AFC WIMBLEDON vs ROCHDALE -- LEAGUE ONE FIXTURE 2017-18 SEASON

Welcome to The Cherry Red Records Fans Stadium (Kingsmeadow) home to the mighty AFC Wimbledon.

This weekend AFC Wimbledon host Rochdale at Kingsmeadow in League One, it's far to early to call games a "must win" but our form is poor, and results matter just ask the ex Palace manager Frank de Boer, so Neal Ardley knows that things need to improve and soon. This will be our sixth HOME League fixture of this season and we've only won one of them so far.

Although we are not conceding that many goals it's the struggle to put the ball in the net the other end that worries me and the lack of shots on target needs to improve quickly. Lyle Taylor is not a winger and it would appear better to play him in his best role down the middle with support provided as necessary. The Dons currently sit in 20th place just above the bottom four relegation zone and three points would be a big lift for both fans and the squad. 

Rochdale arrive here only a couple of points above us in the table in 17th positing so are hardly pulling up trees themselves and a win will certainly help to calm the nerves since having played the first 10 games in the league and to only have 8 points and a -6 goal difference is not great. I don't want the manager to go but things do need to start picking up. Thankfully there appear to be 4 worse teams than us at this stage, but a team that only has 5 goals in it's FOR column can't realistically survive in this competition. Our opponents form also looks fairly patchy and we hope that they don't arrive on one of their going days.   

We shall update on Saturday afternoon before kick off with the confirmed starting XI for both sides and any further news as it comes available.

Line Ups (Confirmed);

  AFC WIMBLEDON 
  Odds -- 19/10 (William Hill) 

 Long (Gk),  Oshilaja,  Kennedy,  Fuller (c),  Nightingale,  Barcham,  Trotter,  Francomb,  McDonald,  Parrett,  Taylor

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Robinson,  Abdou,  Forrester,  Kaja,  Charles,  Hartigan

ROCHDALE
Odds -- 6/4 (William Hill) 

 Lillis (Gk),  Daniels,  Bunney,  McGahey,  McNulty (c),  Williams,  Rathbone,  Camps,  Andrew,  Henderson,  Inman

  

Subs – Moore (Gk),  Rafferty,  Ntlhe,  Slew,  Williams,  Done,  Davies


H/T Score – 0 - 0.

First Half Comment;
Rochdale kicked off to get us going in the first half, and it's not a surprise that it starts a bit scrappy. Few corners for the Dons but unable to force a decent effort early on, in fact it is nearly 16 minutes before we see the first shot on target and it's from Andy Barcham is saved and almost immediately Rochdale have a chance from Calvin Andrew saved by Long.

And then it settles down to another bore fest for the rest of the half with only a Yellow Card to Rochdale's Jordan Williams giving us anything of note, apart from a few wasteful shots off target, honestly I can't remember when I was so bored at a senior game and I just hope the second half is more exciting. 

F/T Score – 0 - 0.

Match Summary;
Bore draw and only 3 shots on target in 90 mins is quite frankly piss poor. One of our lowest home gates of the season too [under 4,000] and you know there are other things people would want to do than watch this dire effort. Still struggling to score, ok we don't concede many either but this is so poor. Maybe if we were getting humped 3 or 4 each week things might change quickly, so will someone please tell Mr Ardley to play a forward who can shoot.

My Man of the Match – Lyle Taylor - at least he tries.

Referee -- Our Referee for this fixture will be Christopher Sarginson who hails from Staffordshire and has been taking charge of games in the lower two divisions for a little while now without seemingly getting a reputation good or bad.

Attendance – 3,861.

Next match:
vs OXFORD UNITED (Away) -- Saturday 7th October.

PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2017 TURF SEASON -- PART FOURTEEN

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2017
Thursday 28th September
Welcome to this our fourteenth meeting racing in Yorkshire.




Our fourteenth meeting for 2017 and despite a mini recovery lately we finding too many 2nds / 3rds for my liking and are now down by the sum of -14.26 points for the season. Just a few more meetings left this season and we can still end up back in profit before then. We commence on Thursday afternoon with the first race off about 2:20pm. 

As always we count ALL results for this meeting returned to a level stake at SP, and will also show any forecast results too in the daily results but these do not count for the profit / loss figures.

The forecast going is currently reported as 'Soft' the weather for Thursday is for a rather cloudy day and possibility of some heavy rain showers during the course of the afternoon with a forecast maximum temperature around 18C. Take a brolly.

Here are our selections for the 8 races on Thursday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process of the horses drawn in stalls 1 and 2 in every race;

2:20 6f Novice Stakes (2yo).
(1) -- BLYTON LASS  [6th 20/1].
(2) -- MERCURY RISING  [4th 9/4F].

2:55 1m 6yds Fillies Nursery Handicap (2yo).
(1) -- DATHANNA  [2nd 13/8F].
(2) -- DI FEDE  [3rd 6/1].

3:30 6f Handicap (Div One).
(1) -- COLONEL FRANK  [4th 2/1].
(2) -- SUITCASE N TAXI  [5th 7/1].

4:05 6f Handicap (Div Two).
(1) -- START TIME  [8th 7/2].
(2) -- INEXES  [WON 6/1].

4:40 1m 2f 5yds Handicap.
(1) -- LA CASA TARIFA  [7th 40/1].
(2) -- CARNAGEO  [5th 9/2].

5:15 1m 6yds Novice Stakes (2yo).
(1) -- SUNHILL LAD  [2nd 8/1].
(2) -- SINCERELY RESDEV  [5th 33/1].

5:50 5f 3yds Handicap.
(1) -- IMPART  [8th 16/1].
(2) -- SEAMSTER  [Non Runner].

6:20 1m 4f 5yds Apprentice Handicap.
(1) -- PARISH BOY  [6th 9/2].
(2) -- WALSINGHAM GRANGE  [4th 13/2].


Staked -- 16 points.
Returns -- 8 points.

Results for this afternoon's meeting will be updated later. As we seek to clear our current loss for the season from it's current value of -14.26 to bring forward to our next meeting.

Sadly just the single winner and a NR for us so another 8 points lost today raising our season loss to -22.26. 

Our penultimate meeting here will be held on Monday 9th October.

Hope you can keep following us throughout the season.

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2017 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #25 27th SEPTEMBER

Welcome to our twenty fifth meeting of 2017 here at Kempton Park and after successful week last time out we have made a small dent in our losses for the year and come into this week with a sum of -25.42 points to level stakes at SP. Losing about 3 - 4 points a month throughout the season isn't that terrible (ok, yes it is) and I think we'd be a bit better off than we are with the number of winners that we pick up since January by taking early prices online however we record to SP and that will remain. It will be interesting to see how the final part of the year plays out.

As we continue to focus on the handicap contests for each meeting we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1pt level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds but for the purpose of these results here we simply record to SP returns.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too, we were successful with our last selection, another beaten favourite, and we will see if there is another selection for tonight. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures. 

This Wednesday is our twenty fifth meeting for 2017 and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with only the concluding three handicaps to enjoy, tonight's action will commence at 17:40 with a 7f Nursery. 

Here's a link to this Wednesday's race card; RACECARD

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard' and the current weather forecast is for a cloudy day with a chance of some rain, expecting a max temperature of about 21C when the meeting gets underway.

With plenty of maiden and non handicaps tonight the eight race card only has three handicaps at the conclusion of the meeting tonight;

20:10 -- 7f Handicap.
BATTS ROCK  [4th 100/30F].
BANISH  [WON 5/1]. 

20:40 -- 1m 2f 219y Handicap.
TOTAL STAR  [9th 12/1].
AL HAMDANY  [2nd 7/1].

21:10 -- 6f Handicap.

TIGSERIN  [5th 5/1].
WHO TOLD JO JO  [11th 16/1].

Staked -- 6 points.

Returns -- 6 points. 

Results will appear later tonight. Currently we have a deficit of -25.42 points that we bring forward to this round of racing.

LAYS -- After last week's successful lay of another favourite we now stand at 10 from 15 successful lays for this season, just 5 wrong all at short odds before tonight. Got them both wrong tonight looks like a favs night sadly, the numbers are now 10 from 17. 

Lays for Wednesday night 
- 18:40 BARTON MILLS (8/11F).  😞
- 19:10 SAROOKH (2/1F).  😞

Our next meeting here at Kempton Park will be in a weeks time on Wednesday 4th October.

NFL 2017 INTERNATIONAL SERIES GAME 1 -- BALTIMORE RAVENS vs JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Sunday 24th September

Baltimore Ravens vs Jacksonville Jaguars
@ Wembley Stadium



The 1st of this seasons international games will take place at Wembley and begins the four game series in London which will be shared between Wembley and Twickenham stadiums. Another sell out crowd is expected for these popular matches and kick off will be at 2.30pm. 

Current season record 

  Baltimore Ravens
    - P2 W2 L0 F44 A10
  Jacksonville Jaguars
    - P2 W1 L1 F45 A44

Looks like a good match up early season, Baltimore might start as favorites having secured two wins to date and conceding only 10 points have a decent defensive record to bring to London. Jacksonville have a win and a loss but have the benefit of regular games in UK. Both sides have a similar looking offence and it could be a tight game with the Ravens defense the key so will look to back the "under" total points market. 

Of course the Jacksonville Jaguars have been involved in regular games here at Wembley and will be more used to the surroundings than their opponents, but it'll be a full house and the crowd will be roaring both teams home. Expect the stadium to be full of shirts of ALL NFL teams (they'll be a few Spurs and Manchester United shirts too no doubt) We will aim to keep a brief summary of each quarter as the game progresses, should be a great start to this series of UK fixtures which will surely grow until we have our own regular season NFL franchise. 

For those of you not coming to Wembley this Sunday afternoon sadly the match will NOT be screened live via the BBC as it has been in recent years. They appear to only have two live games this year which is disappointing but there will be a highlights show later apparently and the regular NFL Show with Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora together with host Mark Chapman which is on all season twice a week. Have a fun day.

1st Quarter;
Will try and update as much as I can during the course of the match. The Jaguars kick us off for this first live NFL match in the UK Series, a penalty on the kick off means Baltimore start from their 40 yard line but they are unable to capitalise and after quarterback Joe Flacco is sacked on 3rd down they have to punt away. Jacksonville get into the red zone on their opening drive but are unable to take advantage and instead settle for a 23yd field goal from Jason Myers. A second drive by the Jaguars starting from their own 20yd line and after five plays and 60yd the series ends in a Marcedes Lewis Touchdown for a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter. So far the Ravens just can't string a pair of plays together and keep having to punt.
It's all Jaguars so far. 

2nd Quarter;
The Jags just keep on going with a successful completion on 4th and 1 as the 2nd Quarter starts, they have another chance of points on the 33yd line but keep giving away offensive penalties to throw away that chance and ultimately have to settle for another 45yd J Myers field goal. 

More of the same from the Ravens though, a 4th consecutive three and out they just aren't at the races today so far and really a great chance for Jacksonville to pile on the pressure. Which they do as Joe Flacco gets intercepted and returned to the 32yd line and they are in danger once more before the half is out and a 5yd touchdown from Allen Hurns to extend the Jaguars lead to 20-0. Another field goal from Myers and the half is ALL Jaguars 23-0 in a one sided game, surely this can't continue in the 2nd half? 

H/T Score;    Baltimore Ravens 0 -- 23 Jacksonville Jaguars

3rd Quarter;
It's going to be the Ravens turn to get us underway for the second half here in London and they have loads to do to get back into this football match. Plenty of penalties for the offence of the Jacksonville Jaguars and they really could be long gone if they had some discipline, they have to punt on 4th and 15 from their own half and will hope to get the ball back soon from the Ravens, doesn't take too long as Joe Flacco gets intercepted again by Jalen Ramsey on the 27yd line, quickly converted into another touchdown for Marcedes Lewis and it's quickly 30-0. 

Deja vu a few mins later as another interception is soon returned to the 3yd line and a hat trick of touchdowns for Marcedes Lewis 37-0 and it's all over now for the Ravens with another quarter still to come.

4th Quarter;
The last play of the 3rd quarter was a play fake punt and left the Jaguars on the 3yd line for another red zone effort and resulted in a touchdown for rookie running back Leonard Fournette and the extra point means it's 44-0. 

With the game as good as over the back up quarterbacks are introduced and we can see their lack of experience as neither are able to make a telling play and the fans can begin to think about leaving Wembley and a Sunday night out in London, but before you leave the Ravens make a drive count and Ben Watson scores a touchdown to prevent the shut out.

F/T Score;    Baltimore Ravens 7 -- 44 Jacksonville Jaguars. 

PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2017 TURF SEASON -- PART THIRTEEN

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2017
Thursday 21st September
Welcome to this our thirteenth meeting racing in Yorkshire.




Our thirteenth meeting for 2017 we arrive on the back of a 'successful day' last time where we found FIVE winners however our overall loss was increased ever so slightly and we now have a figure of -10.26 points for the season. Just another three more meetings this season so hopefully end up back in profit before then. We commence on Thursday afternoon with the first race off about 2:20pm. 

As always we count ALL results for this meeting returned to a level stake at SP, and will also show any forecast results too in the daily results but these do not count for the profit / loss figures.

The forecast going is currently reported as 'Good to soft' the weather for Thursday is for a rather cloudy day and possibility of some heavy rain showers during the course of the afternoon with a forecast maximum temperature around 16C. Take a brolly.

Here are our selections for the 7 races on Thursday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process of the horses drawn in stalls 1 and 2 in every race;

2:20 5f 3yds Maiden Stakes (2yo).
(1) -- EEH BAH GUM  [11th 50/1].
(2) -- BLACK FRIDAY  [2nd 4/1].

2:50 1m 6yds Handicap.
(1) -- MR COOL CASH  [2nd 9/2].
(2) -- BRIYOUNI  [Withdrawn NR].

3:25 1m 2f 5yds Handicap.
(1) -- ROYAL SHAHEEN  [WON 4/1].
(2) -- LUDORUM  [6th 7/2].

4:00 6f Fillies Handicap.
(1) -- MARIE OF LYON  [WON 3/1].
(2) -- TIRANIA  [2nd 5/2].

4:30 2m 1f 27yds Handicap (3yo).
(1) -- TRANSPENNINE STAR  [2nd 2/1].
(2) -- ALMOST GEMINI  [3rd 6/1].

5:05 1m 2f 5yds Maiden.
(1) -- URBAN SPIRIT  [5th 50/1].
(2) -- FRANKSTER  [2nd 25/1].

5:35 6f Apprentice Handicap.
(1) -- KI KI  [10th 14/1].
(2) -- MY GIRL MAISIE  [2nd 3/1].


Staked -- 14 points.
Returns -- 10 points.

Results for this afternoon's meeting will be updated later. As we seek to clear our current loss for the season from it's current value of -10.26 to bring forward to next meeting.

Two winners and several near misses with place efforts so far, note quite a successful week and dropped 4 points to -14.26. 

Our next meeting here will be held on Thursday 28th September.

Hope you can keep following us throughout the season.

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2017 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #24 13th SEPTEMBER

Welcome to our twenty fourth meeting of 2017 here at Kempton Park and after successful week last time out we have made a small dent in our losses for the year and come into this week with a sum of -30.045 points to level stakes at SP. Losing about 3 - 4 points a month throughout the season isn't that terrible (ok, yes it is) and I think we'd be a bit better off than we are with the number of winners that we pick up since January by taking early prices online however we record to SP and that will remain. It will be interesting to see how the final part of the year plays out.

As we continue to focus on the handicap contests for each meeting we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1pt level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds but for the purpose of these results here we simply record to SP returns.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too, we were successful with our last selection, another beaten favourite, and we will see if there is another selection for tonight. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures. 

This Wednesday is our twenty fourth meeting for 2017 and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with five handicaps to enjoy, tonight's action will commence at 17:45 with a 6f Claimer. 

Here's a link to this Wednesday's race card; RACECARD

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard' and the current weather forecast is for a cloudy day with a chance of some rain and chilly, expecting a max temperature of about 15C when the meeting gets underway.

With the division of the mile handicap we've an eight race card and here are our selections for this evenings five handicaps tonight;

18:45 -- 7f Handicap.
A tricky handicap to get us going tonight and the 4yo Gelding MEDICEAN EL DIABLO [2nd 8/1] is of interest having won here last year and also at Chelmsford and would appear to come to hand later in the year, only had two runs this season priced about 10/1 so considered as a win/place option. 

Another at a decent price of 25/1 is the 3yo gelding DARING GUEST [WON 11/1] from the George Margarson stable. This one has already won twice in similar grade at Yarmouth and Lingfield and although taking on older horses this is hardly a big leap. 

19:45 -- 1m 7f 218y Handicap (3yo).
This is a race for the stayers, and although only eight declared for it there is plenty of interest and we hope that all eight stand their ground for the place bet. Gary Moore brings up his 3yo SUSSEX RANGER [3rd 3/1] who's had a few runs and placings around here already and seems to appreciate being stepped up in trip as he gains experience.

Sir Mark Prescott should never be ignored and his VEILED SECRET [5th 7/1] is worth another chance even though failed at Goodwood last time.

20:15 -- 1m Handicap (Div One).
The mile handicap has been divided into two divisions and the first of these has 14 runners but not many with winning form so this is going to be difficult to pick. Speculative bet on D'WATERSIDE [5th 25/1] as this lightly raced 3yo Gelding has improved for the step into handicapping and with Jose Gordon in the saddle and getting weight all round this 25/1 shot is worth a look.

Also at a big price is CAPTAIN PUGWASH [6th 8/1], ran well to be runner up in a couple of handicaps before finding the step in grade too much last time out.

20:45 -- 1m Handicap (Div Two).

The second division of this contest doesn't look any easier and another 14 are presented to go to post here, we pick TRUE COLOURS [3rd 14/1] and SLOW TO HAND [5th 9/4F] as our pair against the field. Both hail from big yards, and while the former is running in his first handicap the latter has won a handicap.

21:15 -- 1m 3f 219y Handicap (3yo).

Our finale sees a field of 13 declared and of those we've several previous winners too. AMERICAN HISTORY [6th 14/1] won last time out at Brighton but has also been placed on a few occasions including the all weather so should be close while in a good mood. Likewise JUST IN TIME [WON 13/8F] another previous winner at Goodwood and runner up at Leicester comes here in top form and was staying on last time so probably no fluke.

Staked -- 10 points.

Returns -- 14.625 points. 

Results will appear later tonight. Currently we have a deficit of -30.045 points that we bring forward to this round of racing. Winner in our first and final handicaps tonight gives us a winning night and knocks off a few points from our losses to take over to the next meeting. 

Now showing as -25.42 points down. 

LAYS -- After last week's successful lay of another favourite we now stand at 10 from 15 successful lays for this season, just 5 wrong all at short odds. 

One for tonight in the 19:15 -- ROMINA [Won 11/4 bugger].

Our next meeting here at Kempton Park will be in a couple of weeks on Wednesday 27th September.