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Nationwide League Division Two

Date	30/03/2002
Score	1 - 0
Venue	Griffin Park, Brentford
Kick Off	3.00 PM
Attendance	8,800
Weather	Sunny
Referee	A Butler
Goal Scorers	None
Cards	Red: Gunnlaugsson
Pitch	Rubbish

The long journey to England is always enjoyable on match day. Expectations are high, usually the football is of a high standard and you get to meet some friends. It was three years since I went to an away Stoke match and that day we lost 1-0 to Fulham in Craven Cottage, who have since gone up to the Premier league. To have all your fans in one side of the ground always creates a better atmosphere. Meeting friends and finding out all the up to date news gets the day off to a good start. Also when they arrive with your match ticket its a nice touch thanks lads.

Stoke made a couple of last transfer day signings, some of who would surely be on show. It's always interesting to see different grounds and having been in quite a few in England Griffin Park is probably the poorest I've seen. The pitch was very cut up, (the Rugby League match on Thursday didn't help) The main stand and other sides of the ground were very run down. But all this was forgotten as I watched the teams warm up and hopefully witness a Stoke victory to see us push for promotion into Division 1. At least one of my teams might get promoted this year. Two out of three new signings were in the starting eleven with John Miles (former Liverpool player) on the bench. Stoke with two Irish players James O'Connor and Clive Clarke on the pitch started slowing as Brentford pushed the Potters back early on. Brentford had 4 Irish players on the pitch with Waterford born Stephen Hunt (Yes Noel's brother) playing on the Left wing and causing Stoke all kinds of problems in the opening 20 minutes. The game started scrapy and it continued so until the 96 minutes were over. Shouts from Brentford fans of "Lets get the ball higher Bee's" summed up their approach to the game. In the National League we have some bad referee's but this one was the worst I've ever seen. Every decision went to the home side and even Brentford fans were embarrassed midway through the half as they called for a Stoke free kick. The signing of Deon Burton from Derby County last month was supposed to finally see an end to our goal drought and launch us to the top of the table. Burton had a nightmare and missing three clear cut chances during the game. The sending off of Arnur Gunnlaugsson (former Leicester City) for kicking out at an opponent was a disgrace he not only left himself down, but all the other players,the manager and fans who had made the journey from Stoke on Trent.

Having to play with 10 ten was bad enough, but then for your captain to make a terrible mistake tiring to clear the ball away with his keeper calling behind him, miskicking it to Sidwell who was just outside the box and cleverly chipped the ball into an empty net. Stoke push on after this but even though Cutler wasn't tested in the Stoke goal, Bretford worked harder and just deserved their victory in a poor game. This result left Stoke looking over their shoulders at Bristol city who could still push for a Playoff spot, but 2 home wins should be enough to send us into the lottery again.

After the game I was kindly invited into the Brentford Players lounge by Stephen Hunt and it was nice to meet up with him and talk about the match and his live as a professional footballer in England. Stephen signed for Brentford from Crystal Palace when Steve Coppell moved across London and took the Waterford lad with him. stephen is really enjoying his time at Brentford and has just signed for another 2 years, even though he was suffering with the flu, he was outstanding for the first 20 minutes until he got a kick off fellow Irishman Clive Clarke which slowed him down. Thanks again to Stephen and I hope you keep playing well in East London.

One question I have to ask is that of the players willingness to win? Theory if we win promotion the Manager's job is safe for another season, so is it better to stay in Division 2 and get him sacked or get promoted and have him manage us next year????????????? Who can answer this one?????????