Post by QPR Report on Apr 27, 2009 6:35:25 GMT
Congratulations to Burton. Good luck to Southampton
BBC Torquay 2-1 Burton
Roy McFarland took over in January, with Burton 13 points top
Burton Albion have been crowned Blue Square Premier champions despite a 2-1 defeat by Torquay, who have clinched their place in the play-offs.
Cambridge's draw with Altrincham meant that the Brewers could not be caught.
Albion had taken an early lead with an emphatic shot from Marc Goodfellow after just eight minutes.
But an 18-yard strike from Chris Hargreaves and a header just after the break from Elliot Benyon gave Torquay the three points they needed.
A nervy Brewers side looked a far cry from the team that held a 19-point lead at the top of the table as recently as mid-February.
But they managed an early lead through midfielder Goodfellow who capitalised on a poor Chris Todd clearance by lashing a ferociously swerving shot beyond the hapless Michael Poke in the Torquay goal.
The lead should have instilled confidence into the visitors, but instead Torquay hit back minutes later, restoring parity through a sumptuous Hargreaves strike from the edge of the area that nestled into the bottom corner of Saul Deeney's net.
606: DEBATE
Well done...you finally made it!
kingwfc4ever
The Brewers were all over the place, with the home side winning the majority of the loose balls, always probing and looking for space to exploit behind Burton's defence.
The Gulls were looking the hungrier of the two sides, and Lee Mansell was allowed to run unchallenged before firing a long-range shot into the keeper's hands.
The confidence of the home side was visibly growing, and Nicky Wroe even went for goal from the half-way line, punting a long range effort beyond the empty Burton goal with Deeney stranded.
It was a shot that never looked like going in but it outlined the danger and growing confidence of a bubbly Torquay side, whose passing and movement was slicker and quicker than their Burton counterparts.
Todd then came close to giving his side the lead, but his header was expertly tipped over by the lightning-quick reflexes of Deeney.
Hargreaves scored his second vital goal for Torquay in a week
Torquay took a deserved lead a minute after the restart after Benyon reacted the quickest to a Hargreaves flick-on from a long Kevin Nicholson throw and guided a header into the bottom corner.
Danny Stevens then got behind the Burton defence to fire in a low cross that Benyon almost connected with, but could only give away a free-kick for handball.
The visitors were being overrun in midfield and looked to be playing with one eye on results elsewhere, such was the pressure riding on this match.
But with news filtering through that Cambridge had failed to beat Altrincham, Burton knew their job was complete, and the celebrations could begin.
For Torquay, the result secured their place in the top five, and they will now face Histon in the play-offs. ...
GUARDIAN/Jeremy Alexander
Southampton will fold in eight days without a buyer• Club's holding company went into administration last month
• Players paid last week only after fans raised £130,000
Southampton will go out of business in eight days unless they find a buyer, according to a source at St Mary's. The Championship club, whose holding company went into administration last month, were relegated to League One on Saturday, the first time since 1960 they will have been in the third tier. The players are understood to have been paid last week thanks only to £130,000 raised by fans under a Save Our Saints appeal.
Southampton will play their final game of the season at Nottingham Forest on Sunday but the source says they will be forced to fold two days later unless one of the consortiums which have expressed interest in the club completes a deal. Two buyers are said to be keen.
Adding to Saints' worries is the pitch invasion at the end of Saturday's 2–2 draw at home to Burnley, which saw home supporters throw objects at the visiting fans and exposes the club to a possible fine from the Football Association. "I just hope they don't punish us for that as well because the club has to find a buyer and any further threat of punishment will not help us to do that," said Mark Fry, the joint administrator.
Southampton already face the prospect of starting next season with a 10-point penalty. That was imposed last Thursday by the Football League, which ruled that the holding company, Southampton Leisure Holdings plc, the stadium company and the football club were "inextricably linked as one economic entity".
The penalty was such that, if they pulled out of the relegation places, it would apply this season and so take them down; or, if they did not escape by their own means, it would apply next season. The draw with Burnley condemned them to relegation regardless. "I am not condoning the invasion," said Fry, "but after the announcement on Thursday emotions were bound to be running high."
Southampton will appeal against the 10-point punishment. "Our main concern has to be the appeal," said Fry. Lawrie McMenemy, the club's FA Cup-winning manager in 1976, appealed to fans before Saturday's match, for further rescue funds. It looks a case of now or never.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/27/southampton-future-threat-buyer
BBC Torquay 2-1 Burton
Roy McFarland took over in January, with Burton 13 points top
Burton Albion have been crowned Blue Square Premier champions despite a 2-1 defeat by Torquay, who have clinched their place in the play-offs.
Cambridge's draw with Altrincham meant that the Brewers could not be caught.
Albion had taken an early lead with an emphatic shot from Marc Goodfellow after just eight minutes.
But an 18-yard strike from Chris Hargreaves and a header just after the break from Elliot Benyon gave Torquay the three points they needed.
A nervy Brewers side looked a far cry from the team that held a 19-point lead at the top of the table as recently as mid-February.
But they managed an early lead through midfielder Goodfellow who capitalised on a poor Chris Todd clearance by lashing a ferociously swerving shot beyond the hapless Michael Poke in the Torquay goal.
The lead should have instilled confidence into the visitors, but instead Torquay hit back minutes later, restoring parity through a sumptuous Hargreaves strike from the edge of the area that nestled into the bottom corner of Saul Deeney's net.
606: DEBATE
Well done...you finally made it!
kingwfc4ever
The Brewers were all over the place, with the home side winning the majority of the loose balls, always probing and looking for space to exploit behind Burton's defence.
The Gulls were looking the hungrier of the two sides, and Lee Mansell was allowed to run unchallenged before firing a long-range shot into the keeper's hands.
The confidence of the home side was visibly growing, and Nicky Wroe even went for goal from the half-way line, punting a long range effort beyond the empty Burton goal with Deeney stranded.
It was a shot that never looked like going in but it outlined the danger and growing confidence of a bubbly Torquay side, whose passing and movement was slicker and quicker than their Burton counterparts.
Todd then came close to giving his side the lead, but his header was expertly tipped over by the lightning-quick reflexes of Deeney.
Hargreaves scored his second vital goal for Torquay in a week
Torquay took a deserved lead a minute after the restart after Benyon reacted the quickest to a Hargreaves flick-on from a long Kevin Nicholson throw and guided a header into the bottom corner.
Danny Stevens then got behind the Burton defence to fire in a low cross that Benyon almost connected with, but could only give away a free-kick for handball.
The visitors were being overrun in midfield and looked to be playing with one eye on results elsewhere, such was the pressure riding on this match.
But with news filtering through that Cambridge had failed to beat Altrincham, Burton knew their job was complete, and the celebrations could begin.
For Torquay, the result secured their place in the top five, and they will now face Histon in the play-offs. ...
GUARDIAN/Jeremy Alexander
Southampton will fold in eight days without a buyer• Club's holding company went into administration last month
• Players paid last week only after fans raised £130,000
Southampton will go out of business in eight days unless they find a buyer, according to a source at St Mary's. The Championship club, whose holding company went into administration last month, were relegated to League One on Saturday, the first time since 1960 they will have been in the third tier. The players are understood to have been paid last week thanks only to £130,000 raised by fans under a Save Our Saints appeal.
Southampton will play their final game of the season at Nottingham Forest on Sunday but the source says they will be forced to fold two days later unless one of the consortiums which have expressed interest in the club completes a deal. Two buyers are said to be keen.
Adding to Saints' worries is the pitch invasion at the end of Saturday's 2–2 draw at home to Burnley, which saw home supporters throw objects at the visiting fans and exposes the club to a possible fine from the Football Association. "I just hope they don't punish us for that as well because the club has to find a buyer and any further threat of punishment will not help us to do that," said Mark Fry, the joint administrator.
Southampton already face the prospect of starting next season with a 10-point penalty. That was imposed last Thursday by the Football League, which ruled that the holding company, Southampton Leisure Holdings plc, the stadium company and the football club were "inextricably linked as one economic entity".
The penalty was such that, if they pulled out of the relegation places, it would apply this season and so take them down; or, if they did not escape by their own means, it would apply next season. The draw with Burnley condemned them to relegation regardless. "I am not condoning the invasion," said Fry, "but after the announcement on Thursday emotions were bound to be running high."
Southampton will appeal against the 10-point punishment. "Our main concern has to be the appeal," said Fry. Lawrie McMenemy, the club's FA Cup-winning manager in 1976, appealed to fans before Saturday's match, for further rescue funds. It looks a case of now or never.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/27/southampton-future-threat-buyer