New Years Day Reports

By Matt Lond & J Bateman
January 1 2003

All the reports for our Nationwide League Division One teams on this the New Year 2003.

Brighton v Wimbledon POS

Match Posponed

Crystal Palace 1  Akinbiyi 72 Coventry 1  McSheffrey 69 Att: 17,362

Two in-form teams met at Selhurst Park and both come out of it with a point each. Coventry, who had not conceded a goal in any of the previous four games, went ahead in the second half with sub Gary McSheffrey putting them 1-0 ahead by stabbing the ball home from close range, but only a few minutes later, Palace equalised through another sub, this time it was Ade Akinbiyi headed home a Tommy Black cross, and it stayed 1-1. Both teams had the chances to score before they actually did, but the keepers kept them out to earn their sides a draw which leaves them just outside the top six.

Gillingham v Norwich POS

Match Posponed 

Grimsby v Bradford POS

Match Posponed 

Ipswich 4  Miller 57,  87 (pen), Wright 75, Bent 79 Millwall 1  Reid 64 Att: 26,040

Ipswich’s good pick up in form under Joe Royle very much continued as they won 4-1 at Portman Road against Millwall. Two of these goals come from Tommy Miller, one from a twenty-yard drive and the other was a penalty. The other goals for the Tractor Boys was scored by Jermaine Wright and Marcus Bent, which meant the unbeaten run went up to six games now. Millwall’s goal was a equaliser from Steven Reid when Ipswich were 1-0 up. Millwall are slipping towards the wrong end of the table whilst Ipswich are moving up the table at a good rate. They are now a few points outside the play-offs.

Nottm For 1  Thompson 15 Walsall 1  Ainsworth 63 Att: 28,441

Nottingham Forest failed to extend the gap between themselves and seventh place in the table by getting a 1-1 draw at home to Walsall at the City Ground. Forest took the lead in the first half courtesy of a goal from John Thompson but were unable to score more to help reverse a bad recent run that had seen the Reds lose four out of the last five. Walsall scored in the second half as on-loan winger Gareth Ainsworth scored to give Walsall a point that helps keep them going along, especially as the bottom few teams are starting to pick up points.

Reading v Leicester Match Abandoned

Match Abandoned At Half Time

Rotherham 0 Sheff Wed 2  Kuqi 68, Proudlock 90 Att: 11,480

Sheffield Wednesday earned their first away win of the season at local rivals Rotherham United which meant that because Brighton didn’t play, they came off the bottom of the table. The Owls scored from Kuqi and on-loan striker Adam Proudlock and they also had more chances to win by more as they recorded their second win in three games under manager Chris Turner, but despite these wins they are still four points from safety. Rotherham’s home form has certainly dipped as of late and this is stopping them from challenging the teams above them for a play-off spot.

Sheff Utd v Burnley POS

Match Posponed 

Stoke 2  Gunnarsson 43 Hoekstra 45 Preston 1  Abbott 90 Att: 14,862

Stoke gained another massive win towards earning survival with a second straight win in a row at home as they beat Preston 2-1. Stoke’s goals came very close to half time as Gunnarsson and Hoekstra ensured they went in at half time 2-0 up. Preston could only manage an injury time consolation from Pawel Abbott after Stoke failed to clear the ball out but they held on. Preston lost goalkeeper David Lucas and forward Richard Cresswell during the game to injuries.

Watford 2  Hyde 51  Cox 81 Portsmouth 2  Burton 54  Harper 58 Att: 15,048

Portsmouth extended their lead by one more point after being held by a battling Watford side at Vicarage Road on a very bad pitch. They went five points clear of Leicester with a 2-2 draw, with their goals coming from Deon Burton and Harper, putting them 2-1 ahead after Watford led through a Micah Hyde goal. It was left to Neil Cox to equalise to get the Hornets a point to continue their good home record this season. Watford continue to be on the fringes of the play-off places, just being a few points off sixth placed Reading.

Wolves 1  Ince 66 Derby 1  Christie 14 Att: 26,442

Molineux played host to a meeting between two teams who have struggled over the Christmas period as Wolves played Derby. This game ended a 1-1 draw as Paul Ince scored his first goal for Wolves and Malcolm Christie scoring his first goal in ten games for the Rams. Both teams had few chances to win the game and both teams will take the point as they try to over turn recent fortunes in the past few games. Wolves haven’t won in the past five games, which have worried everyone connected to the club as they finally try to get promoted; they are just outside the play-offs, as are Derby.

Full Match Reports can be found at --

Brighton IBHA

Burnley The Longsider

Gillingham Up The Gills.tk

Grimsby The Mariner

Ipswich Singing The Blues

Sheff Utd bladesfc.co.uk

Walsall The Saddlers FC

Wolves wolvesfc.co.uk