United go from Bad to Worse!

Biggleswade United 1-6 Haringey Borough

Molten Spartan South Midlands League, Challenge Trophy Quarter-final.

Since the turn of the New Year, Biggleswade United have played 3 matches and have managed to ship in 16 goals. Admittedly they have played against 2 of the sides in the top 4 of the Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier League in this time, but 16 goals???

On the 2nd January, they went away to top of the table Royston and were soundly beaten 7-0. Even so, there was a semblence of good build up play here and there (albeit not much I grant you). 

5 days later they lost 3-1 at home against Hertford Town, in what could have been described as a 6 pointer, especially with both teams in precarious positions in the table. My thoughts on this game are expressed in this previous posting.

Last nights debacle was a sorry tale from beginning to end and United were taken to task by a far superior outfit, led at the front by a truly marvellous display by Borough's Dean Fenton. 

With flowing dreadlocks in the breeze, Fenton took United's defence apart scoring 5 of the six. In fact, he scored his 5th after being moved to left back, cutting through the Biggleswade defence like a hot knife in butter. I am led to believe that Fenton doesn't generally play up front - maybe a change in direction beckons? 

United's sole consolation was scored by Emmanuel Banjo who must have felt a spattering of pride, having recently been released by Haringey, but it comes to something when you can let in 6 goals at home and your best player on the night was keeper Adam Lawrence, who made some excellent saves.

It does concern me that most sides we come up against seem to be full of big, 6 footers, all of which have little difficulty of powering through our defences. It also didn't help that we were missing our captain and defensive mainstay Martin Russell after his injury on Saturday and it was also noticeable that Richard Bayley, whose midfield performances have taken my eye of late, was absent last night. 

Oh for a big, strapping striker, willing to run through a brick wall if need be (should you know where we can find one, please contact the club).

Lastly, on a positive note, it was interesting to hear officials from Haringey commenting that they didn't think they would have scored so many at their own Coles Park Stadium, praising the far superior condition of the Second Meadow playing surface. 

So far, 2012 has been a disaster for United, it can and must only get better (hopefully very soon).

Tatty's Racing Thoughts - Tuesday 10th January 2012

Well after Monday’s glorious Barley Curley winner Sommersturm, it’s now time again to search the weird and wonderful and see what snippets we can dig up for Tuesday’s entertainment. Again there are only 2 cards on the menu, this time both in the English East Midlands, at Leicester over the jumps and Southwell on the fibresand (flat).

When it comes to Leicester over the sticks, Nicky Henderson’s charges have an excellent record, as do Brendan Powell’s and Kim Bailey’s. The mare I like the look of is trained by the latter of the three and comes in the last race of the day at 3.40

Into the home straight at Leicester

Ruby Crown gives age away to all the rest, but at 10 years old she has lost none of her enthusiasm for the game and connections must be hopeful of another good run. On the downside however, she is currently at an official rating of 105 which is 3lbs higher than any of her lifetime wins, but all the others up against her are in the same boat as it were, so not a major concern. I think she can make the frame at least if not better.

At super Southwell, it’s Brian Ellison and Hughie Morrison’s horses I always have a look at before most of the others and both have a runner I like, running in different races.

Racing at Southwell - note the softness of the sand and the kickback created by the runners.

In the 5 runner, 2 mile handicap at 1.55 Brian Ellison’s Hada Men returns to the scene of his easy victory a week ago, this time with an extra 6lbs lumped on top. I can’t see this penalty making much difference and I confidently expect him to follow up, although I don’t think there will be a lot of value on offer from our bookmaking friends.

2 hours later at 3.55, Hughie Morrison’s sole entry on the card Bianca De Medici reverts back to 7 furlongs, which I would have thought is more suitable than the mile she tackled last time out when finding little in the latter stages. The fitting of blinkers a couple of runs ago seem to have helped her concentrate on the job in hand and I don't expect her to be far away from the front here.

• HADA MEN - Southwell 1.55
• RUBY CROWN – Leicester 3.40
• BIANCA DE MEDICI – Southwell 3.55

As ever, good luck with your punting!

Tatty's Racing Thoughts - Monday 9th January 2012

Racing action is a bit thin on the ground today with only meetings at Taunton over the sticks and Wolverhampton on the all-weather flat to get interested in.

On first glance there doesn’t seem to be a great deal going for Dancing Mist in the 3.40 at Taunton, but Victor Dartnall’s 9 year old certainly holds a modicum of ability and this may be his day. He returned to racing last month at Hereford after a long absence, gaining a very distant 3^rd, but the stable has a decent record at Taunton, especially over the larger obstacles.  

Taunton Racecourse Grandstand (taken in 2009)

Meanwhile at Wolverhampton, a trainer and gambler who doesn’t have many runners, especially here at Dunstall Park, is the enigma better known as Barney Curley. 

Not particularly in the best of health in the recent past, Barney has taken the bookmakers for a merry ride over the years with his shrewd investments in the ring and is known as one of the legendary faces of horse racing (not to be confused with Flash Harry from the original St Trinian's movies). 

I remember witnessing him earn a packet at the Western meeting at Ayr a few years back, watching on with awe at the relative ease he seemed to operate.

Barney Curley - or is it Flash Harry?

Whenever there is a Curley runner it is always worth keeping an eye on the market because if the price comes in, you can be assured the old devil is having an extra interest shall we say?.

His German bred 8 year old, Sommersturm runs in the 3.55 with Mickey Fenton taking the ride. On the face of it you would probably draw a line through its chances very swiftly, but he is tumbling in the weights and surely must find his level at some stage. It is also interesting that his speed figure ratings on previous visits to this course hold up very well against the rest of today’s field.

Will this be his day? Just ensure to keep an eye on firstly the market and secondly the illustrious Mr Curley.

Taunton 3.40: Dancing Mist - 3rd 5/2

Wolverhampton 3.55: Sommersturm - won 7/2
was trading at around 7-8/1 a few minutes before the off and a late plunge (I wonder where that came from) took it in to 7/2. 
He's a cunning old devil that Barney Curley.

As ever, good luck with your bets.

Sloppy United get the Blues!

Biggleswade United 1-3 Hertford Town

Molten Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division.

In front of 59 paying spectators, the miserable start to the New Year continued for United, as they went down to fellow strugglers Hertford Town at a blustery Second Meadow. In what can be described as a lacklustre performance, the sloppiness, which had reared its ugly head in the previous match at Royston, continued in abundance. 

In a forgetful first period, after having to make 2 substitutions to replace injuries to Martin Russell and Russell Preston, a clueless United found themselves deservedly languishing to a brace of Mark Draper goals at the interval. 

Things did seem improve a little for the home side in the early exchanges of the 2nd period with one or two nice build-up plays, but sadly due to reasons out of their control, it wasn't to last for long. 

In the 54th minute the referee, who had struggled to keep control of a bad tempered match, awarded the Blues a somewhat questionable penalty. To the chagrin and dismay of both home players and supporters alike, keeper Adam Lawrence was adjudged to have brought down Bangura in the box and the over zealous official didn't hesitate in pointing to the spot. 

Draper stepped up to slot home the kick and complete his hat-trick, sending the incensed Lawrence the wrong way in the process. To all intents and purposes the game was over.

Jason Darvall managed to get a scrappy consolation goal for United, but they were never really at the races and posed little further threat on the Hertford goal for the remainder of the match.

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United's next match is on Tuesday 10th January, when they entertain Haringey Borough at Second Meadow in the Challenge Trophy Quarter-Final, ko 7.45

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Royston Town v Biggleswade United Pictures

A bit late in posting, but here are some images from last Monday's Royston Town v Biggleswade United MSSML match at Garden Walk. A rather one sided match with the Crows of Royston easily overcoming their opponents by 7-0. United didn't play that badly in my opinion, they just were taken apart by a far superior outfit (thats why Royston are top of the league).

This afternoon United are at home to Hertford Town, where both clubs will be anxious to gain 3 points to ease relegation worries.

COME ON UNITED

Tatty's Racing Tips - Friday 6th January 2012

3 all-weather cards to plough through this morning (well 2 as I generally ignore Dundalk) and not a great geal of quality around. The afternoon Lingfield meeting is pretty dire, as is the evening fare on offer at Wolverhampton, but what do we expect slap bang in the middle of jumping season.

The extended 5 furlong handicap at Wolverhampton (5.45) is possibly the best race of the day with 13 being declared. In a wide open contest, it could be argued that at least half of the field has a realistic chance of success. 

The three that stand out for me are Keith Dalgleish's Frequency, Geoffrey Oldroyd's Forever's Girl and Reg Hollinshead's Restless Bay. 

Reg Hollinshead

 Added to the mix is the Richard Fahey trained and Paul Hanagan ridden Alben Star who has been away from the track for a year and a half. He looked quite impressive back in 2010 when winning nicely at both Ayr and Musselburgh and any market move must be respected. His wide draw (and that of both Frequency and Restless Bay) point me in the direction of Forever's Girl, who holds the inside rail position. The booking of Dale Swift with a 3lb claim will also go some way to dispelling my fears that she is currently too high in the weights.

Today's nags to watch:

Lingfield Park

• 12.40 Hereford Boy - 2nd 7/2
• 2.50   Maslak - won 9/4
• 3.55   Rodrigo De Freitas - non runner

Wolverhampton

• 4.45 Drawnfromthepast- unplaced
• 5.15 Leyte Gulf - 2nd 12/1
• 5.45 Forever's Girl  - unplaced

Tatty's Racing Tips - Thursday 5th January 2012

After a period not even reading the Racing Post, I have returned today to picking a few nags for your entertainment. Remember it's the same deal as before, namely that these are not necessarily tips of winners, just a horse to keep an eye on in each race. If you bet on any of them, then you are a braver man (or woman) than I.

Wolverhampton

• 4.10 Villa Reigns- 2nd 9/4
• 4.40 Marcus Augustus - 2nd 4/5
• 5.10 Adrainian - won 7/2
• 5.40 Trend Line - unplaced
• 6.10 Wild Desert - unplaced
• 6.40 Harvest Mist- unplaced
• 7.10 Pilgrim Dancer - 3rd 9/4