TT No.155: Dean McClean - Saturday 29th December 2007 - Merseyside Double
View matchday images 01 02 03 04 05 06
Match 1: Saturday 29th December 2007. West Cheshire Premier: Maghull v West Kirby; Res: 1-2; Att: 40ish; No programme or admission. FGIF Match Rating: 4*
Having tickets to attend the Everton-Arsenal match in the late kick-off time, this allowed me ample time to do an easy double at either Aintree Villa or Maghull. An early morning 'phone call to the helpfull Maghull secretary confirmed that the game would go ahead as planned and he even gave me directions from the station-what a service!
A pleasant little venue this one, even on an appalling day weather-wise; surrounded by trees, the cricket club, suburban houses and the nearby stream would make for a picturesque venue on a warm, sunny day, with cricket in the back ground.
However, today was cold, wet and miserable and with only an overhang from the clubhouse to shelter from the elements. The remainder of the ground is open and hard standing encircles the pitch.
No admission was charged, nor was there a programme. Not even a raffle was on offer, so monies from the crowd are reduced by this. The excellent refreshments bar, selling hot drinks and food was a welcome sight on such a day as this and was frequented more than once by myself.
Despite the poor weather conditions, this was an excellent game of football on a pitch that stood up remarkably well to the conditions. Credit to both teams in this bottom v top contest, as the home team pushed the visitors all the way and it took two late goals for West Kirby to take the points home, in a terrific second half.
View matchday images 01 02 03 04
Match 2: Saturday 29th December 2007. Barclays Premier League: Everton v Arsenal. Res: 1-4; Att: 39.443; Admission: £28; Programme: Didn't buy one! FGIF Match Rating: 5*
After slipping onto the train at Maghull and alighting at Kirkdale, I was at Goodison Park in good time for this 5-15 kick-off.
Goodison is certainly showing its age in this time of new multi million pound stand. It is still an imposing venue and the Main Stand is a breathtaking sight, enhanced by the floodlights, as it is squeezed into surrounding terrace houses. Facilities are generally poor though and sitting (well I stood, actually) on a wooden seat, with concrete pillars in your view, really isn't acceptable today. The Emirates stadium, with its large spacious leather seats, is a million miles away from an ageing Goodison. This isn't a criticism, as it would be a shame if the club had to leave the city and I feel this would be an error to do so. Some Everton fans are, rightly, not very happy and are opposing the move out of the city.
This was a very strange game indeed, as Everton outplayed, for the most part, an out of sorts Arsenal team. In a first half dominated by the home side, Tim Cahill gave the lead after Arsenal made an awful mess of defending a corner, and Cahill was on hand to head in at the back post. The second half would be more of the same, surely? No! Two long balls from left-back Gael Clichy, were mis-judged by the Everton defence and Eduardo finished both chances with ease; you really can't give this guy a chance in front of goal, a deadly finisher. Everton rallied and should have equalized, but another defensive howler, allowed Adebayor an open net and he finished the game off. Tomas Rosicky scored a fourth in the last minute, which was very harsh on an Everton side that had played very well and somehow managed to lose 4-1!
contributed on 30/12/07