniel Baker (Broken Collar Bone 3–4 weeks)

Missing through Lectures:
Daryl Jackson (Circumcision for beginners)

Waiting on late fitness test:
Daniel O'Flynn (Twisted Ankle)

Starting line up from:
Owen Bellamy
Nathaniel Christopher
Mark Hadris
Daniel O'Flynn
David Pickles
Stephen Pond

: 29 Nov 2004 16:08 |  Tags: Team News |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The start of a glorious cup run?

The 2nd round of the Cup has been drawn. The Stallions have been given an away tie against Atletico Cryfield.

Atletico Cryfield currently sit 8 places above the Stallions, in 8th place in league C.

: 22 Nov 2004 12:28 |  Tags: Team News |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Team News

We've been challenged by Foul are Off to a match at 1pm Tuesday 23rd of November 2004
Venue: Westwood Old Astro 2

The Stallions are currently sitting 12th in the table, with the challengers in 16th.

Team News as follows:

Daniel Baker – probably still knackered up collar bone
Nathaniel Christopher – inappropriately coloured foot
Daniel O'Flynn – will be back next week (for the 10th week running ;-))

Unfortunately, this means we don't have enough players to field a side.
Therefore the match has been abandoned.

: 22 Nov 2004 12:25 |  Tags: Team News |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Sturdy Stallions prepare for Showdown

Hello, and welcome to this weeks manager's comments section. I write this without knowing the result of the match on friday, suffice to say that we worked really hard and were very unlucky to be edged out of a closely fought match (official stallion response when we lose count of the score). However, some of our squad has just returned from very profitable international friendlies.

Our very own Stephen Pond participated in Andorra's friendly against Uzbekistan (he was offered a passport whilst on the stallion's high altitude training last easter), and produced a very solid performance, with two classy goals to boot, which kept Andorra in the match but unfortunately wasn't enoughfor them to win, Uzbekistan edging out the winners 5–2.

Owen Bellamy came on in the second half for Hawaii and set up the only goal of the match with a wonderful "hoof" from his own penalty area, which earned him man of the match.

Nathaniel Christopher was an unused substitute for the Isle of Wight under 21's match against Isle of Man.

Well done to all our international players, and to the rest of the squad who have been working hard in preparation for the match tomorrow. With several injuries to key players, it won't be an easy match, but I am confident that we can give it 110%, and who could ask for more than that?

Come on you Stallions!

Guv'ner

: 18 Nov 2004 16:31 |  Tags: Managers Comments |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Player Profile: Stephen Pond

1. Full name: Stephen Michael Pond
2. Date of birth: 13/09/1982 (Yes I am that old!)
3. Home town: Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
4. Degree Course: Computer Science
5. Height: 5'10/5'11.. not really sure
6. Weight: 10 stones
7. Nicknames: Stez, The Chief
8. Position: Striker
9. Squad Number: 7
10. Favourite Team: Sheffield Wednesday

: 16 Nov 2004 17:53 |  Tags: Stallion Profiles |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Team News

We've been challenged by International Rescue to a match at 1pm Friday 19th of November 2004
Venue: Westwood New Astros

The Stallions are currently sitting 10th in the table, with the challengers in 12th.

Team News as follows:

Missing through injury:
Daniel Baker (Broken collar bone 3–4 weeks)
Nathaniel Christopher (Strained Ankle ligaments 1–2 weeks)

Missing through project meetings:
Mark Hadris (A cow knitting and fire ants) (say it quickly… work with me here)
Daryl Jackson (Nanotechnology of doily design)

Waiting on late fitness test:
Daniel O'Flynn (Twisted Ankle)

Unfortunately, this means we don't have enough players to field a side.
Therefore the match has been abandoned.

: 15 Nov 2004 12:25 |  Tags: Team News |  Comments (10) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Stallion Social

The directors of Tardan Stallions PLC, in conjunction with the Tardan Stallion supporters association, have arranged a social.

Date: Saturday 20th November
Time: 8pm drinking starts, (forfeits for late arrival)
Venue: The Bar
Chair: Stephen Pond

The following people are eligible to attend:
Daniel Baker
Owen Bellamy
Samuel Boulby
Nathaniel Christopher
Laura Fricker
Gabrielle Frith
Kimberly Goddard
Mark Hadris
Daryl Jackson
Eloise Moir-Ford
Daniel O'Flynn
David Pickles
Stephen Pond
Debbie Simcock

The Rules:
You must be willing to obey what the chair says, within reason. Also, please put your drinking boots on.

: 11 Nov 2004 20:55 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Stallions injury woes increase

Stallions fans were disappointed to find that Nathaniel Christopher will almost certainly miss the next match, after sustaining a twisted ankle in training on wednesday. This new setback, coupled with the long term injury to Daniel Baker, and the ankle problems which have prevented Daniel O'Flynn making a start yet this season, severely reduces the managers options, leaving as it does a squad of only 5 fit players.

Subscribers to the Stallions World Site can see the full interview with NC about his injury and the increasing injury woes facing the Stallions.

: 11 Nov 2004 20:43 |  Tags: Team News |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem