PLAY OFF FINAL!

[shoutymark]

Well. We've made it this far.

Thinking back to the journey home from East Grinstead, when the world had conspired to rip our hopes away from us when we were oh so close...
the sense of emptiness that came from missing out on the end of season madness that the playoffs could have offered. Sure, they can be a lottery. But, as a wise Winton said, you've got to be in it to win it.

And then suddenly we were back in the pot.
And on Tuesday we grabbed that lifeline and wouldn't let go.

So to Worthing. By car, train, or for the lucky ones amongst us, by coach.

Who knows what the next 24 hours will hold?

But cometh the hour, cometh the team.
And what a team we have.

So I want to place on record that this club should feel immensely proud of the season's achievements.
And whatever the scoreline tomorrow that pride lives on.

But no one should underestimate what we are capable of...

Game On!

[shoutymark]

Oh. Woe.
Tis not the outcome we wanted. Or deserved.
But we are so proud of the performance of the team, today and throughout the season.

Tomorrow we awake, and look ahead to the new season.
And what a bright future that holds.

Until then, let us remember the outstanding performance of each and every member of our squad, on the field and back room, amd bask in the positive glow of a season well served.

Well done, boys. Very well done.

As was said on the coach.

We're proud of you. We're proud.

COME ON YOU WHITES!

[worthingfan]

Hi,Worthing fan here,bad luck today lads as I thought you played well,particularly in midfield where your passing was often much better than ours but didn't have enough to trouble our goalie. To be fair we didn't create a great deal either.If it were'nt for the sending off things could have been different.The result aside, I hope you enjoyed the ocassion,good luck to you for next season.

[FAV Army]

Match pictures available from www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1120187318001935.1073742098.534597579894248&type=3

FAV Army!

[tonythepaint]

Just watched some highlights of the game.Josh was standing on the line when he headed the ball away for the first goal.Luke did push the player but worth a red card (doubtful).The player who scored Worthings second goal was standing in an offside position when the first header from the free kick was headed towards goal.The third goal was a very tight offside decision(could have gone either way).Also a great referee appointment considering the ref was the one who disallowed a perfectly legitamate for Deano against Ramsgate in the last minute and sent Ray to the stands.Did'nt stand a chance.

[dave]

I kept changing my mind on this one. To post or not to post, that is the question.
In the end, I needed to get this off my chest. Probably unwise, but there you go.
Football is a sport that stirs the passions and hence the following post.

Firstly, this is no dig at worthing Football Club or their supporters. We met
some very decent fans yesterday, agreed/disagreed as you do. And I'm sure we would
have accepted that 3-0 win had the shoe been on the other foot.

But from this perspective, that win was handed to Worthing on a plate.
A completely inept performance from the officials.
And that is what is so bloody annoying. This is without doubt the biggest game in
FTFC's recent history, the club. the management team, the players, have worked so
hard to get us here. Many seasons hard work, undone, by that abject performance from the men
in black over 90 minutes. And that is what hurts. How skilled, hard working people can be destroyed by the inept.
But still, they take their payment for a job badly done and bugger off.
I wouldn't get away with that at work. But they seemingly do.
I seem to be ranting. Apologies. I'm incensed.

It's probably well documented now. But here goes.
There is no way that first "goal" is over the line.
Complete surprise to everyone-including the Worthing players who don't celebrate until
the "goal" is given. Luke Harvey's sending off-absolute joke of a decision. Not even a
yellow. I've seen the video. Gamesmanship by Worthing surrounding the referee.
And we're given a free-kick for the original foul. Soon after, the eagle-eyed officials
fail to see a leading elbow into Ryan Cooper's face.
Right in front of us and the lino-nothing given. Not so eagle-eyed then.
Personally couldn't see anything wrong with the second goal. Good goal.
Third goal-offside allegedly. Couldn't tell from where I was.

But the second and third are irrelevent. The dodgy first and the sending off are the
game changers.

But before I end this rant. To follow up on tonythepaint's post. The referee in question
a Mr Gary Maskell. Also denied us a point at Ramsgate (link below-any idea why this was disallowed?)
About 3.56 in. Followed up by another "fine" performance in the biggest game in our club's history.
I'm still incensed.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIqP7eYESpo&feature=youtu.behttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIqP7eYESpo&feature=youtu.be

[4500x]

Don't get mad .... get even!

Dulwich Hamlet    losing finalists 2010 / 11 & 2011 / 12 won the league 2012 / 13 ahead of Maidstone
Folkestone           losing finalists 2013 / 14 & 2014 / 15 won the league 2015 / 16
Faversham Town losing finalists 2012 / 13 & 2015 / 16 to win the league 2016 / 17?

We beat the "top 4" teams a total of 7 times this season.  We've got a very strong base to build on but of course, there is always room for improvement.
Keep the majority of the current squad, add one or two quality players into the mix and I see no reason why we couldn't avoid the end of season lottery.
Either way, we know we're good enough to hit the top 5 and keep banging on the door and it will definitely give way.

We love you Faversham .... we do! 

[FAV Army]

More pictures and these are definitely worth looking at - www.flickr.com/photos/stuarttree/albums/72157667614584652/page1

They look delighted in the after-match pictures - no I'm not talking about the Worthing players!

But I completely agree with 4500x!

This young squad will only get better.

FAV Army!

[CJK]

You've probably already seen video footage, but here's my recording of the game.

Link to match video . . . youtu.be/zGy-B2AwMwY

[stinkfoot]

Red Card?

If that is Football now- Not sure I wanna watch it.

That ref should be struck off - Worst decision I've ever seen.

Good luck to Worthing though.

[lufthansasandwich]

Not much more to be said but here's my two cents:

1. The first goal and the sending off are, being charitable, marginal decisions that swung Worthing's way. (I know the penalty went our way but it was too little too late)

2. Will the Isthmian League appoint officials from a higher level for play-offs, to avoid officials who have "previous" with one of the participating clubs?

3. Will the Isthmian League introduce a rule preventing clubs from making loan signings, for the last month of the season, of players who are contracted to fully professional clubs?

After all that I am pleased for Worthing's supporters, they are far more worthy of promotion than another team just up the A24.