[themaclad]

The festive season begins on Boxing Day not Christmas Day, forget the eat it all marathon on the 25th, football on the 26th is the reason we have Christmas. First up a home game against a team from the wrong side of the Pennines. Barnsley the home of Boycott, Bird and Parkinson. The Tykes relegated last season have been a model of inconsistency this season although look to be putting together a string of decent results. Saw the televised game against Chester which they won at ease, they then beat a Orient side who seemed to be descending the league at a rapid rate.
Managed by Danny Wilson who is no mug as a boss this will be a tough game, they are good on the break and have quite a bit of pace with Cole,Hourahane and the ex Tranmere and Bayern Munich player Dale Jennings. Jennings is an interesting player, Bayern paid a million for him at the age of 18, did not have the best of time in Germany due to injury and ended up at Oakwell, still only in his early 20's this lad has a bit of class although looks slightly overweight, but a threat. Also in their squad is ex North Ender Keith Treacy, enigmatic describes the Irishman, depends on which side of the bed he gets out off determines how he plays. Keeper Turnbill suspended after being sent off last Saturday
Likely to be unchanged, but North End have both Wright and Buchanan back in training along with Woods and Little. Tough game to call.

[themaclad]

A good win for North End in a highly competitive Boxing Day clash in front of a non too shabby 13700. The only goal came from the penalty spot after about 20 minutes when Welsh fell over a loose mince pie in the box.Mr Tierney took his time and awarded the kick, the Tykes protested but looked to me a clear penalty. Gallagher took the kick and managed to keep it in the ground this time unlike the kick against Shrewsbury, he even managed to put it in the net after Davies dived the wrong way. Up to then it had been a fairly even contest with Lita missing a simple chance for Barnsley and a Davies header finding the gloves of the keeper instead of the net for the home side.
Following the goal North End dominated although not creating many chances , they worked their socks off could have had a couple of more goals but Davies kept them at bay.
Both teams had chances to score, the first when Hourihane played in Jennings with a defence splitting pass, the visiting forward was caught in two minds and could only pass the ball to Stuckmann in the home goal. A great move at the other end led to Beckford trying to chip the keeper he failed, should really have done better.
There was little in the way of goalmouth action as North End's final ball was well dealt with by Ramage and Nyatanga who won virtually everything in the air.
Going into the last few minutes of the game Barnsley became more positive and in the 94th minute thought they had earned themselves a point when Hourihane's 35 yards howitzer was on it's way to the back of the net, the Barnsley player held his head in disbelief as Stuckmann pulled off a world class finger tip save to deny the goal. Stunning save and three more points in the bag.
Top four now 11 points clear of the 5th team, business end of the season is about to begin.


Preston North End 1 Barnsley 0 Att 13700

[St Charles Owl]

Important win with all the top 4 teams picking up three points!! Definitely set up for a cracking 2nd half of the season at the top!!

Good to see the gap between the top four and the Blunts increasing and I am sure you were happy to see us squeezing past the Tangerines 1-0!!!

[themaclad]

Looked a very iffy penalty SCO