Todays News

john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject: Todays News

Celtic have appointed former captain Neil Lennon to the club's coaching staff and he will be in the dugout for Saturday's SPL game against Motherwell.

Lennon, 36, left Celtic Park last summer and has had playing spells at Nottingham Forest and Wycombe.

"I am overwhelmed at being offered this chance to return to Celtic, a place where everyone knows my heart lies," Lennon said.

"Returning to Celtic and being part of the coaching set-up is phenomenal."

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said: "Neil is someone who I am proud to have worked with previously and is a man who I have great respect for.

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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject:

Crusaders midfielder Stevie Coulter has been voted Harp player of the month for March by the NI football writers.

The 29-year-old former Loughgall player said the award was a superb recognition of how well the seventh-placed Crues had been playing recently.

"If we had shown better form in the league before Christmas we would be much better placed," said Coulster.

"Really we should be pushing for a top five place but we reached two cup finals so it has been a good season."

Crusaders won four of their five league matches in March, hitting four goals against Larne, Newry City and Glenavon.

Linfield goalkeeper Alan Mannus was runner-up to Coulter in the award voting, with Portadown's Wesley Boyle third.
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject:

Derry City pulled off a great win away to leaders St Pat's Athletic to take over at the top of the Premier Division in the Eircom League.

Midfielder Owen Morrison capitalised on an error by St Pat's Athletic keeper Brendan Clarke to score the 65th-minute winner at Richmond Park.

Clarke's poor clearance came to Morrison who kept his head to find the net from 30 yards out.

Before that, City keeper Gerard Doherty pulled off a fine save from Keith Fahy.

In the first half, unchanged Derry went close as Clarke pulled off a fine reaction save to deny Derry's Clive Delaney.

Then for St Pat's Jamie Harris headed wide from a Fahy cross.

Near the end St Pat's threatened an equaliser when Mark Quigley crossed from the left but Fahy was again denied by Doherty at the far post.
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject:

Stephen Kenny lauded his Derry City players after the team moved to the top of the Eircom Premier League by beating St Pat's 1-0 at Richmond Park.

Owen Morrison's 65th-minute goal helped the Candystripes move above previous leaders Pat's.

"We played really, really well. We deserved to win," said Kenny.

"Everyone worked extremely hard. Gareth McGlynn was absolutely excellent and our centre-backs Clive Delaney and Peter Hutton were immense for us."

Kenny believes that the Eircom League's other title challengers will struggle to win points at Richmond Park.

"Pat's are a formidable team and put us under pressure in the last 15 minutes. I don't think many teams are going to go to Inchicore and win."
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:

Linfield 5-0 Newry City

Linfield maintained their three-point lead in the league title race, running out comfortable winners against 10-man Newry after a scoreless first half.

Aidan O'Kane's shot cannoned off the bar and Glenn Ferguson shot wide in the first period while Tony Anderson and Stephen Garrett had chances for Newry.

Thomas Stewart scored on 48 and Glenn Ferguson netted a penalty on 52 after Emmett Friars was sent-off for a foul.

Peter Thompson headed in on 62 and Mark Dickson (80) and Thompson (86) scored.

Stewart broke the deadlock with a shot into the bottom corner from O'Kane's cross and then Ferguson converted from the spot after Friars was red-carded for bringing down Thompson.

Thompson nodded in from a Damien Curran cross, Dickson thumped in number four and Thompson converted a left-foot finish as the Blues ran out easy winners.
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:

Wrexham boss Brian Little warned his players that if they continue to make mistakes then they could consign League Two's bottom club to relegation.

A defensive mix-up allowed Macclesfield to take the lead on Saturday before Steve Evans' equaliser, although the Dragons really needed all three points.

"We've got loads of quantity and we're lacking in quality," Little said.

"The quantity is work-rate, commitment, effort, but we make loads of mistakes which is where the quality comes in."

Wrexham are seven points adrift of safety with just six matches remaining this season.

"Ultimitely it's quality that's costing us, is costing us every week and it was another poor goal we conceded," Little added.
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject:

Swansea 1-2 Bournemouth

Bournemouth staged an incredible injury time fight-back at Swansea to keep their League One survival hopes alive.

Leaders Swansea seemed set to move to the brink of promotion when Andy Robinson was gifted a free header in the 50th minute to score from a corner.

But the Cherries swarmed forward and drew level in the 90th minute as Joe Partington headed in from a set piece.

It took just a minute for another dose of drama, as a sweeping attack saw Jo Kuffour bash home Brett Pitman's cross.
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject:

Manager Roberto Martinez challenged his Swansea players to seal promotion at title rivals Carlisle after their shock home loss to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Swansea had led through Andy Robinson until injury time, before an incredible Cherries fight-back saw the relegation candidates score two quickfire goals.

"We need to regroup and bounce back on Tuesday and make sure we get rid of all the frustration," Martinez said.

"Football can be a cruel game sometimes and we didn't get what we deserved
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

football referee secretly filmed in charge of a game while claiming disability benefits has been sentenced to a 12-month community order.

Christopher Stockwell, 52, of Kidwelly, was also ordered by magistrates at Haverfordwest to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and will repay the £9,034.

He had admitted failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of changes affecting his allowances.

Department officials filmed him at a game between Ponthenry and Kidwelly.

They had been tipped off that he was officiating in matches.

At an earlier hearing the court heard he had been claiming disability benefits since October 1996.
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff

Joe Ledley scored the only goal to end Barnsley's FA Cup run and send Cardiff through to a final against Portsmouth.

Ledley volleyed them in front inside nine minutes after Barnsley failed to deal with a Tony Capaldi long throw.

The Tykes responded well but had keeper Luke Steele to thank for denying Trevor Sinclair from close range.

Steele also kept out a Gavin Rae header but Kayode Odejayi missed a glorious chance to level when he was put clean through on goal only to shoot wide.
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

Cardiff goal-hero Joe Ledley set his sights on lifting the FA Cup on 17 May after his strike saw off Barnsley in Sunday's semi-final at Wembley.

The 21-year-old Wales midfielder's ninth-minute strike, a fine volley, booked a showdown against Portsmouth.

"It's brilliant, I thought everyone played really well and we can go into the final with confidence and try to win it," Ledley said.

"I thought we deserved the win and it's great for the fans as well."
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

First Minister Rhodri Morgan has said it was a "privilege" to watch Cardiff City reach the final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927.

The Bluebirds beat Barnsley 1-0 at Wembley stadium on Sunday watched by 35,000 City fans, including Mr Morgan.

He said: "I cannot overestimate how much Cardiff City's appearance in the cup final is going to mean to Wales and Cardiff's profile all over the world."

Cardiff's match-winning goal was scored early on by local boy Joe Ledley.

Mr Morgan added: "Since winning the Grand Slam a few weeks ago, the people of Wales have been coming down very slowly from cloud nine.
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

Dave Jones has welcomed support from Uefa that could give them a place in Europe if Cardiff City win the FA Cup.

Joe Ledley's goal sealed a 1-0 win over Barnsley on Sunday and booked a place in the final against Portsmouth.

The Football Association says it will not nominate Cardiff as the Welsh club play in England as a 'guest' team.

"Politically it's a minefield because with us getting to this final now there is no way they should stop us if we win it," said Cardiff manager Jones.
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject:

Swansea City have been fined £2,000 for failing to control their players during the FA Cup third-round match against Havant and Waterlooville.

Both clubs were reprimanded for a brawl in the 1-1 draw on 5 January, sparked by Havant player Brett Poate's poor tackle on Swansea's Andrea Orlandi.

Poate and Swansea defender Alan Tate were sent off at the Liberty Stadium.

While the Football Association of Wales has found Swansea guilty, the English FA has yet to decide Havant's fate.

The Blue Square South side beat Swansea in the replay before falling to Liverpool in the following round
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john the tinca · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject:

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell hopes to increase veteran midfielder Gary Speed's coaching duties next season.

The former Wales captain, 38, has expressed a wish to carry on playing next season and Blackwell thinks he can handle a player-coach role.

He told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I've got to make a decision on the coaching staff for next season.

"And I've already given Gary certain aspects of coaching."

He added: "When you get to a certain age you don't have to flog the body every day, fitness is about maintaining the body at that age."
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