As the remnants of a hurricane head towards Britain, the football season kicks into gear, none of this International rubbish but real teams supported by real people who mostly live in the town of the club they support. North End kick off the 2014/15 season against Sean Derry's Notts County who only survived the dreaded drop on the last day of the season. Derry as remodelled his squad this year and they will have a better season, the two loan signings from Wolves Cassidy and Ismail could be a handful, the former especially. No easy game to start with this one but if we are to get out of this division then a win will be required. There may be a match report but in the 12 for a home match on Saturday for the cricketing legends that are Galgate A.
1.45pm Burneside's opening batsmen departs after getting a first ball duck, by 2.50pm we had won the game, I managed nearly to touch the ball once, getting a finger nail to a dolly catch which hit the ground. Five minutes to half time arrived at Deepdale to see a County forward's feeble effort on goal. Just on half time a Browne header was cleared off the County line. Goal less at half time apparently County had wasted time gone down with fake injuries during the first half. The second half was dull, County took the lead after some iffy home defending, with Cassidy scoring from an acute angle. North End were made to struggle as the experienced County midfield of Jones and ex England international Alan Smith took control. Only a speculative effort from 40 yards and a Browne shot tested Carroll in the County goal. In the final few minutes County started to waste, the ebole virus struck several County players who went down injured. They have a female physio, not saying she was slow but she was slow. With injury time approaching North End stole a point, Hayhurst battled well to win a throw, which was taken quickly, Davies B arrived at the feet of Garner who scored. To be fair the part of the game I saw County deserved to win but they didn't. Early days but PNE need to up their game. Preston North End 1 Notts County 1 Att 12500
According to some reports, Roy Carroll saved NC from a drubbing. As for Shaun Derry, this cynical type of football is disappointing. How can younger players develop in teams and with coaches like this?
